Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/237

 abode with  so  sweet  an  odour  as  may  make  it  agreeable to  thee. Thy Eucharistic  life,  which  is  wholly interior and  absorbed  in  God,  shall  henceforth  be  the model of  mine. If I put  no  obstacle  in  the  way,  thou thyself, my  heavenly  spouse,  wilt  teach  me  to  think and judge  of  things  as  thou  judgest  and  thinkest  of them. I will henceforth  leave  myself  entirely  to  thy divine guidance. Let my  soul  be  as  a canvas  on which  thou  mayest  trace  thy  own  portrait. Grant that I may  endeavour  to  please  thee  alone,  not according to  my  ideas,  but  to  thine; not  in  preventing  thy  inspirations  by  my  own  efforts,  but  in  a faithful  correspondence  with  them. Grant me  to  fulfil, in  thy  regard,  the  duties  of  a spouse,  as  thou fulfillest in  mine  the  obligations  of  that  sacred character. Thou, my  spouse,  art  faithful; thou  wilt never be  wanting  to  me. Thou art  generous; whatever can  be  advantageous  to  my  soul  thou  wilt  give me, or  at  least  thou  wilt  offer  me. Thou art  disinterested; thou  seekest  only  my  happiness  in  the benefits thou  conferrest  upon  me. From thy  example I also will  be  faithful; faithful  in  never  wilfully offending thee; this  will  be  something,  but  still  very little for  a spouse  to  do; faithful  in  seeking  in  all things to  please  thee; this  reaches  to  infinity,  and comprises every  degree  of  perfection; but  thou,  my divine  spouse,  wilt  teach  me  all  that  I should  do  to correspond  with  thy  designs  upon  me,  if  I am  attentive to  thy  instructions. I will be  generous,  giving all that  thou  demandest  of  me. Grant that  I may sacrifice to  thee  whatever  depends  on  me; and  what I have not  courage  to  give,  tear  from  me:  for  I desire  to  be  unreservedly  thine. How full  of  sweetness art thou,  O my  Saviour,  to  a soul  that  loves thee! truly, there  is  not  on  earth  a happiness  to  be