Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/515

 day to  feel  bodily  weakness,  arising  from  excess  of  labor and long  fasting,  would  you  not  take  some  refreshment in order  to  be  able  to  proceed  with  the  work? How much more  careful  should  you  be  to  treat  the  soul  in  a similar  manner,  when  it  begins  to  fail  in  courage,  and  to grow  cold  in  divine  love,  in  consequence  of  being  a  long time without  food;  that  is,  without  prayer  and  recollection with  God? I again  repeat  what  Father  Balthasar  Alvarez  used  to  say,  that  a  soul  out  of  prayer  is like  a  fish  out  of  water;  the  soul  is,  as  it  were,  in  a  state of violence. Hence, after  being  a  long  time  engaged  in business  and  distracting  occupations,  a  Christian  should retire (if  I  may  use  the  expression),  to  take  breath  in solitude,  recollecting  himself  there  with  God,  by  affections and  petitions. The life  of  bliss  in  heaven  consists in seeing  and  loving  God,  and  therefore  I  infer  that  the felicity of  a  soul  on  this  earth  consists  also  in  loving  and seeing God,  not  openly  as  in  paradise,  but  with  the  eyes of faith,  by  which  it  beholds  him  always  present  with  it; and thus  acquires  great  reverence,  confidence,  and  love towards its  beloved  Lord. He that  lives  in  this  manner, begins,  even  in  this  valley  of  tears,  to  live  like  the saints in  heaven,  who  always  see  God. They always  see the  face  of  my  Father,  and  therefore  they  cannot  cease  to love  him. Thus he  that  lives  in  the  divine  presence  will despise all  earthly  things,  knowing  that  before  God  all is misery  and  smoke;  and  will  begin  in  this  life  to  possess that  Sovereign  Good  who  contents  the  heart  more than all  other  goods.

My adored  Jesus,  Thou  hast  not  refused  to  give  all  Thy  blood for me;  and  shall  I  refuse  to  give  Thee  all  my  love? No, my beloved  Redeemer,  I  offer  myself  entirely  to  Thee;  accept  me and  dispose  of  me  as  Thou  pleasest. But since  Thou  givest  me