Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/195

 offended thy  divine  Majesty,  from  the  first  moment that I was  capable  of  sinning,  to  this  very  hour. I desire to  lay  them  all  down  here  at  thy  feet,  to  be cancelled  by  thy  precious  blood. What can  I do  for them, but  humbly  confess  and  lament  them  all  my lifetime! and this  I heartily  desire  to  do,  and  from this moment  continually  to  cry  to  thee  for  mercy. Hear me,  O Lord,  by  that  infinite  love  by  which  thou hast shed  thy  blood  for  me: Oh! let not  that  blood be shed  in  vain. All my  sins  displease  me  now exceedingly, because  they  have  offended  thy  infinite goodness. By thy  grace  I will  never  commit  them any more: I am  sorry  for  them,  and  will  be  sorry  for them as  long  as  I live; and  according  to  the  best  of my  power  will  do  penance  for  them. Forgive me, dear Lord,  for  thy  mercy’s  sake; pardon  me  for  all that is  past; and  be  thou  my  helper  for  the  time  to come,  that  I may  never  more  offend  thee.

6. Make  an  Act  of Divine  love. — O sweet  Jesus,  the God of  my  heart,  and  the  life  of  my  soul,  as  the  hart pants after  the  fountains  of  water,  so  does  my  soul pant after  thee,  the  fountain  of  life,  and  the  ocean  of  all good: I am overjoyed  at  the  hearing  of  these  happy tidings, that  I may  go  to  the  house  of  our  Lord; or rather,  that  our  Lord  is  to  come  into  my  house,  and take up  his  abode  with  me. Oh ! happy moments, when I shall  be  admitted  to  the  embraces  of  the  living God, for  whom  my  poor  soul  languishes  with  love ! O come, dear  Jesus,  and  take  full  possession  of  my heart  for  ever ! I offer it  to  thee  without  reserve; I desire  to  consecrate  it  eternally  to  thee. I love thee with my  whole  soul  above  all  things: at  least,  I desire so  to  love  thee: it  is  nothing  less  than  infinite love that  brings  thee  to  me. Oh ! teach me  to  make a suitable return  of  love.