Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/390



Jesus disposed of  events  so  as  to  be  born  out  of  the  city,  in  a  solitary cave,  in  order  to  recommend  to  us  the  love  of  solitude  and  of silence. In fact,  if  we  enter  the  grotto  we  shall  see  that  solitude  and silence reign  therein. Jesus remains  in  silence  in  the  manger;  Mary and Joseph  adore  and  contemplate  Him  in  silence. Happy the  soul that shuts  itself  up  in  the  solitude  of  Bethlehem  to  contemplate  the love that  God  has  borne  to  men!

Y dearest Saviour,  Thou  art  the  King  of heaven,  the  King  of  kings,  the  Son  of  God; and how  is  it,  then,  that  I  see  Thee  in  this cave, forsaken  by  all? I see  no  one  with  Thee  but Joseph and  Thy  holy  Mother. I desire  to  unite myself to  them  in  keeping  Thee  company. Do not reject me. I do  not  deserve  it;  but  I  feel  that  Thou dost invite  me  by  Thy  sweet  voice,  speaking  to  my heart. Yes, I  come,  O  my  beloved  Infant! I will leave all  things  to  pass  my  whole  life  along  with Thee, my  beloved  little  Hermit,  only  love  of  my soul. Fool that  I  was,  I  have  hitherto  forsaken Thee and  left  Thee  alone,  O  my  Jesus,  whilst  I  was seeking miserable  and  baneful  pleasures  from creatures, but  now,  enlightened  by  Thy  grace,  I  desire nothing  but  to  live  in  solitude  with  Thee,  who didst Thyself  live  in  solitude  on  this  earth. "Who will give  me  wings  like  a  dove,  and  I  will  fly  and  be at  rest"  (Ps.  liv.  7). Ah, who  will  enable  me  to  fly from this  world,  where  I  have  so  often  found  my ruin — to  fly,  and  to  come  and  remain  always  with Thee, Who  art  the  joy  of  paradise  and  the  true  Lover of my  soul? Oh, bind  me,  I  pray  Thee,  to  Thy  feet, so that  I  may  no  longer  be  separated  from  Thee, but may  find  my  happiness  in  continually  keeping company with  Thee! Ah, by  the  merits  of  Thy  solitude in  the  cave  of  Bethlehem,  give  me  a  constant interior recollection,  so  that  my  soul  may  become  a solitary  little  cell,  where  I  may  attend  to  nothing  but