32. Act Of Charity Before Holy Communion
O Most Sweet Saviour, Jesus Christ,
how great was Thy love,
which drew Thee from the bosom of the Father
to this vale of tears,
to take our flesh and endure infinite miseries and wrongs,
yea, even the death of the Cross,
and that only for us miserable sinners
and for our salvation.
O how great was Thy love!
Thou mightest have condemned us,
and Thou didst rather choose to save us:
we were guilty,
and Thou, the sinless One,
didst endure our punishment to set us free.
Out of love it was that Thou camest down to take our flesh;
and when about to depart from this world to the Father,
Thou didst leave to us this Sacrament as a pledge of Thy love,
that after a new and wondrous manner
Thou mightest abide with us for ever;
Thou whose delights are to be with the children of men.
O Lord how worthy art Thou of Love,
who dost so much for love of us!
Wherefore I will love Thee, O Lord,
my Strength, my Refuge, and my Deliverer.
O God, Thou art true Love!
He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in Thee.
I desire to receive Thee in this Sacrament,
that I may be more firmly united with Thee in the bond of love.
Who shall separate me from the love of Christ my Saviour?
O that neither life, nor death,
nor any creature may have power to do so.
Amen.
