wilt do what thou hast promised.
IV. Our daily bread.
O. Jesus, most zealous for our salvation! for when hanging on the Cross, and crying, I thirst, what, what else, I say, didst thou thirst for or desire, but only our salvation? Assuredly with desire thou desiredst to eat of this bread, and to drink of this chalice. Can it be that the sins of our palate were to be expiated by so bitter a thirst?
Oh, that thou wouldst give me so to thirst for my own salvation, as thou hast thirsted for that of others! But what advantage was it to thee to save me? It was only the free love of me that excited that thirst; and oh, that I may worthily correspond to it, by neither neglecting to attend to my own salvation, nor to desire that of others. For both of these should be to us like sweet and pleasant food. Since thou hast commanded each respecting his neighbour, and hast given the sins of the people to be eaten by the priests,[1] far be it from them that their soul should loathe that food, as though it were too bad and hard. Oh, that the zeal of the Lord’s house may devour them, so that they who have charge of it may not devour, nor take the profits or goods of the Church, save in zeal for the House of God!
V. And forgive us our debts.
O most gracious Jesus! who wast wounded and diedst for our sins; who wouldst not the death of sinners, so that thou wouldst not have even the very authors of thy death and thy executioners shut out from thy mercy, but prayedst for them, saying, Father, forgive them. Oh, love unheard of ? Oh, mercy unspeakable !
By this, I beseech thee, pardon me, and forgive me my sins. Behold, warned by thy example and by thy words, I too am ready from my heart to forgive my enemies; that I may not in vain seek mercy of thee, by reserving anger against my neighbours.
VI. And lead us not into temptation.
O most sweet Jesus! who wast thyself tempted in all things, but without sin, yet temptest no man, for thou art not a tempter of evils,[2] nay, art the refuge and strength of all who are tempted, and their helper in troubles. This thou hast sufficiently shewn upon the Cross itself, by thy solicitude as well for thy most beloved Mother as for thy beloved Disciple, in commending them
