Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/157



MY amiable  Redeemer. I give  and  consecrate myself to  Thy  Sacred  Heart  without  reserve.

I have  in  a  manner  nailed  myself  to  Thy  cross  by  the vows of  my  profession;  I  renew  them  in  this  divine Heart in  presence  of  heaven  and  earth;  and  I  return  Thee thanks for  having  inspired  me  to  make  them.

I own  that  the  yoke  of  Thy  holy  service  is  neither  hard nor heavy;  I  do  not  find  myself  embarrassed  with  my chains;  on  the  contrary,  I  would  wish  to  multiply  them, or rivet  them  yet  closer  upon  me.

I embrace,  then,  the  dear  cross  of  my  vocation,  even to my  death;  it  shall  be  all  my  pleasure,  all  my  glory, and all  my  delight.

God forbid  that  I  should  glory,  that  I  should  ever rejoice, save  in  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ.

God forbid  that  I  should  ever  have  any  other  treasure than His  poverty,  any  other  delight  than  His  sufferings, any other  love  than  Himself.

No, no,  my  amiable  Lord,  never  will  I  separate  myself from Thee;  and  I  will  attach  myself  to  none  but  Thee; the narrowest  paths  of  the  life  of  perfection  to  which  I am  called  give  me  no  alarm,  because  Thou  art  my  light and my  strength.

I hope,  then,  O  Lord,  that  Thou  wilt  render  me  steadfast under  all  temptations,  victorious  against  the  efforts of my  enemies,  and  that  Thou  wilt  stretch  out  over  me that  beneficent  hand,  which  has  bestowed  upon  me  so many  favors,  and  make  me  ever  more  and  more  liberal toward Thee.

I entreat  this  of  Thee,  O  my  adorable  Jesus,  by  Thy blood, by  all  Thy  wounds,  and  by  Thy  Sacred  Heart.

Grant that  by  the  consecration  which  I  make  to  Thee of all  that  I  am,  I  may  become  this  day  entirely  renewed in Thy  love. Amen.