Visit I

Behold the fountain of every good, Jesus in the Sacrament, who says: Qui sitit veniat ad me (Io. VII, 37). Oh, how many waters of grace have the saints ever drawn from this fountain of the Blessed Sacrament, where Jesus dispenses to us all the merits of his Passion, as the prophet foretold: Haurietis aquas... de fontibus Salvatoris (Is. XII, 3). The Countess of Feria, that great disciple of Ven. Fr. M. Avila, who became a religious of St. Clare and from her long and frequent visits before the Blessed Sacrament was called the Spouse of the Sacrament, was once asked what she did during all those hours she spent before the Blessed Sacrament. She replied: "I would stay there for all eternity. And is not the essence of God there, which will be the food of the blessed? Good God, what does one do before him! And what does one not do? One loves, one praises, one thanks, one asks. And what does a poor man do before a rich man? What does the sick man do before the physician? What does one athirst do before a clear fountain? What does the hungry man do before a bountiful table?"

O my most lovable, most sweet, most beloved Jesus, life, hope, treasure, sole love of my soul, how dearly it has cost you to remain with us in this Sacrament! You had to die in order to then remain sacramentally upon our altars. And how many insults you have had to suffer in this Sacrament in order to assist us with your presence! Your love and your desire to be loved by us have conquered all.

Come, then, O Lord, come and place yourself within my heart; lock the door forever, so that no creature may ever enter to claim any part of the love that is owed to you and that I wish to give entirely to you. You alone, my dear Redeemer, rule over me; you alone possess me entirely; and if at times I do not obey you perfectly, chastise me severely, so that henceforth I may be attentive to please you as you desire. Grant that I may no longer desire or seek any pleasure other than the pleasure of pleasing you, of visiting you often at the altars, of lingering with you, of receiving you in Holy Communion. Let whoever will seek other goods; I love and desire nothing but the treasure of your love. This alone I wish to seek at the foot of the altar. Grant that I may forget myself, so that I may remember only your goodness. Blessed Seraphim, I do not envy you your glory, but the love you bear to your God and mine: teach me what I must do to love him and to give him pleasure.

My Jesus, you alone I wish to love, you alone I wish to please.

At the end, make a Spiritual Communion. Then make the Visit to the great Mother Mary before one of her images.

To Mary

Another fountain, for us most blessed, is our Mother Mary, so rich in good things and in graces that, says St. Bernard, there is no one in the world who does not share in them: De plenitudine eius accepimus omnes. Most Holy Mary was filled with grace by God, as the angel greeted her: Ave, gratia plena (Luc. I, 28). But not for herself alone; also for us, adds St. Peter Chrysologus, did she receive that great abyss of grace, to share it then with all her devoted children: Hanc gratiam accepit Virgo salutem seculis redditura. -- Causa nostrae laetitiae, ora pro nobis.

Prayer of St. Ephrem:

O Immaculate and entirely pure Virgin Mary, Mother of God, you are above all the saints, you are the only hope of the Fathers, the joy of the just. Through you we have been reconciled with God. O great Princess, Mother of God, cover us with the wings of your mercy, have pity on us. We are given to you and consecrated to your service; we bear the name of your servants. Do not permit that Lucifer should drag us to hell. O Immaculate Virgin, we are under your protection; therefore we have recourse to you alone, and we beseech you to prevent your Son, angered by our sins, from abandoning us to the power of the Devil.

And then make the prayers appointed for the end of every Visit.