HOMILY

Of the Same with the Evening Messiah,

WHERE

He was accustomed to encounter that jealous little Monarch of his heart daily,

and to cast himself at His feet.

Bestow upon me, most loving and most indulgent Jesus, Your Spirit, that He may be with me, and work with me, and persevere with me even to the final habit. Grant me to constantly desire and will that which is more acceptable to You, and which pleases You more. May Your will be mine, and may mine always follow Yours and conspire with it most excellently. May I have one will and one refusal with You, and may I not be able to will or refuse anything other than what You will and refuse.

Let the shadow of a great name not be my concern, nor the familiarity of many, nor the private affection of men. I will always refuse to be loved or praised singularly; these nourish pride, generate distractions, and the greatest darkness in the heart. You help the humble and humble the one who presumes of himself; You defend and liberate the humble, You love and console the humble; to the humble man You incline Yourself, to the humble You bestow great grace, and after his suppression You raise him to glory; to the humble You reveal Your secrets, and sweetly draw and invite him to Yourself.

It is good for me, therefore, O Lord, that You have humbled me and made me poor, that I may learn Your justifications and cast away the vain elations and presumptions of the heart. It is useful for me that confusion has covered my face from time to time, that I may seek You for consolation rather than men. O how willingly and frequently You would speak Your loving words to me, and manifest hidden things, if only I observed Your coming more diligently, and as soon as You knocked at the door of my heart