Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/227

 say? What worthy  thanks  could  I render  thee, miserable creature  that  I am?

Father Segneri  says  that  the  most  suitable  affection for a soul  after  communion,  is  the  wonder  which  gives rise to  this  thought: a God  is  mine! a God is  mine ! “ What shall  I render  to  the  Lord  for  all  that  he  hath rendered to  me? ” So said  David: and  I,  what  shall I render to  thee,  O my  Jesus,  to  thee,  who,  after  so many  favours,  hast  given  me  thyself  this  morning? Therefore, 0s my  soul,  bless  thy  God,  and  thank  him with all  thy  power. And thou,  Mary  my  mother, and you,  my  patron  Saints,  my  Guardian  Angel,  and all ye  souls  who  burn  with  divine  love,  “ come  and  I will  tell  you  what  good  things  the  Lord  hath  done  to my  soul.”  Come,  bless  and  thank  my  God  for  me, and admire  the  wondrous  grace  which  I have received.

Y Beloved  to  me,  and  I to  him.”  (Cant.  ii. 16.)  If  a king  were  to  come  and  visit  a poor shepherd in  his  hut,  what  could  the  shepherd  offer him but  his  hut,  such  as  it  is? Since then,  O my divine  King,  Jesus,  thou  art  come  to  visit  this  poor house of  my  soul,  I offer  thee  my  house,  and  my whole  self,  with  my  liberty  and  my  will. “My Beloved to  me,  and  I to  him.”  Thou  hast  given thyself all  to  me,  I give  myself  all  to  thee. No more, my Jesus,  will  I be  my  own; henceforth  I wish  to belong  to  thee,  entirely  to  thee,  and  that  all  my senses  may  be  so  entirely  thine,  that  they  may  serve only to  please  thee. And, indeed,  what  greater  pleasure can  one  have,  said  St.  Peter  of  Alcantara,  than to please  thee,  a God  most  amiable,  most  loving,  and most bountiful? I give up  to  thee  all  the  powers  of