Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/206

 after thee,  O my  God! Come, Lord,  my  heart  is open  to  thee,  unite  it  to  thyself,  since  it  languishes with thy  love. Would that  I possessed  the  ardent desires and  virtues  of  all  the  saints,  in  order  now  to receive  worthily  the  Lord  of  saints. Adorn me,  O Jesus,  with  thy  merits  and  the  beauty  of  thy  virtues, and then  I shall  be  worthy  even  of  so  great  a grace.

My Saviour, the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the  earth, thou art  the  hope  of  my  youth,  what  canst thou deny  me  who  givest  me  thyself? As thou  hast promised, he  that  eats  of  this  bread  shall  live  for  ever, I, relying  on  thy  ineffable  promises,  hope  through thv merits  and  the  virtue  of,  this  most  efficacious  Sacrament, to  obtain  from  thee  life,  grace,  and  eternal glory. And why  should  I not  hope  in  thee? Thou only hast  power  to  bestow  everything  upon  us,  and thou art  infinite  goodness,  grant  therefore,  through thy omnipotent  bounty,  what  I ask  of  thee. I am sick, be  then  my  physician,  and  heal  me; I am  blind, do thou  who  art  the  true  light,  enlighten  me; I am a sinner,  thou  the  fount  of  purity,  cleanse  me; I am ignorant,  thou  the  Eternal  Wisdom,  teach  me; I am  tepid,  thou  a consuming  fire,  inflame  me; save me, thou  who  savest  all  who  hope  in  thee; I have hoped in  thee,  O Lord,  I shall  never  be  confounded.

SHOULD not  satisfy  thee,  O my  Jesus,  in  this happy Communion  hour,  were  I to  offer  thee  but this salutary  fear  which  has  led  me  to  thy  sacred  feet, and this  shame-stricken  conscience  which  makes  me tremble  in  thy  holy  presence. The visit  thou  art about to  pay  me  is  a visit  cf  love. O Lover of  souls,