Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/223

 perfect happiness  of  all  the  saints,  through  the  same Jesus Christ  our  Lord. Amen.

Bless my  God  for  me,  O ye  angels  and  saints; thank my  Lord  for  me,  and  sing  forth  his  praises  to supply  for  my  deficiency; love  my  Jesus  for  me. O Truth and  Beauty,  ever  ancient  and  ever  new ! Too late have  I known  thee,  O ancient  Truth; too  late have I loved  thee,  O eternal  Beauty; too  long  have I gone astray  from  thee! When shall  the  time  come, that, disgusted  with  all  earthly  things,  I shall  seek my happiness  in  thee  alone,  and  find  rest  to  my soul? O heavenly manna  ! O adorable sacrament! O inestimable pledge  of  God’s  love  to  mankind! O standing memorial  of  Christ's  passion  and  death! O inexhaustible fountain  of  divine  grace  ! O boundless mercy! O divine charity  ! O sacred fire,  ever  burning and never  decaying  ! Hail, O merciful  Jesus! my only happiness and  delight  ! the joy  of  my  soul,  and  my portion  for  ever! May my  soul  be  sensible  of  thy adorable presence,  and  may  I taste  how  sovereignly sweet thou  art  in  the  sacrament  of  thy  love. Purify my heart,  O divine  Lord,  from  the  dross  of  all earthly affections! enable me  to  curb  my  vicious inclinations, and  to  withstand  the  dangerous  attacks of my  infernal  enemy; deign  to  bestow  on  me  those virtues that  will  render  me  pleasing  in  thy  sight - particularly ardent  charity,  profound  humility,  heroic patience, and  perfect  obedience. O may I prove  the extent of  my  gratitude  by  the  most  constant  fidelity in thy  service,  and  may  I rather  die  than  ever  again offend thee  by  any  mortal  sin.

O that I could  have  the  happiness  of  seeing  thee loved and  faithfully  served  by  all  creatures! Vouchsafe to  let  the  light  of  thy  countenance  shine  upon those who  are  in  the  darkness  of  infidelity,  and  dispel