Consideration XXXV — The Loving Abode Jesus Makes on the Altars in the Most Holy Sacrament

"Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis, et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos" (Matt. 11:28).

Point I

Our loving Savior, having to depart from this world after completing the work of our redemption by His death, did not wish to leave us alone in this valley of tears. "No human tongue is sufficient," said St. Peter of Alcantara, "to declare the greatness of the love that Jesus bears every soul; and therefore this sweetest Spouse, about to depart from this life, so that His absence might not cause His spouse to forget Him, left her this Most Holy Sacrament as a memorial, in which He Himself remained, not wishing that between the two of them there should be any other pledge to keep the memory alive than Himself." This great act of love of Jesus Christ, then, deserves great love from us; and for this reason, in these latter times, He has wished that the feast in honor of His Most Sacred Heart be instituted, as was revealed to His servant Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, so that by our worship and affections we might render some return for His loving abode on the altars, and at the same time make reparation for the contempt He has received and continues to receive in this Sacrament of love from heretics and bad Christians.

Jesus left Himself in the Most Holy Sacrament: 1. to be found by all; 2. to give audience to all; 3. to grant graces to all. And first, He makes Himself present on so many different altars, so as to be found by all who desire to find Him. On that night when the Redeemer was taking leave of His disciples to go to His death, those sorrowful ones wept, thinking they must be separated from their dear Master; but Jesus consoled them, saying (and He said the same then also to us): My children, I am going to die for you, to show you the love I bear you; but even in dying I do not wish to leave you alone; as long as you are on earth, I wish to remain with you in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I leave you My Body, My Soul, My Divinity, and My entire self. No, as long as you are on earth, I do not wish to be separated from you. "Ecce vobiscum sum usque ad consummationem saeculi" (Matt. 28:20). "The Spouse wished," wrote St. Peter of Alcantara, "to leave His spouse in this long absence some company, so that she might not remain alone, and therefore He left this Sacrament, in which He Himself remained, which was the best company He could leave her." The pagans invented many gods for themselves, but they could not invent a God more loving than ours, who stays so near to us and assists us with such love. "Non est alia natio tam grandis, quae habeat deos appropinquantes sibi, sicut Deus noster adest nobis." So indeed the Holy Church applies this passage from Deuteronomy (4:7) to the feast of the Most Holy Sacrament.

So here is Jesus Christ, remaining on the altars as if confined in so many prisons of love. The priests take Him from the tabernacles to expose Him or to give Communion, and then return Him and shut Him in again. And Jesus is content to remain there day and night. But what purpose did it serve, my Redeemer, to remain in so many churches even at night, while people lock the doors and leave You alone? It would have sufficed to remain only during the hours of the day. No, He wishes to remain even at night, though alone, waiting for the morning so that whoever seeks Him may immediately find Him. The sacred spouse went seeking her beloved and asked those she met: "Num quem diligit anima mea vidistis?" (Song of Songs 3:3). And not finding Him, she raised her voice, saying: My Spouse, let me know where You are: "Indica mihi ubi pascas, ubi cubes in meridie" (Song of Songs 1:6). The spouse did not find Him then, because the Most Holy Sacrament did not yet exist; but at present, if a soul wishes to find Jesus Christ, it need only go to the parish church or to some monastery, and there it will find its beloved who awaits it. There is no village, however poor, there is no monastery of religious, that does not have the Most Holy Sacrament; and in all those places the King of heaven is content to remain shut up in a little wooden box or in a stone, where He often stays alone, with scarcely an oil lamp, with no one to attend Him. But, Lord (says St. Bernard), this is not fitting for Your majesty. It does not matter, answers Jesus; if it is not fitting for My majesty, it is fitting for My love.

