 TANTUM ERGO
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MY CHILD, you need not know much in
order to please Me: only love Me
dearly. Speak to Me as you would talk to your
mother, if she had taken you in her arms. Have
you no one to recommend to Me? Tell Me the
names of your relations, of your friends: after
each name add what you wish Me to do for
them. Ask a great deal: I love generous hearts
that forget themselves for others.
TELL Me about the poor whom you want to
help, the sick whom you have seen
suffer, the sinner whom you would convert, the
persons who are alienated from you, and whose
affections you wish to win back. For all recite a
fervent prayer. Remind Me that I have promised to
grant every prayer that comes from the heart;
and surely the prayers are heartfelt which we
say for those whom we love, and who love us.
HAVE you no favours to ask for yourself?
Write, if you like, a long list of all your
wishes - all the needs of your soul - and come
and read it to Me. Tell Me simply how
self-indulgent you are, how proud, how
touchy. how selfish, how cowardly, how idle;
ask Me to help you to improve. Poor child! Do
not blush! There are in heaven many saints who
had the same faults as you; they prayed to Me,
and, little by little, they were cured.
DO not hesitate to ask for the goods
of body and mind - for health, for
memory, for success. I can give everything, and
I always give when the gifts would make souls
more holy. What do you want today, My child?
Oh, if you knew how I long to do you good!
HAVE you no plans to interest you?
Tell me about them. Do they concern
your vocation? What do you think of? What
would you like? Are you planning some
pleasure for your mother for your family, for
your guardian? What do you wish to do for
them?
AND have you no thoughts of zeal for
Me? Are you not anxious to do a little
good for the souls of your friends, for those
whom you love, and who, perhaps, forget Me?
Tell Me who interests you, what motives urge
you, what means you wish to take.
CONFIDE to Me your failures. I will show
you the cause. Whom do you wish to
see interested in your work? I am the master of
all hearts, My child, and I lead them gently where
I please. I will place about you those who are
necessary to you; never fear!
HAVE you nothing to annoy you, My child, tell Me
your annoyances with every detail. Who has pained you?
Who has wounded your self-love? Who has treated you
contemptuously? Tell Me all, and then say that
you forgive and Forget; and I will give you My
blessing.
DO you dread something painful? Is
there in your soul a vague fear which
seems unreasonable, and yet torments you?
Trust fully in My providence. I am here, I see
everything; I will not leave you.
ARE there about you friends who seem
less kind than formerly, who neglect
you through indifference or forgetfulness
without your having consciously done anything
to wound them? Pray for them, and I will restore
them to you, if their companionship is good
for you.
HAVE you no joys to tell Me? Why not
confide to Me your pleasures? Tell Me
what has happened since yesterday to console
you, to make you look happy, to give you joy.
An unexpected visit has done you good: a fear
has been suddenly dispelled: you have met with
unlooked-for success; you have received some
mark of affection - a letter, a present; some trial
has left you stronger than you supposed. All
these things, My child, I obtained for you. Why
are you not grateful? Why do you not say
'I thank you'? Gratitude draws benefits, and the
benefactor loves to be reminded of his bounty.
HAVE you no promises to make Me?
You know I read the very bottom of
your heart. Men are deceived, but not God: be
frank.
ARE you resolved to avoid that occasion of
sin, to give up the object which leads
you astray - not to read the book which excites your
imagination, to withdraw your friendship from
that person who is irreligious, and whose
presence disturbs the peace of your soul? Will
you go at once and be kind to that companion
who annoyed you?
WELL, My child, go now and resume your
daily work. Be silent, be honest, be
patient, be charitable: and tomorrow bring Me
a heart even more devoted and loving.
Tomorrow I shall have new favours for you.
