CONTRITE PRAYER.
O MY God! O infinite and holy God, what have I done? I confess that my sins are more numerous than the hairs of my head or the sands on the sea-shore. And yet only a single one of them all was enough for my ruin. Yes, one of those mortal sins was enough to rob me of heaven, enough to bring down thy anger on my defenceless head. Hell opened under my feet when I committed the first, and yet others followed, until now, like a mountain, they lie heavy upon my soul. Alas ! why am I not penetrated with horror and fear at the remembrance of my guilt? Sinful soul, what hast thou gained by all these sins? Nothing, O my Lord, nothing but shame and sorrow, guilt and remorse. They have left me without joy in the past, or hope beyond the grave.
But no, my most merciful Lord, there is still hope for me: for I know that if I do penance thou wilt forgive me. I repent of all my sins. I hate and detest them from the bottom of my heart. I am truly sorry for my mad and senseless conduct, and T am resolved to sin no more. From this moment I devote the rest of my days to penance and a holy life. Yes, holy and merciful God, hear my firm resolve: Forgive me this once, and rather will I lose, a thousand times over, all the world has of goods, pleasures, honours, health, even life itself, than ever separate from thy grace again !
II. Consideration. Of the favours received from a God who has been offended by our sins.
Hear, sinner, the voice of God thy Father and Benefactor, who complains thus of the bitter return which thou hast made him for a thousand benefits^
