Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/329

 me,  these  pains  most  patiently  and  lovingly  thou sufferedst for  me. What shall  I render  unto  thee? I adore and  glorify  thee,  I praise  thee  and  give  thee thanks, with  all  the  powers  of  my  soul. Jesus, Son of the  living  God,  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords! Hail, most  glorious  Redeemer  of  our  souls,  whose death quickens  and  gives  life  to  the  world.

O blessed Saviour,  have  mercy  on  me,  for  thy goodness’ sake; forgive  me  all  my  sins,  destroy  and mortify in  me  whatever  displeaseth  thee. Make me live  according  to  thy  heart,  and  grant  that  to  the utmost of  my  power  I may  most  diligently  imitate thy holy  life. O blessed Father  of  heaven ! behold I offer the  most  holy  incarnation,  life,  and  passion  of thy  dearly  beloved  Son  Jesus  Christ,  in  full  satisfaction for  all  my  sins,  and  perfect  amendment  of  my life. Grant, most  merciful  Father,  for  the  merits  of thy  only-begotten  Son,  to  the  living  mercy  and  grace and to  souls  departed  rest  and  life  everlasting. Amen.

N the  seventeenth  century  our  Lord  revealed  to  a religious  of  the  order  of  the  Visitation,  his  desire that His  Sacred  Heart  should  be  publicly  honoured.

Appearing to  her,  one  day,  He  disclosed  His Sacred Heart,  surrounded  by  flames  and  surmounted by the  cross,  and  addressed  to  her  the  following words:

"Behold this  Heart,  which  has  loved  men  so much  that  it  has  spared  nothing,  but  even  exhausted itself,  to  testify  its  love; and  yet  I meet  no  other return  from  the  greater  number  than  ingratitude,