Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/112

 merable crimes? O Lord, with  the  most  sincere conviction of  my  wretchedness,  I protest  with  the centurion, that  I am  not  worthy  thou  shouldst  enter under my  roof. ( Matt . viii. 8.)  .Shall  I then  say 'With St. Peter,  Depart  from  me,  O Lord,  for  I am  a sinful  creature? (Luke v.  8.)  Shall  I depart  from this sanctuary,  which  I am  Unworthy  to  enter,  and relinquish that  happiness  for  which  my  soul  sighs, but which  I shall  never  merit?

Ah! no, my  divine  Saviour! I will not  leave  thee; for to  whom  should  I go  but  to  thee? Hast thou not invited all  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden  to approach  thee? (Matt. xi.  28.)  Therefore,  notwithstanding the  miseries  of  my  soul,  I come,  perfectly convinced that  if  thou  wilt,  thou  canst  make  me  clean. (Matt. viii.  2.)  I am  weak,  but  thou  wilt  be  my sovereign  strength; I am  poor,  but  thou  wilt  adorn my soul  with  the  riches  of  thy  grace. Thou wilt destroy my  pride  by  the  force  of  thy  profound humiliations in  the  centre  of  my  soul. Thou wilt warm my  tepidity  by  the  fire  which  thou  earnest  on earth  to  enkindle. (Luke xii.  49.)  Thou  wilt  communicate to  me  thy  divinity  itself,  that  I may  not live, but  that  thou  mayest  live  in  me. Come, then, O my God,  the  desire  of  the  everlasting  hills  ( Gen, xlix.  26),  the  friend  of  sinners,  the  comfort  of  the afflicted, the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  (Psalm lxiv.  6),  come  into  my  house,  and  let  salvation  enter with thee  (Luke  xix.  9); come,  that  my  soul,  united with thee,  may  magnify  its  Lord,  and  my  spirit  rejoice in God  my  Saviour. (Luke i.  46,  47.)

FATHER of  my  soul,  who  residest  in  the highest heavenS,  and  yet  attendest  to  the  wants