Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/787

 all those  who  at  any  time  have  offended  or  injured me; and I humbly  entreat  all  those  whom  I have unhappily offended  to  vouchsafe  to  pardon  me  in  turn.

MY God,  behold,  I receive  this  sickness  with which thou  art  pleased  to  visit  me,  as  coming from thy  hand. It is  thy  will  it  should  be  thus  with me, and  therefore  I submit. Thy will  be  done  on earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. May this  sickness  be  to  the honor of  thy  holy  name,  and  for  the  good  of  my  soul. For this  end  I offer  myself  with  an  entire  submission to all  thy  appointments,  to  suffer  whatever  thou  pleasest,  as  long  as  thou  pleasest,  and  in  what  manner thou pleasest; for  I am  thy  creature,  O Lord,  who have most  ungratefully  offended  thee; and  since  my sins  have  a long  time  cried  to  heaven  for  justice,  why shall I now  complain  if  I feel  thy  hand  upon  me? No, my God; thou  art  just  in  all  thy  ways; I have  truly deserved this  punishment,  and  therefore  I have  no reason  to  complain  of  thee,  but  only  of  my  own wickedness.

Rebuke me  not,  O Lord,  in  thy  fury  nor  chastise me in  thy  wrath,  but  have  regard  to  my  weakness. Thou knowest  how  frail  I am; that  I am  nothing  but dust and  ashes. Deal not  with  me  according  to  my sins,  neither  punish  me  according  to  my  iniquities, but according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  most  tender mercies have  compassion  on  me. O, let  thy  justice be tempered  with  mercy,  and  let  thy  heavenly  grace come to  my  assistance,  to  support  me  in  this  my  illness. Confirm my  soul  with  strength  from  above, that I may  bear  with  true  Christian  patience  all  the uneasiness, pains,  disquiets,  and  difficulties  of  my sickness,  and  that  I may  cheerfully  accept  them  as the  just  punishments  of  my  offences. Preserve me from  all  temptations,  and  be  thou  my  defence  against