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HOLY COMMUNION Thanksgiving
LOOK upon Our Lord as a treasure you carry away and
have all to yourself. God is looking upon the treasure
as your heart, wondering what you will do with it, to
whom you will give it. This treasure is the One Whom
His Heart loves—His only Son! You are no longer a poor,
miserable petitioner; you are now rich and can offer a gift
infinite in value. For what will you offer it? Know what
you are about, and do not spend the time in doing nothing or want of a method. Realize Who is within you—and as
soon as your devotion flags use a book, if only for two
minutes, until you collect your thoughts again.
Adoration. Jesus is in the most inner recess of your soul,
seated as a King on His throne, expecting your homage.
Prostrate at His feet, tell Him again that He is your Lord,
your all . . . that you wish to belong entirely to Him . . . to obey Him in everything . . . to live only
for His glory. "0 Godhead hid, devoutly I adore Thee." Return. What return can you make for this infinite gift?
You are so poor . . . Offer at least your love . . .
your transports of gratitude.
"Praised, loved, and adored for ever be Jesus, in the
Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Beg Mary and the
Seraphim to supply for your inability by their ardor.
Petition. Jesus wishes to give you everything . . .
and He can . . . Ask earnestly, with immense confidence,
for all necessary graces for yourself for your dear ones, for
the Church, sinners, the souls in Purgatory.
Offering. Jesus has just given you all, the Infinite . . .
Will you keep anything back? . . . He has a right to all . . .
Offer, then, all to Him, that He may govern it according to His good pleasure. "Take, 0 Lord, and receive
all that I am and have."
Resolutions. Renew, with strong determination, the promises of your retreat: Exercises of piety . . . combats
of self-love .. . purity . . . duties of your state . . . charity .
. . zeal . . . your particular examen. You carry God away with you . . . Let every one see
it by your recollection, your devotedness, your spiritual
progress.
"In all places and times I will never depart
From the Heart of my God and the God of my
heart!" I fall down to adore You, 0 Holy and Undivided Trinity, One in Three and Three in One, the
earliest, highest, dearest Mystery of our faith!
I fall before You and adore You, 0 Eternal
Father, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of
Whom all paternity in Heaven and earth is
named! I love and praise You in union with the
Son and the Holy Spirit, and together with my
Vow of poverty, put myself wholly into Your
hand for ever.
TAKE, LORD, AND RECEIVE!
I fall before You, and adore You, 0 Eternal
Son, Son of God, Light of Light, very God of
very God, my Brother by the Incarnation, my
Spouse by the Vows of my profession, my Redeemer, my Master, my All in all!
I love and praise You in union with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, and together with my Vow
of chastity, give myself wholly to Your Heart for
ever.
THANKSGIVING
Take, Lord, and receive! I fall before You and adore You, 0 Eternal
Spirit, equal to the Father and the Son, my Guide,
my Comforter!
I love and praise You in union with the Father
and the Son, Whose uncreated Love You are, and
together with my Vow of obedience, abandon
myself wholly to Your leading, to be conformed
in all things to Your will for ever.
Take, Lord, and receive!
ADORATION
Come, let us adore and fall down before the
Lord that made us; for He is the Lord our. God!
I adore You, 0 Lord my Creator, 0 God my Redeemer, 0 God my Sanctifier, 0 Ever-Blessed
and Undivided Trinity! Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts; the
earth is full of Thy glory; Glory be to the Father;
Glory be to the Son; Glory be to the Holy Ghost.
(100 days.) Glory be to the Father, Who created me out
of love.
Glory be to the Son, Who redeemed me with
love.
Glory be to the Holy Ghost, Who sanctified me
in love, and reserved for me His graces of
predilection.
Glory be to the Holy and Undivided Trinity,
One God, for ever and ever! Amen.
We praise Thee! We bless Thee! We adore
Thee! We glorify Thee! We give Thee thanks
for Thy great glory!
THANKSGIVING
0 ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord, praise
and exalt Him above all for ever!
0 ye sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and
exalt Him above all for ever!
0 ye servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt Him above all for ever!
0 ye spirits and souls of the just, bless the
Lord; praise and exalt Him above all for ever!
0 ye holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt Him above all for ever!
0 give thanks to the Lord because He is good,
because His mercy endureth for ever!
0 all ye Religious, bless the Lord; praise Him
and give Him thanks because His mercy endureth
for ever!
LOVE
Is not He thy Father, that hath possessed thee;
and made thee, and created thee?
