DAY 2

THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER.

• ACT OF CONTRITION.

  O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of your punishments, but most of all because they offended you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

• Act OF FAITH.

  My God, I believe in you and all that your Church teaches, because you have said it and your love is true.

• ACT OF HOPE.

  My God, I hope in you for grace and for glory, because of your promises, your mercy and your power.

• HYMN: HOLY SPIRIT LORD OF LIGHT

  Holy Spirit, Lord of light,
  From the clear celestial height,
  Thy pure beaming radiance give,
  Come, thou Father of the poor,
  Come with treasures that endure,
  Come, thou light of all that live!
  Thou, of all consolers best,
  

  Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
  Dost refreshing peace bestow
  Thou in toil art comfort sweet;
  Pleasant coolness in the heat;
  Solace in the midst of woe...

• SCRIPTURE READING (Dan 3:1-30)

• CONSIDERATION.

  The irreligious man often fears that there may possibly be a God and a time of retribution. O what a base fear; a fear which he tries to bury on oblivion by leading a riotous, sinful life. With such fear we are concerned. The gift of Holy Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread above all things to offend him. It is fear like that of a dutiful son, who will shun certain company of whom he knows no evil, but with whom his parents do not wish him to associate. He simply respects his parent's wishes. It is fear, which arises from reverence and submission towards those we love and esteem. It measures the malice of sin, not by the world's standards, but by those of heaven. If it does not suggest very noble deeds in God's service, at least it keeps us from going over to the enemy's camp. For this reason we, poor sinners, need the gift of holy fear. Let us therefore pray fervently for it.

• PRAYER.

  Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost hearts, that I may set thee my Lord and God, before my face forever; and shun all things that can offend thee, so that I may be worthy to appear before the eyes of thy Divine Majesty in the heaven of heavens, where thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God, world without end.
  Amen.