the mystical temple of god 588 conversations, desires, proposals, suffering, consolation, fear, security, anxiety, joy, falling, rising up again, temptation and victory over it, persecutions, wrongs, honor, contempt, dishonor, and good repute, abundance, misery, toil, rest, health, and sickness, etc., life and death; myself, namely my entire being, and all I have. Grant, Lord, that I may be wholly Yours and not my own, for all time, at every moment, for the whole of eternity. May all these things be for Your glory, for the honor of the most Holy Virgin Mary, and all who dwell in Heaven, for my salvation and that of my neighbors, and the increase of virtue, and the growth of grace and merit. Amen. PRACTICE II From the writings of the Rev. Fr. John of Jesus and Mary of the [Order of ] Discalced Carmelites49 “Most merciful God, to whom I owe myself entirely for many reasons, I direct my entire self, my thoughts, words and works of my whole life, but especially of today, to the glory of your Majesty, together with Jesus Christ our Lord, the most Blessed Virgin, all the blessed and holy Souls, who dwell in Heaven, and the righteous, wherever they live, whom I most closely bind to myself by affection, and I desire most earnestly to please you through all of these without other consideration. In addition to the things I have mentioned, I desire to possess countless thousands of the most perfect hearts, which along with them have pleased you from eternity and will please you forever. With this desire conceived within me I offer you with every breath all these things as a sacrifice to atone for sins, as a sacrifice of thanksgiving, to show gratitude for your benefits, universal and particular; as a peacemaking sacrifice to obtain all the goods of which I need all the way to attainment of the state of blessedness; as a holocaust to enter into a union of heart with you and to bear witness to your Divine Majesty. Most Blessed 49 See Ch. III, footnote 27 (p. 581).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==