You are not your own, you are bought with a
great price.
You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you.
To whom, my God, do I belong if not to You?
Who else has a shadow of right to me? I am
Yours by creation, by redemption, by sanctificaion. I am yours by the Vows of my profession.
And now have You treated one who is Yours by
go many titles? Have You loved me? Have
You given me cause to love You? Love is shown
by deeds, by the communication of good things.
Will Your love bear this test, my God? Oh, let
the history of Your benefits to me throughout my
life speak for You—that hidden history of Your
dealings with my soul, the significance of which
I could not make known to others, even if I would
— he opportunities, the help in need, the persistent drawing and waiting which make up the
history of my life.
No earthly father loves like Thee,
No mother half so mild
Bears and forbears, as Thou hast done,
With me. Thy sinful child!
I have cause indeed to love, and I tell You
again and again that I love You, my God and my
All I But where are the proofs ? Love is shown
by deeds. In deed and in truth You have loved
me. But where are the proofs of my love ?
Resolutions in plenty every morning. But when
the evening comes what have I actually done?
Where has been the devotedness to Your interests, the dependence on You, the union with
You, the alacrity in Your service, the love of
You for Your own sake, the spirit of sacrifice
which is the need and the food of love ?
You have done much for me, my God, but there
is still much that You can do. You can do for me
what I cannot do for myself. You can free me
from myself, which usurps Your rightful place
in my soul, and take what is Your own.
With gentle swiftness lead me on,
Dear God! to see Thy face;
And meanwhile in my narrow heart
Oh, make Thyself more space!
0 ye Angels, Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and Powers,
Virtues of
Heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, adore our God
for me; thank Him, and love Him with me! Patriarchs and Prophets, Apostles, all ye Martyrs
of Christ, holy Confessors, Virgins of the Lord,
and all ye Saints, adore Him, thank Him, love
Him with me!
Mother of God, adore your Son for me, thank
Him, and love Him for me!
0 Heart of Jesus, be my adoration and my
thanksgiving to the three Divine Persons now
dwelling within me.
Eternal Father, look upon the face of Your
Christ. Through Him and with Him and in Him
be to You in the unity of the Holy Spirit all
honor and glory. Amen. PETITION
What a joy it is, my God; to lay down my soul
at Your feet, and feel that You! read it through.
I know what You see there. I know I ought to
fear Your all-holy glance. And yet I love to
think of You as my inward Witness. It is a joy
to know that Thou hast understood my thoughts,
that there is nothing I can hide from You, even if would. Bad as I am, I am content that You
know all. I have no secrets from You, my God. And so I lay my heart at Your feet, and open
it out before You. All its needs, its miseries, all
its longings are known to You—what it is, what
it ought to be, what You want it to be. Take it
into Your hands. Put it right for me. You can,
and You have the will. You are its Maker; You
know exactly what is wrong. What springs to
touch You know, and what to cleanse, and what
to renew.
For Thou hast made this wondrous soul
All for Thyself alone;
Ah! send Thy sweet transforming grace
To make it more Thine own.
Your interest and Your intentions are mine,
my God, because they are Yours. I love and care
for them all, I pray for them every one. The
interest of Your greater glory; the accomplishment of Your Will; the
extension of Your Kingdom—for all this I pray. For the Church
suffering, the holy waiting souls; for the Church
militant, and her almost infinite needs; for the
Holy See above all. I think of the weight of
solicitude that day and night presses on the
anxious head of the Vicar of Christ, his strength
enfeebled, his resources cut off, the powers of the
world leagued against him, and I pray for him. I
pray for all rulers in Church and State; for all
who can much advance or hinder the good of
souls. I pray for all laborers in Your vineyard, for
all who are now bearing the burden and heat of
the day. And I beg for all Your pity. Your blessing, and Your help.
Father, all we who toil on earth
One day at rest shall be. Thou art our heaven and our home,
0 dearest Trinity!
OFFERING
My God, what can I give to You in return for
all You have given to me? I give You my heart,
I give You my love, I give You my body with all
its senses, my soul with its powers, my heart with
all its affections. I give You my Vows. I give
You all I have and am, now and always, in time
and eternity. I bring to You all I love, all my
treasures, all who are dear to me, all who are in
any way entrusted to me, and I give them all into
Your keeping,
I trust to You my temptations, my graces, my
responsibilities, my opportunities. I trust to You
my progress in the way of perfection, my desire
of a closer, more uninterrupted union with You. Bring me up to the ideal You had in Your Divine
mind when You created my soul. I could not
bear, my God, to fall short of Your designs after
all You have done for me; I could not bear to
be a disappointment to You throughout eternity.
