Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/417

 love. I love thee,  I say,  more than myself,  and  than  all things; at least,  I most  earnestly desire  so  to  love  thee, and always  to  adhere  to  thee alone. Oh, that  by  the  force of this  Sacrament  there  may be cemented  between  thee and me  a union  of  love  so great,  that  nothing  may  be able  to  separate  me  from  the love of  Christ  my  Saviour!

But whatever  is  opposed to this  my  desire  and  thy command, and  whatever  even is an  obstacle  to  the  relish and sweetness  of  this  heavenly Manna,  such  as  are  this N. and  that  N.,  I seriously and sincerely  resolve  to  avoid, and this  only  for  the  love  of thee. Oh, that  by  the  power of, and  in  union  with,  this  Sacrament, thy  abundant  and  efficacious grace  may  assist  the resolution of  my  will,  so  weak and unstable,  thou  knowest, O Lord, of  itself! Thy eyes see my  imperfection,  but  all my sufficiency  is  from  thee.

But how  dare  I approach thee? Art not  thou,  O God, the Lord,  my  Creator  and Redeemer, King  of  heaven and earth,  &amp;c.? And what am I? A poor  worm  of earth! dust and  ashes; and, what is  worse,  so  often  a disobedient  and  ungrateful sinner towards  thee,  &amp;c. Worthy, indeed,  I am  not, O Lord, that  thou  shouldst enter under  my  roof;  but, O Lord, remember  that, though thou  wert  Lord  of all,  thou  tookst  the  form  of a servant,  to  come  to  us,  and conversedst familiarly  with publicans and  sinners. Finally, thou humbledst  thyself even to  death. Let that  humility move  thee,  I beseech thee, not  to  despise  me,  mean and humble  as  I am; but mercifully come  to  me,  or receive  me  graciously  when I come to  thee.

I beseech thee,  therefore, O eternal Father,  by  the force of  that  most  powerful love which  drew  down  from thy bosom  thy  only-begotten Son into  the  Virgin’s  womb, that for  us  men  he  might become man.

I beseech thee,  by  that  earnestness of  desire  with  which at his  last  supper  he  desired to eat  the  Pasch  with  his disciples, and  to  perfect  the work of  our  redemption; by the  force  also  of  that  love  by which  he  gave  himself  to them  and  to  us  all,  to  be  our food, when  he  instituted  the Sacrifice and  Sacrament  of  his Body and  Blood,  in  memory of his  boundless  love,  and  for a pledge of  future  glory.

I beseech thee,  also,  by  the force of  that  most  ardent charity with  which  he  offered himself to  thee,  his  eternal Father, on  the  altar  of  the