Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/116



1. O most  honoured  Lord, my God,  Father,  Son,  and Holy Ghost! I confess myself entirely thine,  as  well  because thou hast  created  me,  as  be* cause thou  hast  redeemed  me; not to  speak  of  innumerable other blessings  bestowed  on me,  for  which,  though  I offered myself  to  thee  a thousand times  every  hour,  I should  remain  a debtor  to thee  notwithstanding  to  an infinite  amount. Such as  I am,  then,  to  the  best  of  my ability,  I freely  consecrate, offer, and  give  myself  wholly to thee,  to  be  a perfect  holocaust both  of  soul  and  body, with all  that  I have,  or  ever am able  to  acquire.

This I wish  to  do  in  the manner thou  desirest,  and  is most  becoming  for  me  to  offer and  consecrate  myself  to thee. And I therefore  most willingly and  freely  submit myself for  ever  to  thy  most holy precepts  and  commandments.

And because  I am  now  entirely thine,  I beseech  thee so to  take  possession  of  me, that I may  never  again  become my  own; but  that  every wish, word,  and  deed  of  mine may henceforth  be  nothing else than  what  thy  most  holy and just  will  would  have  me wish,  say,  and  do:  and  that what is  not  my  wish,  word, and deed,  may,  in  the  same way, be  what  is  not  thy  wish, word, and  deed. And that I may do  only  when,  how, and as  much  as  pleases  thee, whatever thou,  most  honoured Lord,  art  pleased  that  I should  do,  and  not  otherwise.

2. I offer  thee,  besides,  all the riches  and  spiritual  graces, as well  of  all  the  things  thou hast created,  as  of  those  which thou holdest  still  in  the  treasures of  thy  almighty  power; so that,  if  all  were  mine,  I would  most  willingly  yield them to  thee,  or  at  least  employ them  only  for  thy  love and honour.

3. I offer  to  thee  all  the spiritual graces,  the  thoughts, the words,  and  good  works, which all  men  who  are,  have been, or  ever  shall  be  in  this world, have  done,  are  doing, or shall  do;  nay,  all  the thoughts, words,  and  good works which  could  belong  to the  infinite  number  of  men which thy  almighty  power could create. So that,  for thy love,  if  I were  able,  I would  do  the  same  as  they, as perfectly  as  thou  knowest to be  possible,  and  in  the  way most pleasing  to  thy  majesty.