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O fools of the world, says St. Augustine, wretches, where are you going to satisfy your hearts? Come to Jesus, for from him alone can that happiness you seek be given to you: Miseri, quo itis? bonum quod quaeritis ab ipso est. My soul, do not be so foolish; seek God alone: Quaere unum bonum, in quo sunt omnia bona. And if you wish to find him quickly, behold, he is near you: tell him what you wish, for he remains in that tabernacle for this purpose -- to console you and to hear you. St. Teresa says: Not everyone is permitted to speak with the king; the most one can hope for is to speak to him through a third person. But to speak with you, O King of glory, no third persons are needed; you always make yourself ready to give audience to all in the Sacrament of the altar. Everyone who desires you always finds you there and speaks with you face to face. And then, even if someone manages to speak with the king, how much effort it costs! Kings give audience only a few times a year; but you in this Sacrament give audience to all, night and day, whenever we wish.

O Sacrament of love, whether you give yourself in Communion or remain upon the altars, you know how to draw so many hearts to yourself by the loving attractions of your love, that enamored of you, astonished at such goodness, they burn happily and think always of you. Draw to yourself also my wretched heart, which likewise desires to love you and to live as the servant of your love. For my part, I entrust from this day forward all my interests, all my hopes, and all my affections, my soul, my body -- everything into the hands of your goodness. Accept me, Lord, and dispose of me as you please. No, I no longer wish to complain, O my love, of your holy dispositions; I know that since they all proceed from your loving Heart, they are all loving and for my good. It is enough for me that you will them; I will them too, all of them, both in time and in eternity. Do whatever you wish in me and with me; I unite myself entirely to your will, which is all holy, all good, all beautiful, all perfect, all lovable. O will of my God, how dear you are to me! I wish always to live and to die united and bound to you. Your pleasure is my pleasure; your desires, I wish them to be my desires. My God, my God, help me; grant that from this day forward I may live only for you, only to will what you will, only to love your lovable will. May I die for love of you, since you died for me, made food for me. I curse those days in which I followed my own will to your great displeasure. I love you, O will of God, as much as I love God, since you are the same as God. I love you, then, with all my heart; to you I give myself entirely. -- O will of God, you are my love.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

The great Queen says: Mecum sunt divitiae... ut ditem diligentes me (Prov. VIII, 18 and 21). Let us love Mary, if we wish to be rich in graces. The Idiota calls her Thesauraria gratiarum -- the Treasurer of graces. Blessed is the one who with love and confidence has recourse to Mary! My Mother, my hope, you can make me a saint; from you I hope for it. -- Mater amabilis, ora pro me.

Prayer of St. Andrew of Crete:

I greet you, O full of grace, the Lord is with you. I greet you, O instrument of our joy, through whom the sentence of our condemnation has already been revoked and changed into a judgment of blessing. I greet you, O temple of the glory of God, sacred dwelling of the King of heaven. You are the reconciliation of God with men. I greet you, O Mother of our joy. Truly you are blessed, for you alone among all women have been found worthy to be the Mother of your Creator. All nations call you blessed. O Mary, if I place my confidence in you, I shall be saved. If I am under your protection, I have nothing to fear, for being your devoted servant is to possess sure arms of salvation that God grants only to those whom he wishes to save.

Sub tuum praesidium confugimus, sancta Dei Genitrix.