Visit XVII

Loving souls can find no greater enjoyment than in being in the presence of the persons they love. If, then, we love Jesus Christ greatly, behold, we are in his presence. Jesus in the Sacrament sees us, hears us; shall we say nothing to him? Let us console ourselves with his company; let us rejoice in his glory and in the love that so many enamored souls bear to the Blessed Sacrament. Let us desire that all may love Jesus in the Sacrament and consecrate their hearts to him; at least let us consecrate to him all our affection. Let him be all our love, all our desire. Fr. Salesio of the Society of Jesus felt consoled merely in speaking of the Blessed Sacrament; he was never satisfied with visiting it. If he was called to the door, if he returned to his room, if he went about the house, he always took advantage of these occasions to multiply his visits to his beloved Lord; so that it was noted that scarcely an hour of the day passed without his visiting him. And he merited in the end to die at the hands of heretics while defending the truth of the Sacrament. Oh, that I too had the fortune of dying for so beautiful a cause, of upholding the truth of this Sacrament, by which, O most lovable Jesus, you have made us understand the tenderness of the love you bear us! But you, my Lord, since you work so many miracles in this Sacrament, work yet another miracle: draw me entirely to yourself. You already desire me entirely for yourself; you deserve it too greatly. Give me the strength to love you with all my affection. The goods of this world, give them to whomever you please. I renounce them all to you. I sigh for and desire only your love. This alone I seek, and I shall always seek you. I love you, my Jesus; grant that I may always love you, and nothing more do I ask of you. -- My Jesus, when shall I love you truly?

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

My sweetest Queen, how pleasing to me is that beautiful name by which your devoted children call you: Mater amabilis -- Mother most lovable. Yes, my Lady, you are all too lovable. Your beauty has enamored of you the Lord himself: Concupivit rex speciem tuam (Ps. XLIV, 12). St. Bonaventure says that your name alone is so lovable to your lovers that in pronouncing it or hearing it pronounced they feel themselves enkindled and their desire to love you increased: O dulcis, o pia, o multum amabilis Maria. Tu nec nominari potes, quin accendas, nec aurium aditus ingredi potes, quin recrees affectus diligentium te. It is right, then, my most lovable Mother, that I should love you; but I am not content merely to love you. I desire, first on earth and then in heaven, to be the first after God to love you. If this desire is too bold, the cause of it is your lovableness and the special love you have shown me. If you were less lovable, I would desire less to love you. Accept, then, O Lady, this desire of mine; and in token that you have accepted it, obtain for me from God this love that I ask of you, since God is so pleased by the love that is given to you. -- My most lovable Mother, I love you greatly.

Prayer of the same St. Peter Damian:

O Mother of God, turn to us for love. I know, my Lady, that you are all-benign and that you love us with a love that can be surpassed by no other love. How often you appease the anger of our Judge when he is about to chastise us! All the treasures of the mercies of God are in your hands. Ah, may it never be that you should cease to benefit us, you who seek nothing but the occasion to save all the wretched and to make them partakers of your compassion; since your glory is increased when through your intercession penitents are pardoned and the pardoned reach paradise. Turn, then, to us, so that we may come to see you in heaven; for the greatest glory we can have is, after God, to see you, to love you, and to be under your protection. Hear us, for your Son wishes to honor you by refusing you nothing that you ask of him.

O most lovable Mary, I love you greatly and in you I trust.