Lord: tell me what Thou desirest from me: my wish is to obey Thee in all things. I will no longer resist the graces and mercies Thou hast bestowed upon me. Thou hast given Thyself entirely to me: I offer myself without reserve to Thee. For Thy mercy's sake accept, and do not refuse this oblation. By my infidelities I have deserved to be cast away from Thy love: but the desire to be Thine which Thou hast infused into my soul assures me that Thou hast already accepted the offer. I love Thee, O God, who art infinitely amiable: I love Thee, O my Sovereign Good. Thou art, and shalt be forever, the only delight of my heart, and the sole object of my affections. And since Thou hast said, Ask, and you shall receive. and hast promised to grant whatsoever we ask, I beg, with St. Ignatius, that " Thou wilt give me only Thy love along with Thy grace, and I shall be sufficiently rich." Give me Thy love and Thy grace; grant that I may love Thee, and be beloved by Thee, and I shall be content, and shall desire nothing else from Thee.
O Mary, who belonged always and entirely to God, by that love which our Lord bore thee through all eternity, obtain for us the grace henceforth to love God, and to love him alone.
CHAPTER IV.
THE DESIRE OF PERFECTION.
I. How Holy Desires are Useful, and even Necessary.
An ardent desire of perfection is the first means that a religious should adopt in order to acquire sanctity and to consecrate her whole being to God. As the sportsman, to hit a bird in flight, must take aim in advance of his prey, so a Christian, to make progress in virtue, should aspire to the highest degree of holiness which it is in his power to attain. Who, says holy David, will
