Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin MaryVisit 30

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

Why hidest Thou Thy face?® Job feared when he saw that God hid his face: but to know that Jesus Christ veils his majesty in the Most Blessed Sacrament should not inspire us with fear, but rather with greater love and confidence; since it is precisely to increase our confidence, and with greater evidence to manifest his love, that he remains on our altars concealed under the appearance of bread. Novarinus says “that whilst God hides his face in this Sacrament, he discloses his love.” * And who would ever dare approach him with confidence, and lay bare before him his affections and desires, did this King of heaven appear on our altars in the splendor of his glory?

Ah, my Jesus! what loving invention was this of the Most Blessed Sacrament, to hide Thyself under the appearance of bread, in order to make Thyself loved and that Thou mightest be found on earth by all who desire Thee! The prophet was right in saying that men should speak and raise their voices throughout the world, in order to make known to all men to what an excess the inventions of the love of our good God go for us: Make His works known among the people." O most loving Heart of my Jesus, worthy to possess the hearts of all creatures,—Heart all and ever full of flames of most pure love! Consuming fire, consume me all, and give me a new life of love and grace! Unite me to Thyself in such a way that I may never more be separated from Thee. O Heart open to be the refuge of. souls, receive me! O Heart, which on the cross was so agonized for the sins of the world, give me true sorrow for my sins! I know that in this Sacrament Thou preservest the same sentiments of love for me which Thou hadst for me when dying on Calvary; and therefore Thou hast an ardent desire to unite me wholly to Thyself. And is it possible that I should any longer resist yielding up my entire self to Thy love and to Thy desire? Ah, by Thy merits, my beloved Jesus, be pleased Thyself to wound me, to bind me, to force me, to unite me in all things to Thy Heart. I am now determined by Thy grace to give Thee all the pleasure that I possibly can, by trampling under foot all human respect, inclinations, repugnances, all my tastes and conveniences, which may prevent me from entirely pleasing Thee. Do Thou, my Lord, so help me, that I may execute this determination in such a way, that henceforward all my works, opinions, and affections, may be all in conformity with Thy good pleasure. O love of God, do Thou drive all other loves from my heart! O Mary, my hope, thou art all-powerful with God, obtain me the grace to be a faithful servant of the pure love of Jesus until death. Amen, amen. So I hope: so may it be in time and in eternity!

Ejaculatory prayer. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ !³

Spiritual Communion, page 124.
Visit to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Bernard affirms, that the love of Mary towards us cannot be greater or more powerful than it is; hence by her affection she is always abundant in her compassion for us, and by her power she is plentiful in the relief she affords us: “The most powerful and compassionate charity of the Mother of God abounds in tender compassion, and in kind relief: she is equally rich in both.” ?

So that, my most pure Queen, thou art rich in power, and rich in compassion; thou art able to save, and desirest to save all. I therefore beseech thee, now and always, in the words of the devout Blosius, saying: “O Lady! protect me in my combats, and confirm me when I am wavering.”⁴ O most holy Mary, in this great battle in which I am now engaged with hell, do thou always help me; but when thou seest me wavering and likely to fall, O my Lady! do thou then extend thy hand with greater promptitude, and sustain me with greater vigor. O God! how many temptations have I still to overcome before my death! Mary, my hope, my refuge, my strength, do thou protect me, and never allow me to lose the grace of God. And on my part I resolve always and instantly to have recourse to thee in all temptations, saying:

Ejaculatory prayer. Help me, Mary! Mary, help me!
{From the Naples Edition.]

O Mary, we are taught by thy servant St. Bonaventure to regard thee as the Mother of orphans.’ Those unfortunate sinners, who have lost God, their Father, are orphans indeed. I fly then to thee, O merciful Mother: I have by my sins lost my Father; all my hope rests in thee, who still remainest as my Mother. I feel fresh confidence arise within me when I hear Innocent III. ask, Who has ever called on Mary without being heard ?⁵ Who was ever lost that had sincere recourse to her? I fly, therefore, to thy holy protection; have compassion on me; help me, and do not forsake me.*

Ejaculatory prayer. O Mother of my God, augment daily my confidence in thee.

The usual prayer, page 125.