Thee the tribute of my adoration and thanksgiving, for the innumerable graces and blessings which Thou hast so liberally bestowed upon me,' from my first coming into the world, until now. I thank Thee particularly, my God ! for the inestimable grace of my baptism. What gratitude can bear proportion to such a favor? By baptism, I have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of Thy beloved Son; by baptism, I have been cleansed from the stain of that sin, in which I was born; by baptism, I have been made a member of the body of Jesus Christ, to live of His life, to be animated and guided by His spirit, to be fed with His sacred flesh, to enter into His designs, to imitate His virtues; finally, to be a living image of what He has been during His mortal life. These are the obligations of my baptism, these are the conditions of the alliance, which Thou wouldst have me to contract with Thee: and although I was at that time ignorant of them, and my will had no part in this sacred contract, far from wishing to be released from them, or appealing, in any manner, from my vows and professions, I ratify them now, and renew them in Thy presence from the bottom of my heart, with a profound sorrow for having hitherto led a life so little conformable to my promises, and proved
