Chapter 16: Of the finding of Jesus in the Temple

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, Pattern of humility and mighty Teacher of eternal truth, for the example of Your stupendous humility, and for the light of Your hidden wisdom, shown forth to men, at Your going up to Jerusalem with Your parents for the Feast; what time You did offer for us to God the Father sacrifices of holy prayer and praise, and did sit humbly, as a boy of twelve, in the midst of the Doctors, hearing them and discreetly asking them questions, fixing upon Yourself the attention of all who beheld You.

I praise You, and I magnify with the deepest devotion Your Holy Name, for the reverent obedience which You did show to Your parents who long time sought You, and at length found You; in that You, the King of Heaven, renouncing straightway Your own Will, did humbly submit Yourself to their authority; and, although they did not understand the saying which You spoke unto them, yet did go down with them from Jerusalem to Nazareth, and did there show Yourself the most obedient of sons to the best of Mothers.

O most sweet Jesus, most loving of sons, mirror of holiness and of every virtue, teach me, I pray You, to subdue the perverseness of my will; cheerfully to bow to the advice of my elders; devoutly to visit the Temple of God; diligently to hear and declare Your Word; to venerate the Doctors of the Church; to obey my superiors cheerfully; and to serve You joyfully all the days of my life, submitting myself in all things to Your Holy Will.