To transform a soul, so defiled as mine by the ordure of sin, into a state of innocence and purity, must be the work of the right hand of the Most High. Ah, my God! I shall never be able to discover any vestige of that precious innocence which makes a soul so lovely and acceptable in thy sight, unless I trace back my whole life to the days of my childhood. But although I have had the misfortune to forfeit my baptismal innocence by sin, yet there remains for my consolation this sure anchor, whereby I may hope to regain thy favour, grounded on thy infallible promise, _that thou wilt never despise a contrite and humble heart_. But if even the enormity of my sins had not exposed me to thy wrath, and consequently to the eternal pains of hell, yet I would nevertheless sincerely detest them. O my God! do not upbraid me with mine iniquities; they are always in my sight; and the bitterness of my regret for having committed them, shall serve as a continual punishment of my baseness. {118} Ah, my Redeemer, though I cannot suffer such an excessive degree of anguish as thou didst during thy agony in the garden of Gethsemani, when in a bloody sweat thou didst offer thyself as a victim to the Eternal Father, yet I am fully determined to suffer with patience every cross or affliction which may fall in my way, as well in atonement for the sins I have hitherto committed, as to prevent me from future relapses. Assist me with thy grace, O Lord, and remove every occasion of sin at a distance from me: and as I dread no evil so much as that of offending thee mortally, rather prevent me, by cutting the thread of life, than suffer me again to become thine enemy. But in my present disposition of mind, I do not confine myself to merely detesting all mortal offences! No, my amiable Saviour! inflamed with thy love, I am also fully resolved to avoid every venial sin that may in the least displease thee, or diminish the influence of thy graces. And though I have a well-grounded confidence that my soul has been cleansed in the sacrament of penance, still I desire to be washed more and more from my iniquities. "Create a clean heart in me, O God; and renew an upright spirit within my bowels."--_Psalm_ L. [Transcriber's note: New American Bible, Psalms Chapter 51:12 "A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit."] A Prayer For Obtaining The Effects Of A Plenary Indulgence. Accept, O almighty God, through the merits of thine only Son Jesus Christ, the intercession of his immaculate Mother the blessed Virgin Mary, and of the whole court of heaven, the communion I am about to make, to thy greater glory. Accept it in thanksgiving for thy innumerable benefits, to obtain the pardon of my sins, and grace to acquire a victory over my passions, particularly those to which I am most enslaved. [_Name them_.] {119}