Here lies the secret; if our _hearts_ are stirred up there will be little difficulty about our _wills_. If I _love_, I shall gladly make efforts, no trouble will be too much, no work too exacting, no sacrifice too great, no mortification too hard. "_If you love Me, keep My commandments._" My will is to be stirred up to _seek_, but my heart is to be stirred up to _prepare_. It is my King Who is coming, He Who has a right to my heart, and He is quite sure to pass by my way, for to win my heart and make it all His own is one of the special reasons of His Coming. No pains, no cost shall be spared in my preparation; my heart shall be decorated with the flowers that I know He loves and hung with banners which shall speak of my gratitude for all He has done. This is the preparation of the heart--the preparation of _love_; and it will not stop at my own heart, for if I really love my King I shall take an interest in all the work that He is coming to do; I shall try to prepare His way for Him in the hearts of others; I shall let them know that JESUS of Nazareth is going to pass by. Perhaps I shall have no opportunity of speaking about His visit, but the careful preparations I am making will not go unnoticed--each thing that I do out of love to Him will in some way or another spread His Kingdom in the hearts of men. _Colloquy._ With my King Who is coming. _Resolution._ To do something _to-day_ in preparation. _Spiritual Bouquet._ "Stir up!" ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. (1) HIS PREPARATION. "This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my Angel before Thy face, who shall prepare Thy way before Thee." (St. Matt. XI. 10). _1st. Prelude._ Picture of the Naming Day of St. John the Baptist who is on Our Lady's knee, while Elizabeth and the kinsfolk are discussing the name and Zachary is writing on a tablet; St. Joseph is looking on. _2nd. Prelude._ The spirit of penance. Often during Advent the Church directs our thoughts to the great Precursor of JESUS Christ, to him who was sent to prepare His ways. On four occasions she chooses for the "Gospel" in the Mass, passages which relate to St. John the Baptist and his work of preparation. If we would prepare well for the coming of our King, we cannot do better than meditate on St. John the Baptist and try in our small measure to prepare as he did. POINT I. THE PREPARATION BEFORE HIS BIRTH. (1) _A prophecy._ Four hundred years before the Precursor's birth, Malachias prophesied of him: "Behold I send My angel," that is My _messenger_; and Our Lord tells us expressly (His words are noted by three of the Evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke) that this messenger was John the Baptist, who was sent by God to prepare the ways of the Messias.