0 Jesus, Whom by faith I now descry,
Shrouded from mortal eye,
When wilt Thou slake the thirsting of my heart,
To see Thee as Thou art,
Face unto face in all Thy glad array,
Tranced with the glory of that everlasting day ?
I OFFER THEE
Every flower that ever grew,
Every bird that ever flew,
Every wind that ever blew.
Good God! Every thunder rolling,
Every church bell foiling,
Every leaf and sod—
Laudamus Te! I offer Thee
Every wave that ever moved,
Every heart that ever loved,
Thee Thy Father's well-beloved Dear Lord!
Every river dashing,
Every lightning flashing,
Like an Angel's sword—
Benedicimus Te!
I offer Thee
Every cloud that ever swept
O'er the skies, and broke and wept
In rain, and with the flowerets slept,
My King!
Each communicant praying,
Every Angel staying
Before Thy Throne to sing!—
Adoramus Te!
I offer Thee
Every flake of virgin snow,
Every spring the earth below,
Every human joy and woe,
My Love!
0 Lord! and all Thy glorious
Self, o'er death victorious,
Throned in Heaven above!
Glorificamus Te!
Take all of them, 0 darling Lord,
In Thy Blessed Sacrament, loved, adored,
Multiply each and every one,
Make each of them into millions—
Into glorious millions—
Into gorgeous millions,
Into golden millions—
Of Glorias, glorious Son !
And then, 0 dear Lord, listen,
Where the tabernacles glisten
To these praises, Holiest One!
SOUL OF CHRIST
Soul of Christ, sanctify me!
Body of Christ, save me!
Blood of Christ, inebriate me!
Water from the side of Christ, wash me!
Passion of Christ, strengthen me!
0 good Jesus, hear me!
Within Thy Wounds hide me!
Permit me not to be separated from Thee!
From the malignant enemy defend me!
In the hour of my death, call me,
And bid me come to Thee,
That with the Saints I may praise Thee.
For ever and ever! Amen. FOR THOSE IN CHARGE OF CHILDREN
May my life, my sweet Jesus, be spent in the
peaceful endeavour of trying to lead Thy little
ones to know and love Thee; and when I am
weary and sick at heart, and long for rest and
repose, may I ever find it in Thy sacramental
Presence . . . in the pure joy of the Eucharist! Amen.
INVOCATION
0 immense Passion, 0 profound Wounds, 0
profusion of Blood, 0 Sweetness above all sweetness, 0 most bitter death, grant them eternal rest!
Amen.
PLENARY INDULGENCE AT THE HOUR OF DEATH
There is a plenary Indulgence at the moment of death to
all the faithful who, on any day they choose, receive the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion, and make the
following act of the Love of God:
My Lord God, even now, resignedly and willingly, I accept at Thy hand, with all its anxieties,
pains and sufferings, whatever kind of death it
shall please Thee to be mine.
EN EGO
To be said before a Crucifix.
Behold, 0 kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast
myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with
the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and
beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my
heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and
Charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a
firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself,
and mentally contemplate Thy five most Precious
Wounds, having before my eyes that which the
Royal Prophet David placed on Thy lips, 0 good
Jesus: They have pierced My hands and My feet;
they have numbered all My Bones.
THE BRIDAL DAY
0 Day of love! 0 Day of bliss!
Gift of my Heavenly Spouse Divine!
What happiness is like to this?
Can earth compare her joy to mine?
Oh no; for I am now the Spouse
Of Him who is the Crucified;
To whom I've pledged my holy Vows:
His own, His chosen happy Bride!
Jesus, why such love for me?
What is there in my yearning soul
That could have thus attracted Thee
To make me Thine without control?
What shall I give Thee in return,
My God, my God, my blessed Spouse?
0 take this heart, for e'er to burn
A victim of my sacred Vows!
ST. TERESA'S BOOK-MARK
Let nothing trouble thee.
Let nothing affright thee.
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains everything.
To him who possesses God, nothing is wanting.
God alone suffices.
JESUS, JESUS!
Thy blessed Name, dear Lord, is all I need in
the first moments after Communion:
It is faith and adoration when I say—Jesus,
Jesus!
It is praise and thanksgiving when I say—
Jesus, Jesus!
It means hope and trust when I say—Jesus,
Jesus I
It is love and welcome when I say—Jesus,
Jesus!
