Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin MaryVisit 22

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

The Spouse in the sacred Canticles went about seeking for her Beloved; and not finding him, she asked all whom she met: Have you seen Him whom my soul loveth ?¹ Jesus was not then on earth; but now, if a soul that loves him seeks him, she can always find him in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Venerable Father John Avila used to say, that amongst all sanctuaries he could neither find nor desire a more delightful one than a church in which the Most Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

O infinite love of my God, worthy of infinite love! And how couldst Thou, my Jesus, ever abase Thyself so far as, in order to dwell amongst men, and to unite Thyself to their hearts, to humble Thyself to such a degree as to conceal Thyself under the species of bread? O incarnate Word, Thou art supreme in Thy humility, because Thou art supreme in Thy love! How can I do otherwise than love Thee with my entire self, knowing as I do how much Thou hast done to captivate my love? I love Thee much; and therefore I give Thy good pleasure the preference above every interest and every satisfaction of my own. My pleasure is to give Thee pleasure, my Jesus, my God, my love, my all. Make me hunger to be continually in Thy presence in the Blessed Sacrament, to receive Thee into myself, and to keep Thee company. I should be indeed ungrateful did I not accept so sweet and gracious an invitation. Ah, Lord, annihilate in me all affection for created things! Thou willest that Thou alone, my Creator, shouldst be the object of all my sighs, of all my love. I love Thee, most amiable goodness of my God. I ask nothing of Thee but Thyself. I desire not my own pleasure; Thy pleasure is all my desire, and sufficient for me. Accept, my Jesus, this good desire of a sinner who wishes to love Thee. Help me by Thy grace. Grant that I, a miserable slave of hell, may from this day forward be the happy slave of Thy love.

Ejaculatory prayer. | love Thee, Jesus, my treasure, above every other treasure!

Spiritual Communion, page 124.

My most sweet Lady and Mother, I am a vile rebel to thy great Son; but I come repentant to thy mercy, that thou mayest obtain for me pardon, Say not that thou canst not do so; for St. Bernard calls thee “the minister of propitiation.”³ To thee also it belongs to succor those who are in dangers, St. Ephrem calling thee “the helper of those in peril.”⁴ My Lady, who is in greater danger than I am? I have lost God: it is certain that I have been condemned to hell. I know not whether God has yet pardoned me. I may again lose him. But thou canst obtain me all; and from thee I hope for every good, for forgiveness, perseverance, and heaven. I hope to be one of those who, in the kingdom of the blessed, will most praise thy mercies, O Mary, for having saved me by thy intercession.

Ejaculatory prayer. I will sing the mercies of Mary for all eternity; I will sing them forever and ever! Amen, amen.*

[From the Naples Edition.]
Prayer of William, Bishop of Paris.

O Mother of God! thy goodness never despises the sinner who recommends himself to thy patronage, however enormous his crimes may have been: and hence the Church justly calls thee her advocate and the refuge of sinners. Let not, then, my crimes prevent thee from fulfilling this office of mercy, whereby thou becomest the mediatrix of peace, the hope and secure asylum of all who are in affliction. Let it not be said that the Mother of God, who, for the sake of the world, brought forth the source of mercy, can refuse to look down with pity on any wretch that lies to her for assistance. Thou art employed as the mediatrix between God and man: let me experience a share of thy great compassion.” *

1 <¢Ministry propitiationis.”—/z Sign. magn.

Ejaculatory prayer. O Mary, my loving Mother, may I, under God, owe my salvation to thee!

The usual prayer, page 125.