Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/461

 God, his  hope  of  salvation. Indebted as  I am  to thee  for  the  preservation  of  my  life,  I entreat  thee  to restore  me  to  the  grace  of  thy  divine  Son. Thou art the surest  pledge  of  my  salvation; deliver  me,  then, by thy  prayers,  from  the  heavy  load  of  my  sins. Disperse the  darkness  of  my  understanding; banish every inordiriate  affection  from  my  heart; repress the temptations  of  my  spiritual  enemies,  and  so  order my life,  that,  under  thy  protection,  I may  arrive  at eternal  repose  in  heaven.

Short Prayer,  etc. — "Change  my  heart,  Mary,  my Mother,  thou  canst  do  it.”

T. Bernard  assures  us  that  the  charity  of  Mary towards us  could  not  be  more  tender  nor  more powerful than  it  is, for  her  heart  is  always  full  of  compassion for  us,  and  her  good  will  is  accompanied  with power to  help  us. So, then,  most  pure  and  virgin Queen, thou  art  rich  in  power  and  rich  in  compassion. Thou art  both  able  and  desirous  to  save  us  all. I will pray  to  thee  to-day  and  always  in  the  words  of the  devout  Blosius: O my  Sovereign,  protect  me  in my  combats,  fortify  me  in  my  weakness. O most holy Mary,  in  this  great  contest  which  I sustain against hell,  aid  me  always: but  if  ever  thou  seest me wavering  and  ready  to  yield,  O my  Sovereign, stretch out  thy  hand  to  me  without  delay,  and  sustain me more  powerfully. O God, what  temptations  still remain to  be  surmounted  until  death! Ah! Mary, my refuge,  my  strength,  and  my  hope,  never  permit that I should  lose  the  grace  of  God,  for  I am  resolved, in all  my  temptations,  to  have  always  immediate recourse to  thee.