Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/518

 and love  of  thee;  grant  me  also  that  which  I  ask  in  this Novena, to  thy  greater  honour  and  glory. Amen.

Most holy  father  Francis  Xavier,  who  didst  receive praise from  the  mouths  of  innocent  children,  I  humbly implore thy  bountiful  charity,  for  the  sake  of  the  most Precious Blood  of  Jesus,  and  of  the  immaculate  conception of  our  Blessed  Lady,  Mother  of  God,  to  obtain  of God's  infinite  goodness  that,  at  the  approach  of  my  last hour, my  heart  may  be  separated  and  withdrawn  from all worldly  thoughts  and  distractions,  and  be  fixed  in  the most ardent  love  of  him,  and  the  desire  of  a  happy  eternity;  so  that,  laying  aside  all  earthly  things,  which  have hitherto perplexed  me,  I  may  most  diligently  seek  and perfectly find  that  one  thing  which  is  necessary,  to  die and rest  in  peace,  under  the  protection  of  the  most  holy Virgin Mary,  in  the  wounds  of  Jesus  her  most  blessed Son, in,  the  sweet  embraces  of  my  God,  and  in  thy  presence, holy  Saint,  through  whose  intercession  I  hope  to obtain  this  mercy. But yet,  whilst  it  shall  please  the divine providence  to  preserve  my  life,  I  beseech  thee,  my loving  protector  and  affectionate  father,  to  obtain  for  me of  his  divine  majesty,  that  I  may  live  as  one  that  is  to die,  and  as  I  would  wished  to  have  lived  at  the  hour  of my  death;  ever  imitating  thy  virtues,  and  fulfilling  the most holy  will  of  God,  that  so  my  temporal  death  may be to  me  a  passage  into  life  everlasting. I also  beseech thee to  obtain  for  me  that  which  I  ask  in  this  Novena,  if it  be  for  the  glory  of  God  and  for  the  good  of  my  soul. Amen.

Eternal God,  Creator  of  all  things,  remember  that thou alone  didst  create  the  souls  of  infidels,  framing them to  thy  own  image  and  likeness;  and  yet  behold, O Lord,  how  to  thy  dishonour  they  daily  become  a  prey to the  Evil  One. Remember, O  Lord,  thy  only  Son  Jesus Christ, who  suffered  for  them,  most  bountifully  shedding his Precious  Blood,  and  permit  not  that  he  be  any longer despised  by  the  infidels;  but  rather,  being  appeased by  the  entreaties  and  prayers  of  thine  elect,  of  the Saints, and  of  the  Church,  the  most  blessed  spouse  of  thy Son, vouchsafe  to  be  mindful  of  thy  mercy,  and,  forgetting their  idolatry  and  infidelity,  cause  them  also