Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/625

 favour of  your,  unworthy  client,  those  happy  arms  that so often  bore  the  Son  of  God,  and  provided  for  him. Petition that  I may  live,  as  I wish  to  die,  always  in the  divine,  favour. I humbly implore  you  to  entreat your immaculate  Spouse  to  unite  her  supplications with yours,  that  I may  be  of  the  blessed  number  of the  elect. I most sincerely  desire  that  you  may  be present  at  the  dreadful  hour  of  my  death,  and  that the last  words  uttered  by my  parting  breath  may  be, Jesus, Mary,  and  Joseph.

Thy mercy  is  above  all  thy  works,  O most  Holy Trinity! I now appeal  from  the  tribunal  of  thy justice, and  prostrate  myself  before  the  throne  of thy  mercy,  to  obtain  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  and grace to  persevere  in  keeping  thy  commandments  to the  end  of  my  life. Who livest  and  reignest  one  God, for ever  and  ever. Amen.

OLY St.  Joseph,  you  who  are  that  good  and  faithful servant  to  whom  God  committed  the  care  of his  family: whom  he  appointed  guardian  and  protector of the  life  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  comfort  and  support of his  holy  Mother,  and  the  depository  of  his  great design of  the  redemption  of  mankind;  you  who  had the happiness  of  living  with  Jesus  and  Mary,  and  of dying  in  their  arms; chaste  spouse  of  the  Mother  of God: model  and  patron  of  pure  souls,  humble, patient, and  reserved; be  moved  with  the  confidence we place  in  your  intercession,  and  accept  with  kindness this  testimony  of  our  devotion.

We give  thanks  to  God  for  the  signal  favour  he hath  been  pleased  to  confer  on  you,  and  we  conjure him, through  your  intercession,  to  enable  us  to imitate  your  virtues. Pray for  us,  then,  O great