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Preparation.
- Place yourself in the Presence of God.
- Ask Him to inspire your heart.
Considerations.
- Consider how long it is since you first began to commit sin,
and how since that first beginning sin has multiplied in your
heart; how every day has added to the number of your sins
against God, against yourself and against your neighbour, by
deed, word, thought and desire.
- Consider your evil tendencies, and how far you have followed
them. These two points will show you that your sins are more in
number than the hairs of your head, or the sand on the seashore.
- Apart from sin, consider your ingratitude towards God, which
is in itself a sin enfolding all the others, and adding to their
enormity: consider the gifts which God has given you, and which
you have turned against the Giver; especially the inspirations
you have neglected, and the promptings to good which you have
frustrated. Review the many Sacraments you have received, and
see where are their fruits. Where are the precious jewels
wherewith your Heavenly Bridegroom decked you? with what
preparation have you received them? Reflect upon the ingratitude
with which, while God sought to save you, you have fled from Him
and rushed upon destruction.
Affections and Resolutions.
- Humble yourself in your wretchedness. O my God, how dare I
come before Thine Eyes? I am but a corrupt being, a very sink of
ingratitude and wickedness. Can it be that I have been so
disloyal, that not one sense, not one faculty but has been
sullied and stained;--not one day has passed but I have sinned
before Thee? Was this a fitting return for all my Creator's
gifts, for my Redeemer's Blood?
- Ask pardon;--throw yourself at the Lord's Feet as the
prodigal son, as the Magdalene, as the woman convicted of
adultery. Have mercy, Lord, on me a sinner! O Living Fountain of
Mercy, have pity on me, unworthy as I am.
- Resolve to do better. Lord, with the help of Thy Grace I
will never again give myself up to sin. I have loved it too
well;--henceforth I would abhor it and cleave to Thee. Father of
Mercy, I would live and die to Thee.
- In order to put away past sin, accuse yourself bravely of
it, let there not be one sinful act which you do not bring to
light.
- Resolve to make every effort to tear up the roots of sin
from your heart, especially this and that individual sin which
troubles you most.
- In order to do this, resolve stedfastly to follow the advice
given you, and never think that you have done enough to atone
for your past sin.
Conclusion.
- Thank God for having waited till now for you, and for
rousing these good intentions in your heart.
- Offer Him all your heart to carry them to good effect.
- Pray that He would strengthen you.
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