Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/100

 which thou  hast  established  as  my  guides  in  the  path of virtue? But henceforth,  O increated  Wisdom ! I will look  up  to  thee  for  counsel; thy  sacred  word shall be  the  leading  star  whose  bright  rays  will  never fail me. I will study  it,  I will  meditate  the  lessons it contains; do  thou  enlighten  my  mind,  that  I may understand them,  and  strengthen  my  will,  that  I may be enabled  to  practise  what  they  enjoin. Grant, dear Lord,  that  I may  never  more  offend  thee: O take  me  wholly  to  thyself,  and  render  my  heart  conformable to  thine. I place my  soul  and  body  under thy protection; let  my  exterior  be  regulated  by  thy law, and  my  soul  centered  in  thyself. Place thy  seal upon me,  that  wherever  I go,  it  may  be  visible  to  all that I am  thine.

But how  dare  I make  such  high  requests,  after having been  so  unfaithful  to  thee? My confidence in thy  goodness  encourages  me,  for  did  I not  know that thou  lovest  mercy  better  than  justice,  I should not presume  to  address  thee.

ONSIDER that  all  your  miseries  come  from  preferring a material  life,  of  which  the  bread  and wine are  figurative,  to  that  divine  and  supernatural life which  Jesus  Christ  wishes  to  communicate  to you. Resolve to  live  according  to  the  spirit,  and not according  to  the  flesh.

Y God! confiding in  the  merits  of  the  victim  that is going  to  be  offered  to  thee. I humbly implore thy forgiveness  for  the  too  great  tenderness  with which I have  hitherto  treated  this  body  of  corruption, which has  been  the  cause  of  most  of  my  sins. Passion