Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/415

 closely  united  to  me  is  thy beloved Son,  in  whom  thou hast always  been  well  pleased, regard me  too,  I humbly  beseech thee,  with  the  eyes  of thy  mercy. His is  the  guardianship and  protection,  his the merits  under  whose  shadow I appear  before  thee, that, regarding  him  chiefly, thou mayest  mercifully  and graciously look  upon  me  also, as his  slave  and  servant  for ever.

Permit not,  I implore  thee, that soul  to  perish  which  has so often  received  into  itself thy Son,  who  was  sent  by thee,  and  came  into  the world, to  seek  and  to  save that which  was  lost. Grant me this  of  thy  infinite  mercy. Amen.

O most high  and  mighty God, I,  an  unworthy  sinner, desire to  reflect  upon  (or  to receive)  the  mysteries  of  the most holy  Body  and  Blood  of thy  Son,  for  the  praise  and glory of  thy  supreme  majesty; in  memory  of  the  most holy life,  passion,  and  death of Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour; in thanksgiving  for  all  thy gifts and  blessings  bestowed upon me,  an  unworthy  sinner, and on  thy  whole  Church;  for the propitiation  of  my  numberless sins; for  the  salvation of  myself  and  my  relations, N.; and  for  the  repose  of  the  departed  N.,  &amp;c. Truly, O Lord,  in  thee  alone  is all  that  can  satisfy  my  heart’s desire. For beside  thee  what have I in  heaven,  or  what  do I desire  upon  earth? Wilt thou not  thyself  be  our  reward exceeding  great?

But I also  humbly  offer thee, O Lord,  the  sacrifice  of a contrite  spirit,  in  union with the  Sacrifice  and  Sacrament of  the  Body  and  Blood of thy  Son  my  Saviour. For I am sorry  from  the  bottom of my  heart,  my  God,  my  sovereign Good,  who  art  so  kind