Page:Thecompleteascet02liguuoft.djvu/54

 I hope  for  forgiveness  through  the  merits  of  that  blood which Thou  hast  shed  for  me.

3. The  mercies  of  the  Lord  that  we  are  not  consumed: because his  commiserations  have  not  failed. Thus should he exclaim  who  finds,  to  his  confusion,  that  he  has frequently offended  God. He should  be  most  grateful  to  God  for  not  having  suffered  him  to  die  in  his  sins, and be  most  careful  not  to  offend  him  again;  otherwise the Lord  will  reproach  him,  saying:  What  more  could  I have  done  for  My  vineyard  that  I  have  not  done? a God  will say to  him:  Ungrateful  soul! if thou  hadst  committed the same  offences  against  man,  who  is  viler  than  the earth, verily  he  would  not  have  borne  with  thee. And how great  mercies  have  I  exercised  towards  thee! How many times  have  I  called  thee,  and  enlightened  thee, and pardoned  thee? The time  of  punishment  is  at hand;  the  time  of  forgiveness  is  past. — Thus has  God spoken to  many  who  are  now  suffering  in  hell;  where one of  their  greatest  torments  is  the  remembrance  of the  mercies  which  they  formerly  received  from  God.

Jesus, my  Redeemer  and  my  Judge! I also  have  deserved  to  hear  the  same  from  Thy  mouth;  but  I  hear Thee now  again  calling  me  to  pardon:  Be  converted  to  the Lord thy  God:1  O  accursed  sin,  which  has  made  me  lose my God,  how  much  do  I  abhor  and  detest  thee! I turn my whole  self  towards  Thee,  my  Lord  and  my  God! My sovereign  good,  I  love  Thee;  and  because  I  love Thee I  repent  with  my  whole  soul  for  having,  during the time  that  is  past,  so  much  despised  Thee. My God! I desire  never  more  to  offend  Thee:  give  me  Thy  love, grant me  perseverance. Mary, my  refuge,  succor  and help me.