Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/202

 awe and  trembling  to  the  table  of  thy  sweetest  banquet. For my  heart  and  my  body  are  stained  with many sins,  my  mind  and  my  tongue  have  not  been kept with  fitting  diligence  and  circumspection. Wherefore, O compassionate  Godhead,  O dread  and awful Majesty,  I,  thy  wretched  creature,  who  am  fallen into a great  strait,  betake  myself  to  thee,  the  Fountain of mercy; to  thee  I hasten  that  I may  be  healed; beneath thy  protection  I take  my  refuge; I long  to have  thee  for  my  Saviour,  before  whom  as  my  judge 1 can in  nowise  stand. To thee,  O Lord,  I now show my  wounds;  before  thee  I lay  bare  all  this my shame. I know my  sins,  so  many  and  so  great, by reason  of  which  I am  afraid. I hope in  thy mercies, which  are  past  numbering. Look on  me with  the  eyes  of  thy  mercy,  O Lord  Jesus  Christ, everlasting king,  God  and  man,  who  wert  crucified for man. Graciously hear  me  who  hope  in  thee; have mercy  on  me  who  am  full  of  miseries  and  of sins,  O thou  full  and  overflowing  Fountain  of  pity and of  mercy. Hail, thou  saving  Victim,  offered  for me and  all  mankind  upon  the  tree  of  the  Cross. Hail, thou  noble  and  precious  Blood,  which  dost  ever flow forth  from  the  wounds  of  my  crucified  Lord Jesus Christ,  to  wash  away  the  sins  of  the  whole world. Remember thy  creature,  O Lord,  whom  thou hast redeemed  with  thine  own  Blood. I grieve that I have sinned; I do  earnestly  desire  to  amend  what  I have  done  amiss. Wherefore, O merciful  Father,  take away from  me  all  my  iniquities  and  my  sins,  that, being cleansed  in  soul  and  body,  I may  worthily receive the  holy  Food  of  the  holy; and  grant  that the sacred  taste  of  thy  Body  and  Blood  which  I, unworthy,  am  about  to  receive,  may  be  to  me  the remission of  my  sins,  the  perfect  expiation  and