Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/200

 deeply humbled  by  my  sins,  but  full  of  confidence  in thy  mercy  and  thy  love  for  me,  I come  to  receive  thee into my  heart  this  day.

T grieves  me  deeply,  O God  of  my  soul,  that hitherto I have  not  loved  thee,  that,  instead  of loving  thee,  I have  frequently  even  offended  and displeased thy  infinite  goodness  in  order  to  satisfy  my wicked  inclinations. I have abandoned  thee,  in contempt  of  thy  grace  and  of  thy  friendship: in  a word,  I have  lost  thee,  O my  God,  and  that  wilfully. I am sorry  for  it; yes,  Lord,  my  whole  soul  is  full of grief. I hate and  detest  all  the  sins  that  I have committed, both  mortal  and  venial; I detest  them more than  any  other  evil,  because  they  have  offended thee, who  art  infinitely  good. I hope that  thou  hast already forgiven  me,  but  if  it  be  not  so,  O forgive me before  I receive  thee: cleanse,  O my  God,  with thy precious  blood,  this  soul  into  which  thou  art coming soon  to  dwell.

AVE courage,  my  soul. See! the happy  moment has arrived,  and  thy  Jesus  is  coming  to  dwell  in thy  heart. Behold the  Lord  of  heaven  and  of  earth, thy Saviour  and  thy  God,  who  is  drawing  nigh  to thee,  who  intends  to  visit  thee. Prepare thyself  then to receive  him  lovingly,  invite  him  with  your  desires, and say  to  him: Come,  O Jesus,  come  into  this  heart that longs  for  thee; but  before  thou  givest  thyself  to me,  I will  first  give  myself  to  thee; see! I give up to  thee  this  poor  heart,  receive  it,  and  hasten  to  take possession of  it.

Come, O my God,come promptly  and  without  delay! My only  and  infinite  good,  my  treasure,  my  life,  my