True Rest; Unalloyed Felicity

The Imitation of The Sacred Heart of Jesus

That In The Heart Of Jesus Our Heart May Find True Rest, Unalloyed Felicity

1. The Voice of Jesus

My Child, if thou desirest to attain true felicity, render thy whole heart similar and conformable to My Heart. In My Heart thou shalt find peace and tranquility, which the world cannot give nor take away.

If once thou hadst entered perfectly into the interior of My Heart, thou wouldst thence behold all things earthly, such as they are in themselves, not as they are esteemed by the foolish worshipers of the world.

Then thou wouldst free thyself from the irksome and unnecessary care of creatures, and think nothing worthy of itself, except what is truly good.

2. Fluctuations of the Heart

Now, thy heart, subject to continual fluctuation, changes seven times a day, so that at one time it is glad, at another sad; now calm, then troubled; again inflamed with the love of creatures, and again wearied with the emptiness of them; sometimes it glows with fervor, and next it falls into lukewarmness, and thus, like the sea, it is ever changing.

But, if thy heart were united with Mine, a great and enduring calm would suddenly ensue. For, safe in thy union with My Heart, as in a harbor of protection, thou shouldst be enabled to remain ever the same and unshaken; secure against change, whether the winds of adversity or of prosperity were blowing.

If thou art sheltered in My Heart, no enemy shall hurt thee. The devil, indeed, runs about, seeking whom he may destroy; and many does he drag into destruction; but thee he shall not approach, nor shall he disturb thy peace.

3. The Divine Gift

Oh! if thou wouldst acknowledge the divine gift! Oh! if thou wert willing to know what good things lie hidden therein! It does truly contain all that is needed for thy felicity. Continual peace, undisturbed security, true joy of heart is the portion of all those that love My Heart, and make their abode within the same.

Of what avail are riches, honor, yea the greatest delights, if the heart be not satisfied and at rest? And what can the whole world give, except restlessness and sickliness of heart?

Wretched therefore shalt thou be, whatever thou mayst possess, until thou shalt rest in Me, who alone can give thee all.

4. The voice of the Disciple

Experience has taught me this, Lord; for in all things have I sought peace, and nothing have I found except trouble upon trouble.

Thou didst assuredly will, for Thy own sake, as well as for ours, that our heart should find peace in Thee alone. For Thou, Lord, didst make our heart for Thyself: and restless and unhappy must it be, until it repose in Thee.

Heart of Jesus most sweet! Thou the delight of the most Holy Trinity! Thou the joy of the Angels and Saints! O most blissful Paradise of souls! what can I wish outside of Thee, since in Thee is all that I can and must desire?

In Thee, heaven has its beatitude; in Thee, the earth its felicity: since, then, Thou art the bliss of all, why shouldst Thou not also be mine?

Yes, indeed, sweetest Heart of my Jesus! Thou art my repose, Thou art my bliss for ever more.

“Voice of Jesus” is taken from Arnoudt’s “Imitation of the Sacred Heart”, translated from the Latin of J.M. Fastre; Benziger Bros. Copyright 1866