To Jesus, After Communion

For the first time in a while, here it is, your weekly dose of St. Alphonsus:

“Put Me as a seal upon thy heart.”

Yes, my beloved Jesus, since I have consecrated to Thee my whole heart, it is but just that I should put Thee as the seal of love upon it, to close the entrance against any other affection; and thus to make known to all that my heart is Thine, and that Thou alone possesses dominion over it. But, my Lord, what dost Thou hope from me, if Thou dost not do the work Thyself? I can do nothing but give Thee my  poor heart, that Thou may dispose of me according to Thy pleasure.

Behold, I give it all to Thee, I consecrate it to Thee, I sacrifice it to Thee. Do Thou posses it forever; I will no longer have any part in it. If Thou loves it, may Thou be able to preserve it for Thyself. Leave it no longer in my hands, lest I should again take it from Thee. Oh God most gracious, Oh infinite love, since Thou hast so constrained me to love Thee, I pray Thee,  make Thyself loved, make Thyself loved by me. I only wish to live that I may love Thee, I only wish to love Thee in order to please Thee.

Thou who dost work miracles to be able to enter into my heart in this Sacrament, work also this one, make my heart all Thine; but all, all, all, without division, without reserve, so that I may say, both in this life and in eternity, that Thou art the only Lord of my heart, and my only treasure: God is the God of my heart, and my portion forever.

Most holy Mary, my Mother and my hope, do thou help me, and I shall certainly be heard. Amen, amen. This I wish, this I hope. So be it.