Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/158

 Confession. Accept on  my  behalf,  O adorable  Jesus! the clear  view  thou  hadst  of  all  my  sins  in  the  Garden of Olives,  to  supply  for  my  imperfect  knowledge  of them,  or  any  defect  in  my  examination. I offer up thy  sighs,  thy  tears,  thy  fainting,  thy  bloody  sweat, and the  bitter  anguish  which  penetrated  thy  amiable heart, to  supply  for  the  weakness  of  my  contrition. I offer thee  thy  merciful  resolution  of  dying  for  the expiation of  sin,  to  atone  for  any  deficiency  thou mayst discern  in  my  determination  never  more  to offend  thee,  and  to  perform  all  the  actions  of  my  life in the  spirit  of  contrition  and  penance. O adorable Heart of  Jesus! which was  sorrowful  even  unto death for  those  very  sins  I am  about  to  accuse myself of; which  was  wounded  on  the  Cross,  and thus became  the  refuge  of  sinners,  I call  on thee  now  with  all  the  earnestness,  humility,  and confidence I am  capable  of,  and  entreat  of  thee, by thy  infinite  love  for  sinners,  to  remember  all  I cost  thee,  and  to  apply  to  my  soul  abundantly  the infinite merits  of  thy  humiliations,  sufferings,  and anguish.

HOLY God,  who  art  always  ready  to  receive sinners into  thy  favour  and  to  pardon  them; look mercifully  upon  my  poor  soul,  which  after  so many  offences  returns  again  to  thee,  in  order  to obtain  pardon  through  thy  Holy  Sacrament. Grant me the  necessary  preparation; enlighten  my understanding,  that  I may  see  all  my  sins: soften my  heart,  that  I may  be  truly  sorry  for them; direct my  words,  that  I may  make  a good confession, and  thereby  obtain  forgiveness;  and  let not my  self-love  blind  me  in  any  way.