Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/492

 Aspiration. — Glory be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the Son, and  to  the  Holy  Ghost; as  it  was  in  the  beginning, is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world  without  end. Amen.

GOD of  all  holiness! infinitely pure  and  adorable Being! how great  must  be  thy  horror  of  the  least stain of  sin,  since  thou  punishest  so  rigorously  in  the flames of  purgatory  the  venial  faults  of  those  whom thou so  tenderly  lovest. Ah! mercifully enlighten my understanding,  that  the  torments  thou  inflictest on the  least  offence  in  the  other  world,  may  teach me the  enormity  of  sin,  and  penetrate  my  heart  with compassion for  those  souls  who  are  now  enduring inexpressible pains,  for  such  failings  as  perhaps  I too often look  on  as  trivial. My God,  though  thy  justice banishes them  from  that  kingdom  where  nothing defiled can  enter,  yet  surely  thy  mercy  has  not  forgotten them; no,  thou  art  too  good,  too  compassionate to abandon  the  work  of  thy  own  hands. Though the season  for  merit  and  repentance  is  now  past  for them, yet  thou  hast  left  them  a resource  in  the prayers of  thy  servants  on  earth. Despise not  then, O Lord, the  supplication  which  I,  thy  unworthy child, now  make  for  those  who  can  no  longer  implore thy mercy  for  themselves. Remember, O infinite Goodness, that  they  are  all  the  work  of  thy  hand; redeemed by  the  precious  blood  of  thy  only  Son; consider that  they  are  the  objects  of  thy  infinite  love, who burn  with  the  most  ardent  desire  to  be  united  to thee. Have mercy  on  them  then,  O infinite  mercy, and for  thy  own  sake  stretch  forth  to  their  relief  those sacred hands  by  which  they  were formed; apply  to  them