Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/115

 the  blessed,  is  it  possible  that  thou  art  at  this  moment present in  my  heart? Yes, I firmly  believe  that  I possess  thee,  with  all  the  treasure  of  thy  merits.

O most sacred  Virgin,  who  so  long  bore  and  so fervently  loved  the  God  I now  possess,  praise  and magnify his  goodness. Offer him  for  me  those  joys which filled  thy  pure  soul  at  the  moment  of  his incarnation in  thy  sacred  womb,  and  assist  me  to make  some  return  for  his  unbounded  mercies.

Remember, O divine  Lord,  that  one  visit  from thee would  suffice  to  sanctify  the  greatest  sinner. Permit not,  then,  that  I should  receive  thee  in  vain. Let not  thy  precious  blood  fall  on  my  heart  without producing therein  the  fruits  of  virtue  thou  hast  so long  expected. Oh, take  me  out  of  life  this  moment rather than  permit  me  to  relapse  into  sin  l

Adorable Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  thou  beholdest in my  heart  thy  beloved  Son: he  is  all  mine; his abundant merits  belong  to  me  at  this  moment. 1 offer them  to  thee,  O my  God; and  in  return  I ask for the  most  ardent  love,  sincere  humility,  and,  above all, the  grace  never  to  offend  thee  by  any  mortal  sin.

DIVINE Jesus,  I possess  thee  now: thou  thyself, omnipotent as  thou  art,  can  give  me  nothing more estimable,  more  precious. O my God,  how canst thou  possibly  endure  thy  present  habitation, far more  wretched  than  the  stable  in  which  thou