Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/382

 the love  of  Jesus  Christ. He has  promised  that Thou wilt  grant  to  him  who  prays  in  His  Name whatever he  asks  of  Thee. If I  continue  to  pray to Thee  in  this  way,  I  shall  certainly  be  saved; but if  I  neglect  so  doing,  I  shall  certainly  be  lost. Most holy  Mary,  obtain  for  me  this  great  gift  of prayer,  and  also  that  I  may  persevere  in  recommending myself  constantly  to  God,  and  also  to  thee,  who dost obtain  from  God  whatever  thou  wiliest.

The Son of  God  wished  to  present  Himself  under  the  form  of  a sweet  little  child,  that  thus  He  might  the  more  readily  and  the  more forcibly draw  to  Himself  the  love  of  man. Little children  of  themselves are  loved  at  once,  and  to  see  them  and  to  love  them  is  the  same thing. With this  view  the  Eternal  Word  chose  first  to  be  seen among men  as  an  infant,  that  He  might  conciliate  to  Himself  the  love of all  mankind.

Divine Word,  become  man  for  me,  though I behold  Thee  thus  humbled  and  become  a little  Infant,  yet  I  confess  and  acknowledge Thee for  my  Lord  and  King,  but  a  King  of  love. My dearest Saviour,  since  Thou  hast  come  down  upon earth and  clothed  Thyself  with  our  miserable  flesh  in order  to  reign  over  our  hearts,  I  beseech  Thee  come and establish  Thy  reign  in  my  heart  also,  which  was once, alas! ruled over  by  Thine  enemies,  but  is  now, I hope,  Thine,  as  I  desire  that  it  may  be  always Thine, and  that  from  this  day  forth  Thou  mayest  be its  only  Lord. Other kings  reign  by  the  strength  of arms,  but  Thou  comest  to  reign  by  the  power  of love;  and  therefore  Thou  dost  not  come  with  regal pomp, nor  clothed  in  purple  and  gold,  nor  adorned with sceptre  and  crown,  nor  surrounded  by  armies of soldiers. Thou wast  born  in  a  stable — poor  and