Not with the hope of gaining aught, Not seeking a reward; But as Thyself hast loved me, O everlasting Lord! E’en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing— Solely because Thou art my God, And my eternal King. Translation of E. CASWALL. THE THIRD MEDITATION On Divine Love After our consideration on the value and excellence of Divine love and its connection with the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are now to meditate on some striking manifestations of God’s love for us, and on various ways in which we can manifest our love for Him. We begin, with St. Ignatius, by remarking that genuine love does not consist in a mere feeling, or sentiment, but in the will to please or benefit the person loved, even at the cost of sacrifice on our part. For instance, imagine two boys, coming home for vacation from a boarding school, differing greatly in the manifestation of their affection for parents and kindred, whom both were glad to meet again. One of them was very demonstrative of his tender feelings; you would have thought that his love for all was far greater than that of his less effusive brother. After a few days however their father had a task for them to do which required a little sacrifice on their part. Then the affectionate lad had all manner of excuses to evade the trouble, without giving a thought to his father’s needs, while his brother quietly volunteered to do the work of both. His love was genuine; such should be our love for God. A second remark of St. Ignatius is that love between two persons is increased by the frequent interchange of kindly services. The more we do for God, and the more we consider what He has done for us, the more devoted we shall become to Him, and the more pleasing in His sight. _1st Prelude._ Imagine you behold Jesus before you, looking benignly down upon you as upon a loved child. _2nd Prelude._ Beg fervently for an increase of love for Him. _POINT I._ Recall to mind the principal benefits you have received from God, from your birth till the present day, both those common to you and all others, and particularly those peculiar to yourself, tracing the wonderful ways in which a benign Providence has guided you to your present state. Render hearty thanks to the Lord, and make Him the following offering in return: “Accept, O Lord, all my liberty, accept my memory, my understanding and my will. Thou hast given me all these powers; I restore them all to Thee, and I deliver them entirely into Thy hands that Thou mayest direct them. Only give me Thy love and Thy grace; these are all I desire.”