Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/512

 heart with  a decided  horror  for  every  kind  of  impurity, that I may  not  only  detest  it,  but  may  also  carefully shut up  all  the  avenues  by  which  it  might  seek  to insinuate  itself  into  my  soul. This I am  resolved  to do,  with  the  assistance  of  your  protection,  and  of  the patronage of  the  most  holy  Mother  of  God. May my heart  become  undefiled,  that  I may  never  be  confounded. Amen.

FAITHFUL servant  of  God,  Aloysius, who  have deigned to  take  me  under  your  protection! how greatly must  you  be  shocked  at  the  pointed  difference which  you  cannot  but  perceive  between  your dispositions and  mine! Your soul  was  ever  so  pure, and so  disengaged  from  the  things  of  the  earth,  and mine is  a slave  to  earthly  sentiments,  and  longs  only for the  false  goods  of  this  world. You were  always closely united  with  God; and,  to  my  shame,  I seek only to  estrange  myself  from  him. Alas! when I consider  the  frivolous  goods  which  engross  all  the affections of  my  heart,  I feel  that  I ought  to  be ashamed  of  my  misery  and  weakness. You will doubtless tell  me  that I am  so  miserable  and  weak,  only because I do  not  think  of  God. You will  say  to  me what  the  Prophet  Isaias  said  to  the  unfaithful  Jews: “You have  forgotten  your  Saviour, and  you  have  not called  to  mind  the  God  who  is  your  strength  and  your support.” I must  own  that I justly  merit  this  reproach; but  I address  myself  with  confidence  to  you, and beseech  you  to  obtain  for  me  some  part  of  that divine grace  which  united  you  so  closely  with  God. May the  eternal  truths  ever  force  themselves,  in  a manner,  upon  my  mind,  and  may  my  mind  always remain fixed  and  absorbed  in  the  contemplation  of