Now, what tenderness pilgrims feel in visiting the holy house of Loreto, or the places of the Holy Land — the stable of Bethlehem, Calvary, the Holy Sepulchre — where Jesus Christ was born, or dwelt, or died, or was buried! But how much greater should our tenderness be in finding ourselves in a church in the presence of Jesus Himself, who is in the Most Holy Sacrament? The Venerable Fr. John of Avila said that he could find no sanctuary of greater devotion and consolation than a church where the sacramental Jesus is present. But on the other hand, Fr. Balthasar Alvarez wept to see the palaces of princes full of people and the churches where Jesus Christ dwells abandoned and empty. O God, if the Lord had left Himself in only one church on earth — for instance, only in St. Peter's in Rome — and made Himself present there on only one day of the year, oh, how many pilgrims, how many nobles, and how many monarchs would seek the good fortune of being there on that day, to attend upon the King of heaven returned to earth! Oh, what a noble golden tabernacle adorned with gems would be prepared for Him! Oh, with what display of lights that day would be solemnized for this abode of Jesus Christ! But no, says the Redeemer: I do not wish to dwell in only one church, nor for only one day; nor do I require such riches and such lights. I wish to dwell continually, every day and in every place where My faithful are found, so that all may find Me easily, and always, at any hour they wish.

Ah, if Jesus Christ had not thought of this refinement of love, who would ever have been able to think of it? When He ascended to heaven, if someone had said to Him: Lord, if You wish to show us Your love, remain with us on the altars under the species of bread, so that there we may find You whenever we wish — what a bold request it would have been considered! But what no man could even think of, our Savior thought of and accomplished. But alas, where is our gratitude for so great a favor? If a prince came from afar to a village expressly to be visited by a peasant, what ingratitude it would be on the part of the peasant if he did not wish to see him, or saw him only in passing!

Affections and Prayers

O my Redeemer Jesus, O love of my soul, what has it cost You to remain with us in this Sacrament? You first had to suffer death in order to remain upon our altars; and then You have had to endure so many outrages in this Sacrament in order to assist us with Your presence. And we can be so lazy and negligent in coming to visit You, knowing that You so greatly appreciate our visits, in order to fill us with blessings when You see us in Your presence? Lord, forgive me, for among these ungrateful ones I too have been one. From this day forward, my Jesus, I wish to visit You often and spend as much time as I can in Your presence, thanking You, loving You, and asking You for graces, since for this purpose You have remained on earth, shut up in the tabernacles and made our prisoner of love. I love You, infinite Goodness; I love You, O God of love; I love You, O supreme Good, more lovable than every good. Grant that I may forget myself and everything, to remember only Your love and to live the life that remains to me entirely occupied in pleasing You. Grant that from this day forward I may find no greater delight than to remain at Your feet. Inflame me entirely with Your holy love.

Mary, my mother, obtain for me a great love for the Most Holy Sacrament, and when you see me negligent, remind me of the promise I now make to go and visit it every day.

Point II

Secondly, Jesus Christ in the Sacrament gives audience to all. St. Teresa said that not everyone on this earth can speak with the prince. The poor can scarcely hope to speak to him and make their needs known through some third person; but with the King of heaven no third persons are needed — all, both nobles and poor, can speak with Him, since He is in the Sacrament, face to face. Therefore Jesus is called the flower of the field: "Ego flos campi, et lilium convallium" (Song of Songs 2:1). The flowers of gardens are enclosed and reserved, but the flowers of the fields are open to all. "Ego flos campi," comments Cardinal Hugh, "quia omnibus me exhibeo ad inveniendum."

With Jesus Christ in the Sacrament, then, all can speak, and at any hour of the day. St. Peter Chrysologus (speaking of the birth of the Redeemer in the stable of Bethlehem) says that kings do not always grant audiences; it often happens that when someone goes to speak with the prince, the guards dismiss him, telling him that it is not the time for an audience — come later. But the Redeemer wished to be born in an open cave, without doors and without guards, to give audience to all and at every hour: "Non est satelles, qui dicat non est hora." The same happens with Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament. Churches are continually open; everyone can go and speak with the King of heaven whenever he wishes. And Jesus Christ wishes us to speak to Him there with all our confidence; for this reason He has placed Himself under the species of bread. If Jesus appeared on the altars on a throne of light, as He will appear at the Last Judgment, which of us would have the courage to approach Him? But because the Lord, says St. Teresa, desires that we speak to Him and ask Him for graces with confidence and without fear, He has therefore covered His majesty with the species of bread. He desires, as Thomas à Kempis also says, that we deal with each other as a friend deals with another friend, "ut amicus ad amicum."

