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Preparation.
- Place yourself in the Presence of God.
- Humble yourself before Him, and ask His Aid.
Considerations.
- Once more imagine yourself in an open plain, alone with your
guardian Angel, and represent to yourself on the left hand the
Devil sitting on a high and mighty throne, surrounded by a vast
troop of worldly men, who bow bareheaded before him, doing
homage to him by the various sins they commit. Study the
countenances of the miserable courtiers of that most abominable
king:--some raging with fury, envy and passion, some murderous
in their hatred;--others pale and haggard in their craving after
wealth, or madly pursuing every vain and profitless
pleasure;--others sunk and lost in vile, impure affections. See
how all alike are hateful, restless, wild: see how they despise
one another, and only pretend to an unreal self-seeking love.
Such is the miserable reign of the abhorred Tyrant.
- On the other hand, behold Jesus Christ Crucified, calling
these unhappy wretches to come to Him, and interceding for them
with all the Love of His Precious Heart. Behold the company of
devout souls and their guardian Angels, contemplate the beauty
of this religious Kingdom. What lovelier than the troop of
virgin souls, men and women, pure as lilies:-- widows in their
holy desolation and humility; husbands and wives living in all
tender love and mutual cherishing. See how such pious souls know
how to combine their exterior and interior duties;--to love the
earthly spouse without diminishing their devotion to the
Heavenly Bridegroom. Look around--one and all you will see them
with loving, holy, gentle countenances listening to the Voice of
their Lord, all seeking to enthrone Him more and more within
their hearts.
They rejoice, but it is with a peaceful, loving, sober joy; they
love, but their love is altogether holy and pure. Such among
these devout ones as have sorrows to bear, are not disheartened
thereby, and do not grieve overmuch, for their
Saviour's Eye is upon them to comfort them, and they all seek
Him only.
- Surely you have altogether renounced Satan with his weary
miserable troop, by the good resolutions you have made;--but
nevertheless you have not yet wholly attained to the King Jesus,
or altogether joined His blessed company of devout ones:--you
have hovered betwixt the two.
- The Blessed Virgin, S. Joseph, S. Louis, S. Monica, and
hundreds of thousands more who were once like you, living in the
world, call upon you and encourage you.
- The Crucified King Himself calls you by your own name:
"Come, O my beloved, come, and let Me crown thee!"
The Choice.
- O world, O vile company, never will I enlist beneath thy
banner; for ever I have forsaken thy flatteries and deceptions.
O proud king, monarch of evil, infernal spirit, I renounce thee
and all thy hollow pomp, I detest thee and all thy works.
- And turning to Thee, O Sweet Jesus, King of blessedness and
of eternal glory, I cleave to Thee with all the powers of my
soul, I adore Thee with all my heart, I choose Thee now and ever
for my King, and with inviolable fidelity I would offer my
irrevocable service, and submit myself to Thy holy laws and
ordinances.
- O Blessed Virgin Mother of God, you shall be my example, I
will follow you with all reverence and respect.
O my good Angel, bring me to this heavenly company, leave me not
until I have reached them, with whom I will sing for ever, in
testimony of my choice, "Glory be to Jesus, my Lord!"
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