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to prepare for me all the mercies that Thou hast since employed towards me. If, then, I, a most vile and ungrateful sinner who has so much offended Thee, am dear to Thee, it is but just that Thou shouldst be dear to me, — Thou, my God, Who art infinite in beauty and goodness, and Who hast loved me so much. Ah, would that I had never displeased Thee! Now, my Jesus, do I know the wrong that I have done Thee. O ye accursed sins of mine, what have you done? You have caused me to sadden the loving heart of my Redeemer. Thou dost go before me with Thy cross, innocent as Thou art, and dost invite me to follow Thee with mine; go forward, then, for I will not abandon Thee. If, in time past, I have abandoned Thee, I confess that I have done wrong. Give me now whatever cross Thou wilt, and, whatsoever it may be, I will embrace it and accompany Thee with it even unto death: " Let us go forth from the camp, bearing His reproach." And how, O Lord, how can it be possible for us not to love sufferings and shame out of love for Thee, since Thou didst love them so well for our salvation? But since Thou dost invite us to follow Thee, it is our wish to follow Thee and to die with Thee: give us only the strength to carry out our desire. This strength we ask of Thee, and hope for by Thy merits. I love Thee, O my Jesus, I love Thee with all my soul, and I will never abandon Thee more; too long have I gone astray from Thee. Bind me now to Thy cross. If I have despised Thy love, I repent of it with all my heart; and I now prize it above every good. Help me, O my Jesus, to be ever making acts of love towards Thee, and to depart out of this life while making an act of love, that so I may arrive at loving Thee without imperfection and without interruption, and with all my powers, to all eternity. O Mother of God, pray for me. Amen.