VIII.
Act of Oblation
Offer to the Lord the sacrifice of sanctification.[1]
1. O most honoured Lord, my God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! I confess myself entirely thine, as well because thou hast created me, as be* cause thou hast redeemed me; not to speak of innumerable other blessings bestowed on me, for which, though I offered myself to thee a thousand times every hour, I should remain a debtor to thee notwithstanding to an infinite amount. Such as I am, then, to the best of my ability, I freely consecrate, offer, and give myself wholly to thee, to be a perfect holocaust both of soul and body, with all that I have, or ever am able to acquire.
This I wish to do in the manner thou desirest, and is most becoming for me to offer and consecrate myself to thee. And I therefore most willingly and freely submit myself for ever to thy most holy precepts and commandments.
And because I am now entirely thine, I beseech thee so to take possession of me, that I may never again become my own; but that every wish, word, and deed of mine may henceforth be nothing else than what thy most holy and just will would have me wish, say, and do: and that what is not my wish, word, and deed, may, in the same way, be what is not thy wish, word, and deed. And that I may do only when, how, and as much as pleases thee, whatever thou, most honoured Lord, art pleased that I should do, and not otherwise.
2. I offer thee, besides, all the riches and spiritual graces, as well of all the things thou hast created, as of those which thou holdest still in the treasures of thy almighty power; so that, if all were mine, I would most willingly yield them to thee, or at least employ them only for thy love and honour.
3. I offer to thee all the spiritual graces, the thoughts, the words, and good works, which all men who are, have been, or ever shall be in this world, have done, are doing, or shall do; nay, all the thoughts, words, and good works which could belong to the infinite number of men which thy almighty power could create. So that, for thy love, if I were able, I would do the same as they, as perfectly as thou knowest to be possible, and in the way most pleasing to thy majesty.
- ↑ Ecclus. vii. 35
