Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/356

 hearts, and  may  thy  amiable  Heart  draw  all  hearts  to thee.

Sweet Jesus! receive this  act  of  love,  May  it  be acceptable  in  thy  sight  from  my  hands,  and  those  of thy  servants  of  this  Association,  whom  I particularly recommend to  thee. Amen.

OST compassionate  Heart  of  Jesus,  hypostatically  united  to  the  Eternal  Word! ever present in the  holy  Eucharist,  receive  my  homage,  and  the tribute of  atonement  for  sin  which  I here  pay,  prostrate at  the  throne  of  thy  justice.

What have  we  hitherto  been  doing,  my  God? Thou hast bestowed  on  us  most  signal favours,  even  to  the surprise of  heaven  itself,  and  these  without  any  merit on our  part,  even  while  we  offended  thee; and  as thou  lovest  us  beyond  measure,  so  without  measure thou continually  heapest  thy  blessings  upon  us. For all these  what  return  have  we  made? what ingratitude have  we  not  shewn? O God of  pity  and  compassion! cast the  eye  of  thy  mercy  on  our  present repentance, or  rather  look  not  on  us; look  on  the blessed spirits  in  thy  heavenly  court,  and  especially on the  ever  faithful  Virgin; look  on  thy  devout servants, who  always  obey  thy  commands,  hearken to thy  inspirations,  and  follow  thy  directions. These will intercede  with  thee  in  our  behalf; these  will atone for  our  sins,  plead  our  cause,  and  obtain  pardon for past  neglects. These will  keep  us  firm  and  unalterable in  our  present  purposes  and  resolutions  of loving  and  serving  thee  more  fervently  hereafter.

Sweet Jesus ! receive this  act  of  atonement  for  sin. May it  be  acceptable  in  thy  sight  from  my  hands,