Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/445

 was kept,  could  not  help  entering  to  visit  it,  for  he said  it  was  not  becoming  for  one  to  pass  before  the house of  his  friend  without  going  in  to  greet  him, and to  say  one  word  at  least. But he  was  not  contented with  a word,  he  always  remained  in  presence of his  dearly  beloved  Lord  as  long  as  he  was permitted.

Y only,  my  infinite  Good, I understand  full  well why thou  hast  been  pleased  to  institute  this Sacrament, and  to  remain  thus  upon  this  altar: it  is to  gain  my  love,  and  for  the  same  reason  thou  hast given me  a heart  capable  of  loving  much. Why, then, thankless  sinner  that  I am! do I not  love  thee, or why  do  I love  thee  so  little? No! it is  not  just to love  feebly  a goodness  so  worthy  of  love  as  thine. Thy love  to  me  deserves  a far  greater  return  of  love on my  part. Thou art  the  infinite  God,  and  I am only  a miserable  worm  of  the  earth. It would  be but  little  if  I were  to  die,  to  become  annihilated  for thee, since  for  me  thou  hast  died,  and  for  love  of  me thou  dost  sacrifice  thyself  daily  upon  the  altar. Much thou deservest  to  be  loved,  and  1 desire  to  love  thee much. Help me,  my  Jesus,  help  me  to  love  thee, that thus  I may  do  what  is  so  pleasing  in  thy sight, and  what  thou  demandest  so  earnestly  of  me?

Short prayer  to  remember  and  repent. — "My  beloved is  mine,  and  I am  his.”

T, Paul,  praising  the  obedience  of  Jesus  Christ, says that  he  was  “ obedient  unto  death  ” to  his Eternal Father. (Phil, ii.)  But  in  this  Sacrament  our