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Cur faciem tuam abscondis? (Iob. XIII, 24). It frightened Job to see that God was hiding his face; but knowing that Jesus Christ hides his majesty in the Blessed Sacrament should bring us not fear but greater confidence and love, since it is precisely to increase our confidence and to manifest his love more fully that he places himself upon the altars hidden under the appearances of bread. Dum Deus in hoc Sacramento faciem suam abscondit amorem suum detegit. And who would dare approach him with confidence and reveal to him his desires if this King of heaven displayed upon the altars the splendors of his glory?

Ah, my Jesus, what a loving invention this has been, the Blessed Sacrament -- hiding yourself under the appearance of bread to make yourself loved and found on earth by whoever desires you! The prophet was right to say that men should speak and cry out throughout the world, to make known to all the lengths to which the inventions of the love of our good God for us have gone: Notas facite in populis adinventiones eius (Is. XII, 4). O most loving Heart of my Jesus, worthy of possessing all the hearts of creatures, Heart ever full and always full of flames of purest love: O consuming fire, consume me entirely and give me a new life of love and of grace. Unite me so closely to yourself that I may nevermore be separated from you. O Heart opened to be the refuge of souls, receive me. O Heart so grieved upon the cross for the sins of the world, give me a true sorrow for my sins. I know that in this divine Sacrament you preserve the same sentiments of love that you had for me when dying on Calvary, and therefore you have a great desire to unite me entirely to yourself. And shall it be possible that I should continue to resist surrendering myself entirely to your love and your desire? Ah, by your own merits, my beloved Jesus, wound me, bind me, press me, unite me entirely to your Heart. Today, with your grace, I resolve to give you every possible pleasure, trampling underfoot all human respect, all inclinations, all reluctances, all my pleasures and comforts that could prevent me from pleasing you entirely. Grant, my Lord, that I may carry this out, so that from this day forward all my works, my sentiments, and my affections may be in everything conformed to your good pleasure. O love of God, drive from my heart every other love. O Mary, my hope, you are all-powerful with this God; obtain for me the grace of being a faithful servant until death of the pure love of Jesus. Amen, amen. So I hope; so may it be, in time and in eternity. -- Quis me separabit a caritate Christi?

Spiritual Communion.

To Mary

St. Bernard attests that the charity of Mary toward us can be neither greater nor more powerful than it is; so that she always abounds in compassion for us with her affection and in assisting us with her power: Potentissima et piissima caritas Dei matris, et affectu compatiendi et subveniendi abundat affectu: aeque locuples in utroque. Thus, my most pure Queen, you are rich in power and rich in compassion: you can and you desire to save everyone. I shall pray to you, then, today and always with the words of the devout Blosius: O Domina, me pugnantem protege, me vacillantem confirma. O Most Holy Mary, in this great battle in which I find myself fighting against hell, always come to my aid; but when you see me wavering and about to fall, ah, my Lady, then more quickly stretch forth your hand and sustain me with greater strength. O God, how many temptations remain for me to overcome until death! Do not permit, O my hope, my refuge, my strength, Mary, that I should ever lose the grace of God; for I resolve always to have recourse to you at once in every temptation, saying: -- Help me, Mary; Mary, help me.

O most lovable Lady, you are, as St. Bonaventure tells me, Mater orphanorum. The orphans are the wretched sinners who have lost God their Father. To you, then, I have recourse, O Mother of mercy; I have lost my Father, losing his grace through my sin; but in my great misfortune, you who are my Mother must help me. Innocent III encourages me, saying: Quis invocavit eam et non est exauditus ab ipsa? Who has ever prayed to you and not been heard? Who has ever been lost who had recourse to you? Only he is lost who does not have recourse to you. To you, then, I have recourse, O my Mother; have pity on me, help me, do not abandon me.

O Mother of God, give me confidence in you.