O almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son, and the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of poor sinners. Have mercy upon them, since they ask it through this same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Eighth Day. In the Heart of Jesus I Shall Find Rest.
O Heart of my Jesus, I will cast myself with sweetest confidence into Thy bosom, and I will rest on Him Who is the everlasting rest of the elect in heaven. I will draw nigh unto Him Who can sweeten all the bitterness of my weary pilgrimage here. I will rest, as John the beloved disciple did, on the Heart of Jesus, and tell Him a hundred times over that peace and comfort cannot be found elsewhere but in that sweet Heart. The Heart of Jesus is the city of refuge, in which we are safe from the pursuit of the enemy. It is the city of refuge, which defends us from the wrath of an angry Judge. Give thy heart to Him, for He has opened His [pg 246] Heart to thee. Give not thy heart to the world, but to Christ thy Lord. O Heart of Jesus! Thou givest to the heart that loves Thee perfect peace, great joy of spirit, and a foretaste of heaven's delight. My God, make me love Thee, not coldly but with a passionate love. All for Thee, O my God, all for Thee alone—let this be my watchword, and then only will I find true rest and peace. May heaven and earth praise and bless Thee forever.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I unite my heart to the spirits of the blessed, that with them it may sing to Thy glory before the throne of God. The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and glory, and benediction. By Thy virtue guard my heart, and preserve it from the stains of its own sinful desires. Amen.
Ninth Day. The Heart of Jesus an Ocean of Love.
O Heart of Jesus! Thou hast, in the greatness of Thy love, come down to put on the garb of humanity, and to take into Thy breast man's heart—to make him a source of Thy delights: to soothe the pain that sin inflicts on his wretched soul. O God of love, what then shall I do for Thee Who hast loved me with such an excess of love? What return can I make for such great graces? Ah, yes! I will address Thee with the sweet name of “Father,” a God so generous and so great, and how easy will it be for me to love Thee, O Jesus, my best Friend. In thus dwelling among us He willed to unite Himself [pg 247] with us in a way as intimate as it is incomprehensible. And to bring about this, He instituted the Sacrament of the Altar, and shutting Himself up under the appearance of bread, He enters into our hearts and makes His own flesh our nourishment. This gift of the Eucharist, O my God, is of all Thy wonders the very crown. In this banquet of love, Thou hearest all our sighs and complaints, and Thou forgivest all our sad errors and foolishness. O happy Christians, what a source of happiness we possess! Let us then give Him all the love and gratitude He has a right to expect from us. Let our love be as unlimited as the love Our God has shown unto us. O Jesus, how sweet it would be to live for Thee and Thee only!
Prayer.