When a soul remains at the foot of an altar, it seems that Jesus says to it those words of the Canticle: "Surge, propera, amica mea, formosa mea, et veni" (Song of Songs 2:10). "Surge" — rise up, soul, He says, do not fear. "Propera" — come near to Me. "Amica mea" — you are no longer My enemy, since you love Me and are sorry for having offended Me. "Formosa mea" — you are no longer ugly in My eyes; My grace has made you beautiful. "Et veni" — come, tell Me what you wish; for this purpose I am on this altar. What joy would you feel, my reader, if the king called you into his private chamber and said to you: Tell me what you want; what do you need? I love you and desire to do you good. This is what the King of heaven, Jesus Christ, says to all who visit Him: "Venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos" (Matt. 11:28). Come, poor ones, sick ones, afflicted ones, for I can and wish to enrich you, heal you, and console you. For this purpose I remain on the altars. "Clamabis, et dicet: Ecce adsum" (Isa. 58:9).

Affections and Prayers

Since, then, my beloved Jesus, You remain on the altars to hear the supplications of the wretched who have recourse to You, hear today the supplication I make to You, a wretched sinner. O Lamb of God, sacrificed and dead upon the cross, I am a soul redeemed by Your blood; forgive me all the injuries I have done You, and assist me with Your grace, so that I may lose You no more. Give me a share, my Jesus, of that sorrow You felt for my sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. O my God, would that I had never offended You! My dear Lord, if I had died in sin, I could no longer love You; but You waited for me for this purpose — so that I might love You. I thank You for this time You grant me; and since now I can love You, I wish to love You. Give me the grace of Your holy love — but such a love as will make me forget everything, to think only of pleasing Your most loving Heart. Ah, my Jesus, You consumed Your entire life for me; grant that I may consume at least for You the life that remains to me. Draw me entirely to Your love; make me entirely Yours before I die. I hope for everything through the merits of Your passion.

And I also hope in your intercession, O Mary; you know that I love you — have pity on me.

Point III

Jesus in the Sacrament gives audience to all, in order to grant graces to all. St. Augustine says that the Lord has a greater desire to dispense His graces to us than we have to receive them: "Plus vult ille tibi benefacere, quam tu accipere concupiscas." And the reason is that God is infinite goodness, and goodness by its nature is diffusive, so that it desires to communicate its goods to all. God complains when souls do not come to ask Him for graces: "Nunquid solitudo factus sum Israeli? aut terra serotina? Quare ergo dixit populus meus, non veniemus ultra ad te?" (Jer. 2:31). Why (says the Lord) do you not wish to come to Me any longer? Have you perhaps found Me to be like barren or tardy land when you sought graces from Me? St. John saw the Lord with His breast full of milk — that is, of mercy — and girded with a golden band — that is, with the love with which He desires to dispense His graces to us: "Vidi praecinctum ad mamillas zona aurea" (Rev. 1:13). Jesus Christ is always ready to benefit us; but, says the Disciple, especially in the Most Holy Sacrament He dispenses graces with greater abundance. And Blessed Henry Suso said that Jesus in the Sacrament hears our prayers more willingly.

Just as a mother whose breast is full of milk goes looking for children to come and nurse, so that they may relieve her of that weight, so the Lord from this Sacrament of love calls us all and says to us: "Ad ubera mea portabimini... quomodo si cui mater blandiatur, ita ego consolabor vos" (Isa. 66:13). Fr. Balthasar Alvarez saw Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament with His hands full of graces to give to men, but He could not find anyone who would receive them.

