Mortify in me, O Jesus, whatever displeaseth thee; and make me according to thine own heart.
O blessed Jesus; give me grace to learn of thee to be meek and humble of heart, that I may be united with thee, and find rest for my soul.
O my God, and my All! teach me in all things to do thy holy will.
O Lord! keep me from sin, and grant me the grace of a happy death.
O Fountain of all Goodness! have mercy on me.
O my God, grant me the grace to perform all my works with the pure intention of pleasing thee.
Let the name of the Lord be blessed and glorified for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and let all that is within me bless his holy name.
Praise be to thee, O Christ; blessed be thy holy name, O Jesus.
O God of my heart, and my portion for ever; O let nothing in life or death ever separate me from thee.
O rather let me die a thousand deaths than offend thee mortally.
"In all thy works aim at perfection."--Ecclesiastes xxxiii. 23.
If it be a duty of the greatest importance to begin the day well, it is, doubtless, one of no less consequence to conclude it properly. The new graces conferred on us daring the course of the day, and the protection we stand in need of against the dangers of the night, are urgent reasons why we should address ourselves to God, and pray to him with the utmost gratitude and fervour.
A daily Examination of Conscience, both in general, with regard to our whole conduct throughout the day, and in particular, with regard to our predominant vice, passion, or evil custom, and the particular virtue we want to acquire, is strongly recommended by all spiritual writers, as one of the most important duties of a Christian life, and the most profitable exercise we can apply ourselves to, both for the avoiding of sin, and the acquiring of virtue. It is a _looking-glass_, in which we see ourselves in our true colours, and come to the knowledge of our sins and evil inclinations. It is a _sponge_, by which we wipe away guilt from our souls, and become the more pure before God, the more diligently we practise it. If we do not daily weed the garden of our souls by this holy exercise, the corrupt ground of the heart will naturally produce vices and imperfections in abundance.