Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/545



LORY and  thanksgiving  be  to  thee,  O Lord,  who in thy  sweetness  hast  been  pleased  to  visit  and refresh my  poor  soul. “Now thou  dost  dismiss  thy servant, O Lord,  according  to  thy  word,  in  peace; because my  eyes  have  seen,”  and  my  soul  hath received, my  “ salvation.”  ( Luke  ii.  29,  30.)

Now I willingly  bid  farewell  to  the  world,  and  with joy I go  to  thee,  my  God. Nothing more,  dear  Jesus, shall separate  me  from  thee. In thee  I will  live,  in thee  I will  die,  in  thee  I hope  to  abide  for  ever. Now life seems  uneasy  to  me; I “ desire  to  be  dissolved and to  be  with  Christ”  (Phil.  i.  23),  “for  whom  have I suffered the  loss  of  all  things,  and  count  them  as dung,  that  I may  gain  Christ.”  (Phil.  iii.  8.)  Now “ though I should  walk  in  the  midst  of  the  shadow of death,  I will  fear  no  evils,  for  thou  art  with  me  ” (Ps. xxii.  4),  O Lord. “ As the  hart  panteth  after the fountains  of  water,  so  my  soul  panteth  after thee, O God: my  soul  hath  thirsted  after  the  strong living God; when  shall  I come  and  appear  before  the face of  God.”  (Ps.  xli.  2.  3.)

Give me  thy  blessing,  O Jesus,  and  establish  my soul  in  everlasting  peace; such  peace  as  thou  alone canst give: such  peace  as  it  may  not  be  in  the  power of my  enemy  to  destroy.

O that I were  happily  united  to  thee  for  ever; that I were wholly  swallowed  up  and  buried  in  thee; that my soul  were  at  rest  in  the  enjoyment  of  thee,  my God,  for  ever. “ What have  I in  heaven,  and  beside thee what  do  I desire  on  earth”  (Ps.  xxii.  25),  my God?

Soul of  Christ,  sanctify  me; body  of  Christ,  save