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He bought us, and so take us from Him? Unto the Sacrament of which our
ransom, Thy handmaid bound her soul by the bond of faith. Let none
sever her from Thy protection: let neither the lion nor the dragon
interpose himself by force or fraud. For she will not answer that
she owes nothing, lest she be convicted and seized by the crafty
accuser: but she will answer that her sins are forgiven her by Him, to
Whom none can repay that price which He, Who owed nothing, paid for
us.

May she rest then in peace with the husband before and after whom
she had never any; whom she obeyed, with patience bringing forth fruit
unto Thee, that she might win him also unto Thee. And inspire, O
Lord my God, inspire Thy servants my brethren, Thy sons my masters,
whom with voice, and heart, and pen I serve, that so many as shall
read these Confessions, may at Thy Altar remember Monnica Thy
handmaid, with Patricius, her sometimes husband, by whose bodies
Thou broughtest me into this life, how I know not. May they with
devout affection remember my parents in this transitory light, my
brethren under Thee our Father in our Catholic Mother, and my
fellow-citizens in that eternal Jerusalem which Thy pilgrim people
sigheth after from their Exodus, even unto their return thither.
That so my mother's last request of me, may through my confessions,
more than through my prayers, be, through the prayers of many, more
abundantly fulfilled to her.

BOOK X

Let me know Thee, O Lord, who knowest me: let me know Thee, as I
am known. Power of my soul, enter into it, and fit it for Thee, that
Thou mayest have and hold it without spot or wrinkle. This is my hope,
therefore do I speak; and in this hope do I rejoice, when I rejoice