It is sorrow for my sins when I say—Jesus,
Jesus!
It is joy and delight in Thee when I say-
Jesus, Jesus!
I make reparation for the outrages offered Thee
when I say—Jesus, Jesus !
I abandon myself and all I have to Thee when
I say—Jesus, Jesus !
I pray for union of mind and heart with Thee
when I say—Jesus, Jesus !
I express all I desire for time and eternity
when I say—Jesus, Jesus ! I have Thee here, I hold Thee within my
narrow heart, 0 immense, illimitable God! I,
poor and weak, possess Thee, the Creator of
Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and
invisible. I, dull and ignorant, am one with Thee
who knows all things, past, present, and to
come; all the secrets of nature and of grace; all
things actual and possible; all the most hidden
recesses of my heart, its sinfulness and its merits,
its efforts and its frailty, its capabilities and its
desires. I, cold and selfish, embrace Thee, the
Lover of all that Thou hast made, the tender,
steadfast Lover of my soul! Oh, that I could
make Thee a return of love such as is due to Thee
and might bear some proportion to Thy love of
me! I could almost be content to be poor and
weak and dull and ignorant, if I were not so
cold. This is the pain I lift perpetually to Thee
in prayer. This, if anything, would make me
desire to be dissolved and be with Christ. I look
forward to the time when at the sight of Thy
beauty and Thy lovableness, my coldness will
melt and vanish faster than a glacier beneath the
torrid sun; when, without effort, nay, impelled by
the force of every power within me, I shall love
Thee with all my mind, and with all my strength. Thy Kingdom come! Lord, teach me to love Thee. Let my love
grow with each Communion till it becomes some
reflection of Thy love for me. Let me centre all
my affections, desires, interests, in Thee, so that
I may come at last to be like Thee in tastes and
ways, and habits of thought, and mode of dealing
with others. Make it easy for me to speak to
Thee. In joy or trouble or uncertainty, let my
first thought be to consult Thee. Let me bring to
Thee all that interests me, and let me take much
to heart whatever interests Thee and concerns
Thy glory. Help me to receive from Thy hand
with unquestioning trust all that Thou permits
to befall me; to make sacrifices for Thee readily, even joyously; to
be glad to suffer in Thy company, glad of the conformity with Thee which the
cross brings. My heart, dear Lord, is cold and selfish. So
was the world when Thou earnest to it. But what
a change Thy coming made! Not all at once, but
steadily, a marvellous transformation came about.
Thou hadst cast fire upon it, Thy consuming love
for God and man. And the flame spread and is
spreading, and all who are Thine are called to
feed and extend it. But to warm other hearts our
own must be aglow. Warm mine, 0 Lord, by
contact with Thine own!
OBLATION AND PETITION
Thou hast revealed Thyself to me, my God, as
Love. And because it is the nature of love to
give, Thou givest prodigally, untiringly, of Thy
best. God so loved the world as to give His only-begotten Son (John
III.). All other gifts are
less than this. All others are contained in this:
How hath He not also with Him given us all
things? (Rom. viii.).
What can I give Thee in return ? I have nothing but what is Thine. But Thou wilt accept
from my hand what is already Thy own. I offer
to Thee, then, and return to Thee all Thy gifts
of body or of soul, all that Love has given, all it
has withheld—life, strength, aptitudes, limitations; my trials, my joys, my graces, my responsibilities, my desires, my capabilities of serving
Thee. And since all I have is unworthy of Thy
acceptance, I offer Thee the virtues and merits of
all the Angels and Saints. I offer Thee the heart
of Mary most holy. I offer Thee Thy Own most
Sacred Heart, an offering of infinite worth, made
over to me in holy Communion that I may present it to Thee again, a more than sufficient return for
all I have received, for all I expect here and hereafter.
I offer Thee this Sacred Heart for every soul
in the world to-day; for the five hundred millions
of Christians, of whom so many bear Thy Name
without loving or serving Thee; for the twelve
hundred millions who have never heard Thy
Name, to whom the beauty of Thy life and the
tenderness of Thy Heart have never been made
known. 0 Redeemer of men, Who wiliest not the
death of any, but that all should be converted and
live, save these perishing souls, each one of whom
in purchased with Thy Precious Blood, each one
of whom has its place in Thy Heart. 0 Lord of
the harvest, send forth labourers into Thy harvest.
Let the Faith spread more widely and more quickly. Prosper the foreign missions; secure baptism
for dying infants; succour those who will die today, un-helped by Priest or Sacraments.
