Sincere Protestation, to engrave upon the soul the resolution to serve God, and to conclude the acts of penitence.
I, the undersigned, a most unworthy and feeble creature, make the following protestation in the presence of the eternal God and of all the heavenly court.
Considering the immense mercy of my God, Who was pleased to create me out of nothing, preserve me, sustain me, deliver me from so many perils, and heap upon me so many benefits; considering above all that incomprehensible gentleness and clemency with which this most good Father has so long borne with me in the midst of my crimes, so often inspired me to return to Him, and so patiently awaited me until this Nth year of my life, without being deterred either by my numberless ingratitudes and infidelities, by my endless delays, by the abuse of His graces, or by all my other offenses;
Considering, moreover, that on the day of my holy Baptism, I was so happily and holily dedicated to God, to be His daughter, and that, despite this consecration then made in my name, I have a thousand and a thousand times unworthily profaned my spirit, employing it against the divine Majesty;
Now returned to myself, and prostrate in heart and spirit before the throne of divine justice, I acknowledge and hold myself to be justly charged with and convicted of the crime of high treason against the divine Majesty, and truly guilty of the death and Passion of Jesus Christ, by reason of the sins I have committed, for which He died and suffered the torment of the Cross. Thus am I worthy to be forever lost and damned.
I, the undersigned, a most unworthy and feeble creature, make the following protestation in the presence of the eternal God and of all the heavenly court.
Considering the immense mercy of my God, Who was pleased to create me out of nothing, preserve me, sustain me, deliver me from so many perils, and heap upon me so many benefits; considering above all that incomprehensible gentleness and clemency with which this most good Father has so long borne with me in the midst of my crimes, so often inspired me to return to Him, and so patiently awaited me until this Nth year of my life, without being deterred either by my numberless ingratitudes and infidelities, by my endless delays, by the abuse of His graces, or by all my other offenses;
Considering, moreover, that on the day of my holy Baptism, I was so happily and holily dedicated to God, to be His daughter, and that, despite this consecration then made in my name, I have a thousand and a thousand times unworthily profaned my spirit, employing it against the divine Majesty;
Now returned to myself, and prostrate in heart and spirit before the throne of divine justice, I acknowledge and hold myself to be justly charged with and convicted of the crime of high treason against the divine Majesty, and truly guilty of the death and Passion of Jesus Christ, by reason of the sins I have committed, for which He died and suffered the torment of the Cross. Thus am I worthy to be forever lost and damned.
Nevertheless, turning to the throne of the infinite mercy of this same living and eternal God, and detesting with all my heart and all my strength the iniquities of my past life, I most humbly ask pardon, grace, and mercy, with full absolution for my offence; to this end I offer the death and Passion of this same Lord and Redeemer of my soul, and, casting there the sole foundation of my hope, I renew and ratify the holy profession of fidelity made for me to God on the day of my baptism: I renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh; I detest their unhappy suggestions, their pomps, and their works, for all the time of my present life, and for all eternity. At the same time I turn to my God, so good and so merciful, and bind myself to Him by an irrevocable resolution to serve and love Him, now and forever. To this end I give and consecrate to Him my spirit, with all its faculties; my soul, with all its powers; my heart, with all its affections; my body, with all its senses; I declare that I will never again abuse anything that belongs to me contrary to His divine will and sovereign majesty, and from this moment I make of my whole self a full and entire sacrifice to Him, to be forever His most loyal, most obedient, and most faithful creature, with no wish ever to recant or repent thereof.
If, through the malice of my enemy, or by reason of human infirmity, it should happen that I transgress in any way these good resolutions, I protest from this moment, and purpose, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to rise again as soon as I perceive it, and to abandon myself anew into the hands of divine mercy, without the least hesitation or delay.
This is my intention, my will, and my firm and irrevocable resolution, which I acknowledge and confirm without any reserve or exception, in the presence of God, in the sight of the Church triumphant, and before the face of the Church militant, my mother, who hears and receives this declaration in the person of her minister, deputed by her for this purpose.
Vouchsafe, O eternal, almighty, and all-good God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to confirm this salutary resolution in me; vouchsafe to accept in the odour of sweetness this sacrifice which my heart offers unto Thee; and, as it hath pleased Thee to inspire me with the will to make it, grant me also the strength and grace necessary to bring it to completion and accomplish it perfectly. O my God! Thou art the God of my heart, the God of my soul, the God of my spirit; thus do I acknowledge and adore Thee now and for eternity. Long live Jesus!
This is my intention, my will, and my firm and irrevocable resolution, which I acknowledge and confirm without any reserve or exception, in the presence of God, in the sight of the Church triumphant, and before the face of the Church militant, my mother, who hears and receives this declaration in the person of her minister, deputed by her for this purpose.
Vouchsafe, O eternal, almighty, and all-good God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to confirm this salutary resolution in me; vouchsafe to accept in the odour of sweetness this sacrifice which my heart offers unto Thee; and, as it hath pleased Thee to inspire me with the will to make it, grant me also the strength and grace necessary to bring it to completion and accomplish it perfectly. O my God! Thou art the God of my heart, the God of my soul, the God of my spirit; thus do I acknowledge and adore Thee now and for eternity. Long live Jesus!