Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/151



MY God! O infinite and  holy  God,  what  have I done? I confess that  my  sins  are  more numerous than  the  hairs  of  my  head  or  the  sands  on the  sea-shore. And yet  only  a single  one  of  them all was  enough  for  my  ruin. Yes, one  of  those  mortal sins was  enough  to  rob  me  of  heaven,  enough  to bring  down  thy  anger  on  my  defenceless  head. Hell opened under  my  feet  when  I committed  the  first, and yet  others  followed,  until  now,  like  a mountain, they lie  heavy  upon  my  soul. Alas ! why am  I not penetrated with  horror  and  fear  at  the  remembrance of my  guilt? Sinful soul,  what  hast  thou  gained  by all  these  sins? Nothing, O my  Lord,  nothing  but shame and  sorrow,  guilt  and  remorse. They have left me  without  joy  in  the  past,  or  hope  beyond  the grave.

But no,  my  most  merciful  Lord,  there  is  still  hope for me: for  I know  that  if  I do  penance  thou  wilt forgive me. I repent of  all  my  sins. I hate and detest them  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart. I am truly sorry  for  my  mad  and  senseless  conduct,  and T am resolved  to  sin  no  more. From this  moment  I devote  the  rest  of  my  days  to  penance  and  a holy  life. Yes, holy  and  merciful  God,  hear  my  firm  resolve: Forgive me  this  once,  and  rather  will  I lose,  a thousand  times  over,  all  the  world  has  of  goods, pleasures, honours,  health,  even  life  itself,  than  ever separate from  thy  grace  again !

Hear, sinner,  the  voice  of  God  thy  Father  and Benefactor, who  complains  thus  of  the  bitter  return which thou  hast  made  him  for  a thousand  benefits^