Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/391

 conversing with  Thee;  where  I  may  take  counsel with Thee  in  all  my  thoughts  and  all  my  actions; where I  may  dedicate  to  Thee  all  my  affections; where I  may  always  love  Thee,  and  sigh  to  leave  the prison of  this  body  to  come  and  love  Thee  face  to face  in  heaven. I love  Thee,  O  Infinite  Goodness, and I  hope  always  to  love  Thee,  in  time  and  in eternity. O Mary,  thou  who  canst  do  all  things, pray to  Him  to  enchain  me  with  His  love,  and  not to permit  me  ever  again  to  lose  His  grace.

Oh. how beautiful,  perfect,  and  dear  to  God  were  the  prayers  of tne  Infant  Jesus! At every  moment  He  prayed  to  His  Father,  and His prayers  were  all  for  us. and for  each  one  of  us  in  particular. All the graces  that  each  one  of  us  has  received  from  the  Lord  are  the effect of  the  prayers  of  Jesus.

y dear  Redeemer,  how  much  do  I  owe  Thee! If Thou  hadst  not  prayed  for  me,  in  what  a state  of  ruin  should  I  find  myself! I thank Thee, O  my  Jesus;  Thy  prayers  have  obtained  for me pardon  of  my  sins,  and  I  hope  that  they  will  also obtain for  me  perseverance  unto  death. Thou hast prayed for  me,  and  I  bless  Thee  with  my  whole  heart for so  doing,  but  I  beseech  Thee  not  to  leave  off praying. I know  that  Thou  dost  continue  even  in heaven  to  be  our  advocate  and  to  pray  for  us. Continue, therefore, to  pray;  but  pray  more  particularly, O my  Jesus,  for  me,  who  am  so  much  in  want  of Thy  prayers. I hope  that  God  has  already  pardoned me through  Thy  merits;  but  as  I  have  already  so often  fallen,  I  may  therefore  fall  again. Hell does not cease,  and  will  never  cease,  tempting  me,  in  order to  make  me  again  lose  Thy  friendship. Ah, my Jesus,  Thou  art  my  hope;  it  is  Thou  that  must  give