Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/223



Who am  I,  O  God  of  infinite  goodness,  that  thou shouldst permit  me  to  partake  of  this  bread  of  angels? How have  I  found  such  favour  in  thy  sight,  as  to  be  the object of  so  unspeakable  a  mercy? Come, all  ye  angels and saints  of  God,  and  I  will  recount  to  you  what  great things our  Lord  hath  done  for  my  soul. He hath  raised me out  of  the  dust,  and  delivered  me  from  the  bonds  of sin;  he  hath  told  me  not  to  be  dejected,  for  that  he  himself will  be  my  support  and  my  strength;  and  though I have  most  unworthily  forsaken  him  by  my  repeated follies, yet  behold  he  calls  me  once  more,  and  invites  me to  partake  of  the  bread  of  life,  that,  as  he  made  me,  so I  may  ever  live  by  him. What thanks  can  I  give  thee, O merciful  Jesus,  Saviour  of  the  world? What return shall I  make  thee  for  all  thou  hast  done  for  my  soul? Were I  to  give  all  I  have  in  acknowledgment  of  thy love, it  would  still  be  as  nothing;  for  thou,  Lord,  hast plentifully poured  forth  thyself  upon  me,  and  given  me even  all  that  thou  art;  and  if,  in  thanksgiving  for  thy mercies, I  were  to  lay  before  thee  my  body  and  soul, my life,  liberty,  and  all  I  possess,  what  would  they  be when  compared  to  the  blessings  thou  hast  here  bestowed on me;  what  to  the  debt  I  owe,  which  is  in  some  kind equal to  what  I  receive,  infinite  as  thyself? Thou hast mercifully given  thyself  to  me,  for  the  food  of  my  soul: and now  behold  I  offer  thee  all  that  I  have,  all  that I am,  all  that  I  possess;  to  thee  I  make  a  full  surrender of them  all,  that,  being  wholly  thine,  I  may  now  no longer  have  any  part  in  myself.

In fervour  of  spirit  and  humility  of  heart  I  approach thy holy  altar,  O  my  God,  to  implore  thy  mercy  and assistance. I adore  thee,  divine  Jesus,  really  present  in this  sacred  host;  I  acknowledge  my  unworthiness  to  receive thee;  yet  encouraged  by  thy  goodness,  I  venture to follow  the  impulse  of  my  heart,  which  powerfully  at-