Visit XVIII

One day in the valley of Jehoshaphat Jesus will sit on a throne of majesty; but now in the Blessed Sacrament he sits on a throne of love. If a king, to show the love he bears a humble shepherd, were to come and dwell in the shepherd's village, what ingratitude it would be if the shepherd did not often go to visit him, knowing that the king so greatly desires to see him, and that it was to have the occasion of seeing him often that he went there! Ah, my Jesus, for love of me -- I now understand -- you have come to remain in the Sacrament of the altar. I would wish, then, night and day, if it were possible, to remain in your presence. If the angels, my Lord, never cease to stand around you, amazed at the love you bear us, it is right that I, seeing you on this altar for my sake, should at least content you by remaining before you to praise the love and goodness you have for me: In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi, adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum; et confitebor nomini tuo super misericordia tua et veritate (Ps. CXXXVII, 1-2).

O God in the Sacrament, O Bread of Angels, O divine food, I love you; but neither I nor you are satisfied with my love. I love you, but I love you too little. Grant, my Jesus, that I may know the beauty, the immense goodness that I love. Grant that my heart may cast out all earthly affections and give all its room to your divine love. You, in order to enamor me entirely of yourself and to unite yourself entirely to me, descend each day from heaven upon the altars. It is right that I should think of nothing but loving you, adoring you, and giving you pleasure. I love you with all my soul, I love you with all my affections. If you wish to repay this love of mine, give me more love, more flames, that may make me love you ever more and desire ever more to give you pleasure. -- Jesus, my love, give me love.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

Just as those poor invalids who because of their miseries are shunned by all find shelter only in the public hospitals, so sinners, however wretched, though rejected by all, are never rejected by the mercy of Mary, whom God has placed in this world to be the refuge, the public hospital of sinners, as St. Basil says: Aperuit Deus peccatoribus publicum valetudinarium. Hence St. Ephrem also calls her Diversorium peccatorum -- the hospice of sinners. Therefore, my Queen, if I have recourse to you, you cannot reject me on account of my sins; rather, the more miserable I am, the more reason I have to be received under your protection, since God created you as a refuge for the most miserable. So I have recourse to you, O Mary; under your mantle I place myself. You are the refuge of sinners; be, then, the hope of my salvation. If you reject me, where shall I have recourse? -- Mary, my refuge, save me.

Prayer of St. Athanasius:

O our Princess, God grants you every kind of grace. You are called full of grace, because you have been filled by the Holy Spirit, who descended upon you. The rich among the people, who are enriched with your gifts, pray to you and invoke you. Hear, O most holy Virgin, our prayers, and remember us. Dispense to us the gifts of your riches and of the abundance of graces with which you are filled. The Archangel greets you and calls you full of grace; all nations call you blessed; all the hierarchies of heaven bless you. And we who belong to the earthly hierarchy likewise say to you: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Pray for us, O Mother of God, our Lady and our Queen.

O Mary, watch over us and draw us all to God.