Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/105

 partake  of  this  wheat  of  the  elect,  and  of  this  wine producing virgins,  I may  be  entirely  changed  in  heart and mind. The inveteracy  of  no  disease  can  resist thy all-healing  power;  if  thou  commandest,  all maladies must  obey. Say then  to  my  soul,  as  thou didst to  the  leper,  “ Volo: mundare ” “ Be  thou  made clean” (Matt.  viii.  3.)  That  word  will  restore  me  to health; for  as  thy  word  alone  created  me,  so  thy word can  again  repair  me. But in  mercy  root  out self-love from  my  soul,  it  being  the  cause  of  all  my evils. I know thou  art  more  anxious  to  grant  my petitions,  than  I am  to  obtain  them. Do then  what thou so  much  desirest. Grant me,  dear  Jesus,  thy love, and  a true  zeal  for  thy  glory. Shew me  what thou desirest  of  me,  and  I will  willingly  pass  the  remainder of  my  life  in  accomplishing  it. But if  thou thinkest fit  to  punish  me  for  my  sins,  grant  that  it may  be  so  as  to  correct,  and  not  to  harden  me; to bring  me  to  thee,  and  not  to  drive  me  from  thee.

IVINE Jesus,  Mediator  of  the  New  Testament, who didst  ascend  into  heaven,  to  appear  in  the presence of  God  for  us  (Heb . ix.  24),  yet  daily descendest on  our  altars  to  renew  that  sacrifice  by which  we  were  all  redeemed,  mercifully  penetrate my heart  with  a just  sense  of  the  happiness  and  the advantage of  assisting  at  a sacrifice  by  which  I can abundantly satisfy  the  justice  of  God,  honour  his