Exclamation V

1. O my Lord! after having served Thee so ill and known so little how to preserve past graces, how da-re I ask for more? How canst Thou trust one who has so often proved a traitor? What then shall I do, Consoler of the disconsolate and Refuge of all those who come to Thee for help? Is it better to say nothing of my wants in the hope of Thy relieving them? Not so,, for Thou, my Lord and my joy, knowing how numerous would be our needs and what solace we should find in confiding them to Thee, didst bid us pray to Thee, for Thou wouldst not fail to give.

, 2. Sometimes I think of the holy woman Martha's complaint; she was not merely blaming her sister, but I am convinced that what she felt most keenly was the thought that Thou didst not care for her labours, nor wish to have her near Thee. Perhaps she thought Thou hadst less love for her than for her sister, which would have tried her more than labouring for the Lord Who was so dear that work for Him was but a pleasure. This seems clear, since she addressed Thee, and not her sister Mary: but. Lord, her love emboldened her to ask Thee why Thou hadst no care for her.

3. Thine answer¹ shows that love alone gives value to our actions— that " the one thing necessary " is to possess a love so strong that it cannot leave Thee. But, my God, how can we obtain a love worthy of our Beloved, unless Thy love for us be united to it? Shall I make the same complaint as this saintly woman?

4. Ah, I have no cause for that, having ever found in my God greater and stronger proofs of tenderness than I have known how to ask or even to desire. — Were I to complain, it could only be that Thy mercy has borne with me too long. — What request can so miserable a wretch as myself make of Thee, save that of St. Augustine: " that Thou wilt give me what to give to Thee," ^ to repay somewhat of the heavy debt I owe Thee: that Thou wilt remember I am the work of Thy hands, and wilt teach me to know Thee, my Creator, so that I may love Thee.