Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/624

 to bless  me  with  such  a true  sense  of  my  former offences, that  I grieve  not  so  much  for  the  fear of punishment,  as  for  the  misfortune  of  having offended thee,  the  centre  of  all  goodness.

I steadfastly purpose,  through  thy  grace,  to  seek thee seriously,  by  the  reformation  of  my  life,  that  I may  find  thee  in  the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  reigning with the  Father  and  Holy  Ghost,  world  without  end. Amen.

MNIPOTENT God,  who  didst  descend  from heaven to  bring  fire  on  the  earth! inflame my frozen  heart,  that  I may  imitate  the  virtues  of  St. Joseph. As a poor  wretch  at  the  gate  of  some  noble and generous  prince,  expecting  an  alms,  so  I appear before thee,  wounded  in  all  my  senses  by  sin,  and imploring charity  in  my  great  distress. I grieve for what has  passed,  not  because  I fear,  but  because  I love. Nothing has  succeeded  with  me,  because  I never  consulted thee  as  1 ought: I hope,  O Lord! that I do not  come  too  late. I beg, through the  intercession of St.  Joseph,  that  I may  avoid  evil  and  do  good; that I may  leave  the  broad  way  of  iniquity  and  walk in the  narrow  road  that  leads  to  eternal  happiness; that I may  consecrate  the  remaining  days  of  my  short life to  thy  honour,  and  attain  the  end  for  which  I was created: to admire,  praise,  and  love  thee  for  ever  and ever. Amen.

MOST glorious  Patriarch,  my  dear  Patron! blessed are  the  eyes  that  see  what  you  now  see. Through the  infinite  merits  of  Christ,  and  by  your powerful intercession,  I hope,  with  holy  Job,  that  in my  flesh  I shall  see  God  my  Saviour. Stretch out, in