Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/510



LORIOUS Saint! my powerful  protector  at  the throne of  God,  who  so  long  and  so  bitterly  bewailed the  slightest  faults,  you  see  before  you  a criminal soul, which,  though  guilty  of  numberless  and  grievous sins, can  with  difficulty  be  brought  to  conceive  the least sorrow  for  them. Obtain for  me,  I beseech you, some  degree  of  that  lively  and  profound  contrition with  which  you  were  penetrated,  and  which alone can  soften  my  hard  and  insensible  heart. If I do  not  merit  this  singular  favour,  my  divine  Saviour has merited  it  for  me,  and  he  demands  this  compunction of  me  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins. Intercede with him  for  me,  that  the  enormity  of  my  crimes may be  ever present  to  my  mind,  and  my  heart  always penetrated with  a sincere  sorrow  for  them,  to  the  end that I may  live  in  the  pleasing  hope  of  having  obtained that pardon  which  is  granted  only  to  repentance  and compunction. A contrite and  humbled  heart, O God, says the  Prophet,  thou  wilt  never  despise. ( Ps . 1.) Amen.

OST mortified  and  most  innocent  Aloysius! I feel humbled, and  stand  confounded  at  the  sight  of the  contrast  between  the  innocence  of  your  life  and the guilt  of  mine. You treated  your  innocent  body with the  utmost  rigour  and  severity; and  I,  though guilty of  so  many  sins,  seek  every  means  to  gratify