I offer Thy Sacred Heart for all who are
groping their way to the truth. 0 Light that
enlightens every man that cometh into this
world, help them through difficulties which Thou
alone canst measure and remove. Strengthen
those who are hesitating on the threshold of the
Church, those whom temporal motives hold back.
Oh that I might be so happy as to assist even one
of these souls! Lord, give me the opportunity and
the grace. Let me do a little, if l cannot do much.
Make me generous with sympathy, time, whatever I can place at their service. And count
every effort, every desire, an act of thanksgiving
for the gift of faith bestowed so undeservedly on
me.
OFFERING
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Eternal Lord of all things, I make my offering
with Thy favor and help, in the presence of Thine
infinite goodness and in the presence of Thy
glorious Mother and all the Saints of the Court
of Heaven, that I will and desire and it is my
deliberate determination, provided only it be Thy
greater service and praise, to imitate Thee in
bearing all injuries and all reproaches and all
poverty, not only spiritual, but also actual, if Thy
most Holy Majesty is pleased to choose and admit
me to such a state of life.
TAKE, 0 LORD
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
Take, 0 Lord, all my liberty. Receive my
memory, intellect and whole will. Thou hast
bestowed upon me all I have or possess: I restore
it all to Thee and entirely give it into Thy
control. Give me but Thy grace and the love of
Thee, and I am rich enough and ask for nothing
else.
I ADORE THEE
0 Godhead hid, devoutly I adore Thee,
Who truly art within the forms before me!
To Thee my heart I bow with bended knee,
As failing quite in contemplating Thee. Sight, touch and taste, in Thee are each deceived
The ear alone most safely is believed:
1 believe all the Son of God has spoken,
Than Truth's own word there is no truer token. God only on the cross lay hid from view;
But here lies hid at once the Manhood too:
And I, in both professing my belief,
Make the same prayer as the repentant thief. Thy wounds as Thomas saw, I do not see,
Yet Thee confess my Lord and God to be:
Make me believe Thee ever more and more,
In Thee my hope, in Thee my love to store. 0 Thou memorial of our Lord's own dying!
0 living Bread, to mortals life supplying!
Make Thou my soul henceforth on Thee to live
Ever a taste of heavenly sweetness give. 0 loving Pelican ! 0
Jesus, Lord!
Unclean I am, but cleanse me in Thy Blood;
Of which a single drop, for sinners spilt,
Can purge the entire world from all its guilt. Jesus! Whom for the present veiled I see,
What I so thirst for, 0 vouchsafe to me,
That I may see Thy countenance unfolding,
And may be blest Thy glory in beholding!
ACT OF FAITH
0 Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy
sacred Body and Thy most precious Blood in
Holy Communion; I believe, 0 Saviour, that
Thou art really present within my breast. Thou
art the same Jesus Who was born in Bethlehem
and dwelt in Nazareth, Who suffered and died
for my salvation; the same Lord Who now sits
in Heaven at the right hand of God, and Who is
there the joy of the Saints and Angels.
ACT OF ADORATION
0 Jesus, my God, I adore Thee present in my
heart and soul. I am penetrated with Thy
substance; I am Thy living ciborium; I unite
myself with my holy Guardian Angel, and offer
Thee my tribute of honor and praise.
ACT OF HOPE
0 Jesus, I place all my hope in Thee, because
Thou alone art my salvation, my strength, my
refuge, and the foundation of all my happiness.
0 Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and vet Thou
alone art my salvation, my strength, my refuge,
and the foundation of all my happiness.
ACT OF HUMILITY
0 Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou
hast come to me, and now my poor heart may
speak to Thee as to a friend and brother.
ACT OF LOVE
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee; I love Thee with all
my heart. Thou knowest that I love Thee, and
that I wish to love Thee daily more and more. ACT OF THANKSGIVING
My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart.
How good, how kind Thou art to me, sweet
Jesus! Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!
ACT OF OFFERING
0 Jesus, receive my poor offering-. Jesus,
Thou hast given Thyself to me, and now let me
give myself to Thee:
I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and
pure.
I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from
sin'.
I give Thee my heart, that it may always love
Thee.
I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe,
today especially my last; I give Thee myself in life
and in death, that I may be Thine for ever and
ever. PETITION
0 Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy Precious
Blood. 0 Jesus, the struggle against temptation
is not yet finished. My Jesus, when temptation
comes near me, make me strong against it. In
the moment of temptation may I always say,
Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!
