Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/109

 implore thy  mercy  on  behalf  of  all  those  in  the dreadful state  of  mortal  sin; and  to  obtain  the deliverance of  the  suffering  souls  in  purgatory. To this offering  I unite  an  unreserved  oblation  of  my whole  being; and  I desire  to  do  so  with  the  most generous and  ardent  love. I conjure thee,  O my God,  by  the  perfect  oblation  of  my  divine  Saviour  on the  altar  of  the  cross,  to  pardon  my  past  ingratitude, and to  grant  me  the  inestimable  grace  of  preservation from all  mortal  sin. But, O my  sovereign  Benefactor, how shall  I thank  thee  for  the  precious  gift  of  thy body and  blood,  which  thus  enables  me  to  satisfy  my obligation  V This  gift,  which  the  homage  of  angels and men  would  be  insufficient  to  acknowledge,  can only be  repaid  by  itself. I then offer  thee  my Redeemer  himself, as  a sacrifice  of  praise,  and  pay  my vows  to  thee  ( Psalm  cxv.  J 8),  in  union  with  him  in whom  from  all  eternity  thou  wert  well  pleased.

ERMIT not,  O Lord,  that  my  mind  should  wander from the  consideration  of  the  adorable  mysteries now celebrating  on  this  altar. Enlighten my  understanding— inflame  and  animate  every  affection  of  my heart — that  I may  be  attentive  to  these  miracles  of mercy  and  love. Oh, give  me  to  understand  the breadth, and  length,  and  height,  and  depth  ( Eph . iii. 18)  of  that  love  which  will  soon  veil  thy  glories  under the humiliating  forms  of  bread  and  wine! Oh, that my heart  were  penetrated  with  ardent  love,  that  I might  be  Enabled  to  acknowledge  less  unworthily thy infinite  greatness  and  boundless  mercies! Prostrate in spirit  before  that  throne  of  glory  where  the cherubim and  seraphim,  with  all  the  heavenly  host, adore thy  awful  Majesty,  I conjure  thee  to  receive