The Eighth Petition.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace truly to love thee, for thine infinite goodness, and those excessive bounties I have received, or shall ever hope to receive from thee. Let the recollection of thy benignity and patience conquer the malice and wretched propensity of my perverse nature. May the consideration of the many deliverances, frequent calls, and continual helps, I have received from thee during the course of my life, make me blush at my ingratitude. Ah, what return dost thou require of me for all thy mercies, but that I love thee! And why dost thou require it? Because thou art my only good!—thou art my dear Lord! the sole object of my life; and I will diligently keep thy commandments, because I truly love thee.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
The Ninth Petition.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) grant me the grace always to remember my latter end, and the account I am to give in after death; that so my soul may be always well disposed, and ready to depart out of this life in thy grace and favour. At that important hour, by the powerful intercession of thy blessed mother, the glorious assistance of St. Michael, and my good angel, rescue my poor soul, O Lord, from the snares of the enemy of my salvation. Remember then thy mercy, O dear Jesus! and hide not thy face from me on account of my offences. Secure me against the terrors of that awful period, by causing me now to die daily to all earthly things, and to have my conversation continually in heaven. Let the remembrance of thy death teach me to set a just value on life; and the memory of thy resurrection encourage me to descend cheerfully to the grave.
Have mercy, &c. Our Father. Hail Mary.
The Tenth Petition.
Jesus! (repeated ten times) send me my purgatory in this life, and thus prevent me from being tormented in the cleansing fire which awaits those souls who have not been sufficiently purified in this world. Vouchsafe to grant me those merciful crosses and afflictions which thou seest necessary for weaning my affections from things here below. Suffer not my heart to find any repose but in sighing after thee, since no one can see thee, who loves any thing which is not for thy sake. Too bitter, alas! will be the anguish of the soul that desires to be united to thee, and whose separation is retarded by the heavy chains of sin. Keep me then, O my Saviour, continually mortified in this world, that being purified thoroughly with the fire of thy love, I may pass from hence to the immediate possession of thee in everlasting glory.
Have mercy on all sinners, &c. &c. as at the conclusion of the fifth petition, page 495.