of Thee and of Thy friendship. But now I am conscious of the wrong I have done; I am sorry for it, I grieve over it with my whole heart. O my sweet Child and my God, forgive me for the sake of Thy infancy. I love Thee, and that so dearly, O my Jesus, that even if I knew that all mankind were about to rebel against Thee and to forsake Thee, yet I promise never to leave Thee, though it should cost me my life a thousand times. I am well aware that I am indebted to Thee for this light and this good resolution. I thank Thee for it, O my love! and beseech Thee to preserve it to me by Thy grace. But Thou knowest my weakness, Thou knowest my past treasons; for pity's sake do not abandon me, or I shall fall away even worse than before. Accept of my poor heart to love Thee; there was a time when it cared not for Thee, but now it is enamoured of Thy goodness. O Divine Infant! O Mary! O great Mother of the Incarnate Word! neither do Thou abandon me; for Thou art the Mother of perseverance, and the stewardess of Divine grace. Help me, then, and help me always; with thy aid, my hope! I trust to be faithful to my God till death.
DISCOURSE III
The Eternal Word From Being Lord Became a Servant
Semetipsum exinanivit, formam servi accipiens.
"He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant."---Phil. 2:7, 8
On considering the immense mercy of our God in the work of the human redemption, St. Zachary had good reason to exclaim, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people. Blessed forever be God, Who vouchsafed to come do upon earth and to be made Man in order to redeem mankind. That being delivered from the hands of our enemies we may serve Him without fear. [Luke 1:68-74] In order that, loose from the shackles of sin and of death, wherein our ene-
