A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [52]
Eternal Wisdom.--Tell me whether that man has more who has Me and My
grace, or he who has only My grace alone?
The Servant.--Lord, how long dost Thou remain in Thy real presence with
a man who has received Thee?
Eternal Wisdom.--As long as the image and likeness of the Sacrament
remain.
CHAPTER XXIV. A Prayer To Be Said When Thou Goest To Receive Our Lord's Holy
Body
O Thou living fruit, Thou sweet blossom, Thou delicious paradise apple
of the blooming fatherly heart, Thou sweet vine of Cyprus in the vineyard of
Engaddi, who will give me to receive Thee so worthily this day that Thou
shalt desire to come to me, to dwell with me, and never to separate from me!
O unfathomable good, that fillest heaven and earth, incline Thyself
graciously this day, and despise not Thy poor creature. Lord, if I am not
worthy of Thee, yet do I stand in need of Thee. Ah, gentle Lord, art Thou
not He who with one word created heaven and earth? Lord, with one word canst
Thou restore health to my sick soul. O Lord, do unto me according to Thy
grace, according to Thy infinite mercy, and not according to my deserts.
Yes, Thou art the innocent Paschal Lamb, which at this day is still offered
up for the sins of all mankind. Ah, Thou sweet-tasting bread of heaven,
which contains all sweet tastes according to the desire of everyone's heart,
make the hungry mouth of my soul to rejoice in Thee this day; give me to eat
and to drink; strengthen, adorn, and unite me interiorly to Thee. Ah,
Eternal Wisdom, come down so powerfully this day into my soul, that all my
enemies may be driven out of her, all my crimes be melted away, and all my
sins be forgiven. Enlighten my understanding with the light of true faith.
Inflame my will with Thy sweet love. Cheer up my mind with Thy glad
presence, and give virtue and perfection to all my powers. Watch over me at
my death, that I may enjoy Thy beatific vision in eternal bliss. Amen.
CHAPTER XXV. How We Should At All Times Praise God
The Servant.--"Praise the Lord, O my soul, in my life I will praise the
Lord; I will sing to my God as long as I shall be."[13]
Who will grant, O God, to my full heart to fulfill before my death its
desire for Thy praise? Who will grant me worthily to praise, in my day, the
beloved Lord whom my soul loveth? Ah, tender Lord, would that there issued
from my heart as many sweet tones as ever have issued from sweet harpings,
as many as there are leaves and blades of grass, would that they were all
addressed on high to Thee in Thy heavenly court, so that a song of such a
delightful and unheard of praise might burst from my heart, as would be
pleasing to the eyes of my Lord, and full of joy to all the heavenly host!
Ah, beloved Lord, although I am not worthy to praise Thee, still my soul
desires that the heavens should praise Thee, when, in their ravishing beauty
and sublime splendour they are lit up with the multitude of glittering
stars; and the fair delightful meadow, when, in all the bliss of summer it
glistens afresh in blithesome beauty, in manifold flowery adornment; and all
the sweet thoughts and fervent desires that ever a pure and affectionate
heart conceived for Thee when it was encompassed by the refreshing summer
delights of Thy illuminating Spirit. Lord, when I but think of Thy high
praise, my heart is ready to melt in my breast, my thoughts wander from me,
speech fails me, and all knowledge escapes me. Something shines in my heart
beyond the power of words, when I will needs praise Thee, O infinite Good;
for, if I take the fairest creatures, the most exalted spirits, the purest
beings, Thou yet surpassest them all unspeakably. If I enter the deep abyss
of Thy goodness, there all praise disappears in its own littleness. Lord,
when I behold living forms of beauty, creatures gentle and engaging, they
say to my heart: Oh, see how right gracious He is from whom we emanate, from
whom all that is beautiful has issued! If I traverse heaven and