Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/219

 O my Jesus,  thou  art  infinitely  rich,  and  all  the treasures of  divine  grace  are  locked  up  in  thee: these treasures thou  bringest  with  thee  when  thou  comest to visit  us  in  this  blessed  sacrament,  and  thou  takest an infinite  pleasure  in  opening  them  to  us,  to  enrich our poverty. This gives  me  confidence  to  present thee now  with  my  petitions,  and  to  beg  of  thee  those graces and  virtues  which  I very  much  stand  in  need of, as  thou  best  knowest. Oh! increase and  strengthen my belief  of  thy  heavenly  truths,  and  grant  that henceforward I may  ever  live  by  faith,  and  be  guided by the  maxims  of  thy  gospel. Teach me  to  be  poor in spirit,  and  take  off  my  heart  from  the  love  of transitory  things,  and  fix  it  upon  eternity: teach me by  thy  divine  example,  and  by  thy  most  efficacious grace,  to  be  meek  and  humble  of  heart,  and in my  patience  to  possess  my  soul. Grant that  I may  ever  keep  my  body  and  soul  chaste  and  pure from the  corruptions  of  lust,  that  I may  ever  bewail my past  sins,  and  by  a daily  mortification  restrain  all irregular inclinations  and  passions  for  the  future. Above all  things,  teach,  me  to  love  thee,  teach  me  to be  ever  recollected  in  thee,  and  to  walk  always  in  thy presence; teach me  to  love  my  friends  in  thee,  and my enemies  for  thee; grant  me  to  persevere  to  the end in  thy  love,  and  so  to  come  one  day  to  that  happy place where  I may  love  and  enjoy  thee  for  ever.

Have mercy  also  on  my  parents,  friends,  and  benefactors, and  all  those  for  whom  I am  in  any  way bound to  pray,  that  we  may  all  love  thee  and  faithfully serve  thee. Have mercy  on  thy  whole  Church, and on  all  the  clergy  and  religious  men  and  women, that all  may  live  up  to  their  calling,  and  sanctify  thy name. Give thy  grace  and  blessing  to  all  princes and magistrates,  and  to  all  Christian  people;  and