Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin MaryVisit 12

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

God is charity; and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him.’ He who loves Jesus dwells with Jesus, and Jesus with him. If any one love Me... My Father will love him; and We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him.” When St. Philip Neri received the Holy Communion as Viaticum, on seeing the Most Blessed Sacrament enter his room, he exclaimed: “Behold my love! behold my love!” Let each one of us, then, say, here in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: Behold my love! behold the object of all my love for my whole life and for all eternity!

Since, then, my Lord and my God, Thou hast said in the Gospel that he who loves Thee will be beloved by Thee, and that Thou wilt come and dwell in him, and never more leave him, I love Thee above every other good: do Thou, then, also love me; for I, indeed, esteem being loved by Thee above all the kingdoms of the world. Come and fix Thy dwelling in the poor house of my soul in such a way that Thou mayest no more depart from me; or rather, so that I may never more drive Thee from me. Thou dost not go, if Thou art not expelled; but as I have already done this, so I might do again. Ah, never allow such a fresh act of wickedness, such horrible ingratitude, to be perpetrated in the world, as that I, who have been so especially favored by Thee, and who have received so many graces, should again drive Thee from my soul! But this might happen. I therefore, my Lord, desire death, if it so pleases Thee; that by dying united to Thee, I may live united to Thee forever. Yes, my Jesus; for this I hope. I embrace Thee; I press Thee to my poor heart; grant that I may always love Thee, and always be beloved by Thee. Yes, my most amiable Redeemer, I will always love Thee; and Thou wilt always love me. I trust that our love will ever be mutual, O God of my soul, and this for all eternity. Amen.

Ejaculatory prayer. My Jesus, I desire always to love Thee, and always to be beloved by Thee.

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

They that work by me shall not sin." He, says Mary, who endeavors to honor me shall persevere to the end. They that explain me shall have life everlasting ;² and those who endeavor to make me known and loved by others will be of the number of the elect. Promise, then, that whenever you can, be it in public or in private, you will speak of the glories of Mary, and of devotion to her.

Ejaculatory prayer. Vouchsafe that I may praise Thee, most sacred Virgin !°

[According to the Naples Edition.]
Prayer of St. Ildefonsus.

O my Sovereign, and Mother of my God, thou art blessed amongst all women, pure amongst all virgins, and queen of all the. heavenly host; all nations pronounce thee blessed. Vouchsafe that I may publish as much as possible thy greatness, that I may love thee to the utmost of my power, and that I may serve thee with all the capacity of my soul.

Ejaculatory prayer. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O blessed Virgin.®

The usual prayer, page 125.