Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/383

 forsaken; Thou  wast  placed  in  a  manger  on  a  little straw, because  thus  Thou  wouldst  begin  to  reign  in our  hearts. Ah, my  Infant  King,  how  could  I  so often  rebel  against  Thee,  and  live  so  long  Thine enemy! O Jesus,  my  King,  Who  art  so  amiable  and  so loving  to  our  souls,  take  possession,  I  pray  Thee,  of mine;  I  give  it  entirely  to  Thee:  accept  it,  that  it may  serve  Thee  forever,  but  serve  Thee  only  for love. Thy majesty  deserves  to  be  feared,  but  Thy goodness still  more  deserves  to  be  loved. Thou art my King,  and  Thou  shalt  be  always  the  only  object of my  love. O Mary,  our  dear  Lady! it is  for  thee to obtain  for  me  that  I  may  be  faithful  to  this  beloved King  of  my  soul.

Earthly physicians, when  they  love  their  patients,  use  all  their efforts to  cure  them;  but  what  physician,  in  order  to  cure  his  patient, ever took  upon  himself  the  sick  man's  disease? Jesus Christ  was  the physician Who  charged  Himself  with  our  infirmities  in  order  to  cure them: "He hath  borne  our  infirmities,  and  carried  our  sorrows"  (Is. iii.  4).

ay Thy  charity,  O  my  Redeemer! be forever praised and  blessed. And what  would  become  of  my  soul,  infirm  and  afflicted  with the many  wounds  of  my  sins,  if  I  had  not  Thee,  my Jesus,  Who  art  both  able  and  willing  to  heal  me? O Blood  of  my  Saviour,  I  trust  in  Thee;  wash  me and  cure  me. I repent,  O  my  Love,  of  having  offended Thee. Thou didst  lead  a  life  of  tribulations, and didst  die  a  bitter  death,  to  prove  to  me  what love Thou  bearest  me. I would  fain  show  Thee  how much I  love  Thee;  but  what  can  I  do  who  am  so miserable  and  weak? O God  of  my  soul! Thou art omnipotent; Thou  canst  heal  me  and  make  me  holy. Oh, awake  in  me  a  great  desire  of  pleasing  Thee. I