Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/111



JESUS, brightness  of  eternal  light,  unspotted mirror of  God’s  majesty  ( Wisd.  vii.  26),  my sovereign, life  and  only  goo(d! thou  art  he  whom  I have  so  long,  so  ardently  desired; he  whom  I acknowledge  for  my  Lord  and  my  God,  and  who alone  art  worthy  of  the  homage  and  adoration  of  men and  angels.  O Monarch  of  heaven  and  earth,  mighty in  word  and  work ! ( Luke  xxiv. 19.) Verily  thou art  a hidden  God,  the  God  of  Israel  the  Saviour (Isa. xlv. 15); and the  veils  which  conceal  thy  majesty are  those  of  the  teaderest  love.

O divine Jesus,  thou  art  now  glorified  by  the homage of  numberless  angels,  who  invisibly  assist at these  sacred  mysteries. Oh, how  should  their adorations and  love  confound  and  humble  me,  since it is  not  for  them,  but  for  me,  that  thou  art  hidden and degraded  on  the  altar! O holy angels ! blessed spirits ! love and  adore  the  Almighty  for  me, and redouble  your  ardours  to  supply  for  my  insufficiency.

ADORABLE Jesus,  the  happy  moment  is  fast approaching when  that  sacred  body  which  was immolated on  the  cross  will  abide  in  my  heart,  and that precious  blood  which  was  shed  with  so  much anguish for  my  ransom  will  be  really  and  truly applied as  a sovereign  remedy  to  my  soul. My God, is it  possible  that  thou,  whom  the  heavens  cannot contain, wilt  confine  thy  greatness  within  the  narrow limits of  my  heart? — that thou,  before  whom  the angels themselves  are  not  pure,  wilt  unite  thyself to a soul, like  mine,  disfigured  and  defiled  with  innu-