O blessed that soul which remains at the foot of an altar asking graces of Jesus Christ! The Countess of Feria, having become a nun of St. Clare, remained before the Most Holy Sacrament whenever she could, and there she continually received treasures of graces. Asked one day what she did so many hours before the Blessed Sacrament, she answered: "I could stay there for all eternity. What does one do before the Most Holy Sacrament? And what does one not do? What does a poor man do before a rich man? What does a sick man do before a doctor? What does one do? One gives thanks, one loves, one asks." Oh, how valuable these last words are for spending time fruitfully before the Most Holy Sacrament.

Jesus Christ complained to the aforementioned servant of God, Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, of the ingratitude men show Him in this Sacrament of love, when He let her see His Heart surrounded by thorns, with a cross above it, on a throne of flames, thereby making her understand the loving abode He makes in the Sacrament; and then He spoke to her thus: "Behold this Heart, which has so loved men and has spared nothing — it has gone so far as to exhaust and consume itself to show them its love. But in return I receive nothing but ingratitude from the majority, through the irreverences and contempt they show Me in this Sacrament of love. And what is most painful to Me is that they are hearts consecrated to Me." Men do not go to spend time with Jesus Christ because they do not love Him. They are happy to spend hours talking with a friend, and then it bores them to spend half an hour with Jesus Christ! Someone will say: But why does Jesus Christ not grant me His love? But I answer: If you do not drive from your heart the love of earthly things, how can divine love enter it? Ah, if you could truly say from the heart what St. Philip Neri said at the sight of the Most Holy Sacrament — "Behold my love, behold my love!" — you would not feel boredom in spending hours and entire days before the Most Holy Sacrament.

To a soul in love with God, the hours before the sacramental Jesus seem like moments. St. Francis Xavier labored all day for souls, and at night what was his rest? It was to spend time before the Most Holy Sacrament. St. John Francis Regis, that great missionary of France, after spending the entire day hearing confessions and preaching, went at night to the church; and finding it sometimes locked, he remained outside the door in the cold and the wind, to attend at least from a distance upon his beloved Lord. St. Aloysius Gonzaga wished to remain always before the Most Holy Sacrament, but since his superiors had ordered him not to stay there, passing by the altar and feeling himself drawn by Jesus to stay, he was compelled to leave in order to obey; hence the saintly young man lovingly said to Him: "Recede a me, Domine, recede." Lord, do not draw me; let me go — obedience demands it. But if you, my brother, do not feel this love for Jesus Christ, make an effort to visit Him every day, and He will surely set your heart on fire. Do you feel cold? Go near the fire, said St. Catherine of Siena. And oh, blessed are you if Jesus grants you the grace of inflaming you with His love. Then certainly you will love nothing but Jesus and will despise all the things of earth. St. Francis de Sales says: "When a house is on fire, all the furniture is thrown out the window."

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my Jesus, make Yourself known and make Yourself loved. You are so lovable; You have done everything possible to make Yourself loved by men, and yet how few among men are those who love You? Alas, among these ungrateful ones I too have been a wretched one. I have been grateful to creatures who did me some gift or favor; only toward You, who have given me Yourself, have I been ungrateful, even going so far as to displease You gravely many times and to insult You with my sins. But I see that instead of abandoning me, You continue to pursue me and ask for my love. I hear that You continue to intimate to me the loving precept: "Diliges Dominum Deum tuum ex toto corde tuo." Since, then, You wish to be loved even by me, an ingrate — yes, I wish to love You. You desire my love, and I at present, favored by Your grace, desire nothing else but to love You. I love You, my love, my all. Help me to love You, by that blood You shed for me. My beloved Redeemer, in that blood I place all my hopes, and in the intercession of Your Most Holy Mother, whose prayers You wish to aid our salvation.

O Mary, my mother, pray to Jesus for me; you inflame all your lovers with divine love — inflame me also, who love you so much.