Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/197



“Behold he  cometh  leaping  upon  the  mountains.”— Cant. ii. 8.

H! my  dearest  Saviour,  what  wonderful  and almost insurmountable  difficulties  thou  hadst  to break  through,  in  order  that  thou  mightest  come and unite  thyself  to  me  in  this  holy  Sacrament! Being God,  it  was  necessary  to  become  a man; being infinite, to  become  an  infant; being  Lord  of  all,  to become  a slave; from  the  bosom  of  thy  eternal Father, thou  must  pass  into  the  womb  of  a virgin, from heaven  into  a stable,  and  from  thy  throne  of glory  to  an  infamous  gibbet. And this  morning again from  thy  heavenly  home  thou  dost  come  to dwell  in  my  heart.

“Behold he  standeth  behind  our  wall,  looking  through  the windows, looking  through  the  lattices.”—  Cant. ii. 9.

O my soul,  behold  thy  dear  Jesus  all  burning  with that same  love  which  he  bore  thee,  when  he  died for thee  on  the  cross ! Behold him  now  under  the sacramental species ! Like an  ardent  lover  he  gazes upon thee  from  the  consecrated  Host,  and  desires  to have  thee  answer  to  his  love. From there,  although himself unseen,  he  sees  thee; he  watches  thee  closely, thou that  goest  this  morning  to  feed  on  his  sacred flesh, that  he  may  discover  what  thy  thoughts  are, what thou  lovest  best,  what  thou  desirest,  what  thou wouldst have  from  him,  and  what  offering  thou  hast to present  him  in  return.

Courage, O my  soul,  and  prepare  thyself  to  receive Jesus, first,  by  faith,  saying: It  is  then  true,  O my beloved  Redeemer,  that  in  a few  moments  thou  wilt: come into  my  heart ? O my God,  hidden  and unrecognised by  the  most  of  men,  I believe  that  thou