_Generous_: depriving yourself those days of Communion of some pleasures which though harmless in themselves, you know, only too well, enfeeble your devotion, excite your feelings, and leave you weaker than before. _Generous_ means doing over and above what duty requires of us. _Conscientious and upright_: not seeking to find out if some forbidden thing is really a _sin_ or not, and whether it may not in some way be reconciled to conscience. Oh! how hurtful are these waverings between GOD and the world, duty and pleasure, obedience and allurements. Did JESUS CHRIST hesitate to die for you? and yet _you_ hesitate! Coward! _Humble and meek_: treading peacefully the road marked out for you by Providence, sometimes weeping, often suffering, but free from anxiety, awaiting the loving support that never fails those who trust and renew their strength day by day. Living quietly, loving neither the world nor its praise, working contentedly in that state of life to which you are called, doing good, regardless of man's knowledge and approval, content that others should be more honored, more esteemed, having only one ambition,--_to love God, and be loved by Him_. * * * * * If this be the disposition of your soul, then be sure each Communion will be blessed to you, make you more holy, more like CHRIST, with more taste and love for the things of GOD, more sure of glory hereafter. XVII. AFTER HOLY COMMUNION SELF-SACRIFICE LORD! take me and lead me whithersoever Thou willest! Is it Thy Will that my life be spent in the midst of such incessant toil and tumult that no time is left for those brief moments of leisure of which I sometimes dream? Yes! yes! I wish it also! Is it Thy Will that lonely and sorrowful I am left on earth, while those I loved have gone to dwell near Thee above? Yes! yes! I wish it also! Is it Thy Will that unknown by all, misunderstood even by those whose affection I prize, I am looked upon as useless, on account of my stupidity, want of manner, or bad health? Yes! yes! I wish it also! Thou art Ruler. O my GOD! only be Thyself the Guide, and abide with me forever! MY MEMORY My Memory! the mysterious book--reflection of that of eternity, in which at each moment are inscribed my thoughts, affections, and desires. Into Thy Hands I commend it, LORD, that Thou alone mayst write there, Thou alone efface! Leave there, LORD, the remembrance of my sins, but efface forever the pleasures that led to them--were I to catch but a glimpse of their enticing sweetness, I might again desire them. Leave there the sweet memories of childhood, when I loved Thee with such simplicity, and my father, my mother, my family, were my sole affections. Those days, when the slightest untruthfulness, or even the fear of having sinned, left me no peace till I had confessed it to my mother. Those days, when I always felt my Guardian Angel near me, helping me in my work, and soothing my little troubles!