Visit XXV

St. Paul praises the obedience of Jesus Christ, saying that he obeyed the Eternal Father even unto death: Factus obediens usque ad mortem (Phil. II, 8). But in this Sacrament he has gone further still, for here he has willed to render himself obedient not only to the Eternal Father but also to man, and not only unto death but as long as the world shall last: Factus obediens, it may be said, usque ad consummationem saeculi. He, the King of heaven, descends from heaven at the bidding of man, and upon the altars he seems to remain there to obey men. Ego autem non contradico (Is. L, 5). There he stays without moving of himself; he lets himself be placed wherever he is placed, whether exposed in the monstrance or enclosed in the tabernacle; he lets himself be carried wherever he is carried, through houses, through streets; he lets himself be given in Communion to whomever he is given, whether just or sinner. While he lived upon this earth, says St. Luke, he was obedient to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to St. Joseph; but in this Sacrament he obeys as many creatures as there are priests on earth: Ego autem non contradico. Let me today speak to you, O most loving Heart of my Jesus, from which all the sacraments have come forth, and principally this Sacrament of love. I would wish to render you as much glory and honor as you, sacramentally present in our churches, render to the Eternal Father. I know that you upon this altar love me with that same love with which you loved me when you consumed your divine life amid such bitterness on the cross. Enlighten, O divine Heart, those who do not know you, to know you. Deliver by your merits, or at least relieve in purgatory, those afflicted souls who are already your eternal spouses. I adore you, I thank you, I love you with all the souls that at this hour are loving you on earth and in heaven. Purify, O most pure Heart, my heart of all attachment to creatures, and fill it with your holy love. Possess, O sweetest Heart, my whole heart, so that from this day forward it may be entirely for you and may always say: Quis me separabit a caritate Dei quae est in Christo Iesu? (Rom. VIII). Write, O most holy Heart, upon my heart the sufferings, so bitter, that for so many years upon earth you endured with such love for me, so that at their sight I may from this day forward long for, or at least endure with patience for love of you, all the sufferings of this life. Most humble Heart of Jesus, grant me a share in your humility. Most gentle Heart, communicate to me your sweetness. Take from my heart all that does not please you. Convert it entirely to yourself, so that it may will and desire nothing but what you will. Grant, in short, that I may live only to obey you, only to love you, only to give you pleasure. I know that I owe you too much; you have obligated me too greatly. It is a small thing if I utterly wear myself out and consume myself for you. -- O Heart of Jesus, you are the only lord of my heart.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

St. Bernard says that Mary is that heavenly ark in which, taking refuge in time, we shall certainly be delivered from the shipwreck of eternal damnation: Arca in qua naufragium evadimus. The ark where Noah once escaped the universal flood of the earth was a figure of Mary. But Hesychius says that Mary is an ark far more spacious, stronger, and more compassionate: Arca Noe largior. Few men and few animals were received and saved in that ark; but our Savioress receives all who take refuge under her mantle and surely saves them all. Poor us if we did not have Mary! But how many, my Queen, are lost! And why? Because they do not have recourse to you. And who would ever be lost if he had recourse to you? -- Most Holy Mary, grant that we may always have recourse to you.

O my dearest Queen, the Idiota tells me that you are the treasure of God and the treasurer of all the mercies he wishes to dispense to us: Thesaurus Dei et thesauraria gratiarum. Moreover, you yourself tell me: Mecum sunt divitiae..., ut ditem diligentes me (Prov. VIII, 18, 21). You, then, enrich with graces all those who love you. My dear Mother, I am a poor sinner, but know that I love you greatly. After God I love no other object more than you, for you are worthy of it. Have pity on me; do not abandon me. Help me in life and in death, so that I may come one day to stand at your feet in paradise.

O Mary, in you rest all my hopes.