Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/323

 receive spiritually,  for  the  nourishment  of  our  souls with heavenly  grace  from  this  fountain  of  grace. Oh, come, dear  Jesus,  into  our  poor  famished  souls, satisfy our  hunger  here  this  day  with  this  heavenly bread, till  we  come  to  the  more  happy  day  of  eternity, where all  veils  being  withdrawn,  we  shall  for  ever feast upon  thy  divinity. In the  meantime,  as  to  the necessities of  this  life,  grant  us  what,  in  thy  wisdom, thou seest  best  for  us,  and  most  conducive  to  thy honour and  our  eternal  welfare.

Our sins,  Lord,  are  innumerable,  the  debt  that  we owe  thee  is  infinite; and  we  are  poor  and  miserable, unable of  ourselves  to  discharge  the  least  part  of  this debt, or  to  make  satisfaction  for  the  least  of  these sins. But, prostrate  in  spirit  before  thee,  we  humbly implore thy  mercy. We desire  to  offer  thee  the sacrifice of  a contrite  and  humble  heart. We offer thee the  death  and  passion  of  thy  only  Son,  which  he has  made  over  to  us  for  the  discharge  of  our  debts. And, as  he  has  promised  forgiveness  to  those  that  % forgive, we  here  from  our  hearts  forgive  all  that  have offended us,  and  hope  through  him  to  obtain  forgiveness from  thee.

Alas ! O Lord, man’s  life  upon  earth  is  a continual temptation. We are  encompassed  on  all  sides  with mortal enemies: the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil, are ever  attacking  us  with  united  forces. Our only hope in  all  these  dangers  and  conflicts  is  in  thy strength and  protection. O stand thou  - for  us,  and we care  not  who  is  against  us. We believe  that  thou art faithful,  and  volt  not  suffer  us  to  be  tempted  above