Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/115

 have received  from  thee  innumerable benefits,  and  most extraordinary gifts; my  creation, redemption,  vocation, the gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost, preservation, with  infinite others, produced  by  or  contained in  them,  of  which  I am most  unworthy. Most especially I thank  thee  for  this  benefit, N.  N.  For  this  and  for all others,  I now  return  thee infinite thanks,  with  all  my heart  and  strength,  in  proportion to  the  infinitude  of thy  love  and  goodness,  which have prompted  thee  to  give me them.

2. Acknowledging,  then,  my infinite  obligations  to  thee, O infinite goodness,  and  being ignorant and  incapable  of  returning thee  the  thanks  I ought,  and  would  desire,  I call  upon  Jesus  Christ,  the blessed Virgin,  and  all  creatures, both  seen  and  unseen, to return  thee  thanks  in  my behalf. And I now  offer thee, for  myself,  all  the thanks, of  every  kind,  which they themselves  render  thee, in whatever  way,  or  have rendered, or  will  render  thee ever. And I return  thee thanks in  union  with  them, with the  same  love,  gratitude, and  thanksgiving  as theirs.

3. This  I do,  not  as  if  those blessings were  mine,  but  because they  are  thine. For I am  ready  and  prepared  to  be deprived  of  them  as  often as it  pleases  thee  to  require them of  me  again. And I pray  thee  to  take  them  from me, as  often  as  thou  judgest it to  be  conducive  to  thy greater glory.

4. I return  thanks  also  to thy  divine  majesty,  because thou art  who  art,  and  for all the  good  thou  possessest. In thanksgiving  and  gratitude besides  for  all  the  gifts and blessings  given,  or  to  be given,  to  me  and  to  all  other thy creatures,  that  are,  or have  been,  or  shall  be; especially for  those  which  thou  hast hitherto most  bountifully  bestowed upon  holy  angels  and men, on  the  most  blessed  Virgin, on  the  most  sacred  humanity of  thy  Son  our  Lord, in the  manner  and  form  which pleases thee  best, — I offer thee, O my  God,  thyself,  who art the  fulness  and  perfection of all  things.

5. And  not  content  with this, from  this  moment  I give, deliver, and  dedicate  myself to thee,  in  token  of  gratitude; with the  desire  and  wish  to serve  thee  faithfully,  and  to love  thee  eternally  with  all my heart; most  humbly  praying that  thou  wouldst  vouchsafe to  accept  this  poor  offering, whatever  its  value, unworthy as  it  is  of  thy  majesty, and  already  thine  by  a thousand  titles. Amen.