Third meditation. The benefits of God

First point.

Reflect that God created us to be, as it were, the perfection and epitome of the universe. He made our soul a treasury of His riches, which caused Daniel to exclaim: " The most high God hath wrought signs and wonders toward me."

Second point.

Reflect that God has been so liberal toward you, that He has made the whole world for you. Behold, O my soul, the heavens, the earth, and all created things! All things were made for you, some for your use, others for your comfort and pleasure. But how should all be used? As Our

Lord and the saints used them, that is > moderately, holily, and devoutly. How have I made use of them? Extravagantly and in a worldly manner. I have referred them all to myself, I have considered only the pleasure they brought me, like a bad agent to whom much has been confided, but who has misused everything.

Third point.

Behold, O my soul, the multitude of the benefits which God has imparted to you! Tou were cared for at your birth, you were baptized, brought up in the Church, withdrawn from the profane crowd, instructed in spiritual things, favored with a thousand lights, urged to a thousand good resolutions. "What thanks should you not return for all this! But oh, how unfaithful have you been in this respect! Alas! like a prodigal child, you have abused the blessings and kindness of your Father. Have recourse at all times to Him, for He is goodness itself, and He will receive you.

Affections.

0 Lord, how liberally Thou hast enriched this beautiful soul of mine with marvellous gifts! Ah! what happiness it i3 to have faith in Our Saviour, to hope in Him, to love Him with the desire of yielding implicit obedience to His divine commands! O sovereign Donor, to crown Thy benefits, grant my soul yet more, namely, that it may never abuse Thy divine gifts. Strengthen my faith, confirm my hope, increase my good desires, inflame my affections, that I may become worthy of the supereminent grace of receiving Thy most holy body.

Ah! how can I be ungrateful to so benign and liberal a Saviour, since I know that He has created for me not only all that I behold, all that I taste, and all that I feel, but that His liberality exceeds even this! Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, the great blessings He has in reserve for me, if I prove a loyal servant. O my King, at every moment I experience the effects of Thy liberality, yet seldom do I say to Thee in return, " I thank Thee." As there is not a moment in which I do not enjoy Thy benefits, so not one should go by without my returning heartfelt thanks. 0 my soul, how shall we do this, except by using the world well and religiously as if we were using it not, so that our whole life may become an act of thanksgiving. To this end we must attach ourselves to the Giver and not to His gifts.

Ah, my Benefactor! if David exclaimed, " What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered tome?" should not the Christian, should not the religious soul^be in still greater perplexity to find a worthy return for Thy favors? 0 God of all goodness, if I offer myself as a holocaust, it is still very little. Thou askest me for my heart Take it, O Lord. I give it to Thee. May it never again return to my possession.