Prayer: Francis Xavier

O God, I love Thee, I love Thee --
not out of hope of heaven for me,
nor fearing not to love and be
in the everlasting burning.

Thou, Thou, my Jesus, after me
didst reach thine arms out dying,
for my sake sufferedst nails and lance,
mocked and marred countenance,
sorrows passing number,
sweat and care and cumber,
yea, and death, and this for me.
And thous couldst see me sinning;
Then I, why should I not love thee,
Jesus, so much in love with me?

Not for heaven's sake; not to be
out of hell by loving thee,
not for any gains I see;
but just the way that thou didst me
I do love and I will love thee;
What must I love thee, Lord, for then?
For being my King and God. Amen.

Translated by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Memorial: December 3rd