Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/335



The Heart  of  Jesus  is  the  sweet  support  of  those who worship  it. O strong and  delightful  support! Thanks be  to  God,  the  support  of  creatures  has failed me. Such support  always  fails  sooner  or later,  and  that  for  many  reasons. None save  God can adequately  appreciate  our  spiritual  and  corporal distresses. His heart  only  then  can  adequately compassionate our  miseries. Our distresses  may be so  long  and  so  complex,  so  various  and  so intricate,  as  to  try  the  patience  of  our  dearest friends. Love only  can  sustain  and  pass  through all opposition,  and  that  love  such  as  the  embrace  of Jesus  Christ  is  alone  able  to  inspire. Would you have  him  in  readiness  to  press  you  to  his bosom in  the  hour  of  your  distress? Would you have him  ready  in  the  hour  of  fear  to  whisper,  “ It  is I,  be  not  afraid? ” Would you,  in  your  last  agony, let fall  your  head  on  a pillow  such  as  only  he  can furnish? O, then,  secure  now  that  adorable  rest, and accept  the  invitation,  “ Come  and  learn  of  me, all ye  that  are  meek  and  humble  of  heart,  and  you shall find  rest  for  your  soul.”

"Place me  near  thee,  O Heart  of  Jesus,  and  let my  enemy  fight  against  me.”  Pone  me  juxta  te,  et cujusvis  manus  pugnet  contra  me. 

"I sleep,” he  says,  "and  my  heart  is  watching.” Ah ! had Jesus  simply  said  "I sleep,”  and  no  more, his  words,  far  from  giving  me  that  delight  which they  now  convey,  would  but  have  created  inquietude