Nineteenth Day. God is Charity and He Who Lives in Charity Lives in God.
The Heart of Jesus, a great saint has said, is the abode of every virtue, the source of every blessing; always filled with love for us, it is ever ready to receive, to shelter, and to comfort us. O you who are bending under the burden of sorrow or want, or who are forever struggling against temptation, fly to this sweet Heart; there you shall find that God is love, that He is ever attentive, and ever prepared to hear our slightest prayer. Oh, then, merciful Heart of my Jesus, be with me everywhere, even when I do not ask Thee, because then the peril is much greater. Stretch out Thy hand to me and draw me unto Thee. Thou hast told Magdalen that much was forgiven her because she had loved much; but was it not Thyself, sweet Jesus, that gave her such love? Give me the same love, my Jesus, and I shall love Thee as much. Ah, my Jesus, my heart is no longer mine--I give it to Thee without reserve. Let it live for Thee and Thee only; keep it, O Lord, and guard it as Thine own. If the angels rejoice over the returning of the repentant prodigal, wilt Thou not find greater delight in that prodigal's sincere desire of thanking Thee and loving Thee more and more? I resolve that my heart will henceforward bear Thee company by visiting Thee in Thy tabernacles, and by fidelity to prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion and a pledge of Thy love, grant us, I beseech Thee, grace so to venerate the mysteries of Thy body and blood, that we may ever feel within us the fruits of Thy redemption, Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen.
Twentieth Day. The Sacred Heart is a Most Patient Rewarder.
Thou, O sweet Jesus, possessest all wealth and bounty; we know that Thy riches are inexhaustible, and that Thy desire to impart them in Thy generosity is without limit and immeasurable. Thy rewards are always far greater than our merits. For a very slight service, Thou givest so amply that the greatness and depth of Thy rewards will be equal to their duration. Jesus, light of my life, shine on my poor, wretched soul, and plant in it the precious fruits of hatred of sin, deep contrition, and a firm, lasting resolution of amendment. Make this poor heart of mine gladly embrace and bear all the crosses that Thou mayest send me as aids to the attainment of my only end--that of abiding safe in Thy bright home forever, sweet Jesus, with Thee. However great the sufferings of this life may be, we can all have recourse to God, and obtain strength and courage in the thought that Thou, dear Lord, hast been the first of all great sufferers, and that Thou wilt never permit our troubles to exceed our limited strength. Oh, how sweetly and lovingly dost Thou receive the soul who, notwithstanding temptation and trials, hast always served Thee faithfully, and hast persevered to the end in Thy service! O my sweet Love, aid me by Thy grace to bear all afflictions with loving patience, so that I may one day receive my everlasting reward.