Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/205

 mountain of  thy  glory,  to  draw  near  to  thy  most holy sacrament,  and  to  receive  my  Legislator,  the Lord of  heaven  and  earth? I should certainly  not  dare to approach,  O Lord,  did  not*thy  majesty  command, and kindly,  and  with  a gentle  voice,  invite  me  to  draw near. Since, therefore,  thou  sayest,  Come  ye  all  to me,  behold  I come  to  refresh  my  soul. Thou hast said, Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me;  here then am  I,  who,  through  the  merits  of  thy  death, have become  like  to  a little  child  in  humility  and innocence.

RULY, O Lord, when  I reflect  upon  my  nothingness I am wholly  confounded. I am neither  an  Angel nor an  Archangel,  but  a creature  formed  of  clay  and of the  slime  of  the  earth,  and  these  blessed  spirits tremble and  veil  their  faces  before  thee. I am not  like John the  Baptist  sanctified  in  his  mother’s  womb,  but one conceived  and  born  in  sin. yet he  considered  himself unworthy  even  to  loose  the  latchet  of  thy  shoe — what therefore,  should  I feel? Behold, O Lord,  with sincere humility,  I am  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  thy majesty, knowing  and  acknowledging  my  unworthiness, and  confessing  that  though  I should  prepare for a thousand  years,  I should  still  be  infinitely unworthy to  approach  this  divine  sacrament. For thou here  present  art  the  Lord,  I am  thy  servant; thou art  the  Creator,  I the  work  of  thy  hand; thou the All-Holy,  I a sinner. Since therefore,  thou invitest me,  and  dost  threaten  me  with  death  if  I eat not of  thy  flesh; I come  to  thee,  and  even  because I am miserable  and  poor,  I hasten  all  the  more ’ to the  fountain  of  every  good. As the  hart  pants after the  fountains  of  waters,  so  does  my  soul  long