Thirteenth 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.

"My eyes and my heart shall be there always." 1 Kings ix. 3.

Jesus has fulfilled this consoling promise in the holy sacrament of the altar, in which he dwells with us night and day. My Lord, would it not be enough for thee to remain in this sacrament during the day, when thou mightest expect to receive the adoration of thy servants, and to enjoy the delight of their society? But why remain there during the whole night when the churches are closed, and men retire to their houses and leave thee entirely alone? But I understand the reason: love has made thee our prisoner. The excessive love which thou dost bear us has chained thee to the earth, so that thou dost not depart from us either by night or by day. Ah! most amiable Saviour, such tenderness of love should compel all men, until driven away by force, to remain continually with thee in the holy sacrament; and, at their departure, they should leave at the foot of the altar their hearts and all their affections with an incarnate God, who remains alone shut up in a tabernacle, all eyes to see and to provide for their wants, and all hearts to love them, longing for the morning, that he may be visited by the souls whom he loves.

Yes, my Jesus, I desire to satisfy thee; I consecrate to thee my whole will and all my affections. O infinite majesty of God, thou hast left thyself in this divine sacrament, not only to be present with, and near to us, but principally to communicate thyself to thy beloved souls. O Lord, who shall dare to approach thee and eat thy flesh? But who, on the other hand, can withdraw from thee? To come into our souls, and to take possession of our hearts thou hast concealed thyself under the consecrated host. Thou dost burn with a desire to be received by us, and thou dost delight in an union with us. Come, then, my Jesus, come; I desire to receive thee, that thou mayest be the God of my heart and of my will. My dear Redeemer, whatever is in me, I yield to thy love; for thee I renounce gratifications, pleasures, self-will and all that I possess. O love, O God of love, reign and triumph over my whole being; destroy in me whatever is mine and is not thine. My love, do not permit my soul, which, by receiving thee in the holy communion, has been filled with the majesty of a God, ever again to become attached to creatures. I love thee, O my God, I love thee; I desire to love thee alone, and for ever.

Ejac. "Trahe me vinculis amoris tui."

The Spiritual Communion.

THIRTEENTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Ildefonsus.

Most humble handmaid of thy divine Son! I prostrate myself before thee, conjuring thee to obtain pardon of my sins, that I may be cleansed from all the imperfections of my life. I entreat thee to procure me the grace of being always united to God and to thee, and to be ever a faithful servant of thy Son and of thee: of thy Son, as my Lord and my Redeemer; and of thee, as the cause of my redemption: for if he has paid the price of my redemption, it was with the body which he received from thee.

Ejac. O Mary! obtain for me confidence in thy intercession, and the grace that I may continually have recourse to thee.

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