Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/96

 to visit  me,  leave  me  some  token  of  thy  presence; enable me  to  overcome  my  passions,  particularly  that from which  I may  fear  the  worst  consequences  at  the hour of  my  death. Do not  refuse  me,  since  it  is  for thy glory  that  I beg  it. I am conscious  that  my continued  offences  deserve  that  thou  shouldst  let  me die  in  them,  but  the  blood  which  thou  hast  shed  to cleanse  me  from  them,  cries  to  the  Eternal  Father for mercy. “ What shall  I render  to  the  Lord  for  all things that  he  hath  rendered  to  me? I will take  the chalice of  salvation, and  call  upon  the  name  of  the Lord.” ( Psalm  cxv.  12, 13.)  What  shall  I return thee for  thyself,  which  thou  hast  been  pleased  to give  me? I will give  thee  my  life,  which  is  all  that have. I really desire  then  to  die,  if  such  be  thy will. Unite my  death  to  thine,  and  if  thou  canst not say  to  me,  as  thou  didst  to  Magdalen,  “ Many sins are  forgiven  her  because  she  hath  loved  much” ( Luke vii.  47),  say  at  least  to  me,  as  thou  didst  by thy  prophet  to  repentant  Israel,  u I am  he  that  blots out thy  iniquities  for  my  own  sake, and  I will  not remember thy  sins  .”  (Is.  xliii.  25.)  O Eternal  Father! thy Son  has  given  himself  to  me,  that  I may  offer him to  thy  justice  to  cancel  my  debts,  and  to  obtain all I stand  in  need  of. I present him  to  thee  with all the  merits  of  his  life  and  death,  begging  that  I may  be  discharged  from  the  heavy  load  of  my  sins, that I may  receive  the  last  sacraments  with  the necessary dispositions,  and  be  enriched  with  all  that I may require  to  make  my  death  precious  in  thy sight. With joy  I receive  death  from  thy  hands, because it  gives  me  to  thee,  and  because  it  alone  can bestow thee  upon  me,  by  a happy  exchange. Amen.