Chapter 21: Of the glorious miracles, and the kindness and goodness of Jesus

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, Power of God, and Wisdom of the Father, for the glorious signs and mighty wonders, by which You did shed forth upon the world Your glorious Light, and did make known Your Truth even to those sitting in darkness; openly showing Yourself, by infallible proofs and incontestable miracles, to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Who had come into the world to be the Saviour of mankind.

I praise and glorify You for Your boundless love, in that You did show Yourself to all men so kind and so good, that not only the poor and the sick, but even the vilest sinners, were not afraid to come to You; and were allowed freely to speak to You, and to touch You.

Blessed be those Eyes, shining more brightly than the sun, Which You did turn, full of pity, upon the crowds who came to You, to whom You were so gracious and so compassionate that You would in no wise send them away fasting to their homes; but rather did, not once only but twice, by working a great miracle, more than satisfy many thousands with a few loaves, and some small fishes.

Blessed be those adorable Hands, Which You did freely lay upon so many sick folk; healing at once, by the touch of Your most sacred Body, all their diseases and infirmities.

Blessed be those all-beautiful Feet, so often wearied, and besmeared with dust, for the Salvation of souls. Which You did use when going to and fro upon the earth, sowing plenteously the Word of Life, proclaiming it to all men, now upon the mountain side, now upon the open plain — working moreover in proof of Your holy doctrine, frequent miracles, causing men sick of the palsy to go upon their feet, giving sight to the blind, cleansing lepers, casting out devils, and, by the power of God, bringing back the dead to life.

O adorable Jesus, Light of the World, Salvation of Your people Israel, our Life, our Might, and our Glory, turn Yours Eye of mercy, I beseech You, upon my infirmity, and drive out from my heart every evil lust: give sight to the eyes of my soul, that I may see the heavenly light: open the ears of my understanding that I may hear, O my God, what You have to say to me: raise me from my bed of sloth, that I may go on from strength to strength: direct my feet in the path of Your commandments, and give power to my withered hands for earnest work in Your service: cleanse me from the leprosy of the flesh; cure me of the madness of anger; subdue in me the swelling of pride; pluck out from my heart the sting of envy; keep me from excess in eating; drive far from me the plague of covetousness, and crush within me all my impure desires. These most grievous afflictions of an ailing soul, these secret impulses of the devil and his angels, can be healed by You alone, O Lord; can be cast out no otherwise than by Your resistless Word. None can heal these spiritual wounds, none can work wonders of holiness in the inner life, but You alone, O Almighty God, Who speak and it is done. Who command and straightway Your order takes effect. Say therefore, I beseech You, to my soul: "Be you clean," and forthwith it shall be cleansed: say to the unclean spirit which so often tempts me: " Go out of the man, and enter no more into him ": say to my soul, whenever trouble comes upon me, "Fear not, I am Your salvation ": speak but one word only, and my soul shall be healed.