Chapter 74: Of the appearance of Christ, on the octave of Easter, when St. Thomas the Apostle was present

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, Author of life, Bestower of pardon, Fountain of grace, Promiser of glory to be enjoyed with the holy angels in everlasting bliss. I thank You, O Lord, for Your gracious second appearance to all Your Apostles when Thomas Your Apostle, who till then had doubted, was present. This You did bring about in order that You might confirm him in the true and perfect faith, by allowing him to see and handle Your glorious Body, adorned as It was with the sacred prints of Your five Wounds, memorials of Your most holy Passion for the Salvation of mankind.

I praise and glorify You for Your joyful greeting, for showing Yourself openly to Your Apostles, and for that heavenly benediction wherewith You did bless Your Apostles with Your own sacred Lips, saying to them with cheerful countenance: "Peace be unto you, both now and in time to come: now indeed by faith and grace, but hereafter face to face, and by open vision: as the Father has loved Me, even so love I you: abide you in My love, and continue with Me; so will I abide with you, both now and for ever."

I praise and glorify You, O Jesus Christ, adorable Master and Lord, for Your friendly greeting of peace, and for Your adorable condescension in standing in the midst of Your disciples to keep them from fear of the Jews. For, as a good shepherd stands in the midst of his sheep to defend them from the fangs of wolves, so did You deal with Your Apostles in their evil day, protecting them for the Kingdom of Heaven's sake against those things which were against them: and as a mighty king and noble prince stands armour-clad in the midst of his people, grasping spear and shield to withstand the darts of the enemy, while he encourages his soldiers to fight bravely, and either conquer or die happily, even so, O most brave Jesus, did You stand in the midst of Your disciples, clad in a robe of gladness and with the breastplate of immortality, as a warrior against evil spirits and perverse men, having on You, as proof of Your identity, the marks of Your Passion, gaping Wounds in the shield of Your Body, with which You did vanquish the princes of this world and the rulers of outer darkness; that so You might confirm in faith, hope, and charity Your soldiers the Apostles, who on seeing Your Passion, Your Death on the Cross, and Your Burial in the tightly-sealed tomb, had grievously lost heart. And who indeed who had witnessed all those evident signs of death in You could ever have thought that You would rise again to life?

It was in order that Your beloved disciples, who were not yet fully confirmed in the faith, might not despair, that You did show Yourself to them in visible form, with the Wounds of Your sacred and glorious Body miraculously preserved on You in proof of the reality of Your Resurrection; and it was in order that they might believe, and might no longer doubt of Your actual appearance to them, that You saidst to them: " Handle Me, and see that I am that very Jesus Christ Who for your sake hung upon the Cross, and by the Power of God rose again the third day, as I so often plainly foretold you, though you did not then clearly understand Me. Behold then now My Hands and My Feet, and My Side, and above all mark well in Me the five Wounds of My Passion: meditate on them day and night, and think how great was the love I bore you, and how great were the sufferings I endured in order that you might have eternal life. Peace be to you, My friends, to you who despise the world, to you for whom, after you shall have overcome the many dangers of this life present, I have prepared everlasting joy in Heaven with the holy Angels. Fear not, be not of little faith: I am your Reward, I am your Crown, I am your abundant Blessing! " Amen.

A Prayer for the obtaining of that peace of heart which Christ gave to His disciples

O Lord Jesus Christ, Fountain of sweetness, King of Heaven and earth, true Peace of hearts, and Comforter of those who mourn, say, I beseech You, to my soul, which is troubled and distressed as You best know: " I am Your salvation, Your Peace, Your Life, Your Comfort, Your Hope, Your Light and Your Rest. In Me is all your good, your soul's true comfort, the only happiness that is real and that knows no end. What more would You have?"

" Nothing, Lord; You alone would I have; You do I seek; You do I long for; You do I love from the bottom of my heart; You in everything, and above everything, everywhere and at all times, do I bless and praise. You rule over all things that are in Heaven and on earth, in the sea and in all deep places, in the mountains and in the woods: to You is known every creature whether small or great, from Your eye nothing is hid. In wisdom have You made all things, and by Your Providence are all things governed and preserved."

Oh when will You come to me, you peace of God that come from that clear knowledge of my Maker which passes all reason and the understanding both of angels and of men ? Oh when will you so fill me, both within and without, that nothing shall be left for me to desire? O Lord God, my heart can find no rest, until it rests in You! My mind can have no peace until it is perfectly united to You in that life which knows no end. O Peace, how sweet, how precious is your name in all the world! How full of joy and gladness is your voice in our home which is above! O true, O supreme, everlasting Peace with God, with angels, and with men of good will!

Give me, O Lord, I pray You, peace in my heart, that I may love You above all things; give me peace in my mouth, that I may praise You with true devotion; give me peace in my hand that I may do all my good works for Your honour! When I am sad, say to me: " Peace be unto you; it is I, be not afraid" " Peace be unto you" — than this what can be more pleasant to me? "It is I" — than this what possession can be more joyful? " Be not afraid " — than this what cause of rejoicing can be more secure? " Behold, I am with you " — than this what enjoyment can be more sweet from everlasting to everlasting; what surer and firmer ground can there be for believing, and for laying hold on life eternal?

Whatever, O Lord, I possess, whatever I see, whatever I long for, all is nothing without You. In You alone is all my wealth; than You there can be nothing better, nothing more perfect, nothing richer, nothing more blessed. In You, therefore, O God, my Saviour, is to be found all that I have and all that I hope for; all my safety, all my peace: nowhere else, in no created good, however lovely, however noble, however great, can I find it. I say, therefore, and I pray with holy and humble Francis: " My God, and my All! More I wish not for." And if ever I should be in distress, and be deprived of inward consolation and comfort, still would I say and pray: "My God, and my All!" I want nothing, I wish for nothing, O my God, but for You, Who are all in all, Who above all and before all are blessed for ever. Give me grace, O Lord, to meditate intently upon these things, and ever faithfully to fulfil them. Amen.