Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/539

 with strength  from  above,  that  I may  patiently  suffer all the  pains,  uneasiness,  and  difficulties  of  my  illness. Grant that  I may  cheerfully  submit  to  them  as  just punishments of  my  manifold  offences,  and  duly  offer them in  union  with  the  sufferings  and  death  of  my blessed  Redeemer  on  the  cross,  through  whose  merits I look for  mercy,  and  hope  to  obtain  eternal  life&gt; Have pity  on  me,  O most  loving  Father! Clothe me with  thy  grace,  and  receive  me  into  the  arms  of  thy mercy. "Create a clean  heart  in  me,  O God! and renew  a right  spirit  within  my  bowels." ( Psalm 1.  12.) Cast out  from  thence  whatever  profanes  or  defiles thy temple. Eradicate from  my  heart  whatever  is displeasing  to  thee,  and  lay  in  me  the  foundation  of  a new  life. I am heartily  sorry  for  having  ever  offended thy infinite  goodness,  either  in  thought,  word,  deed, or omission. I most humbly  implore  the  pardon  of all  my  sins,  I now  firmly  purpose  never  to  offend thee more,  but  to  avoid  everything  that  may  be  to me  an  occasion  of  sin. I resolve to  make  restitution and satisfaction  for  the  injuries  I have  committed; for the  love  of  thee  I sincerely  forgive  all  those  who have in  the  least  injured  me: I beseech  thee  to  pardon them, and  to  grant  them  the  same  blessings  I desire for my  own  soul. With the  utmost  humility,  I also heartily beg  pardon  of  all  those  to  whom  I have given any  offence,  whether  by  bad  example,  words, deeds, or  any  other  way,  deliberately  or  indeliberately. Thou knowest,  O Lord,  my  frailty,  being nothing but  dust  and  ashes; preserve  me  from  all temptations, and  be  thou  my  defence  against  all  the assaults of  the  evil  spirit,  that  in  this  sickness  I may no ways  offend  thee; and  if  it  is  to  be  my  last,  I beg of thee  so  to  direct  me  by  thy  grace,  that  I may  not neglect the  necessary  means  of  salvation,  nor  be