Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/163

 the vineyard  thou  hast  moistened  with  thy  blood, planted with  the  choicest  vines,  and  cherished  with the fondest  care! But let  thy  mercy  alone  judge between thee  and  thy  vineyard. What can  I do  for my sins  but  humbly  confess  them,  and  lament  them, and incessantly  implore  thy  mercy  for  them? Hear me, I beseech  thee,  in  thy  mercy,  where  I stand  before thee, O my  God. All my  sins  displease  me  exceedingly; I will  never  commit  them  any  more: I am sorry  for  them? and will  be  sorry  for  them  as  long  as I live: I am  willing  to  do  penance  for  them,  and  to make  satisfaction  to  the  utmost  of  my  power. Forgive me, O my  God,  forgive  me  my  sins  for  thy  holy name's sake. Save my  soul  which  thou  hast  redeemed with thy  precious  blood. Behold, I commit  myself to thy  mercy; I resign  myself  into  thy  hands; deal with me  according  to  thy  goodness,  not  according  to my  wickedness  and  iniquity.

My God! I offer thee  the  confession  I am  going to make,  to  thy  greater  glory,  and  in  obedience  to  thy will. I beg that  my  soul  may  become  more  pleasing in thy  sight,  by  being  purified  in  thy  most  precious blood; and  that  by  the  humble  confession  of  my sins,  I may  satisfy  thy  justice,  repair  the  dishonor done to  thee  by  them,  and  obtain  that  sanctifying grace which  may  preserve  me  from  again  relapsing into them. Grant to  my  soul,  in  making  this  confession, all  the  necessary  dispositions  of  humility and contrition,  which  I ought  to  have  in  order  to please  thee  and  sanctify  myself. Divine Lord! I acknowledge that  I have  done  much  evil,  and scarcely any  good; and  the  little  good  I have  done has been  accomplished  with  so  much  negligence  that it stands  as  nothing  before  thee; indeed  all  my actions  have  been  void  of  virtue,  and  full  of  irregu-