Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/199

 love, thou  alone  dost  deserve  the  love  of  all  thy creatures. I love thee  with my  whole  heart. I love thee above all  things; I love  thee  more  than  my  life. O! why can  I not  see  thee  loved  by  all,  cherished  by  all hearts as  thou  deservest? I love thee,  O my  God! and in  the  fervour  of  my  love,  I unite  my  poor  heart with the  hearts  of  all  the  Seraphim  and  with  the  heart of Mary,  and  wish  that  I might  have  the  same  love for thee  which  all  the  Saints  bear  thee,  the  same  with which thy  holy  Mother  is  inflamed. I love only thee, for  thou  alone  deservest  all  my  love. O blessed Mary, mother  of  holy  love,  help  me  to  love  my  God as thou  desirest  to  see  him  loved.

o then,  my  soul,  in  a few  moments  thou  art  going to nourish  thyself  with  the  sacred  flesh  of  Jesus Christ. Art thou  then  worthy  to  receive  it? O my God, who  am  I,  and  who  art  thou? Indeed, I know well who  thou  art,  thou  that  givest  thyself  to  me; but thou,  Lord,  knowest  thou  who  I am — I that  am to  receive  thee?

Is it  possible,  O my  Jesus,  that  thou,  who  art purity itself,  art  so  desirous  to  come  and  dwell  in this  soul,  which  has  so  often  been  the  dwelling  of thine  enemy,  and  loaded  with  so  many  sins? I acknowledge, O Lord, all  thy  majesty  and  my  own  deep misery. I blush and  am  ashamed  to  appear  before thee; I would in  reverence  withdraw  from  thee,  but  if  I leave  thee,  my  life,  whither  shall  I turn? Where should I seek help? what will  become  of  me? No, no ! I will not leave  thee. I will rather  draw  nearer  and  nearer to thee  every  day. Thou lovest  to  have  me  receive thee for  my  food,  and  ever  invitest  me. Well, then, I come, O my  dearest  Saviour ! Yes ! ashamed and