Book 4, Chapter 17: Fervent Love And Vehement Desire Of Receiving Christ.
Chapter Focus: Thomas takes us to the Altar of God, and, approaching, reminds us that we can never be worthy. But his advice is to desire to be worthy and to imagine being the holiest of saints in our desire to love, worship and receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ Himself. The Bridegroom calls and we answer. We leap for joy, like St. John the Baptist: we only need to be near Him and we begin our dance of thanksgiving. Mindful of our many sins, we ask for forgiveness and mercy so that we may approach and receive. We open our mind and heart and will to Him, just as Mary did in her fiat: “Be it done unto me, according to Your Word.”
Chapter 17, In Short.
1. I long to receive You, O Lord, with as much fervor as Your most holy Saint.
2. And although I am unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, still, I offer You the full affection of my heart as if I were worthy.
3. St. John the Baptist recognized You while in the womb of his mother, and again even at the sound of Your Voice: May I be like him.
4. Receive my prayers, O Lord my God, and my desires of giving You infinite praise.
5. Let all peoples, nations, and tongues praise You and let Your Saints promise to remember me, for I am poor and needy.
The text of Chapter 17: Of Fervent Love And Vehement Desire Of Receiving Christ.
The Voice of the Disciple:
by Ariel Agemian
With the deepest devotion and fervent love, with all affection and fervor of heart, I long to receive You, O Lord, even as many Saints and devout persons have desired You in communicating, who were altogether pleasing to You by their example of sanctity of life: They dwelt in all ardent devotion. O my God, Eternal Love, my whole Good, Happiness without measure, I long to receive You with the most vehement desire and appropriate reverence which any Saint ever had or could have.
2. And although I am unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, still, I offer You the full affection of my heart, as though I alone had all those most grateful inflamed desires. Yea, also, what ever things a pious mind is able to conceive and long for, I offer and present to You with the deepest veneration and inward fervor. I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but freely and entirely offer myself and all that I have to You for a sacrifice. O Lord my God, my Creator and Redeemer! with such affection, reverence, praise, and honor, with such gratitude, worthiness, and love, with such faith, hope, and purity I desire to receive You this day.
I desire to receive You just as Your most Blessed Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary, received and desired You, when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angel who brought unto her the glad tidings of the mystery of the Incarnation. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Your Word (Lk 1:38).”
3. And as Your blessed forerunner, the most excellent of Saints, John Baptist, being full of joy in Your presence leapt for joy in the Holy Spirit even while he was still in the womb of his mother. And after wards, discerning Jesus walking amongst men, entirely humbled himself, and said, with devout affection, “The friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom’s voice (Jn 3:29).” Even so I wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to present myself unto You with my whole heart. And on behalf of myself and of all commended to me in prayer, I offer and present unto You the jubilation of all devout hearts, their ardent affections, their mental ecstasies, and supernatural illuminations and heavenly visions, with all the virtues and praises now celebrated and yet to be celebrated by every creature in heaven and earth. To the end of time may You be worthily praised and glorified for ever by all.
4. Receive my prayers, O Lord my God, and my desires of giving You infinite praise and unbounded benediction, which, according to the multitude of Yours unspeakable greatness are most justly due to You. These I give You, and desire to give every day and every moment. I call upon all celestial spirits and all Your faithful people to join with me in rendering You thanks and praises with pleadings and affectionate desires.
5. Let all peoples, nations, and tongues praise You (Ps 67;4-6), and magnify Your holy and sweet-sounding Name, with highest jubilations and ardent
devotion. And let all who reverently and devoutly celebrate Your most high Sacrament, and receive it with full assurance of faith, be accounted worthy to find grace and mercy with You, and intercede with all supplication for me a sinner. When they attain their wished-for devotion and joyous union with You, and depart from You full of comfort and wondrously refreshed from Your holy, heavenly table, let them promise to remember me, for I am poor and needy (Ps 40:18).