Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/194

 and indeed;  that  here  is  thy  body  and  blood,  thy soul and  thy  divinity; I believe  that  thou,  my  Saviour, true God  and  true  man,  art  really  here  with  all  thy treasures; that here  thou  communicatest  thyself  to us,  makest  us  partakers  of  the  fruit  of  thy  passion, and givest  us  a pledge  of  eternal  life. I Relieve there cannot fee  a greater  happiness  than  to  receive  thee worthily, nor  a greater  misery  than  to  receive  thee unworthily. All this  I most  steadfastly  believe, because it  is  what  thou  hast  taught  us  by  thy  word, and by  thy  Church.

4. Conceive  a great  fear, and  humble  yourself. — But, O my God,  how  shall  I dare  approach  to  thee? so wretched  a worm,  to  so  infinite  a Majesty! so filthy a sinner,  to  such  infinite  purity  and  sanctity ! Alas ! my soul  is  covered  with  a universal  leprosy, and how  shall  I presume  to  embrace  thee ! My whole life has  been  nothing  but  misery  and  sin; and  it  is only  by  thy  mercy  that  I have  not  been  long  since  in hell,  which  I have  deserved  a thousand  times: and how shall  I venture  so  much  as  to  lift  up  my  eyes  to thee,  much  less  to  receive  thee  within  my  breast! I tremble at  the  sentence  of  thy  apostle:  he  that receives unworthily  receives  his  own  damnation; for  I cannot  but  acknowledge  myself  infinitely  unworthy; nor should  I dare  ever  to  come  to  thee,  were  I not excited by  thy  most  loving  and  pressing  invitation, and encouraged  by  thy  infinite  goodness  and  mercy: it is  in  this  mercy,  which  is  above  all  thy  works,  I put my whole  trust; and  in  this  confidence  alone  that  I presume  to  approach  thee. O! grant that  it  may  be with  a contrite  and  humble  heart; for  this,  I know, thou wilt  never  despise.

5. Make an  Act  of  Contrition. — Lord,  I detest  with my whole  heart  all  the  sins  by  which  I have  ever