Thursday, August 7 : Saint Ignatius Loyola

Contemplation for achieving love: A preliminary observation is to remark that… Love consists in a reciprocal interchange, the lover handing over and sharing with the beloved his possessions… and the other does the same… Asking for what I want. Here it will be to beg for a deep-felt appreciation of all the blessings I have been given, that out of the fullness of my gratitude I may become completely devoted to his Divine Majesty in effective love. The first point is to recall the good things I have received: my creation, redemption, personal gifts. I will rouse myself to reckon how much our Lord God has done for me, how much that is his own he has shared with me; I will further consider the divine plan whereby this same Lord wants to give me all that it is in his power to give. I then turn to myself and try to see what reason and justice demand that I offer, nay, give, His Divine Majesty in return-all that belongs to me, and with it all that I am in myself – in the spirit of one who makes a present out of a great love: “Take, Lord, into your possession, my complete freedom of action, my memory, my understanding and my entire will, all that I have, all that I own: it is your gift to me, I now return it to you. It is all yours, to be used simply as you wish. Give me your Love and your grace; it is all I need”.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team