God, his hope of salvation. Indebted as I am to thee for the preservation of my life, I entreat thee to restore me to the grace of thy divine Son. Thou art the surest pledge of my salvation; deliver me, then, by thy prayers, from the heavy load of my sins. Disperse the darkness of my understanding; banish every inordiriate affection from my heart; repress the temptations of my spiritual enemies, and so order my life, that, under thy protection, I may arrive at eternal repose in heaven.
Short Prayer, etc. — "Change my heart, Mary, my Mother, thou canst do it.”
(Conclude as on page 438.)
FOR FRIDAY.
ST. Bernard assures us that the charity of Mary towards us could not be more tender nor more powerful than it is, for her heart is always full of compassion for us, and her good will is accompanied with power to help us. So, then, most pure and virgin Queen, thou art rich in power and rich in compassion. Thou art both able and desirous to save us all. I will pray to thee to-day and always in the words of the devout Blosius: O my Sovereign, protect me in my combats, fortify me in my weakness. O most holy Mary, in this great contest which I sustain against hell, aid me always: but if ever thou seest me wavering and ready to yield, O my Sovereign, stretch out thy hand to me without delay, and sustain me more powerfully. O God, what temptations still remain to be surmounted until death! Ah! Mary, my refuge, my strength, and my hope, never permit that I should lose the grace of God, for I am resolved, in all my temptations, to have always immediate recourse to thee.
