Page:Thecompleteascet01grimuoft.djvu/84

 Lord: tell  me  what  Thou  desirest  from  me:  my  wish  is  to  obey Thee in  all  things. I will  no  longer  resist  the  graces  and  mercies Thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me. Thou hast  given  Thyself entirely to  me:  I  offer  myself  without  reserve  to  Thee. For Thy mercy's  sake  accept,  and  do  not  refuse  this  oblation. By my infidelities  I  have  deserved  to  be  cast  away  from  Thy  love: but the  desire  to  be  Thine  which  Thou  hast  infused  into  my soul  assures  me  that  Thou  hast  already  accepted  the  offer. I love Thee,  O  God,  who  art  infinitely  amiable:  I  love  Thee,  O my  Sovereign  Good. Thou art,  and  shalt  be  forever,  the  only delight of  my  heart,  and  the  sole  object  of  my  affections. And since Thou  hast  said,  Ask,  and  you  shall  receive.  and  hast promised to  grant  whatsoever  we  ask,  I  beg,  with  St.  Ignatius, that "  Thou  wilt  give  me  only  Thy  love  along  with  Thy  grace, and  I  shall  be  sufficiently  rich." Give me  Thy  love  and  Thy grace; grant  that  I  may  love  Thee,  and  be  beloved  by  Thee,  and I shall  be  content,  and  shall  desire  nothing  else  from  Thee.

O Mary,  who  belonged  always  and  entirely  to  God,  by  that love which  our  Lord  bore  thee  through  all  eternity,  obtain  for us the  grace  henceforth  to  love  God,  and  to  love  him  alone.

An ardent  desire  of  perfection  is  the  first  means  that a religious  should  adopt  in  order  to  acquire  sanctity  and to consecrate  her  whole  being  to  God. As the  sportsman, to  hit  a  bird  in  flight,  must  take  aim  in  advance  of his  prey,  so  a  Christian,  to  make  progress  in  virtue, should aspire  to  the  highest  degree  of  holiness  which  it is  in  his  power  to  attain. Who, says  holy  David,  will