13. CHAPTER XIII
That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after
union with Christ in the Sacrament
The Voice of the Disciple
Who shall grant unto me, O Lord, that I may find Thee alone, and
open all my heart unto Thee, and enjoy Thee as much as my soul
desireth; and that no man may henceforth look upon me, nor any
creature move me or have respect unto me, but Thou alone speak
unto me and I unto Thee, even as beloved is wont to speak unto
beloved, and friend to feast with friend? For this do I pray,
this do I long for, that I may be wholly united unto Thee, and
may withdraw my heart from all created things, and by means of
Holy Communion and frequent celebration may learn more and more
to relish heavenly and eternal things. Ah, Lord God, when shall
I be entirely united and lost in Thee, and altogether forgetful
of myself? Thou in me, and I
in Thee;[n172] even so grant that we
may in like manner continue together in one.
2. Verily Thou art my Beloved, the choicest among ten
thousand,[n173] in whom my soul delighteth to dwell all the days of
her life. Verily Thou art my Peacemaker, in Whom is perfect
peace and true rest, apart from Whom is labour and sorrow and
infinite misery. Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, and
Thy counsel is not with the wicked, but Thy Word is with the
humble and the simple. O how sweet, O Lord, is Thy spirit, who
that Thou mightest manifest Thy sweetness towards Thy children,
dost vouchsafe to refresh them with the bread which is full of
sweetness, which cometh down from heaven. Verily there is no
other nation so great, which hath its gods drawing nigh to them,
as Thou, our God, art present unto all Thy faithful ones,[n174]
unto
whom for their daily solace, and for lifting up their heart unto
heaven, Thou givest Thyself for their food and delight.
3. For what other nation is there so renowned as the Christian
people? Or what creature is so beloved under heaven as the
devout soul to which God entereth in, that he may feed it with
His glorious flesh? O unspeakable grace! O wonderful
condescension! O immeasurable love specially bestowed upon men!
But what reward shall I give unto the Lord for this grace, for
charity so mighty? There is nothing which I am able to present
more acceptable than to give my heart altogether unto God, and to
join it inwardly to Him. Then all my inward parts shall rejoice,
when my soul shall be perfectly united unto God. Then shall He
say unto me, "If thou wilt be with Me, I will be with thee." And
I will answer Him, "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to abide with me, I will
gladly be with Thee; this is my whole desire, even that my heart
be united unto Thee."