Prayer to the Infant Jesus

COME to me, O Divine Saviour! vouchsafe to be born in my heart; grant that, taught by Thine example, and assisted by Thy grace, I may be poor in spirit and humble of heart. Keep me chaste and obedient. I wish to live but for Thee, and to do all things purely for love of Thee.

O my Jesus, my supreme and true Good! what can have attracted Thee from heaven to be born in a cave, if it be not the love that Thou bearest to man? What has drawn Thee from the bosom of Thy Father to lay Thyself down in a manger? What has brought Thee down from Thy throne above the stars, to stretch Thyself on a little straw? What, from the midst of the nine choirs of angels, has placed Thee between two animals? Thou dost inflame the seraphim with holy fire, and lo, Thou art trembling with cold in this stable! Thou dost give motion to the heavens and the sun, and now Thou canst not move without being carried in some one's arms! Thou dost provide both man and beast with food, and dost Thou now require a little milk to sustain Thy life! Thou art the delight of heaven, and yet I hear Thee weep and moan? Tell me who hath reduced Thee to such misery? "Who hath done this? Love hath done it," says St. Bernard; the love that Thou bearest to man hath done it.

O dearest Infant! tell me what Thou camest on earth to do? Tell me whom Thou art seeking? Ah, I understand Thee now; Thou art come in order to die for me, to deliver me from an unhappy eternity. Thou art come to seek me, a lost sheep, in order that I may no more fly from Thee, but love Thee. Ah, my Jesus, my treasure, my life, my love, my all; if I do not love Thee, whom, then, shall I love? Where can I find a father, a friend, a spouse more worthy of love than Thou, and who has loved me more than Thou hast done? I am sorry because I did not love Thee and serve Thee more fervently. Forgive me, O my beloved Redeemer; for I repent of having treated Thee with ingratitude. I am sorry for it with all my heart. Pardon me, and give me Thy grace, that I may never again separate myself from Thee, and that I may love Thee constantly during the years that remain to me in this life. My Love, I give myself entirely to Thee. Dispose of all that I am, and of all that I have according to Thy will. May Thy holy will be done in me and through me. O Mary, thou art my advocate; thou dost obtain by thy prayers whatever thou wilt from thy Son; beg of Him to forgive me my offences, and to grant me holy perseverance unto death. St. Joseph, do thou also pray for me, that I may become daily more pleasing to Jesus.