Ave Maria Meditations
I firmly believe–because God who is in fallible Truth has so revealed it to the holy Catholic Church and through the church to us–I firmly believe that there is only one only God, in three divine Persons, equal and distinct, whose names are Father, Son and Holy Ghost: that the Son became man, and through the operation of the Holy Spirit took flesh and a human soul in the womb of the most pure Virgin Mary. He died for us upon the cross, rose again, ascended into heaven, and will come from thence at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead: to give paradise to the good, and hell to the wicked, forever; and furthermore, upon the same motive, I believe everything that the Holy Catholic Church believes and teachers.
In this faith and for this faith I desire to live and die. Grant, oh Lord, that my life may be conformable with my faith, that my faith may be animated by good works, that I may never be ashamed to declare myself a Catholic, and may constantly maintain the interests of the holy religion.
Draw closer to me, Lord, the bond that binds me to the holy Church; put into my heart a spirit of perfect obedience to its lawful pastors. In its bosom I became Thy child, and in its bosom I desire to live and die.
A prayer from the Blessed be God missal
