Twelfth Visit.

From St. Alphonsus Liguori, Visits to the Most Holy Sacrament (New York: Catholic Publication Society, 1870). Wording reflects its time. Public domain; the text is given word for word as printed.

"God is charity: and he that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him." 1 John iv. 16.

He who loves Jesus dwells with Jesus, and Jesus with him. "If any one love me......my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him." St. John xiv. 23. When the holy viaticum was brought to St. Philip Neri, he exclaimed, "Behold my love! behold my love!" Let each of us, then, say before Jesus in the holy sacrament, behold my love, the object of all my affections during my whole life, and for all eternity.

Since then, my Lord and my God, thou hast said in the gospel that thou wilt love him who loves thee, and that thou wilt come to make thy abode in him, and never more to depart from him, I love thee above all things. Love me then O Lord, for I esteem the happiness of being loved by thee more than all the kingdoms of the earth. Come and fix thy dwelling in my poor soul, so that thou mayest never more depart from me, or rather, that I may never banish thee from my heart. Thou dost not depart unless thou art driven away. I may, as I have hitherto done, expel thee again from my soul. Ah! do not permit one so highly favored ever to be guilty of such wickedness and such horrid ingratitude as to banish thee again from my heart, after having received so many graces from thee. But this may happen; and therefore, if it be pleasing to thee, I desire to die, that, dying in union with thee, I may live for ever united to thee. Yes, my Jesus, such my firm hope. I embrace thee, my poor heart clings to thee. Grant that I may always love thee, and that thou mayest always love me. Yes, my most amiable Redeemer, I will always love thee. Thou wilt always love me, O God of my soul: I hope that we will love each other for all eternity. Amen.

Ejac. My Jesus, I desire always to love thee, and to be loved by thee.

The Spiritual Communion.

TWELFTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Ildefonsus.

O my Sovereign, and Mother of my God, thou art blessed amongst all women, pure amongst all virgins, and queen of all the heavenly host; all nations pronounce thee blessed. Vouchsafe that I may publish as much as possible thy greatness, that I may love thee to the utmost of my power, and that I may serve thee with all the capacity of my soul.

Ejac. Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O blessed Virgin.

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