Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/226

 banish every  other  thought;  call  together  all  thy affections, and  lay  them  before  thy  God,  and  say to him:

MY Jesus! my love,  my  infinite  good,  my  all,  I welcome  thee;  be  always  welcome  to  this  home which I keep  for  thee  in  my  poor  heart. Ah! Lord, where art  thou,  whither  hast  thou  come? Into my heart,  worse  than  the  stable  where  thou  wast  born; into my  heart,  full  of  attachments,  of  self-love,  and of disorderly  appetites. How couldst  thou  choose such a dwelling  as  this? Well might  I say  to  thee with St.  Peter: “ Depart  from  me,  O Lord,  for  I am a sinner I am  too  unworthy  to  have  a God  of infinite  goodness  for  my  guest. Go, rather  repose in those  pure  souls,  who  serve  thee  with  so  much love. But no,  my  Redeemer,  what  do  I say! Do not depart  from  me,  for  if  thou  leave  me  I am  lost. I embrace thee,  O my  life,  I attach  myself  inseparably to thee. I have been  only  too  foolish  in  separating myself from  thee  for  love  of  creatures; ungrateful wretch that  I am,  I have  driven  thee  away  from  my heart. But now  I will  never  separate  myself  from thee any  more. I am resolved  to  live  and  die  united to thee.

Most Holy  Virgin  Mary,  Seraphs,  souls  who  love God with  a pure  love,  lend  me  your  affections,  that  I may  entertain  my  dear  Lord  as  I ought!

THANK thee,  O my  Lord  and  my  God,  for  the grace which  thou  hast  shown  to  me  this  morning by coming  to  dwell  in  my  soul. Would that  I could thank thee  in  a manner  worthy  of  thee  and  of  the signal favour  which  I have  received! But what  do  I