Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/240

 thou dost  indeed  desire  it,  but  hast  no  one  to give  thee  the  assistance  necessary; thy  divine  physician being  at  hand,  and  ready  to  do  thee  this  charitable office: let  thy  answer  therefore  be,  Yes,  Lord, I desire it,  and  most  ardently  too; and  as  a proof of my  sincerity,  I submit  to  all  that  thou  shalt  judge expedient for  my  cure. Order whatsoever  thou  wilt, and thy  directions  shall  be  punctually  attended  to; command me  to  refrain  from  this  or  that  gratification, to avoid  certain  occasions,  and  thou  shalt  be  punctually obeyed.

O Jesus, who  in  this  adorable  sacrament,  art  both physician and  remedy! Be thou  my  health,  my strength,  and  my  life. Dwell in  my  heart,  that  it may  be  cured  of  its  corruption; dwell  in  my  mind, that it  may  be  cured  of  its  blindness; dwell  in  my imagination,  that  it  may  be  cured  of  its  folly; dwell in all  my  senses,  powers,  and  faculties,  that  they  may be regulated  by  thy  law,  and  under  thy  control.

O Jesus, my  all  powerful  physician! not only  dost thou restore  health,  but  thou canst  even  raise  to  life. Having, as  I trust,  in  thy  infinite  mercy,  been cleansed from  my  sins  in  the  tribunal  of  penance, and been  restored  to  the  life  of  grace  by  the  application of  thy  most  sacred  blood  to  my  soul,  grant that having  received  thyself  as  a pledge  of  thy  forgiveness, I may  say  with  thy  Apostle:  “I  live, now  not  I,  but  Christ  liveth  in  me.”  (Gal. ii.  20.) Thou art  “ the  resurrection  and  the  life: he  that believeth ” in thee,  “ although  he  be  dead, shall  live: and every  one  that  liveth,  and  believeth  ” in  thee, “shall not  die  for  ever.” (John  xi.  25,  26.)  This  I believe,  O Lord,  on  thy  sure  word.

O divine life! thou alone  canst  satisfy  my  desires. O life! thou art  the  inexhaustible  source  of  all  grace