Prayer of Love to the Infant Jesus
From The Incarnation, Birth, and Infancy of Jesus Christ, by St. Alphonsus Liguori Tools
Affections and Prayers
Source
| Printed in | The Incarnation, Birth, and Infancy of Jesus Christ |
|---|---|
| Imprint | New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago, Benziger Brothers |
| Scan | the Internet Archive copy |
| Approval | Approbation, dated Baltimore, Md., September 8, 1886, signed Elias Fred. Schauer, Sup. Prov. Baltimorensis (a religious superior's sanction of publication under the Superior-General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer). Not labelled imprimatur or nihil obstat; no ecclesiastical imprimatur or nihil obstat appears on any rendered leaf. |
| Transcription | Transcribed from the scan. |
| Rights | Public domain in the United States. |
- Saints
- St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi
- Feasts
- Christmas
- Seasons
- Christmastide
- Prayers for
- contrition, love of God, union with Jesus
Albrecht Dürer, The Virgin with a Starry Crown, 1508. Cleveland Museum of Art.
St. Mary Magdalene of Pazzi ordered two nuns, over whom she was Superior, to remain at the feet of the Holy Infant during the time of the Nativity, and there to imitate the service done to him by the animals in the stable; that is, that they should cherish the poor shivering Infant by the warmth of their praises, their thanksgivings and sighs of love which they were to pour out from their burning hearts.
O my dear Redeemer, would that I also could fulfil that office! Yes, I praise Thee, my Jesus, I praise Thine infinite mercy, I praise Thine infinite charity, which makes Thee glorious both in heaven and earth; and I unite my voice to that of the Angel: Glory to God in the highest. 1 I thank Thee in the name of all mankind; but I thank Thee especially for myself, a miserable sinner. What would have become of me, what hope could I have of pardon and salvation, if Thou, my Saviour, hadst not come down from heaven to save me? I praise Thee, then, I thank Thee, and I love Thee. I love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, I love Thee with all my soul, and I give myself all to Thee. Receive, O Sacred Infant, these acts of love; if they are but cold, because coming from a frozen heart, do Thou inflame this poor heart of mine; a heart that has offended Thee, but is now penitent. Yes, my Lord, I repent above all things for having despised Thee who hast loved me so much. Now I desire nothing but to love Thee; and this only do I beg of Thee: give me Thy love, and do with me what Thou wilt. I was once a slave of hell; but now that I am free from those unhappy chains, I consecrate myself entirely to Thee; I give Thee my body, my goods, my life, my soul, my will, and my whole liberty. I desire no longer to belong to myself, but only to Thee, my only good. Ah, bind my heart to Thy feet, that it may no more stray from Thee. O most holy Mary! obtain for me the grace of living always bound to thy Son by the blessed chains of love. Tell him to accept me as the slave of his love. He grants all that you ask. Pray to him, pray to him, for me. This is my hope.
- “Gloria in altissimis Deo!”—Luke, ii. 14.
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