Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/170

 since, in  the  Sacrament  of  Penance,  hast  thou  hot purified my  soul  from  its  deliberate  and  voluntary faults!

For behold  thou  hast  loved  truth:  the  uncertain  and  hidden things  of  thy  wisdom  thou  hast  made  manifest  to  me.

O God, thou  lovest  truth,  hear  me  then  whilst  I bear  witness  against  my  own  ingratitude. Who ever had  stronger  motives  for  fidelity  than  I? Thou hast been  pleased  to  pour  thy  graces  and  lights  into my soul,  thou  hast  manifested  to  me  secrets  and mysteries hidden  from  the  lovers  of  the  world: I am then  more  guilty  than  they.

Sprinkle me  with  hyssop, and  I shall  be  cleansed:  wash me,  and  I shall  be  made  whiter  than  snow, 

“ For if  the  blood  of  goats  and  oxen,  and  the  ashes of a heifer  being  sprinkled,  sanctify  such  as  are  defiled, to the  cleansing  of  the  flesh: how  much  more  shall the blood  of  Christ,  who  by  the  Holy  Ghost  offered himself unspotted  unto  God,  cleanse  our  conscience from dead  works,  to  serve  the  living  God 1”  ( Heb . ix.  13,  14.)  O my  God,  my  Jesus ! it is  thou  alone who canst  restore  innocence  to  my  soul  which  thou prizest so  much. Thou wilt  wash  me  in  thy  blood, a single drop  of  which  would  suffice  to  purify  the entire world,  and  I shall  become  whiter  than  snow.

''To my  hearing  thou  shalt  give  joy  and  gladness; and  the bones  that  have  been  humbled  shall  rejoice. ''

It is  then,  O my  God,  that  thou  wilt  make  my  soul hear words  of  joy  and  gladness; thou  wilt  assure  her that whatever  may  be  her  trials  in  this  life  all  is  well since she  is  thy  friend;  that  thou  wilt  never  withdraw thy  eyes  from  her; that  her  name  is  written in thy  heart; and  then,  all  her  powers  which  had been humbled  and  cast  down  by  the  sight  of  he miseries  and  offences  shall  exult  with  a holy  joy.