Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/488

 tent thief,  saying,  This  day  thou  shalt  he  with  me  in Paradise;  by  thy  descent  into  Limbus,  and  the  joy  thou communicatedst to  the  just  souls  therein  detained;  by the  glory  of  thy  triumphant  resurrection,  and  the  consoling appearance  thou  frequently  didst  vouchsafe  for forty days'  space  to  thy  sacred  Virgin  Mother,  to  thy apostles, and  thy  other  chosen  friends  and  servants;  by thy  admirable  ascension,  when,  in  the  sight  of  thy  holy Mother and  thy  Apostles,  thou  wast  elevated  into  heaven; by the  miraculous  coming  down  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in the  form  of  fiery  tongues,  whereby  thou  replenishedst the hearts  of thy  disciples  with  thy  love,  and  gavest them strength  and  courage  to  plant  thy  faith in  the whole world;  by  the  dreadful  day  of  general  judgment, on which  thou  wilt  pass  sentence  on  all  mankind.

By all  those  sorrows,  joys,  passions,  compassions,  and whatsoever else  is  dear  to  thee  in  heaven  and  on  earth, take pity  on  me,  O  compassionate  Redeemer! hear my prayers,  and  grant  me  that  for  which  I  now  most humbly and  heartily  petition  thee. [Mention here  the thing you  desire,  or  reflect  mentally  upon  it.]  Give  me, O gracious  Saviour,  speedily  to  experience  thy  divine succour and  comfort,  who,  according  to  the  accustomed sweetness of  thy  tender  heart,  art  wont  to  grant  the requests of  those  who  fear  and  love  thee,  even  to  their soul's desire  and  satisfaction;  bestow  on  me  also,  O blessed  Jesus,  a  constant  faith,  a  firm  hope,  a  perfect charity, a  true  contrition,  a  sincere  confession,  a  full satisfaction, a  diligent  guarding  of  myself  from  future failings, a  contempt  of  the  world,  a  complete  conquest of my  passions,  a  zealous  imitation  of  thy  exemplary  life and conversation,  an  entire  accomplishment  of  my  vows, an absolute  mortification  of  my  self-will,  a  willing  readiness to  die  for  thy  love  and  honour,  a  final  perseverance in grace  and  good  works,  a  happy  departure  of  my  soul out of  this  world,  with  my  perfect  senses  about  me,  and with thy  holy  sacraments  to  strengthen  me;  thyself,  O dear  Jesus,  to  comfort  me! thy sacred  Virgin  Mother, with the  saints,  my  particular  patrons,  to  pray  for  me; and my  good  angel  to  conduct  me  to  eternal  rest  and happiness. Amen.