spiritual sweetness, and fervent desires of thy glory; ravish my soul with the contemplation of heaven, where I shall everlastingly dwell with thee. Bring often to my remembrance thy unspeakable goodness, thy gifts, and thy great kindness shown to me. And when thou bringest to my mind the sad remembrance of my sins, whereby I have so unkindly offended thee, comfort me with the assurance of obtaining thy grace, by the spirit of perfect penance, purging away my guilt, and preparing me for thy kingdom. Have mercy on all sinners, &c. FIFTH PETITION. JESUS [ten times], make me constant in faith, hope, and charity, with continuance in all virtues, and resolutions not to offend thee. Make the memory of thy passion, and of those bitter pains thou sufferedst for me, sustain my patience, and refresh me in all tribulations and adversity. Make me ever hold fast the doctrines of thy holy Catholic Church, and be a diligent frequenter of all holy duties. Let no false delight of this deceitful world blind me, no fleshly temptations or fraud of the devil shake my heart: My heart, which has for ever set up its rest in thee; and is resolved to give up all things for thy eternal reward. Have mercy on all sinners, &c. "Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."-Phil. ii. 8. HEA EAR these my petitions, O most merciful Saviour, and grant me thy grace so frequently to repeat and consider them, that they may prove easy steps, whereby my soul may ascend to the knowledge, love, and performance of my duty to thee and to my neighbour, through the whole course of my life. Amen. Our Father, &c. Hail, Mary, &c. PART II. SIXTH PETITION. JESUS [ten times], enlighten me with spiritual wisdom, to know thy goodness, and all those things which are most acceptable to thee. Grant me a clear apprehension of my only good, and discretion to order my life according to it. Grant that I may wisely proceed from virtue to virtue, till at length I arrive at the clear vision of thy glorious Majesty. Permit me not, dear Lord, to return to those sins for which I have sorrowed, and of which I have purged myself by confession. Grant me grace to benefit the souls of others by my good example, and to convert those by good counsel who have used me ill. Have mercy on all sinners, &c. SEVENTH PETITION. JESUS [ten times], grant me grace inwardly to fear thee, and to avoid all occasions of offending thee. Let the threats of the torments which shall befall sinners, the fear of losing thy love and thy heavenly inheritance, ever keep me in awe. Let me not dare to remain in sin, but call me soon to repentance; lest through thine anger the dreaded sentence of endless death and dam. nation fall upon me. May the powerful intercession of thy blessed Mother and all the saints, and, above all, thy own merits and mercy, O my Saviour, be ever between thy avenging justice and me. Enable me, O my God, to work out my salvation with fear and trembling; and may the apprehension of thy sacred judgments render me a more humble and diligent suitor at the throne of grace. Have mercy on all sinners, &c. EIGHTH PETITION. JESUS [ten times], grant me grace truly to love thee for thy infinite goodness, and those great bounties I have received, and hope for ever to receive, from thee. Let the remembrance of thy kindness and patience conquer the malice and evil inclinations of my perverse nature. Let the consideration of my many deliverances, and thy gracious calls and continued protection through life, shame me out of my ingratitude. And what dost thou require of me, for and by all thy mercies, but to love thee; and why, but because thou art my only good? O my dear Lord, my whole life shall be nothing but a desire of thee; and because I truly love thee, (G) L I will most diligently keep thy commandments. Have mercy on all sinners, &c. NINTH PETITION. JESUS [ten times], grant me grace always to remember my death, and the great account I then must render, that so being kept continually disposed, my soul may depart out of this world rightly in thy grace. Then by the gracious intercession of thy blessed Mother, and the assistance of the glorious St. Michael, deliver me from the danger of my soul's enemies; and do thou, my good angel, I beseech thee, help me at the hour of death. Then, dear Jesus, remember thy mercy, and turn not, for my offences, thy face away from me. Secure me against the terrors of that day by causing me now to die daily to all earthly things, and to have my conversation continually in heaven. Let the remembrance of thy death teach me how to esteem my life, and the memory of thy resurrection encourage me cheerfully to descend into the grave. Have mercy on all sinners, &c |