Act of Love (Actus Caritatis)
O My God! I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art infinitely worthy of love; I love also my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee; I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon for all whom I have injured.
Deus meus, ex toto corde amo Te super omnia, quia es infinite bonus et infinite amabilis; et ob amorem Tui proximum meum diligo sicut meipsum, eique, si quid in me offendit, ignosco.
Act of Love
from the Augustinian Manual
O my Lord and my God, true and only lover of my soul, what more canst Thou do to make me love Thee ! Oh, immensity of love! Incomprehensible and infinite love! A God gives himself to me! A God - Ah, my God! I love Thee above all things. I love Thee more than myself, more than my life; and I delight to love Thee, because Thou art so deserving of my love. Begone from my soul, ye earthly affections, and give place to the love of God. Since Thou, O dear Jesus, wilt this morning give Thyself entirely to me, it is just that I also should give myself wholly to Thee. I offer myself entirely and unreservedly to Thee; my senses, my powers, my desires, my affections, my whole self. I solemnly declare before heaven and earth that I no longer wish to live but for Thee; to work, to speak, to breathe, only for Thee, in Thee, and with Thee. Oh, that my heart were all tenderness for Thee, and could pine away for love of Thee! Would that it could be moved by transports of devotion such as those with which thy affectionate mother burned when she pressed Thee to her bosom! Oh, that I could see Thee loved by all! Oh, that I had power to cause all creatures to love Thee as Thou deservest! Alas! good Jesus, grant that I may be a perfect victim to thy holy love.
Act of Love
O most amiable Redeemer, how I grieve for having so much offended Thee during my past life! Thou hast even died for my salvation, and I have despised Thy grace and Thy love. Ungrateful, thankless creature that I am! I repent, and grieve from my heart for having so outrageously offended Thee. I hope that Thou hast already pardoned me; but if not, oh, forgive me now before I receive Thee in this Divine Sacrament! Have pity and receive me into thy favour, whilst I prepare for Thee in my heart a suitable abode.
Behold, O Jesus, I approach to feed on thy divine flesh. But who am I? Who art Thou? Thou art the Lord Supreme, the source of all purity and perfection; and I am but a worm of the earth, denied by sin and corruption. And dare I purpose to receive Thee in the Holy Communion?
The seraphim are not sufficiently pure in thy sight; and shall I, who am but dust and ashes, misery and sin, receive Thee upon my tongue, unite Thee to my heart, and clasp Thee to my bosom? I, who by my sins am unworthy to remain in thy divine presence, and deserve only to be cast into hell, and to be for ever separated from Thee? Ah, my God! My unworthiness is too great. But since by thy goodness I am called to receive Thee, behold I come humbled and confused on account of the great displeasure which I have givem Thee; but my only trust is in thy goodness, and in the love which Thou bearest to me. Come, then, O deal Jesus, come into my soul, which longs after Thee.
Act of Love
from the Small Roman Missal
O LOVING Lord! Who art ever lovable, and never sufficiently loved, I love Thee with all my heart, and above all things. I consider every moment of my life as lost, which has not been consecrated to Thy love. Yes, O divine Jesus! whilst Thou art dwelling within my breast, whilst Thou livest in me I hope Thou knowest that I love Thee.
Act of Love
from the Small Roman Missal
As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God! “My soul hath thirsted after the strong, living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God?” “For what have I in heaven? And besides Thee, what do I desire on earth?” Let blind and infatuated worldlings intoxicate themselves with the false, transient, and fading happiness of this life; for my part, nothing besides Thyself can content me, either in heaven or on earth. Come then, O Thou Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world! Come, Thou beloved of my heart!
Adorable Flesh and precious Blood of my Saviour! Come, to nourish, comfort, and enliven my sickly soul. O God of my heart! Let me neither love, seek, nor think of any other object but Thyself alone; for Thou alone art my consolation, my treasure, my joy, my life, my all!
“My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God… Thou art, O Lord of hosts! My King and my God!” “Who will give me wings like a dove and I will fly and be at rest!”
Act of Love (Actus Caritatis)
O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die.
Domine Deus, amo te super omnia et proximum meum propter te, quia tu es summum, infinitum, et perfectissimum bonum, omni dilectione dignum. In hac caritate vivere et mori statuo.
Act of Love of One’s Neighbor
I DESIRE to love my neighbor with perfect charity for the love of Thee. I forgive from my heart all who have in any way offend or injured me, and I ask pardon of all whom I have in any way offended or injured.
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