Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin MaryVisit 7

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

Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” Thus our loving shepherd, who has given his life for us who are His sheep, would not separate himself from us by death. Behold me, he says, beloved sheep; I am always with you; for you I have remained on earth in this Sacrament; here you find me whenever you please, to help and console you by my presence: I will not leave you until the end of the world, as long as you are on earth. The Bridegroom, says St. Peter of Alcantara, wished to leave his bride company, that she might not remain alone during so long an absence; and therefore he left this Sacrament, in which he himself, the best companion he could leave her, remains.

My sweetest Lord, my most amiable Saviour, I am now visiting Thee on this altar; but Thou returnest me the visit with far other love when Thou enterest my soul in the Holy Communion. Thou art then not only present to me, but Thou becomest my food; Thou unitest and givest Thy whole self to me, so that I can then say with truth, My Jesus, Thou art now all mine. Since, then, Thou givest Thyself all to me, it is reasonable that I should give myself all to Thee. I am a worm, and Thou art God. O God of love! O love of my soul! when shall I find myself all Thine, in deeds, and not only in words? Thou canst do this; by the merits of Thy blood increase my confidence, that I may at once obtain this grace of Thee, that I may find myself all Thine, and in nothing mine own. Thou graciously hearest, O Lord, the prayers of all; hear now the prayers of a soul that indeed desires really to love Thee. I desire to love Thee with all my strength, I desire to obey Thee in all that Thou willest, without self-interest, without consolations, without reward. I wish to serve Thee through love, only to please Thee, only to content Thy heart, which is so passionately enamoured of me. My reward will be to love Thee. O beloved Son of the eternal Father, take possession of my liberty, of my will, of all that I possess, and of my entire self, and give me Thyself. I love Thee, I seek after Thee, I sigh after Thee; I desire Thee, I desire Thee, I desire Thee!

Ejaculatory prayer. My Jesus, make me all Thine own!
Visit to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

O our own most amiable Lady, the whole Church proclaims and salutes thee as “our hope”! Thou, then, who art the hope of all, be also my hope. St. Bernard called thee “the whole ground of his hope,” * and said: “Let him who despairs hope in thee.”³ Thus also will I address thee: My own Mary, thou savest even those who are in despair; in thee I place all my hope.

Ejaculatory prayer. Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me!
[From the Naples Edition.]
Prayer of St. Bernard.

O Blessed Queen! it is of thee the prophet speaks when he says, “Who is she that riseth like the day-star, beautiful as the moon, brilliant as the sun?”⁴ Yes, thou didst appear in the world like the bright day-star, preceding by the light of thy sanctity the coming of the Sun of Justice. The day on which thou camest into the world may well be styled a day of salvation and a day of grace. Thou art beautiful as the moon; because as none of the celestial bodies so nearly resembles the sun as it does, so there is no creature whose perfections so nearly approach to those of God as thy own. The moon enlightens the night by reflecting the rays of the sun, and thou enlightenest our darkness by the splendor of those virtues with which God has adorned thee. But thou art even more beautiful than the moon, because in thee is found neither spot nor shade; thou art brilliant like the sun; I mean that divine Sun who created the one which enlightens the earth, for, as he in his humanity is the most resplendent among men, so art thou the brightest amongst women.‘

Ejaculatory prayer. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners. The usual prayer, page 125.