O my soul, bless the Lord; and let all that is within thee praise and magnify his holy name. Pay him the best homage thou art able, and invite heaven and earth to join with thee in glorifying him for ever. O my God! that I could now give thee as much praise, honour, and glory, as the blessed spirits incessantly give thee in heaven! O that I could adore thee with the spirit and affection of thine elect! But as I am unable to do this, accept at least this my desire and good will. O ye angels and saints, bless my God for me; thank my Lord for me; love my Jesus for me; and sing forth his praises in supply of my defects. O beauty ever ancient and always new! too late have I known thee; too late have I loved thee. When shall I live only in thee, by thee, and for thee alone. O my God, and my all, when shall I see the day, when shall the happy time arrive, that, disgusted with the false happiness of this deceitful world, I shall seek comfort from thee alone, and find rest to my soul? { 127} O heavenly manna! O adorable sacrament! O inestimable pledge of God's love to mankind! O standing memorial of Christ's passion and death! O inexhaustible fountain of divine grace! O boundless mercy! O divine charity! O sacred fire, ever burning and never decaying! Hail, O loving Jesus, my only pleasure and delight, the joy of my soul, and my portion for ever. Let my soul be sensible of the sweetness of thy presence. Let me taste how sweet thou art, O Lord. Purify my heart from the dross of all earthly affections. Deliver me from my vicious customs. Remove me from all baneful effects of concupiscence. Perfect me in charity, patience, humility, obedience, and all other virtues. May I rather die than ever more offend thee by mortal sin! O may I prove my gratitude by my fidelity to so good a God! Abolish the reign of sin, and establish the kingdom of grace in all hearts. Let the light of thy countenance so shine upon all those who are in the darkness of infidelity, as to dispel their errors. Grant peace and union to all Christian princes, and preserve us from the dreadful scourges of war, famine, and pestilence. Convert all sinners; reconcile those who are at variance. Have mercy on my parents, friends, and benefactors. Have mercy on all my enemies; forgive them their sins, and fill both their hearts and mine with thy charity. Reform all abuses, and remove all scandals from thy church. { 128} Comfort all that are under any affliction, sickness, or violence of pain. Support those who are under temptation; protect those that are in danger; and grant a happy passage to all that are in their last agony. Extend thy mercy likewise to the souls of all the faithful departed, and admit them to the possession of thy eternal glory. Grant relief to us all in our respective necessities, the remission of our sins, the grace of final perseverance, and life everlasting.--Amen.