ACT OF THANKSGIVING AFTER HAVING RECEIVED THE VIATICUM.
GLORY and thanksgiving be to thee, O Lord, who in thy sweetness hast been pleased to visit and refresh my poor soul. “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in peace; because my eyes have seen,” and my soul hath received, my “ salvation.” ( Luke ii. 29, 30.)
Now I willingly bid farewell to the world, and with joy I go to thee, my God. Nothing more, dear Jesus, shall separate me from thee. In thee I will live, in thee I will die, in thee I hope to abide for ever. Now life seems uneasy to me; I “ desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ” (Phil. i. 23), “for whom have I suffered the loss of all things, and count them as dung, that I may gain Christ.” (Phil. iii. 8.) Now “ though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me ” (Ps. xxii. 4), O Lord. “ As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after thee, O God: my soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God.” (Ps. xli. 2. 3.)
Give me thy blessing, O Jesus, and establish my soul in everlasting peace; such peace as thou alone canst give: such peace as it may not be in the power of my enemy to destroy.
O that I were happily united to thee for ever; that I were wholly swallowed up and buried in thee; that my soul were at rest in the enjoyment of thee, my God, for ever. “ What have I in heaven, and beside thee what do I desire on earth” (Ps. xxii. 25), my God?
Soul of Christ, sanctify me; body of Christ, save
