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 whole lives  to  prayer,  penance,  and  the  practice  of  good works. And what  do  we  do  for  the  same  end?

O my  God! many years  of  my  life  are  already  past, already death  is  near  at  hand,  and  what  good  have  I hitherto  done  for  Thee? Give me  light,  and  strength, to devote  the  remainder  of  my  days  to  Thy  service. Too much,  alas! have I  offended  Thee;  I  desire  hence forth to  love  Thee.

3. With  fear  and  trembling  work  out  your  salvation.  To obtain  salvation  we  must  tremble  at  the  thought  of being  lost,  and  tremble  not  so  much  at  the  thought  of hell,  as  of  sin,  which  alone  can  send  us  thither. He who dreads sin  avoids  dangerous  occasions,  frequently  recommends  himself  to  God,  and  has  recourse  to  the  means of keeping  himself  in  the  state  of  grace. He who  acts thus will  be  saved;  but  for  him  who  lives  not  in  this manner it  is  morally  impossible  to  be  saved. Let us attend  to  that  saying  of  St.  Bernard:  "  We  cannot  be  too secure  where  eternity  is  at  stake."

Thy blood,  O  Jesus,  my  Redeemer! is my  security. I should have  been  already  lost  on  account  of  my  sins, hadst Thou  not  offered  me  Thy  pardon,  on  condition  of my  repentance  for  having  offended  Thee. I am  sorry therefore with  my  whole  heart  for  having  offended  Thee, who art  infinite  goodness. I love  Thee,  O  sovereign good! above every  other  good,  I  know  that  Thou  willest  my  salvation,  and  I  will  endeavor  to  secure  it  by loving  Thee  forever. O Mary,  Mother  of  God! pray to Jesus  for  me.

1. How  is  it  possible  to  believe  that  the  Creator  should have been  willing  to  die  for  us,  his  creatures? Yet we