Compassionate heart of Jesus, have mercy on me.

Even before I offended you, my Redeemer, I did not deserve

    the great graces you have given me.

You created me, gave me so many inspirations 

    and all totally undeserved on my part.

But having offended you, not only did I not deserve your favors,

    I certainly deserved to be abandoned by you for all eternity.

But you, in your great mercy, have waited for me

    and preserved my life even when I was at enmity with you.

Your mercy allowed me to see my misery and you called me to conversion;

    you gave me sorrow for my sins and a desire to love you.

Now, I hope that, with your grace,

    I am in your friendship once again.

 

Alphonsus Liquori, 1696-1787, Italian Catholic bishop and theologian

 

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You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!