Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/90

 if I would  be  faithful  to  thee; and  the  least difficulty has  made  me  prevaricate. Had I but once displeased  thee,  it  were  still too  much; but, alas! I have multiplied  my  sins  above  the  hairs of my  head; they  are  countless. I have sinned in every  place  though  surrounded  by  thy  gifts; no hour  of  my  life  has  been  unstained  with guilt, and  this  after  thy  repeated  pardon. But besides my  own  sins,  how  many  have  I not  caused others to  commit! Forgive, merciful  God,  these crimes; I am truly  sorry  for  them,  and  I detest  them with my  whole  heart. Would I could, shed  tears  of an  infinite  sorrow  to  cancel  every  trace  of  such sinful ingratitude. To supply  for  what  is  wanting in me,  accept,  my  God! of the  sorrow  with which Jesus,  my  Saviour,  was  overwhelmed  in  the Garden of  Olives,  and  on  the  cross,  for  the  sins  of the  whole  world,  and  for  mine  in  particular. Purify me from  my  secret  sins,  and  pardon  those  I have occasioned in  others. Despise not,  O God,  a contrite heart, which  has  no  hope  but  in  thy  infinite  mercy, and in  the  promise  thou  hast  made,  that  when  a sinner  grieves  for  his  sins,  thou  wilt  no  longer remember his  iniquities. If, dear  Lord,  I have  ceased to be  thy  dutiful  child,  thou  hast  not  ceased  to  be my  loving  Father. I have nothing  to  offer  in  satisfaction for  my  sins  and  ingratitude,  but  my  life; and that I give  with  my  whole  heart  as  a victim  of  propitiation, and  with  it  I sacrifice  all  that  I loved  or enjoyed  when  I had  the  misfortune  to  stray  from  the path of  virtue. At this  very  instant,  if  it  should please thee  to  deprive  me  of  all,  I am  resigned,  and would think  myself  most  happy  if  my  death  could be caused  by  the  intensity  of  my  sorrow,  for  having ever abandoned  thy  service.