Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/229

 his beloved  Son,  the  object  of  his  most  tender  lore? Banish then  every  other  thought,  awaken  thy  faith* open thy  heart,  and  ask  whatever  thou  wilt. Dost thou not  hear  how  Jesus  himself  says  to  thee; “What wilt  thou  have  me  do  for  thee? Speak, beloved soul,  what  doth  thou  desire  of  me? I have come in  order  to  make  thee  rich  and  happy;  ask  with confidence, and  thou  shalt  receive  everything  thou desirest.”

Ah I my  dearest  Saviour,  since  thou  art  come  to me  to  fill  me  with  graces,  and  desirest  me  to  ask  them of thee,  I ask  for  no  earthly  goods,  nor  riches^nor honours, nor  pleasures. Give me,  I beseech  thee,  a great  sorrow  for  all  the  displeasure  which  thou  hast received from  me*  Give  me  a great  light  to  show  me the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  how  much  thou  art worthy of  being  loved. Change my  heart,  detach  it from  all  earthly  affections,  and  give  me  a heart  perfectly conformed  to  thy  holy  will,  which  seeks  after thy good  pleasure  alone,  and  aspires  to  nothing  else than to  thy  holy  love.

I do not  deserve  all  this,  O my  Jesus,  but  thou deservest it,  thou  who  hast  come  to  dwell  in  my  soul. I ask it  through  thy  merits,  through  the  merits  of  thy holy Mother,  and  by  the  love  thou  bearest  to  thy eternal Father.

Here pause for  a time,  and  ask  of  Jesus  some  special  grace  for yourself or  your  neighbour. Do not  forget  poor  sinners  and  the souls in  purgatory.

Eternal Father! Jesus Christ  himself  has  said  to us: “ Amen,  amen,  I say  to  you,  if  you  ask  the  Father anything in  my  name  he  will  give  it  you.”  (John xvi.  23.)  For  love  of  this  thy  divine  Son,  who  now dwells in  my  heart,  hear  me,  and  grant  me  what  I now  ask.