See, O merciful God, what return

I, your thankless servant, have made

for the innumerable favors

and the wonderful love you have shown me!

What wrongs I have done, what good left undone!

Wash away, I beg you, these faults and stains

with your precious blood, most kind Redeemer,

and make up for my poverty by applying your merits.

Give me the protection I need to amend my life,

I give and surrender myself wholly to you

and offer you all I possess,

with the prayer that you bestow your grace on me,

so that I may be able to devote and employ

all the thinking power of my mind

and the strength of my body in your holy service,

who are God blessed for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Peter Canisius, 1521 –1597, Dutch Jesuit Priest

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For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.