Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/443

 approach with  more  confidence  to  his  divine  heart. Let us  draw  near,  then,  with  great  confidence  and lore. Let us  unite  ourselves  to  him,  and  ask  him for his  holy  grace.

HAT joy  ought  mine  to  be,  O eternal  Word made man,  and  hidden  in  this  Sacrament  for  me, knowing that  I am  in  thy  presence,  that  thou  art  my God,  that  thou  art  infinite  in  majesty,  infinite  in goodness,  and  that  thou  hast  such  a tender  regard for my  soul! O all ye  souls  who  love  God,  whereever  you  are,  in  heaven  or  on  earth,  love  him  for  me too! Mary, my  Mother! help me  to  love  him: and thou, most  loving  Lord,  render  thyself  the  object  of all  my  affections; make  away  with  all  my  will; take possession of  me  entirely  I consecrate  to  thee  my whole  mind,  so  that  I may  think  always  of  thy  goodness; I consecrate  to  thee  my  body  also,  so  that it may  assist  me  to  please  thee; I consecrate  to thee  my  soul,  so  that  it  may  be  always  thine. How I desire,  O Beloved  of  my  soul,  that  all  men knew the  tenderness  of  thy  love  for  them! They would then  all  live  only  to  honour  and  please  thee, as thou  desirest  and  deservest. As for  me,  at  least, let me  live  always  thus,  charmed  with  thy  infinite beauty! I desire to  do  all  in  my  power  hereafter  to make  myself  agreeable  in  thy  sight.

I resolve, moreover,  to  abandon  anything,  no  matter what it  may  be,  so  soon  as  I shall  know  that  such  is thy  desire,  no  matter  what  suffering  it  may  cause  me, if I were  called  even  to  lose  my  life. Happy would I be to  lose  all  and  gain  thee,  O my  God,  my  treasure, my love,  my  all!

Short prayer  to  remember  and  repeat. — “ Jesus  my love,  take  me  entirely,  possess  me  entirely.”