AN ACT OF HOPE

O my God! relying on Thy almighty power and infinite goodness and
promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and
life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and
Redeemer.

The substance of this act is: I hope for Heaven and the means to obtain
it. The means by which I will obtain it are the pardon of my sins by
God, and the grace which He will give me in the reception of the
Sacraments and in prayer, by which grace I will be able to know Him,
love Him, and serve Him, and thus come to be with Him forever. Here
again we could make a long act by mentioning all the things we hope for;
viz., a good death, a favorable judgment, a place in Heaven, etc.