done in me ever, but my own be powerless, so that nothing whatever that is not thine may be found in me.
But since my will cannot be wholly inactive, I desire that whatever way it moves, it may move not alone, but, O Lord, ever in union with thine, which only is holy and right. Thus, with thy grace, I desire, thus I resolve, and thus I protest before thy heavenly court.
3. As often, then, as I ask any thing of thee, O Lord, I intend to ask nothing except through Jesus Christ, thy Son, having my own in perfect conformity with his most holy desires. Therefore, O merciful Father, though mine do not, yet thy Son’s gracious desires, at any rate, merit acceptance. Thus thou displayest thy justice to him, and thy mercy to me, and effectest thy own honour and glory. The will of thy most dear Son, O my God, wills, desires, and commands that I should be meek and humble of heart, patient, bountiful, and full of love; it desires me to live to thee, and die to myself. Grant, gracious Father, the fulfilment of this desire of his, which is so good and holy ; for so will thy own also be satisfied, to the in- crease of his honour, praise and glory, as well as of the most Holy Trinity.
4. Because, O Lord, I can do no good of myself, grant me the grace to suffer thee to do whatever thou wilt, and for my doing to acquiesce in thine, that thou mayest do in me only that which pleases thee most. And that there may be in me nothing displeasing to thee, adorn me with holy virtues, by giving me increase of faith, hope, and charity, humility of spirit, purity of heart, and all those virtues, gifts, and graces, which thou knowest to be necessary for me, and whatever effect of thy grace thou findest deficient in either my body or soul; that I may be able to please thee better, to serve thee more worthily and faithfully, and to love thee more perfectly.
I beseech thee also to grant me the grace to arrive at the degree of perfection to which thou desirest me from eternity to attain ; and to give me also the aids, means, and dispositions necessary for its attainment.
5. Yet more, with all the strength of my soul I beg of thee true contrition for all my sins, and the full remission of them, with the gift henceforth to choose rather to die in my body a thousand times, than once to die in my soul.
6. So good art thou, dearest Lord, and by thy mercy thou thyself so incitest me to pray, that I, who am dust and ashes, venture to ask, not only for that which thou hast, but for that even which thou art thy-
