Aspirations of Love to Jesus Christ

Spiritual Practice: Cultivate the habit of often using the name "Jesus," in silent prayer. When you get up in the morning and retire at night, invoke His Holy Name. And during the day, learn to associate whatever you are doing with a moment's prayerful aspiration, pronouncing the word "Jesus."

If you do this, you will not only grow in your belief that Jesus is indeed God who became man, you will experience the spiritual power that is available to those who call upon Him in faith.

My Jesus, Thou alone art sufficient for me. MY love, do not permit me to separate myself from Thee. When shall I be able to say, "My God, I cannot lose thee any more?"

II.

Lord, who am I, that Thou should desire so much to be loved by me?
And whom shall I love, if I love not Thee, my Jesus? Here I am, Lord; dispose of me as Thou pleases. Give me Thy love; I ask nothing more. Make me all Thine before I die.

III.

Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ have pity on me. My God, I wish for Thee alone, and nothing more.

IV.

O my Jesus, would that I could be entirely spent for Thee, as Thou did spend Thyself entirely for me! If I had died while I was in sin, I could no more have loved Thee; now that I can love Thee, I will love Thee as much as I can. To Thee do I consecrate all the remainder of my life. I wish only, and I wish in all things, that which Thou does desire.

When I see Thee for the first time, my Jesus, may it be with a look of mercy. May I die rather than ever offend Thee again. Thou will not leave me, I will not leave Thee; so shall our love endure in this world and in the next.

VI.

I should be too ungrateful, O my Jesus, if I loved Thee but little, after so many graces.
Thou did give Thyself all to me; I give myself all to Thee. Thou loves those that love Thee. I love Thee; do Thou also love me. If I love Thee but little, give Thou me the love Thou requires of me. What has Thou not done to oblige me to love Thee? Make me conquer all things to please Thee.

VII.

Accept the love of a soul which has offended Thee so deeply. Show me the immense good Thou are, that I may love Thee exceedingly. I desire to love Thee exceedingly in this life, that I may love Thee exceedingly in the next.

VIII.

I hope to love Thee for all eternity. O Eternal God! Oh that I had always loved Thee! Oh that I had died rather than have offended Thee! I give Thee my will, my liberty; dispose of me as Thou pleases. May my only happiness be to please Thee, O Infinite Goodness. O my God! I rejoice in that Thou are infinitely happy.

IX.

Thou are omnipotent; make me a saint. Thou has sought me while I was fleeing from Thee; Thou did love me when I despised Thy love; abandon me not, now that I seek Thee and love Thee. May I this day give myself wholly to Thee.

Send me any Chastisement, but deprive me not of the power of loving Thee. I thank Thee that Thou gives me time to love Thee. I love Thee, my Jesus, I love Thee; and I hope to die repeating, "I love Thee, I love Thee."

XI.

I desire to love Thee without reserve, and to do all that I know to be pleasing to Thee. I love Thy good pleasure more than all the pleasures of the world. I accept all the troubles that may happen to me, provided I love Thee, O my God. O my Jesus, that I could die for Thee, as Thou did die for me!

XII.

Oh that I could make all men love Thee as Thou deserves. O will of God, Thou are my love. O God of love, give me love.

XIII.

O Mary, draw me all to God. O my Mother, make me always have recourse to thee. It is for thee to make me a saint. This is my hope.

Taken from the Ascetical Works, Vol. IV., The Incarnation. Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ; or The Mysteries of the Faith. by Saint Alphonsus De Liguori, Doctor of the Church, Bishop of Agatha, and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.