Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/105

 To  thee,  therefore,  I offer my heart  and  my  whole  self, and humbly  devote  and  consecrate to  thee  all  that  I have, do, and  am.

Purify, I beseech  thee,  my heart  and  senses,  by  the  outpouring of  thy  gifts  and graces upon  me,  that  I may ever be  able  to  serve  thee with a chaste  body,  and  to please  thee  by  a clean  heart. And because  without  thee no good  can  ever  be  accomplished, or  even  devised,  let thy grace,  I beseech  thee,

Illumine our  senses And make  our  heart With patience  firm, The weakness  of  out ever precede  and  follow  me; make me  to  be  continually intent on  good  works;  and because these  of  themselves are unworthy  to  please  thee, mercifully accept  them  in union  with  the  most  holy works and  merits  of  Christ Jesus, that  as  he,  by  thy  overshadowing, was  conceived  of a most  pure  Virgin  and  became our  Saviour,  so  from his grace,  charity,  and  infinite merits,  our  wants  and infirmities may  be  supplied.

Illumine our senses from above, And make our hearts o’erflow with  love; With patience firm, and virtue  high, The weakness of our flesh supply. Amen.

The Christian  who  would not be  wanting  to  his  name and vocation, ought  to  strive continually for  intimacy  with God, who is  his  last  end, and possible, his soul.

S. Dionysius  the  Areopagite  is  of  opinion, that the shortest and  easiest  way  to do  this,  is  for  the  faithful  soul continually  to  lift  itself  up  to God  by  ardent  aspirations and frequent  acts  of  love,  afthus  to  unite  to  him,  as  far  as  fection, and  desire; as  well as by  panting  for  him,  in  the heart within, by  speaking and conversing  with  him,