0 Jesus, may I lead a good life; may I die a
happy death. May I receive Thee before I die.
May I say when I am dying, Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
I give you my heart and my soul!
Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ;
perhaps He has something to say to you. There
may be some promise you have made and broken,
which He wishes you to make again and keep.
Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all
your troubles. Then
FOR OTHERS
0 Jesus, have mercy on Thy holy Church; take
care of it. 0 Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save
them from hell. 0 Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my
brothers and sisters, and all I ought to pray for,
as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.
0 Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.
Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but I trust not without
Thee. Thou art with me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by
mortal sin. I do not fear to do so, though I am so weak, because I
have such hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere. Amen.
0 JESUS, LIVING IN MARY
by FATHER OLIVER
0 Jesus, living in Mary,
Come and live in Thy servants,
In the spirit of Thy holiness,
In the fullness of Thy might,
In the truth of Thy virtues,
In the perfection of Thy ways,
In the communion of Thy mysteries!
Subdue every hostile power,
In Thy Spirit, for the glory of the Father!
Amen.
ADORATION
Verily thou art a hidden God, the God of Israel,
the Saviour.
0 Jesus, hidden God, I cry to Thee!
0 Jesus, hidden Light, I turn to Thee!
0 Jesus, hidden Love, I run to Thee!
With all the strength I have I worship Thee,
With all the love I have I cling to Thee,
And fear no more to fail or fall from Thee!
THANKSGIVING
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit
hath rejoiced in God, my Saviour, for He hath
regarded the humility of His handmaid.
Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true
man!
Blessed be the name of Jesus!
Blessed be His most Sacred Heart!
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament
of the Altar!
Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.
LOVE
And when they had adored God and given Him
thanks they sat down together. So is it with You,
dear Lord, Friend more friendly than a brother.
You help me to adore and give thanks, and then
You sit down to hear what I have to tell You. Sometimes to hear nothing, because I have nothing to say—my heart is hard and dry
and wandering. Sometimes to hear nothing—not .because I
have nothing to say, but because there is no need
to say it—the height of friendship is to be able
to sit together, without conversation being
obligatory.
You suit Yourself to me. You bear with me in
my changing moods—bear with me when I can
hardly bear with myself, my patient, compassionate, self-forgetting Friend!
JESUS, WHY DOST THOU LOVE ME SO?
Jesus, why dost Thou love me so?
What hast Thou seen in me
To make my happiness so great,
So dear a joy to Thee?
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION
Wert Thou not God, I then might think
Thou hadst no eye to read
The badness of this selfish heart,
For which Thine own did bleed.
But Thou art God and knowest all;
Dear Lord, Thou knowest me;
And yet Thy knowledge binders not
Thy love's sweet liberty.
Ah, how Thy grace hath wooed my soul
With persevering wiles!
Now give me tears to weep; for tears
Are deeper joys than smiles.
Each proof renewed of Thy great love
Humbles me more and more,
And brings to light forgotten sins,
And lays them at my door.
The more I love Thee, Lord! the more
I hate my own cold heart;
The more Thou woundest me with love,
The more I feel the smart.
What shall I do then, dearest Lord!
Say, shall I fly from Thee,
And hide my poor unloving self
Where Thou canst never see?
Or shall I pray that Thy dear love
To me may not be given?
Ah, no! love must be pain on earth,
If it be bliss in Heaven.
PRAYER
I also have a heart as well as you. Yes, Lord,
and of its fullness we have all received. It is
close to my heart now; let virtue go out from It
to mine. Make me like You in my dealings with
others—gentle, indulgent, self-sacrificing, self-forgetting, self-sinking. No one ever sank self
as You did. Give me Your helping charity, Your
sweetness. Your patience. Your long-suffering. Your power of sympathy. All these are in Your
Heart, Lord, let them overflow into mine. You
see how much I want them. Give me what I
want. Help me. Make haste to help me. Remember that Your Holy Spirit says to us: Say
not to thy friends: Go and come again, and tomorrow I will give to thee, when thou canst give
at present. Give me to-day, give me now what I
want, 0 Lord. See how I knock and knock again
at the door of Your Heart. If You will not open
to me because I am Your friend, open because of
my importunity.
I commend to You, dear Lord, all Your friends,
all Your faithful servants on earth, all on whom
You have great designs. So much depends on
their reaching their destined height. Think of
Your glory which is concerned, of the souls they
have to help, and give them in abundance all
needful grace. |
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