Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/101

 and sensual  pleasures  have  withdrawn  me  from  thy service, and  though  I know  them  to  be  enemies  that conspire my  ruin,  I want  courage  to  resolve  upon declaring war  against  them,  and  I hesitate  to  walk in thy  footsteps. Help me,  O my  Saviour! and enable me  by  thy  all-powerful  grace  to  conquer  the flesh, and  all  the  temptations  it  suggests  to  me,  and grant that  thy  holy  love  may  prove  an  impenetrable shield against  all  its  assaults. Thou art  going  to change  bread  and  wine  into  thy  precious  body  and blood: wilt  thou  not,  O Lord,  at  the  same  time, change my  heart,  and give  me  one  conformable  to thine? Assist me,  my  God,  with  thy  all-powerful grace, for,  as  I cannot  rise  from  my  evil  habits  without thy  assistance,  so  neither  can  I persevere  in  good without a continuance  of  thy  grace. Grant it  to  me, I beseech thee,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ, my Saviour,  who  is  going  to  sacrifice  himself  for  me.

My dear  Saviour,  blessed  be  this  hour,  in  which thou wilt  offer  thyself  to  thy  Eternal  Father  for my salvation,  and  the  remission  of  my  sins. A far less sacrifice  from  so  great  a priest  could  not  but  find acceptance; what then  may  I not  hope  for  from  this, in which  thou  art  not  only  the  priest  that  offers  it, but the  victim  that  is  offered?

I hope not  only  for  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  but also for  all  that  may  promote  thy  glory,  and  the  good of my  soul,  as  a holy  life  and  a happy  death,  the accomplishment of  thy  merciful  designs  upon  me, and that  thou  wilt  be  pleased  to  form  my  heart according to  thy  own. All this  I ask  purely  that  I may  become  more  pleasing  in  thy  sight. Imprint thy law  upon  my  heart; grant  me  grace  to  observe it faithfully. Look favourably  on  thy  people; bless them, and  give  them  all  that  thy  mercy  has  designed