Thursday, August 09, 2007

Prayer of Saint Augustine

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.


THE HEART OF MARY

4. Your Own Heart.
Now let us apply all the foregoing to our own hearts. God wants us to share in the excellence, sanctity, and beauty with which He entrusted the Heart of our Mother. He expects our heart to become similar to Hers. He wants to place His complacency also in us.

Of the Son of Mary He could say, Behold My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased! He wants to say the same of us. He wants us to be like Jesus, a child of Mary, a child of His by adoption. And through this adoption He wants to establish with us that intimate communication, that close union He had with the Heart of Mary, making us thereby partakers of the same divine life.

The Holy Spirit wants our heart to be His temple and shrine. And He gives us the graces necessary to purify and beautify it and render it worthy. Happy the heart which is chosen by the Divine Trinity for their throne. Happy the heart which knows how to rise to that great dignity. Is your heart so? Do you know how to approach that gift of God which calls you to partake in divine life?

Search your conduct and see whether you are corresponding to the grand plan framed for your eternal happiness by the wisdom and love of God. Grand indeed if you strive to direct and unify your intentions, your desires, your affections, your loves in accordance with the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Most Pure Heart of Mary. See whether, indeed, this Most Pure Heart is your model. See whether you make any effort to become similar to God through this ineffable union with God which was the source of the excellence, sanctity, and beauty of the Heart of Mary. Entreat Our Blessed Lady to be your perfect Mediatrix in the surrender of your heart to Jesus. Hand over your heart to Her entirely, seriously and permanently and leave Her free to do with it whatever She wills until finally She shapes it to the likeness of the Heart of Jesus.

[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.