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 poverty; if honourable,  I am pleased  with  honour:  if  dishonoured, I do  not  shun  disgrace. Wilt thou  have  me enjoy  consolation? — my will is the  same. Desolation? — it alarms  me  not. If thou wilt have  me  be  in  favour with men,  I will  it  too; if thou  wilt  have  me  be  hated, I will pray  for  my  enemies, and in  my  persecutions  I will praise thee.

3. Therefore,  I would  not have eyes,  but  to  see  thee; nor ears,  but  to  hear  thee; nor a tongue,  but  to  speak  to thee; nor  a heart,  but  to  love thee; nor  memory,  but  for the recollection  of  thy  sweetness; nor  understanding,  but to acknowledge  thy  majesty; nor hands,  but  to  serve  thee; nor feet,  but  to  obey  thee; nor a body,  but  for  a victim; nor life,  but  for  a sacrifice  to thee.

4. In  sum,  I desire  so  to be  thine,  without  any  reserve, as  to  despoil  myself; to put  away  all  that  belongs to me; and  to  give,  resign, and make  over  to  thy  most holy will,  all  my  thoughts, words, and  deeds,  both  interior and  exterior;  with  all that I do  or  may  possess,  and which thou,  of  thy  grace, hast vouchsafed  to  bestow  on me. For I have  already  given thee my  will; and  I now  give it thee  irrevocably,  and  for ever.

Nor do  I wish  to  desire,  or not  to  desire,  anything  but as, when,  and  as  much  as  thou desirest it  or  not; so  that  thy will may  be  my  first  and  last desire, happiness,  and  consolation, at  all  times  and  in  all circumstances. Assist me, therefore, O most  loving Lord, with  thy  most  holy grace (without  which  I know that  I can  do  nothing),  that all things  may  tend  to  thy honour and  glory,  and  that thy most  holy  will  may  be most  perfectly  fulfilled. Amen.

''True joy  is  the  delight  produced  by  the  things  that  belong  to God. For in  God, and  in  his  excellence, lie  the  true  grounds of  all  joy. ''

1. Oh,  how  great  cause have I,  O most  sweet  Lord, to rejoice  and  be  glad! For thou art  the  God  who  is  of infinite  power,  wisdom,  goodness, beauty,  mercy,  justice, faithfulness, and  innumerable other attributes  which  belong to thee  as  the  beginning  and