Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/250

 of its  Creator,  is  by  frequently  consecrating  all  its powers to  his  honour  and  glory; by  making  use  of your  memory  to  recall  the  benefits  and  mercies  of God; by  employing  your  understanding  in  meditating on his  holy  law,  that  you  may  model  your  life  on  all it prescribes; and  by  renouncing  your  will  so perfectly,  as  to  have  no  other  will  than  the  will  of God. But the  victim  of  thanksgiving  which  God peculiarly requires  from  you,  is  your  heart  and  all its affections. This is  the  sacrifice  which  will  give value to  every  other,  and  without  which  all  others would be  vain: it  is  that  which  above  all  others  you should endeavour  to  make  perfectly,  because  it  is  the offering which  God  himself  condescends  to  ask: Son, give me  thy  heart. Consider how  early  you  were taught to  say: My  God, I give  thee  my  heart. These are the  first  words  you  daily  utter,  still  perhaps  you have not  yet  really  offered  your  whole  heart  to  God. Ah! delay no  longer:  to  whom  does  it  so  justly belong? who ever  loved  you  so  much  as  God? who can make  you  happy,  but  God? O divine Lord ! how true  it  is,  that  I have  never  been  satisfied  but when I endeavoured  to  serve  thee,  to  act  for  thee,  to give  myself  to  thee. How sincerely I regret  having ever cast  away  a single  thought,  a single  affection,  or a single  moment  of  my  existence,  on  any  object  less than thee,  my  Creator  and  my  God ! Penetrated with gratitude  for  that  infinite  mercy  which  induced thee to  give  thyself  to  me  in  the  adorable  Eucharist, I most fervently  wish  that  I could  make  thee  a sacrifice  worthy  of  thyself; but  as  that  is  impossible — as thou  knowest  my  poverty,  and  wilt  be  content with the  little  I can  give,  permit  me  to  offer  thee  my whole  being,  my  body,  my  soul,  my  life,  my  actions, my will,  and  above  all,  my  heart  and  affections. O