He who shows himself amiable in everything must necessarily make himself loved. Oh, if we only applied ourselves to discover all the good qualities by which Jesus Christ renders Himself worthy of our love, we should all be under the happy necessity of loving Him. And what heart among all hearts can be found more worthy of love than the Heart of Jesus?

A heart all pure, all holy, all full of love towards God and towards us; because all His desires are only for the Divine glory and our good. This is the heart in which God finds all his delight. Every perfection, every virtue reign in this heart; a most ardent love for God, His Father, united to the greatest humility and respect that can possibly exist; a sovereign confusion for our sins, which He has taken upon Himself, united to the extreme confidence of a most affectionate Son; a sovereign abhorrence of our sins, united to a lively compassion for our miseries; an extreme sorrow, united to a perfect conformity to the will of God.

In Jesus is found everything that there can be most amiable. Some are attracted to love others by their beauty, others by their innocence, others by living with them, others by devotion. But if there were a person in whom all these and other virtues were united, who could help loving him? If we heard that there was in a distant country a foreign prince who was handsome, humble, courteous, devout, full of charity, affable to all, and who rendered good to those who did him evil; then, although we knew not who he was, and though he knew not us, and though we were not acquainted with him, nor was there any possibility of our ever being so, yet we should be enamored of him, and should be constrained to love him.

How is it, then, possible that Jesus Christ, Who possesses in Himself all these virtues, and in the most perfect degree, and Who loves us so tenderly, how is it possible that He should be so little loved by men, and should not be the only object of our love?

O my God, how is it that Jesus, Who alone is worthy of love, and Who has given us so many proofs of the love that He bears us, should be alone, as it were, the unlucky one with us, Who cannot arrive at making us love Him; as if He were not sufficiently worthy of our love! This is what caused floods of tears to St. Rose of Lima, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Teresa, and St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, who, on considering the ingratitude of men, exclaimed, weeping, "Love is not loved, Love is not loved."

Consider the burning love of the Heart of Jesus: in the Incarnation, in the Cross, in the Holy Eucharist, and in His desire to remain with us always. He loved men to excess and even made Himself our food in Holy Communion.

Let this day stir amazement at such love and a desire to return love for love.

Consider that Jesus has no need of us, yet He still desires our love. He asks for our heart, stands at the door and knocks, and rejoices when a soul opens itself to Him.

Let this day deepen your sense that the Heart of Jesus truly wants to be loved by you personally.

Consider the sorrow of the Heart of Jesus, especially at the ingratitude and sacrileges He foresaw men would commit against His Eucharistic love. His Heart was afflicted not only by suffering, but by the coldness shown to His love.

Let this day become an act of reparation, asking for sorrow over sin and deeper fidelity to Him.

Consider the compassion of the Heart of Jesus, which came down from Heaven to save souls, calls sinners back with mercy, and receives the penitent without resentment. He says again and again: return and live.

Let this day fill you with confidence in His tenderness toward the miserable and repentant.

Consider the generosity of the Heart of Jesus, which gives without measure, pours out grace, and invites souls to ask with confidence. He does not withhold Himself, but delights to enrich those who come to Him.

Let this day teach you to ask boldly for grace, purity, perseverance, and a heart wholly given to God.

Consider how gratefully the Heart of Jesus receives even the smallest act done for love of Him. He never lets generosity toward Him go unrewarded, but returns even little offerings with great and eternal rewards.

Let this day encourage hidden fidelity, trusting that no sacrifice made for Jesus is forgotten.

Consider how the Heart of Jesus is despised, neglected, and answered with coldness even after so many proofs of love. The same Heart that sought men with tenderness has often been repaid with indifference and contempt.

Let this day be one of reparation and renewed loyalty, asking never again to treat His love lightly.

Consider the faithfulness of the Heart of Jesus. He keeps His promises, comes when invited, strengthens the tempted, and remains true even when we have been unfaithful.

Let this final day ask for perseverance: that you may remain faithful to Him until death, because His Heart has never ceased to be faithful to you.