Visit XXIV

Vere tu es Deus absconditus (Is. XLV, 15). In no other work of divine love are these words more truly verified than in this adorable mystery of the Blessed Sacrament, where our God remains entirely hidden. In taking flesh, the Eternal Word hid his divinity and appeared as a man upon the earth; but in remaining with us in this Sacrament, Jesus hides even his humanity, and only, says St. Bernard, makes an appearance of bread, in order to show by it the tenderness of the love he has for us: Latet divinitas, latet humanitas, sola patent viscera caritatis. At the sight of the excess, O my beloved Redeemer, of so great an affection that you have for men, I am, my Lord, beside myself and know not what to say. You in this Sacrament go so far for love of them as to hide your majesty and humble your glories; you go so far as to consume and annihilate your divine life. And while you remain upon the altars, you seem to do nothing else but love men and make manifest the love you bear them; and what recognition do they render you in return, O great Son of God!

O Jesus, O Lover, let me say it, too passionately devoted to men, since I see you prefer their good to your own honor. And did you not know to what contempt this loving design of yours would expose you? I see, and you saw it well before, that the greater part of men neither adore you nor wish to acknowledge you for what you are in this Sacrament. I know that many times these same men have gone so far as to trample the consecrated Hosts and cast them upon the ground, into the water, and into the fire. And I see also that the greater part, even of those who believe in you -- O God -- instead of making reparation for so many outrages by their acts of honor, either come to the churches to offend you more by their irreverences or leave you abandoned upon the altars, sometimes deprived even of lamps and the necessary ornaments.

Oh, would that I could, my sweetest Savior, wash with my tears and even with my blood those unhappy places in which your love and your enamored Heart were so outraged in this Sacrament! But if so much is not granted me, I desire at least, my Lord, and I resolve to visit you often, to adore you, as today I adore you, in reparation for the contempt you receive from men in this most divine mystery. Accept, O Eternal Father, this poor honor which, in reparation for the injuries done to your sacramental Son, is rendered you today by the most wretched of men, which I am. Accept it in union with that infinite honor which Jesus Christ rendered you on the cross and which he renders you every day in the Blessed Sacrament. Oh, that I could, O my Jesus in the Sacrament, make all men fall in love with the Blessed Sacrament! -- O lovable Jesus, make yourself known and make yourself loved.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

My most powerful Lady, in the fears I have for my eternal salvation, how much confidence I feel when I have recourse to you, and when I think that you, my Mother, on the one hand are so rich in graces that St. John Damascene calls you Pelagus gratiarum -- the sea of graces; St. Bonaventure, the fountain where all graces are gathered, Congregatio gratiarum; St. Ephrem, Fons gratiae et totius consolationis; and St. Bernard, the fullness of every good: Plenitudo omnis boni. And on the other hand I think that you are so inclined to do good that you consider yourself offended, as St. Bonaventure says, by anyone who does not ask you for graces: In te, Domina, peccant, qui te non rogant. O most rich, most wise, and most clement Queen, I know that you know the needs of my soul better than I do, and you love me more than I can love myself. You know, then, what grace I ask of you today? Obtain for me that grace which you know to be most expedient for my soul; ask this of God for me, and I am content.

My God, grant me those graces that Mary asks of you for me.

Adeamus cum fiducia ad thronum gratiae, ut misericordiam inveniamus in tempore opportuno (Hebr. IV, 16). St. Antoninus says that this throne of grace is Mary, through whom God dispenses all graces. O most lovable Queen, you desire to help sinners; behold a great sinner who has recourse to you. Help me greatly and help me quickly. May it be the glory of your mercy to save one who deserves a thousand hells. Your intercession is all-powerful with your Son. You can make me a saint; do so for the love you bear to Jesus Christ. O Mary, I will say to you with St. Bernard: You are my greatest confidence, you the whole reason of my hope.

O Mother, watch over me and have compassion on me.