to seek and to love sincerely, simply, and purely, without any advantage to myself.
And now I firmly propose both to serve and to love thy supreme majesty for the future, not in order to escape from pain, or imprisonment, or hell, nor to obtain of thee consolations, or happiness in the next life, or any thing else that is desirable in this, but that I may seek thee alone, above all things, wish for thee alone, and love thee alone. And surely thou, who art the true and only perfection of all things, alone art sufficient for me.
Therefore to thee alone I give and dedicate myself for ever, with so firm and inviolable a purpose, and with so sincere an affection, that I desire to love thee with my whole soul, and to serve thee with this intention, even were I to live for ever and ever. This, I repeat, is my purpose, my resolution, and the firm determination of my will.
2. If thou wilt give me comforts and consolations, I will bless thee; for thou wilt deal with me as a good and gracious God, such as thou wert, and art, and wilt be ever; and I return thee endless thanks; and this I do though thou wilt not give me them. Nay, if thou send me punishments, sorrows, and vexations, alike I bless thee, and return thee endless thanks.
3. In confirmation of this
resolve, I now call to witness the most Blessed Virgin
Mary, the Queen of heaven,
with all the saints and angels
that dwell in heaven; all of
whom I entreat to intercede
for me with thy divine majesty, that this my purpose
may grow to perfection, of
seeking thee only and purely
in all things, and nothing else
but thee.
I turn to thee, therefore, again, O my dearest Lord, and implore thee that thou wouldst vouchsafe to accept this my resolution, and give me strength to fulfil it, for without thee I can do nothing. And, confessing it to be so, again I fly to thee; I recommend and commit myself to thee entirely, and hide myself in the depths of thy mercy. Receive me, then, O my God; embrace me, O my hope; in all things, O most tender Father, change me and transform me into thyself.
4. With this object and intention I resolve to practice myself in the following exercises and acts of virtue. And though I should sometimes fail to develop them sufficiently in word or in deed, yet in my heart I now intend and resolve to perform them always, at every moment, particularly at the hour of death, with all my strength and affection, and in the most perfect manner possible, and known by thee to be possible,
