Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/234



ONSIDER God  as,  thy  Father,  and  thyself  as  his most ungrateful  and  rebellious  child; say  with a heart penetrated  with  compunction,  “I will  arise, and  will  go  to  my  father.”  (Luke  xv.  18.)

With affectionate  solicitude,  attend,  O my  Father, to what  thy  compassionate  heart  shall  suggest  to thee  in  behalf  of  thy  unhappy  erring  child  who  so basely  abandoned  thee. O most tender  and  most loving of  all  Fathers! thou art  then  willing  to  receive this prodigal  child,  who  has  so  justly  incurred  thy heaviest displeasure; to  change  her  affliction  into joy, her  poverty  into  wealth,  and  her  misery  into happiness. Who can  sufficiently  admire  such  an excess  of  goodness! I detest from  my  soul  my  past disorders. I am heartily  sorry  for  them,  and  beg  thy merciful forgiveness. I resolve, with  thy  grace, rather to  die  than  ever  again  wilfully  offend  thee. I shall endeavour  by  my  love,  respect,  and  submission, to atone  for  my  ingratitude  and  rebellion. Sincerely do I desire  to  return  to  thee  my  Father:  all  my thoughts,  affections,  desires,  and  actions,  shall  serve this day  as  so  many  steps  towards  my  return  to  thee, by means  of  the  zeal  and  love  with  which  I purpose to perform  them. Not only  dost  thou  receive  me, O merciful Father,  but  thou  makest  a banquet  for my entertainment. O signal mark  of  thy  goodness! But clothe  me  first,  I beseech  thee,  like  the  prodigal child, with  the  robe  of  charity; give  me  the  ring  of faith,  and  the  sandals  of  hope,  that  I may  worthily partake of  this  heavenly  food,  no  other  than  thy  own precious body  and  blood,  exhibited  in  a state  of