Flower of Devotion

On one occasion, when St. Mechtilde was about to kiss the Cross (after the ceremony of paying homage to the Cross on Good Friday), she said to the Lord by divine inspiration, as if lying at His feet:
“Behold, all my desires, O Lord, I immerse in Thee, and give them to Thy desire, so that, purified and perfectly sanctified, I may henceforth never fall into the snare of earthly things.”
The Lord answered this at the wound of his right hand, “Here hide all your spiritual exercises; and whatever you have neglected in them will be perfectly completed to you by My exercises.”
At the wound on his left hand, the Lord said: “Here lay down all your sufferings and adversities, so that, in connection with my life, they may become sweeter and savory before God. Just as a robe sprinkled with fragrant oil retains its fragrance, and like a piece of bread dipped in honey, it takes over its sweetness.”
At the wound of the Heart, the Lord said: “Into this wound of love, which is so great that it embraces Heaven and earth and all things, put all your love into My love, so that it may become perfect, and like an iron kindled with fire, it may also be united to My love.”