offended thy divine Majesty, from the first moment that I was capable of sinning, to this very hour. I desire to lay them all down here at thy feet, to be cancelled by thy precious blood. What can I do for them, but humbly confess and lament them all my lifetime! and this I heartily desire to do, and from this moment continually to cry to thee for mercy. Hear me, O Lord, by that infinite love by which thou hast shed thy blood for me: Oh! let not that blood be shed in vain. All my sins displease me now exceedingly, because they have offended thy infinite goodness. By thy grace I will never commit them any more: I am sorry for them, and will be sorry for them as long as I live; and according to the best of my power will do penance for them. Forgive me, dear Lord, for thy mercy’s sake; pardon me for all that is past; and be thou my helper for the time to come, that I may never more offend thee.
6. Make an Act of Divine love. — O sweet Jesus, the God of my heart, and the life of my soul, as the hart pants after the fountains of water, so does my soul pant after thee, the fountain of life, and the ocean of all good: I am overjoyed at the hearing of these happy tidings, that I may go to the house of our Lord; or rather, that our Lord is to come into my house, and take up his abode with me. Oh ! happy moments, when I shall be admitted to the embraces of the living God, for whom my poor soul languishes with love ! O come, dear Jesus, and take full possession of my heart for ever ! I offer it to thee without reserve; I desire to consecrate it eternally to thee. I love thee with my whole soul above all things: at least, I desire so to love thee: it is nothing less than infinite love that brings thee to me. Oh ! teach me to make a suitable return of love.
