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 wants. Yet are  not  my  eyes always open  upon  my  faithful ones, and  my  ears  to  hear  their prayers, never  to  fail  them  in time  of  need?

If at  any  time  I delay  a little,  this  too  is  for  your good, that  your  desires  may expand and  increase,  and  so man  may  become  more  capable of  receiving  my  gifts. For things  long  desired  are more sweet  in  the  acquisition; but those  are  less  valued  that are easily  obtained. If, therefore, thou  askest  anything  of me,  and  I do  not  immediately grant it,  persevere,  nevertheless, in  knocking  and  calling, for the  door  shall  be  opened to you  at  last. Or even  if  I am  unwilling  to  give,  return me thanks  equally,  whether  I refuse  or  comply,  from  the knowledge that  I deny  what I know will  not  be  for  your good. For a man  often  knows not what  he  asks,  like  the  sons of Zebedee,  or  what  will  be for  his  benefit  in  this  life,  in all  the  days  of  his  pilgrimage, and the  time  that  passes  like a shadow. But I know  best what is  good  for  each; yet, for the  folly  of  men,  I sometimes grant  in  anger  what  in favour  I would  deny. Be sure, however, of  this,  that  if  thou art not  heard  to  thy  wish, thou wilt  certainly  be  so  to thy  salvation. Thus was  my Apostle  heard  when  he  besought to  be  delivered  from the sting  of  the  flesh. Nay, I myself was  thus  heard  by my  Father,  when  I prayed that the  chalice  of  my  passion might  be  removed  from me. Is the  servant  greater or better  than  his  Lord? Thy prayer  will  be  best,  if made  conformable  to  mine, which I poured  forth  in  the garden in  the  utmost  anguish of heart,  submitting  myself entirely to  the  will  of  my Father. Hence that  form  of prayer  with  which  I taught my disciples  and  all  of  you to pray: Thy  will  he  done.

§ 7. ''A prayer  for  the  Divine assistance. ''

Man. O immeasurable love! O inexhaustible tenderness! It is  according  to  the  riches of thy  goodness,  O Lord,  that thou dost  so  copiously  instruct and exhort  me  to  converse with thee,  though  thou  hast no need  of  my  goods. Why is it  that  thou  deliglitest  to  deal with the  sons  of  men? Oh, that my  soul,  poor,  destitute, and parched,  would  pant  for thee as  the  hind  pants  for  the fountains of  waters! Oh, that my mouth  were  filled  with thy praise! Oh, that  I were as prepared  to receive  as  thou to give! The oil  of  thy  loving mercy  drops  down,  nay, flows richly  in  streams,  if  but empty vessels  were  not  wanting to  receive  it. Behold the vessel of  my  heart,  but  full  of impurity  and  evil  desires. I beseech thee  to  empty  and cleanse it;  enlarge  my  heart also, that  thou  mayest  fill  it.