Visit XXVII

Holy Church sings in the Office of the Blessed Sacrament: Non est alia natio tam grandis, quae habeat Deos appropinquantes sibi, sicut Deus noster adest nobis. The pagans, hearing of the works of love of our God, went so far as to say: Oh, what a good God is this God of the Christians! And in truth, although the pagans fashioned their gods according to their fancies, read the histories and you will see that among all their fables and all the gods they invented, none ever managed to imagine a God so enamored of men as our true God is, who to show his love to his worshippers and to enrich them with graces has performed such a prodigy of love: to remain as our perpetual companion, hidden day and night within our altars, as though he could not even for a moment separate himself from us. Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum (Ps. CX, 4). -- So then, my sweetest Jesus, you willed to perform the greatest of your miracles to satisfy the exceeding desire you have to remain always near us and present to us? And why do men flee from your presence? And how can they live so long far from you, or come to visit you so seldom? And if they spend a quarter of an hour with you, it seems a century to them because of the weariness they find? O patience of my Jesus, how great you are! Yes, I understand you, my Lord: it is great because great is the love you bear to men, and this is what obliges you to remain continually among so many ungrateful ones.

Ah, my God, you who, being infinite in perfections, are also infinite in loving, do not permit that I too should continue in the future to be among the number of these ungrateful ones, as I have been in the past. Grant me a love equal to your merit and to my obligation. There was a time when I too found weariness in your presence, because I did not love you or loved you too little; but if by your grace I come to love you greatly, no, I shall no longer find weariness in lingering days and nights at the feet of you in the Sacrament. -- O Eternal Father, I offer you your own Son; accept him for me, and through his merits grant me a love so ardent and tender for the Blessed Sacrament that, always turned toward some church where he dwells in the Sacrament, I may there think of and eagerly desire the time to go and linger in his presence. -- My God, for love of Jesus, give me a great love for the Blessed Sacrament.

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

Mary is that tower of David of which the Holy Spirit says in the sacred Canticles: Aedificata est cum propugnaculis, mille clypei pendent ex ea, omnis armatura fortium -- a tower built with bulwarks, from which hang a thousand shields and all the armor of the valiant, for the benefit of those who have recourse to her. You are, then, O Most Holy Mary, as St. Ignatius the Martyr calls you: Propugnaculum munitissimum in bello versantibus -- the strongest defense for those who are in battle. Oh, what assaults my enemies continually make upon me, to deprive me of the grace of God and of your protection, my dearest Lady! But you are my fortress. You do not disdain to fight for those who trust in you, since St. Ephrem called you: Propugnatrix confidentium in te. Do you, then, defend me and fight for me, who trust and hope in you so greatly. -- Mary, your name is my defense.

My Lady, you said to St. Bridget: Quantumcumque homo peccet, si ex vera emendatione ad me reversus fuerit, statim parata sum recipere revertentem; nec attendo, quantum peccaverit, sed cum quali voluntate venit. Nam non dedignor eius plagas ungere et sanare, quia vocor et vere sum mater misericordiae. If, then, O Mary, you do not disdain any sinner who returns to you with the will to amend, and you can and wish to heal him, behold, I have recourse to you, O heavenly Physician; heal the many wounds of my soul. Your Son refuses you nothing; pray to him that he may pardon me and grant me his holy love.

O Mary, my hope, from you I hope for every good.