Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/459

 2. Retire frequently  into  your  heart,  in  order  to  renew an act  of  adoration  of  Jesus,  or  of  thanksgiving  for  the loving visit  He  made  you  in  the  morning,  and  rekindle  the fire of  divine  charity  by  some  holy  aspiration. We would not so  quickly  lose  the  fervor  of  devotion  and  the  love  of God,  if  we  took  greater  pains  about  this;  and  Jesus  Christ would not  have  to  lament  the  coldness  of  men  toward  Him, if they  only  thought  oftener  of  His  benefits  and  His  love, especially in  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  and  thanked  Him becomingly.

3. Frequently  renew  the  offering  of  your  heart  to  our dear Lord. By giving  Himself  to  you,  He  desires  to  gain you to  His  love;  He  earnestly  asks  you  to  give  Him  your heart in  exchange  for  the  infinite  gift  He  has  bestowed  upon you. Will you  be  so  ungrateful  as  to  deny  Him  your  heart, and to  give  it  to  the  world  and  the  devil  on  the  very  day on which  He  has  come  to  take  possession  of  it? Ah! no; this  must  not  be;  you  have  consecrated  your  heart  to Jesus  in  your  communion;  you  must  ratify  and  confirm this offering;  and  if  the  world,  with  its  enticements,  vanities, and false  pleasures,  wishes  to  enter  into  your  heart,  say  that you have  given  it  forever  to  Jesus. If the  devil  with  his suggestions, and  the  flesh  with  its  temptations,  assail  your heart, answer  generously  and  courageously  that  you  have given it  to  Jesus,  to  be  His  and  His  alone  and  forever. Oh, if all  Christians  were  but  to  do  this  after  their  communion, they would  preserve  the  grace  of  God  and  not  relapse  into sin.

4. Remember  that  your  tongue  has  received  Jesus,  that it has  touched  His  sacred  body  when  you  went  to  communion. Only recall  this  thought  to  mind  when  you  feel tempted to  speak  impatiently,  or  so  as  to  offend  or  injure your neighbor;  and  surely  it  will  keep  you  from  offending Jesus with  that  tongue  which  has  been  sanctified  by  the touch of  His  sacred  flesh.

5. In  connection  with  your  visits  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  make  a  spiritual  communion,  renewing  in  the  most lively manner  your  desire  to  receive  our  dear  Lord  into  your heart. Remember, for  love  of  us  Jesus  remains  night  and day in  the  tabernacle,  ardently  desiring  to  communicate