Visit XIX

It is sweet for everyone to be in the company of a dear friend; and shall it not be sweet for us in this valley of tears to be in the company of the best friend we have, one who can do us every good and who passionately loves us and therefore remains with us continually? Behold, in the Blessed Sacrament we can speak with Jesus at our pleasure, open our hearts to him, lay before him our needs, ask him for his graces. In short, we can deal with the King of heaven in this Sacrament with all confidence and without constraint. Joseph was most fortunate when God descended with his grace into his prison to console him, as Scripture attests: Descendit cum illo in foveam, et in vinculis non dereliquit eum (Sap. X). But far more fortunate are we in having always with us in this land of miseries our God made man, who by his real presence assists us every day of our life with such affection and compassion toward us. For a poor prisoner, what a consolation it is to have a devoted friend who keeps him company, consoles him, gives him hope, aids him, and thinks about relieving him of his miseries! Behold our good friend Jesus Christ, who in this Sacrament encourages us by saying: Ecce vobiscum sum omnibus diebus. Here I am, he says, entirely for you, come on purpose from heaven to this prison of yours, to console you, to help you, to set you free. Welcome me, keep always in my company, hold fast to me, and so you will not feel your miseries, and then you will come with me to my kingdom, where I will make you fully blessed.

O God, O incomprehensible love, since you deign to be so gracious with us, and in order to remain near us you deign to descend upon our altars, I resolve to visit you often. I wish to enjoy as much as possible your most sweet presence, which makes the saints blessed in paradise. Oh, that I could always be before you to adore you and make acts of love to you! Awaken my soul, I beg you, when through lukewarmness or worldly affairs it neglects to visit you. Kindle in me a great desire to remain always near you in this Sacrament. Ah, my loving Jesus, if only I had always loved you! If only I had always given you pleasure! I console myself that I still have time to do so, not only in the next life but in this one as well. I wish to do it; I wish to love you truly, my supreme good, my love, my treasure, my all. I wish to love you with all my strength. -- My God, help me to love you.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

The devout Bernardine de Bustis says: O peccator, non diffidas, sed secure ad istam Dominam recurras: invenies eam in manibus plenam misericordia et largitate. Sinner, whoever you are, do not lose confidence, but have recourse with assurance to this Lady, and you will find her with hands full of mercy and graces. And know, he adds, that this most compassionate Queen desires more to do you good than you desire to be helped by her: Plus enim ipsa desiderat facere tibi bonum, quam tu accipere concupiscas. I always thank you, my Lady, and I thank God who has given me to know you. Poor me if I did not know you or if I should forget you! My salvation would be in peril. But I, my Mother, bless you, love you, and trust in you so greatly that I place my entire soul in your hands. -- O Mary, blessed is the one who knows you and trusts in you!

Prayer of the Abbot of Celles:

Draw me after you, O Virgin Mary, so that I may run to the fragrance of your perfumes. Draw me, for I am held back by the weight of my sins and by the malice of my enemies. As no one goes to your Son unless the divine Father draws him, so I dare say, in some manner, that no one goes to your Son unless you draw him by your holy prayers. You are the one who teaches true wisdom. You are the one who obtains grace for sinners, for you are their advocate. You are the one who promises glory to those who honor you, for you are the treasure of God and the treasurer of graces.

O salus te invocantium, salva me.