universal and particular, public and private, open and secret, thou, O my Lord, hast bestowed upon me; and therefore, prostrate at thy most sacred Feet, I give thee all the thanks I am able, with the utmost affection of my soul.
Therefore I call upon thy most blessed Virgin Mother, my Patroness, the holy Angels, and especially my Guardian, and all the Saints of the Heavenly Court, especially, my Patrons and Advocates, by their thanksgivings, to supply my deficiency, and my signal ingratitude, for which I am sorry, and entreat for pardon. And since this is so, would that I had as many tongues and hearts as there are creatures in the world, stars in heaven, leaves upon the trees, sands on the sea-shore, that my song might make some approach towards the fitting measure of my thanksgiving to thee! And therefore I take up the prophet’s words and say:
All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Praise the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the high places.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and let all that is within me bless his holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and never forget all that he hath done for thee.
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be always in my mouth.
In like manner I thank all those who have rendered me any benefit, whether corporal or spiritual, especially those who have instructed, corrected, and admonished me; or of their charity have given me any occasion of meriting well of my most dear Jesus.
VII.
I protest that I wish to live and die fortified with the merits of the Passion, Death, and Blood-shedding of my Saviour; and with the Patronage of the most glorious Virgin, and of all the Saints of the Church, and of those besides who are now living or shall live to the end of the world; all of which I offer to God for the remission of all my sins, and in thanksgiving for all the blessings I have received from the Divine Majesty.
VIII.
From this time forward, for the hour of my death, I implore the most blessed Virgin, my Guardian Angel, and all the Saints, by their effectual prayers and merits, to obtain for me, as long as I live, and especially at the hour of my death, true faith,
