Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/150

 grace complete  that  work  in  me  which  thy  infinite mercy has  begun. Let thy  clemency  come  to  the succour of  thy  miserable  creature: take  pity  and compassion on  my  poor  soul. I am firmly  resolved, with the  aid  of  thy  grace,  to  amend  my  life,  confess my sins,  and  persevere  in  thy  service — to  pardon injuries, avoid  the  occasions  of  evil,  and  abhor  my vices — to  make  such  restitution  as  I am  able,  and  to observe,  as  in  duty  bound,  all  thy  Commandments. I trust, O Lord,  in  thy  infinite  goodness,  that  thou wilt pardon  all  my  sins  through  the  death  and  passion of my  Lord  Jesus  Christ; for  though  in  his  wounds there is  justice  to  punish  me,  yet  in  the  same  wounds there is  likewise  mercy  to  forgive  me. Mercy! mercy! mercy! Jesus have  mercy  on  me.

Consider, first,  the  enormity  of  a mortal  sin. It is an  insult  to  Almighty  God,  and  a contempt  of his  holy  law. Call to  mind  that  you  have  sinned before him  who  knows  all  things,  and  sees  the  most secret actions  and  the  silent  thoughts  of  the  heart; that you  have  given  the  death  blow  to  your  immortal soul; that you  have  drawn  down  upon  yourself  the anger and  punishment  of  the  living  God,  a God  who in his  just  vengeance  is  awful  and  terrible; that  he it  is  who  cast  for  ever  into  hell  the  holy  Angels when they  first  rebelled  against  him; that,  alas! many of  the  damned  who  are  now  groaning  in  the eternal pains  of  hell,  have  not  committed  so  great and so  many  sins  as  you; and  that  while  death  is perhaps  already  very  near,  it  is  only  the  infinite patience of  this  most  merciful  God  that  makes  him wait until  now  for  your  conversion.