Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin MaryVisit 2

To the Blessed Sacrament.
My Lord Jesus Christ, etc., page 123.

The devout Father Nieremberg says, that bread being a food which is consumed by eating, and which keeps when preserved for use, Jesus was pleased to dwell on earth under its species, that he might thus not only be consumed by uniting himself to the souls of his lovers by means of the Holy Communion, but also that he might be preserved in the tabernacle, and be present with us, and thus remind us of the love which he bears us. St. Paul says: He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant.’ But what must we say when we see him “taking the form of bread”? “No tongue would suffice,” says St. Peter of Alcantara, “to proclaim the greatness of the love which Jesus bears to every soul that is in a state of grace. In order, therefore, that his absence might not be to them an occasion of forgetting him, this most sweet Spouse, when he was pleased to quit this life, left as a memorial this Most Blessed Sacrament, in which he himself remained, He did not wish that between these. souls and himself any other pledge but himself should remain, whereby to keep alive their remembrance of him.”

Since, then, my Jesus, Thou art enclosed in this tabernacle to receive the supplications of miserable creatures who come to seek an audience of Thee, listen this day to the petition addressed to Thee by the most ungrateful sinner living on earth. I come repentant to Thy feet; for I now know the evil which I have committed in giving Thee displeasure. My first prayer and desire, then, is, that Thou wilt be pleased to pardon me all the sins that I have committed against Thee. Ah, my God, would that I had never offended Thee! After this I must tell Thee my next desire. Now that I have found out Thy sovereign goodness, I have become enamoured of Thee; I feel an ardent desire to love Thee and to please Thee; but I have not the strength to do this unless Thou helpest me. Manifest, O great Lord, Thy supreme power, and Thy immense goodness to the whole court of heaven; change me from a great rebel, such as I have hitherto been to Thee, in toa great lover of Thee. Thou canst do so,and I know that such is Thy will; supply all that is wanting in me, that thus I may be enabled to love Thee much—at least that I may love Thee as much as I have offended Thee. I love Thee, my Jesus; I love Thee above all things; I love Thee more than my life, my God, my love, my all!

Ejaculatory prayer. My God and my all.
Spiritual Communion, page 124,
Visit to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let us go with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid." St. Antoninus says,’ that Mary is this throne, from which God dispenses all graces.

O most amiable Queen, since thou hast so great a desire to help sinners, behold a great sinner who has recourse to thee; help me much, and help me without delay!

Ejaculatory Prayer. Sole refuge of sinners, have mercy on me.²
[From the Naples Edition.]
Prayer of St. Ephrem,

O Queen of the universe and most bountiful sovereign! thou art the great advocate of sinners, the sure port of those who have suffered shipwreck, the resource of the world, the ransom of captives, the solace of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the refuge and salvation of every creature. O full of grace! enlighten my understanding, and loosen my tongue, that I may recount thy praises, and sing to thee the angelical salutation, which thou so justly deservest. Hail, thou who art the peace, the joy, the consolation of the whole world! Hail, para- 1 "Adeamus cum fiducia ad thronum gratia, ut misericordiam consequamur, et gratiam inveniamus in auxilio opportuno,.”—/ed. iv. 16.

2P. 4, ///. 15, c. 14. disc of delight, the assured asylum of all who are in danger, the source of grace, the mediatrix between God and man

Ejaculatory Prayer. Refuge of sinners, take pity on me.
The usual prayer, page 125.