when one word would have sufficed — leave me not without effecting the cure for which thou art come; depart not until thou hast planted on the ruins of my pride and vanity the divine virtues of humility and meekness, so strongly inculcated by the divine example. Teach me, I beseech thee, to walk in thy footsteps; make choice of my heart, to model it after thine, and to adorn it with the solid virtues of charity, patience, compassion for the poor and afflicted, a lively horror of sin, and of all that offends thy divine Majesty.
AT THE BLESSING AND LAST GOSPEL.
MY God, thou shalt never leave me until thou bless me — until thou givest me that efficacious benediction which will be the safeguard of thy graces. That the world may know I sincerely love thee, and have had the happiness of receiving thee, I will follow thee, and serve thee faithfully to the last moment of life; but yet, my God, with what diffidence should I make these promises! How often have I promised to be faithful to thy law, and yet, on occasions of trial, how repeatedly have I transgressed! Thou hast given me thy precious body and blood, yet I have ungratefully refused thee the most trifling sacrifices. Thus have I hitherto acted; and what I once did, I may and certainly shall do again, if not supported by thy powerful grace. Yet, notwithstanding my experience of past weakness, I do again promise to keep thy Commandments, to love thee and serve thee with all my heart and soul. Remain with me, O divine Lord, by the influence of thy all-powerful grace; take my whole being, and reign over me so absolutely, that I may never acknowledge any kind of master but thee. May I rather die than forget
