Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/119

 his creature  here  below. O most merciful  Lord,  do thou  crown  all  thy  mercies,  by  bestowing  on  me  that humble, contrite  heart  which  is  the  only  offering  thou desirest to  receive  from  thy  creatures. O Divine Lord, assisted  by  that  grace  which  I have  this  day abundantly received,  I now  make  thee  a free  oblation of my  whole  being,  to  which  I am  determined  never more to  be  unfaithful.

KING of  heaven  and  earth,  thou  art  he  whose greatness and  whose  majesty  no  created  intelligence can  ever  comprehend,  and  whose  amiable  perfections no  human  heart  can  ever  sufficiently  love. How, then,  shall  I presume  to  appear  before  thee? How shall  I pronounce  that  sacred  name  I am  so unworthy  to  utter? Yet, my  God,  permit  me,  for the sake  of  the  adorable  Victim  I have  received,  to offer  thee  my  most  fervent  adoration,  in  union  with the angels  who  surround  this  altar; or  rather,  in  union with the  acceptable  adorations  of  my  divine  Redeemer, the Holy  of  Holies,  the  Lord  of  angels.

By thee,  O great  High  Priest,  who  hath  passed  into the heavens  ( Heb . iv.  14),  I can  join  worthily  in  the praises which  resound  in  the  heavenly  Jerusalem! Thou art  come  to  me  this  day  in  the  name  of  the Lord. Blessed for  ever  be  that  infinite  mercy  which is come  to  pardon  me! Blessed be  that  love  which is come  to  inflame  me! Blessed be  that  liberality which is  come  to  enrich  me! O Son of  David,  Son of the  Most  High  God,  may  never-ending  Hosannas celebrate thy  mercies  heaped  on  me! and may  I, through  thy  infinite  goodness,  one  day  join  in  the praise which  will  ascend  before  thy  throne  for  all eternity!