Visit XII

Deus caritas est, qui manet in caritate in Deo manet, et Deus in eo (I Io. IV, 16).

Whoever loves Jesus abides with Jesus and Jesus abides with him. Si quis diligit me, diligetur a Patre meo, et ad eum veniemus, et mansionem apud eum faciemus (Io. XIV, 23). St. Philip Neri, when he received Communion as Viaticum, upon seeing the Blessed Sacrament enter, exclaimed: Behold my love, behold my love! Let each of us, then, say in the presence here of Jesus in the Sacrament: Behold my love, behold the object of my love, of my whole life and of all eternity.

Therefore, my Lord and my God, if you have said in the Gospel that whoever loves you will be loved by you, and that you will come to dwell in him, never to depart again, I love you above every good. Love me, then, in return, since I esteem being loved by you more than all the kingdoms of the world. Come, and fix your dwelling in the poor house of my soul, in such a way that you may never again depart from me, or rather, that I may never again drive you from me. You do not depart unless you are driven away. And as I have driven you away in the past, so I could drive you away again. Ah, do not permit that there should occur in the world this new wickedness and this dreadful ingratitude, that I, so specially favored by you after so many graces, should again dismiss you from my soul! But it can happen; and for this reason, my Lord, I desire death, if it please you, so that dying united with you, I may live united with you forever. Yes, my Jesus, so I hope. I embrace you, I press you to my poor heart. Grant that I may always love you and always be loved by you. Yes, my most lovable Redeemer, I shall always love you and you will always love me. I hope that we shall always love each other, O God of my soul, for all eternity. Amen. So be it. -- My Jesus, I wish always to love you and to be loved by you.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

Qui operantur in me non peccabunt (Eccli. XXIV, 30). Those who devote themselves to honoring me, says Mary, will have perseverance. Qui elucidant me vitam aeternam habebunt (Eccli. XXIV, 31): And those who devote themselves to making me known and loved by others will be predestined. Resolve, whenever you can, to speak in public or in private of the glories of Mary and of devotion to her.

Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.

Prayer of St. Ildephonsus:

O my Lady and Mother of my Lord, behold, you are blessed among women, pure among virgins, Lady among handmaids, Queen among your companions. Behold, all nations call you blessed. Grant that I may proclaim your greatness as long as I am able to proclaim it; love you as long as I am able to love you; praise you as long as I am able to praise you; serve you as long as I am able to serve you.

Dignare me laudare te, Virgo sacrata.