Oblation to Almighty God

Which may be made to Almighty God every morning and evening.

MOST merciful Lord, and ever living God, behold, I, a wretched and ungrateful sinner, prostrate at thy feet, adore and worship thee, offering up, in all humility, immortal praise and thanksgiving, for all thy blessings, especially for that unspeakable charity which induced thee to send down thy only begotten Son into this vale of tears, for the work of our redemption.

O eternal Lord of Heaven and earth, I praise and magnify thy ever-glorious name, for thy Son's most holy incarnation and nativity; for his poverty, innocent life, and conversation; for his heavenly doctrine and miracles; for his death and passion; his resurrection and ascension.

I yield thee all possible thanks for the divine mystery of his precious Body and Blood in the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist, wherewith we are nourished, cleansed, and sanctified, and our souls are made partakers of all heavenly graces and spiritual benedictions.

I give thee most humble and hearty thanks that out of a handful of dust thou wast pleased to make me according to thine own image and likeness, rendering me capable of eternal glory, for the obtaining of which thou didst vouchsafe first to wash me with the laver of baptism, for the remission of that original corruption which was contracted by my first parents; and afterwards to bring me to the profession and practice of the Catholic faith, not ceasing daily to increase the same in me, by the doctrine and instruction of thy Church.

I most humbly thank thee also, that thou hast nourished and clothed me from my cradle, supplying me with all necessaries for the relief and maintenance of my frail body.

I evermore extol and magnify thy holy name, for having, in thy great mercy, hitherto spared, and patiently expected me, till by thy grace I might be awakened from the sleep of sin, and reclaimed from my vanities and wicked courses. For hadst thou dealt with me according to my demerits, my soul (being oppressed with innumerable sins) had long since been plunged into eternal perdition.

In consideration of all these thy mercies and blessings, I most humbly desire that my heart may every day enlarge itself, that it may still render thee a more ample tribute of praise and thanksgiving than it has hitherto paid thee.

O my Lord God, and most merciful Father, never abandon me to myself, but let thy holy fear be ever present in my thoughts, to curb and restrain me within the bonds of obedience to thy law, that I may dread nothing so much in this world, as, by a violation of the least of thy precepts, to offend thee. Let thy holy love temper all the trials and temptations which may befall me in such a manner that none of them may at any time overcome me: for thou knowest that of myself I have not strength to resist them.

I moreover beseech thee, most merciful Father, by the profound humility of thy only Son, Jesus Christ, that thou wouldst preserve me from all pride, self-love, vainglory, obstinacy, and disobedience. Cast out of my heart, I beseech thee, the spirit of gluttony and uncleanness; the spirit of sloth and indevotion; the spirit of malice and envy; the spirit of hatred and disdain; that I may never despise the meanest of thy creatures, nor proudly prefer myself before others; but always seem little in my own eyes; inclining to think the best of others, and judge the worst of myself.

Clothe me, O most holy Father, with the wedding garment of thy beloved Son, the supernatural virtue of heavenly charity, that I may love thee, my Lord God, with my whole heart, my whole soul, and with all my strength, that neither life nor death, prosperity nor adversity, nor anything else, may ever separate me from thy love. Grant that all inordinate affections to the transitory things of this world may daily decrease in me, that thou only mayest be the entertainment and delight of my soul.

O most gracious God, grant thy servant an humble, contrite, and obedient heart; an understanding always employed in honest and pious thoughts; a will tractable, and always inclined to do good; affections calm and moderate; a watchful custody over my senses, that through those windows no sin may enter into my soul; a perfect government of my tongue, that no corrupt or unseemly language may proceed from my lips; may I never slander, nor speak ill of any one, nor busy myself about the faults and imperfections of others, but wholly attend to the amendment of my own life.

O most loving Lord, as long as I am detained in this prison of my body, let this be my comfort, that being free from all distractions, both of the cares and pleasures of this life, I may wholly devote myself to thy service, attending always to thy heavenly doctrine, and the salutary motions of thy holy Spirit. In these sweet exercises let me pass the solitary hours of my tedious pilgrimage with patience, expecting the closing up of my days, and a happy period to this my miserable life.

And, finally, grant, O blessed Redeemer of mankind, my Lord and my God, that when this my earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved (being found free from all pollution of sin, through sincere contrition, and in virtue of the sacraments of thy holy Church), I may be included in the number of those blessed souls, who, through the merits of thy passion and death, are deemed worthy to reign with thee, and to enjoy the glorious presence of the adorable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: to whom, by all creatures in heaven and earth, be rendered praise and thanksgiving, world without end. Amen.

O Lord, my God! O Lord, my God! possess my soul, possess my soul, for ever and ever. Amen.