Dedication

To Jesus and Mary

O Incarnate Word, You gave Your Blood and Your Life so that our prayers (as You have already promised) might have such value as to obtain whatever they ask; and yet we, O God, are so negligent of our salvation that we will not even ask You for the graces we need to save ourselves! By this means of prayer You have given us the key to all Your Divine Treasures, and yet because we will not pray, we choose to remain as wretched as we are! Ah, Lord, enlighten us and make us understand how much our supplications, made in Your name and through Your merits, avail before Your Eternal Father. I consecrate this little book of mine to You; bless it Yourself, and grant that all who hold it in their hands may be moved to pray always, and may strive to inflame others as well, so that they too may make use of this great means of their salvation.

To you also I commend this little work of mine, O great Mother of God, Mary: protect it by obtaining for all who read it the spirit of prayer, that they may always have recourse in all their needs to your Son and to you, who are the Dispenser of graces and the Mother of Mercy, who cannot bear to leave anyone unsatisfied who commends himself to you, and who are moreover the powerful Virgin who obtains from God for your servants whatever you ask.

To the Incarnate Word

Jesus Christ

Beloved of the Eternal Father,

Blessed of the Lord,

Author of Life,

King of Glory,

Savior of the World,

Expected of the Nations,

Desire of the Everlasting Hills,

Heavenly Bread,

Universal Judge,

Mediator between God and Men,

Master of Virtues,

Lamb without Blemish,

Man of Sorrows,

Eternal Priest and Victim of Love,

Hope of Sinners,

Fountain of Graces,

Good Shepherd,

Lover of Souls,

Alphonsus, a sinner, consecrates this work