Page:StJosephsManual1877.pdf/826

 many more  if  you  had  not  ungratefully  refused  to accept  them,  and  despised  them. Through Jesus  you hope to  have  a share  in  the  endless  happiness  of  the saints. Through Jesus  you  are  not  now  in  hell, where you  deserved  to  be  so  often. See now,  if  Jesus, dying  on  the  cross,  does  not  love  you  specially; he prays  particularly  for  you,  and  entreats  his  Father for singular  favors  for  you! And you,  how  do  you love Jesus? How have  you  at  heart  the  giving  of him  pleasure,  by  a virtuous  and  Christian  life,  by works  of  piety  and  of  mercy,  by  the  faithful  practice of his  teaching? A friend who  loves  you,  and  bestows a gift on  you  now  and  again,  can  bind  your heart to  his,  and  fill  you  with  love  for  him; and  Jesus who has  loved  you  so  much,  bestowed  so  many  priceless blessings  on  you,  who  is  dying  on  a cross  for you, can  not  gain  a little  of  your  love! Ah! before he expires,  beg  of  him  to  place  your  heart  in  his,  and inflame it  with  love  in  this  burning  furnace  of  charity. Beseech him  to  detach  it  from  all  earthly  affections, so that  it  may  be  wholly  consecrated  to  the  love  of Jesus  — Jesus  crucified.

I would offer  thee  something,  my  most  amiable  and agonizing Redeemer,  in  return  for  so  much  love,  for so many  blessings; but  I have  nothing  but  a soul covered with  the  leprosy  of  sin,  and  a cold,  carnal heart. This is  the  soul  which  thou  hast  loved  even unto death,  and  for  which  thou  hast  shed  thy  blood. This soul  I offer  thee,  that  thou  mayest  purify  it, sanctify it,  and  make  it  worthy  of  thee. I offer thee my heart,  that  thou  mayest  cleanse  it  from  its  guilty passions, from  its  evil  affections,  and  inflame  it  entirely  with  thy  love. Bind me,  press  me  to  thyself, so that  I may  never  more  be  separated  from  thee. The world,  creatures,  earth,  shall  rob  me  no  more  of my  heart; thou  alone  wilt  for  ever  be  the  God  of  ray heart; thee  alone  shall  I love  henceforth. Take