Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter XVII
CHAPTER XVII.
OF FERVENT LOVE AND VEHEMENT DESIRE TO RECEIVE CHRIST.
ITH deep devotion and ardent love, with all affection and fervour of heart, I desire to receive Thee, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons have desired Thee, when they were partakers of Thy holy communion.
O my God, everlasting love, my whole good, happiness never ending, I desire to receive Thee with the most earnest affection, and the most worthy awe and reverence, that any of the saints ever had, or could feel toward Thee.
2. And although I be unworthy to entertain all those feelings of devotion, nevertheless I offer unto Thee the whole affection of my heart, as if I alone had all these most ardent longings.
Yea, and all that a dutiful mind can conceive and desire, do I, with the deepest reverence and most inward affection, offer and present unto Thee.
I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but freely and most cheerfully to sacrifice unto Thee myself and all that is mine.
O Lord my God, my Creator, my Redeemer, I desire to receive Thee this day, with such affection, reverence, praise, honour, gratitude, worthiness, and love, with such faith, hope, and purity, as Thy most holy mother, the glorious Virgin Mary, received and desired Thee, when to the angel who declared unto her glad tidings of the mystery of the incarnation she humbly and devoutly answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done unto me according to Thy word."
3. And as Thy blessed forerunner, the most excellent among the saints, John Baptist, rejoicing in Thy presence, leaped for joy of the Holy Ghost, whilst he was yet shut up in his mother's womb; and afterwards seeing Jesus walking among men, humbled himself very greatly, and said with devout affection, "The friend of the bridegroom that standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the voice of the bridegroom;" in like manner I also wish to be inflamed with holy desires, and to offer myself up to Thee from my whole heart.
Wherefore also I offer and present unto Thee the triumphant joys, the fervent affections, the ecstasies, the supernatural illuminations and celestial visions of all devout hearts, with all the virtues and praises celebrated by all creatures, for myself, and for all such as are commended to me in prayer; that by all Thou mayest worthily be praised and for ever glorified.
4. Receive, O Lord my God, my wishes and desires of giving Thee infinite praise, and blessing that hath no bounds, which according to the measure of Thine ineffable greatness, are most justly Thy due.
These praises I render unto Thee, and long to render them every day and every moment. And with all entreaty and affectionateness I do invite and beseech all heavenly spirits, and all Thy faithful servants, to render with me thanks and praises unto Thee.
5. Let all people, nations, and languages praise Thee, and magnify Thy holy and precious name with highest joy and ardent devotion.
And let all who reverently and devoutly celebrate Thy most high sacrament, and receive it with full faith, be accounted worthy to find grace and mercy at Thy hands, and pray with humble supplication in behalf of me a sinner.
And when they shall have attained to their desired devotion, and joyful union with Thee, and shall have departed from Thy holy table, well comforted and marvellously refreshed, O let them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul.