TENTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], send me here my

purgatory, and so prevent the torments of that cleansing fire, which, after this life, awaits unpurged souls.

Vouchsafe to grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions which thou seest are necessary to break off my affections from all things here below.

Since none can see thee that loves anything but for thy sake, permit not my heart to find here any rest but in seeking after thee.

Too bitter, alas! will be the anguish of a soul separated from thee, that desires, but cannot come to thee, clogged with the heavy chains of sin.

Here then, O my Saviour, keep me continually mortified in this world, that, purged thoroughly by the fire of love, I may immediately pass into the everlasting possessions."

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

HEAR these my petitions, O my 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. I believe in God, &c.

PART III.

ELEVENTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], grant me grace to fly evil company; or if I chance to come among such, I beseech thee, by the merits of thy uncorrupt conversation among sinners, preserve me from being overcome by any temptations to mortal sin.

Make me, O blessed Lord, to remember always with dread that thou art present and hearest, who wilt judge us according to our words and actions.

or

How, then, dare I converse with slanderers, liars, drunkards, swearers, or such whose discourse is either quarrelsome, dissolute, or vain?

Repress in me, dear Jesus, all inordinate affection for the pleasures

of taste and of the flesh; and grant me grace to avoid all such as would excite the fire of these unruly appetites.

May thy power defend, thy wisdom direct, thy fatherly pity chastise me, and make me so to live here among men as may fit me for the conversation of angels hereafter. Have mercy on all sinners, &c.

TWELFTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], grant me grace

in all my necessities to call for

help to thee, and faithfully to remember thy death and resurrection for me.

Wilt thou be deaf to my cries, who wouldst lay down thy life for my ransom? or canst thou not save me, who couldst take it up again for my

crown?

Whom have I to invoke but thee, O my Jesus, whose own blessed mouth has pronounced, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will relieve thee."

Thou art my sure rock of defence against all kinds of enemies; thou art my ever-present grace, able to strengthen me to fight and conquer.

In all my sufferings, therefore, in

all my weakness and temptations, will I confidently call upon thee; hear me, O my Jesus, and when thou hearest, have mercy.

Have mercy on all sinners, &c.

THIRTEENTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], make me persevere in virtue and a good life; and never draw back from serving thee, till thou bringest me to my reward in thy kingdom.

In all pious customs and holy duties, in my honest and necessary employments, continue and strengthen, O Lord, both my soul and body.

Is my life anything but a pilgrimage upon earth towards the New Jeru alem, at which he that sits down or turns out of the way can never arrive?

O Jesus, make me always consider thy blessed example, through how many and great pains and how little pleasure thou didst press on to a bitter death, because it is the way to a glorious resurrection.

Make me, O my Redeemer, seriously ponder those severe words of thine, "He only that perseveres to the end shall be saved."

Have mercy on all sinners, &c.

FOURTEENTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], grant me grace to fix my mind on thee: especially in the time of prayer, when I aspire to converse directly with thee.

Control the wanderings of my mind and the affections of my heart; repress the power of my spiritual enemies, who could then draw off my mind from heavenly things to thoughts and imaginations of vanity.

So shall I, with joy and gratitude, behold thee, as my deliverer from all the evils I have escaped, and as my benefactor for all the good I have received or can hope for.

I shall see that thou thy very self art my only good, and that all other things are but means ordained by thee to make me fix my mind on thee, to make me love thee more, and be eternally happy.

O beloved of my soul! absorb all my thoughts here, that I may become worthy to behold thee for evermore face to face in thy glory. Have mercy on all sinners, &c.

FIFTEENTH PETITION.

JESUS [ten times], give me grace to

order my life to thee, heartily in

tending and wisely designing all the