Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/501

 thee, as  the  merciful  advocate  and  tender  Mother  of all  Christians; most  earnestly  desiring  that I could collect in  my  heart  alone,  all  the  tender  and respectful sentiments  which  ever  animated  thy  most devoted servants. But to  supply  for  my  deficiencies, I offer thee  the  filial  tenderness  with  which  Jesus Christ loved  thee,  and  the  respect  and  obedience  with which, as  thy  dear  Son,  he  deigned  to  honour  thee. O Mother of  Mercy! who wert  never  known  to reject  any  one  that  had  recourse  to  thee,  receive  me as  thy  child,  for  the  sake  of  Him  who  confided  me to  thy  care  in  his  agony  on  the  cross. Permit me  to choose  thee  for  my  glorious  Patroness,  my  dear Mother, and  the  object  next  to  God,  of  my  respect, gratitude, and  love. Ah! do not  refuse  to  receive me under  thy  maternal  care,  and  to  grant  me  a place in thy  amiable  heart. Let me  have  the  honour  and happiness of  being  ranked  from  my  youth  among thy most  devoted  children; that  by  loving  and serving thee,  I may  learn  to  serve  and  love  God perfectly; and by  endeavouring  to  imitate  thee,  I may  imitate  Jesus  Christ,  whose  most  perfect  image thou art. Accept, then,  the  oblation I now  make  to thee  of  my  heart,  that  thou  mayst  present  it  to Jesus  Christ,  in  union  with  the  early  sacrifice  thou didst make  of  thy  pure  heart  in  the  Temple. O mercifully deign,  most  powerful  Virgin,  to  obtain for me  grace  to  make  an  early  and  perfect  sacrifice of my  heart  and  whole  being  to  Him,  for  whose  love and service  alone  I was  created. Teach me  by  thy early flight  from  the  world,  to  dread  and  despise  the world, and  to  profit  of  the  advantage  of  my  present situation, that  thereby  I may  be  prepared  to  meet the temptations  and  dangers  to  which  I may  be exposed. Obtain for  me  an  abundant  share  in  the