Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/107

 because she  loved  thee  much,  still  greater  crimes  will be remitted  to  me,  because  thou  hast  infinitely  loved me, a wretched  creature. O adorable Jesus,  in  thy love and  mercy  I firmly  trust; deign,  then,  to  do  for me what  is  altogether  above  my  strength  and  capacity; purify  my  soul,  and  prepare  it  for  the  reception of thy  life-giving  sacrament.

BELIEVE, O my  God,  every  article  proposed  by thy  holy  Catholic  Church  to  my  belief; and through thy  grace  I am  disposed  to  die  rather  than relinquish the  precious  gift  of  faith,  which  elevates me to  the  adoption  of  the  sons  of  God,  and  makes me heir  and  joint-heir  with  Jesus  Christ. (Rom. viii. 15-17.)  I believe: O divine  Lord,  penetrate my heart  and  soul  with  the  entire  import  of  these short but  comprehensive  words,  and  let  them  produce one of  those  prodigies  of  grace  and  conversion which so  often  followed  from  similar  confessions. I believe all  thou  hast  revealed,  without  exception  or reserve; for  thou  hast  the  words  of  eternal  life,  and thou art  likewise  the  way  and  the  truth. (John xiv. 6 ) On  thy  unerring  word  I also  most  firmly believe that  thou  art  really  present  in  the  august sacrament of  which  I am  about  to  participate. Oh, what miracles  are  contained  in  this  sacred  and  ever-adorable  mystery! Incomprehensible as  they  are,  I believe  them  all; I adore  thy  omnipotence,  which  is a sufficient  pledge  of  their  possibility; and  thy boundless love  proves  to  me,  in  an  endearing  manner, that they  are  real. Were my  faith  as  animated  as I hope  it  is  sincere,  my  heart  would  be  inflamed  at the  near  approach  of  its  heavenly  guest,  and  every movement of  my  body, and  soul  would  be  a transport