The Act of Contrition

My God! who art nothing but mercy and kindness,
Ah shut not Thine ear to the penitent's prayer;
'Tis Thy grace that hath cured me, dear Lord, of my blindness,
Thy love that hath lifted me up from despair.

Oh cruel, most cruel! the bondage of evil
That hath kept me so fast, and hath held me so low;
And feaiful the hold, the strong hold of the devil,
And the keen bitter fires of the long hopeless woe.

But, O God! by Thy mercy my mind is enlightened;
I feel a new purpose burn strong in my heart;
I come to Thee now like a child scared and frightened,
And I cling to Thy love, and will never depart.

There is not one evil that sin hath not brought me,
There is not one good that hath come in its train;
It hath cursed me through life, and its sorrows have sought me,
Each clay that went by, in want, sickness, or pain.

And then, when this life of affliction is ended,
What a home for my weary heart did it prepare?
The anger of Him whom my sins had offended,
And the night, the sick night of eternal despair.

Yes! death would have come, and its angel have torn
By force to the judgment where hope could not be;
And the spirit of darkness from thence would have borne me
To unspeakable woes in his wide burning sea.

Where the worms and the wails and the lashes cease never,
My poor ruined soul would have sickened of fire,
And I should be tortured for ever and ever.
But the pains of eternity never would tire.

The corn field all trampled to mud by the cattle,
The house whose scorched walls have been blackened by fire, -
Ah! such was my soul when the desolate battle
Of sin raged within it, and sinful desire.

But away, mortal sin! by the help of my God,
From thy false poisoned fruits I will firmly refrain;
I have vowed, mortal sin! J have manfully vowed,
I will touch thee not, taste thee not ever again.

I abjure the dark spirit who fondles yet hates ire,
I abjure mortal sin, the black gift he hath given;
I hate it for fear of the fire that awaits me,
I hate it for hope of God's beautiful Heaven.

I hate it because the dear Lord that would ease us
Sweated blood when He thought of the horror of sin;
I hate it because it hath crucified Jesus,
Who hath done all He can the worst sinners to win.

And I swear to Thee - - yes, dearest Jesus! Oh let me,
In the strength of Thy grace, swear an oath unto Thee,
No sin! never more! if Thou wilt not forget me,
But in Thy sweet mercy have mercy on me.