Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/93

 of eternal  bliss  not  to  desire  it  so  ardently  as  to  be willing  to  resign  our  life  for  its  attainment. We should also  be  prepared  to  make  the  exchange  soon, for what  we  really  desire  we  are  anxious  to  possess.

Y God,  I firmly  believe  all  that  thou  hast  revealed concerning that  blissful  eternity  where  thy servants enter  into  thy  joys,  and  possess  the  kingdom prepared  for  them  from  the  foundation  of  the world. Hasten the  happy  day  when  the  joyful tidings shall  be  brought  to  me,  that  I must  go  into the house  of  the  Lord,  where  God  dwells, and  where I shall possess  the  liberty  and  freedom  of  his  children. Welcome be  the  hour  which  will  unite  me  to  my heavenly  Father’s  embraces. What have  I to  fear under the  shelter  of  that  mercy  which  has  been ensured to  me  by  a Saviour’s  blood,  first  poured  out upon the  cross,  and  now  again  mystically  shed  for me on  this  altar. O Lord! do with  me  according  to thy  will,  and  command  my  spirit  to  be  received  in peace: “ For  it  is  better  for  me  to  die, than  to  live” (Tob. iii.  6.)

DORE, with  the  greatest  respect,  Jesus  Christ elevated in  the  sacred  host. Reflect that  it  is only  through  the  all-atoning  merits  of  his  death  that you can  hope  for  and  lay  claim  to  eternal  life. Look on him  elevated  on  the  cross  where  he  negociates your salvation. Beg that  he  will  model  your  death on his  by making  you  partake  of  his  interior  dispositions.