Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/139

 am in  thy  presence,  in  the  presence  of  thee,  who  art “ the beginning  and  the  end,”  who  art  “ He  was  to come,”  who  art  “ the  Lord,”  “ the  first  and  the  last,” “inhabiting eternity,”  and  holding  “the  keys  of death  and  of  hell.”  “ Power  and  wisdom,  and  greatness and  strength,  and  honour  and  glory,  and blessing,” be  to  my  Redeemer,  for  ever  and  ever. I adore thy  Sacred  Heart. Take me  within  it.

RECIOUS prayer,  which  came  from  the  Sacred Heart, and  ought  to  penetrate  mine  with  the sweet sword  of  his  love. The Heart  of  God  the  Father toward us  was  such  as  he  manifested,  who  proceeded from  his  Heart. He who  has  given  us himself,  how  will  he  not  in  himself  give  us  all things? “ What wouldst  thou  that  I should  do  for Thee?” already  he  asks. What shall  I ask  him  for? O what treasures  St. Francis and  St.  Gertrude  got from his  Sacred  Heart! His arm  is  not  shortened nor his  power  diminished,  nor  his  strength  exhausted. That Heart  is  a miracle  of  goodness. He bids  me  ask: What  can  I desire  better  than himself? If I ask  aught  else  I shall  have  but  a part. Hear me! I ask, I entreat,  I implore. Give me your  holy  love,  and  then  yourself,  O increated beauty of  the  Father,  O most  beautiful  among  the sons of  men!

MY Saviour! there is  no  place  more  worthy  of thee  than  thyself. Empty me,  then,  of  myself, O my God,  and  establish  thyself  within  me; so  that when thou  comest  to  me,  thou  mayst  be  received not by  me,  but  by  thyself,  and  with  the  same  love that thou  bearest  thyself.