Jesus ... Best Friend

It's the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of my religious order--the Society of Jesus or Jesuits.   This statue of St. Ignatius can be found in the main body of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

I'm going to be travelling today so I won't be able to celebrate with my community but a few of us in the same situation celebrated Mass this morning.  In the back of our special Jesuit Sacramentary there are prayers that can be recited before or after Mass.  The following was one of the three that were given for today's feast.  It appears to have been inspired by the Anima Christi prayer often attributed to St. Ignatius because it appears at the beginning of his "Spiritual Exercises."

Jesus ... Best Friend,
may your soul give life to me,
may your flesh be food for me,
may you warm my hardened heart.

Jesus ... Best Friend,
may your tears now wash me clean,
may your passion keep me strong,
may you listen to my plea.

Jesus ... Best Friend,
may your wound take in my hurts,
may your gaze be fixed on me,
may I not betray your love.

Jesus ... Best Friend,
may you call me at death's door,
may you hold me close to you,
may you place me with God's saints,
may I ever sing your praise.  Amen.