Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/494

 for the  joy  with  which  thou  wert  filled,  when  I was purified in  the  waters  of  baptism; and  for  thy anxious solicitude  in  watching  over  the  treasures  of my  innocence. Thou knowest  the  numberless  graces and favours  which  my  Creator  has  bestowed  on  me through  thee,  and  the  many  dangers,  both  spiritual and temporal,  from  which  thou  hast  preserved  me. Thou knowest  how  often  thou  didst  deplore  my  sins, animate me  to  repentance,  and  intercede  with  God for my  pardon. Ah! why have  I so  little  merited  a continuance  of  the  zealous  efforts  for  my  salvation? Why have  I so  often  stained  my  soul  by  sin,  and thereby rendered  myself  unworthy  of  the  presence and protection  of  an  angel,  of  so  pure  a spirit  as thou  art,  who  never  sinned? Still, as  my  ingratitude and thoughtlessness  have  not  lessened  thy  charitable interest for  my  salvation,  they  shall  not  diminish  my confidence  in  thy  goodness,  nor  prevent  my  abandoning myself  to  thy  care,  since  God  himself  has intrusted thee  with  the  charge  of  my  soul. Penetrated with sorrow  for  the  little  progress  I have  made  in virtue,  though  blessed  with  such  a Guide,  sincerely determined to  correspond  in  future  with  thy  exertions for my  salvation,  I most  earnestly  entreat  thee,  O protecting  Spirit,  to  continue  thy  zealous  efforts  for my eternal  interest; to  watch  over  my  youth,  to direct  my  inexperience,  to  fortify  my  weakness,  to shield  me  from  the  innumerable  dangers  of  the  world, and rather  to  obtain,  by  thy  powerful  prayers,  that my life  may  be  shortened,  than  that  I should  live  to commit  a mortal  sin. Remember, O most  happy Spirit! that it  was  one  act  of  profound  humility, and one  transport  of  ardent  love  for  thy  Creator, that caused  God  to  establish  thee  for  ever  in  glory; obtain that  those  virtues  may  be  early  implanted  in