Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/359

 to see  them  destined  for  that  celestial  kingdom  from which he  himself  had  been  expelled. But, says  the  Wise Man, by  the  envy  of  the  devil  death  came  into  the  world,  and they  follow  him  that  are  of  his  side.  But  charity  makes  us regard  the  happiness  or  misery  of  others  as  we  would our own.

Ah! my Redeemer,  how  unlike  am  I  to  Thee! Thou wast all charity  towards  Thy  persecutors;  I  am  all  rancor  and  hatred towards my  neighbor. Thou didst  pray  with  so  much  love  for those who  crucified  Thee;  and  I  immediately  seek  revenge against those  that  offend  me. Pardon me,  my  Jesus:  I  wish  no more  to  be  what  I  have  hitherto  been;  give  me  strength  to  love and to  do  good  to  all  who  injure  me. Abandon me  not,  O  Lord to my  passions. Oh! what a  hell  would  it  be  to  me,  after  having received so  many  of  Thy  graces,  to  be  again  separated  from Thee, and  deprived  of  Thy  friendship. For the  sake  of  the blood that  Thou  hast  shed  for  me,  permit  not  such  a  separation. Eternal Father,  through  the  merits  of  Thy  Son,  suffer  me  not  to become  Thy  enemy. Shouldst Thou  see  that  I  will  one  day offend Thee,  take  me  out  of  life,  now  that  I  hope  to  be  in  the state of  grace. O God  of  love,  give  me  Thy  love! O infinite power,  assist  me! O infinite  mercy,  have  pity  on  me! O infinite goodness,  draw  me  entirely  to  Thee! I love  Thee,  O Sovereign  Good!

O Mother  of  God,  pray  to  Jesus  for  me! Thy protection  is my  hope.

I. To  practise  fraternal  charity  in  words,  you  must? above all,  abstain  from  every  species  of  detraction. The tale-bearer, says  the  Holy  Ghost,  shall  defile  his  own  soul, and  shall  be  hated  by  all.     Yes;  he  shall  be  an  object  of