Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/538

 our  death,  the  sweetness  of  divine  love,  that  all  bitterness at  that  time  may  become  acceptable  and pleasant to  us.

''Ave Maria. ''

MY God,  I consider  this  sickness  with  which thou art  pleased  to  visit  me,  as  a favour  from thy fatherly  hand. I accept of  all  its  circumstances and consequences  in  satisfaction  for  my  sins. Thou hast given  me  health  and  strength,  O Lord,  and  taken them away; may  thy  holy  name  be  blessed  for  ever. I bow down  my  whole  soul  to  adore  thee  in  all  thy appointments. I resign myself  entirely  into  the hands of  thy  providence,  and  acknowledge  that  thou dost treat  me  with  too  much  indulgence. I know I deserve  greater  evils  than  those  I now  endure,  and that my  sins  have  merited  pains  infinitely  greater than those  of  hell,  where  I would  long  since  have been, had  not  thy  mercy  interposed  between  my  soul and thy  justice. Alas! how many  are  now  suffering therein for  crimes  considerably  less  than  mine. My pains are  nothing  in  comparison  to  theirs. I have no reason  to  complain. May thy  holy  will  be  done on earth  as  it  is  in  heaven. I offer myself  with  entire submission to  suffer  whatever  thou  pleasest — as  long as thou  pleasest — and  in  what  manner  thou  pleasest. May this  sickness  be  to  the  honour  of  thy  holy  name, and the  good  of  my  soul. O Lord, have  pity  on  my weakness,  and  deal  not  with  me  according  to  my sins,  but  have  compassion  on  me  according  to  the multitude of  thy  tender  mercies. Confirm my  soul