April 28th
Chapter Two
Praise for the Gifts of Creation

God knows that we are won by kindness and so has determined to captivate our hearts by lavishing on us all the gifts of creation....Whenever you see beauty in the fields, flowers, fruits, or when you view the sea, reflect upon God who has given these numerous gifts to you out of love and as a promise of future happiness.... When you hear the singing birds, let your heart sing in praise of God.  When you hear a cock crow, recall that you, too, have denied Jesus, and ask forgiveness....Let the sea remind you of the immensity and greatness of God.

God was not satisfied with giving us so many lovely things in creation and associating us with so many beautiful people.  God has gone to great lengths to give us the greatest gift:  Jesus Christ.

O my beloved God, You are beauty itself, goodness itself, and love itself.  How can I love anything but You!  How foolish I have been.  In my past, I have offered numberless insults to You; and I now promise and desire to repeat every moment of my life that I desire You only, O my God, and nothing more.

O Mary, my mother and my hope, beg of your Son that I may be no longer mine, but that I may belong to Jesus entirely and forever.