Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/1073



ADORABLE Jesus! Who hast  discovered  to  us  Thy most Sacred  Heart,  that  we  may  form  some  idea  of the  extent  of  Thy  love,  send  forth  Thy  light  and  Thy  grace into our  hearts,  that  we  may  value  as  we  ought  so  precious  a favor. We adore  thee,  O  infinitely  amiable  Heart,  and beseech thee  to  receive  our  adorations,  in  union  with  those thou thyself  renderest  to  the  Divinity  on  our  altars,  in union  with  the  perfect  homage  of  all  thy  saints,  and  in  particular, in  union  with  the  unceasing  adorations  of  the  heavenly spirits, who  crowd  thy  sanctuary  during  this  glorious  solemnity, and  honor  the  presence  of  thy  amiable  Heart  on  our altars. Yet it  is  not  for  those  pure  and  ardent  spirits  that thou burnest  with  love  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  it  is  for  us,  it is  for  all  creatures,  even  for  those  who  are  most  unmindful of all  thy  mercies.

But though  all  the  world  should  forget  Thee,  O  divine Victim of  charity,  surely  we,  at  least,  should  return  Thee love for  love,  since  Thou  hast  loved  us  with  an  eternal charity, and  selected  us  long  before  our  existence,  as  the favorites of  Thy  Divine  Heart,  the  objects  of  its  tenderest  affection  and  peculiar  favors. Penetrated with  the confidence which  should  arise  from  the  recollection  of  all Thou hast  already  done  for  us,  and  art  willing  to  do  for those who  trust  in  thee,  we  humbly  represent  our  present necessities to  Thee,  O  adorable  Heart,  the  Fountain  of  all grace, the  Ocean  of  mercy  and  exhaustless  Source  of  consolation and  strength! We most  fervently  entreat  thee  to infuse  into  our  hearts  the  dispositions  thou  requirest,  and then, for  thine  own  sake,  to  grant  the  earnest  petitions  of this  novena.

Thou art,  O  Furnace  of  love,  a  public  Victim. Thy mercies and  graces  are  offered  to  all  who  will  only  ask,  that they may  receive;  but  Thy  tenderest  compassion  seems peculiarly directed  to  all  unhappy  sinners.

For them  Thou  wert  overwhelmed  with  sorrow  in  the Garden of  Olives,  and  wounded  on  the  cross;  for  them  we most  particularly  pray,  and  most  earnestly  entreat  the  grace of conversion.

For ourselves,  and  every  member  of  this  Community,