Fourteenth 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.

Most amiable Jesus! I hear thee exclaim from this tabernacle, "This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it." Ps. cxxxi. 14. Since, then, thou hast chosen thy dwelling among us in the holy sacrament, since thy love for us makes our tabernacles the place of thy rest, it is but just that our hearts too should always dwell there with thee, and should there find delight and repose. Happy you, O loving souls, to whom no repose which this world can afford, is more sweet than that which you enjoy in the presence of your Jesus in the holy sacrament! And happy me, O my Lord, if henceforth my greatest delight shall consist in remaining always before thee, and in always thinking of thee, who art present in the holy sacrament, always thinking of me and of my welfare.

Ah! why have I lost so many years in which I have not loved thee. Unhappy years, I curse you; and I bless thee, O infinite patience of my God, who has so long borne with one so ungrateful to his love. But, in spite of all my ingratitude, thou dost still bear with me; and why, O my God? It is that, being overcome by thy mercy and thy love, I may one day give myself entirely to thee. I will not, O Lord, resist any longer; I will never more be ungrateful to thee. It is my duty to consecrate to thee the remainder of my life, whether it be short or long. I hope, O my Jesus, to obtain from thee help to become entirely thine. Thou didst bestow many blessings on me when I fled from thee, and despised thy love; how much greater favors may I expect from thee, now that I seek after thee, and desire to love thee? Give me, then, the grace to love thee, O God, who art worthy of infinite love. I love thee with my whole heart; I love thee above all things; I love thee more than myself, more than my life. I am sorry for having offended thee, O infinite goodness. Pardon me, and with the pardon of my sins grant me the grace to love thee ardently till death in this world, and for all eternity in the next. Omnipotent God, by thy Almighty power, show to the world this prodigy, that a soul so ungrateful as mine may become one of thy greatest lovers. O my Jesus, through thy merits grant me this favor. I desire and purpose to love thee with my whole soul during my entire life. Thou hast inspired the desire; give me strength to make it efficacious.

Ejac. My Jesus, I thank thee for having borne with me so long.

The Spiritual Communion.

FOURTEENTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Anselm.

We entreat thee, most sacred Virgin, by that fulness of grace, whereby thou wast elevated to the highest degree of dignity and glory which a pure creature can possibly attain, that thou wouldst procure for us a fellowship with thee in glory. Pray for us, that we may obtain that happiness, to purchase which for us God vouchsafed to become man in thy immaculate womb. Be not deaf to our supplications: whatever thou askest of thy Son, he will grant to us: if thou desirest our salvation, and prayest for it, we are sure to be saved. But if thou dost shut the bowels of thy mercy against us; if thou, who art the Mother of clemency, dost not take pity on us, what will be our lot when thy Son shall appear in judgment?

Ejac. O Mary! behold our danger, and have compassion on us.

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