Fifteenth 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.

"I am come to cast fire on the earth, and what will I but that it be kindled?" Luke xii. 49.

The venerable Father Francis Olimpio used to say, that there is nothing so much calculated to kindle the fire of divine love in the hearts of men as the holy sacrament of the altar. Hence our Lord appeared to St. Catherine of Sienna, in the blessed Eucharist, as a furnace of love, from which divine flames went forth to all parts of the earth. The saint was astonished to find that all men were not on fire with the love of a God who had shown so much love to man. My Jesus, inflame my soul with thy love. Grant that I may think only of thee, and that I may desire, and seek, and sigh after thee alone. O happy me, if this holy fire of thine shall possess my whole being, and shall continue, during the remainder of my days, to consume in me all earthly affections.

O divine word, O my Jesus, I see thee entirely sacrificed and annihilated on the altar for the love of me. Since, then, thou dost sacrifice thyself as a victim of love for me, it is my duty to consecrate myself entirely to thee. Yes, my God and my supreme Lord, I sacrifice to thee my whole soul, my whole being, my whole will, and my entire life. O eternal Father, I unite this poor sacrifice of mine with the infinite sacrifice which Jesus thy Son, and my Saviour, offered once on the cross, and which he offers every day so often on our altars. Accept this offering, through the merits of Jesus, and give me the grace to repeat it every day of my life, and to die sacrificing my whole being to thy honor. I desire the grace bestowed on so many martyrs, to die for the love of thee. But if I am unworthy of so great a favor, grant me at least, O Lord, the grace cheerfully to sacrifice to thee my life, by embracing that death which thou wilt appoint for me. Lord I desire this grace; I wish to die with the intention of honoring and pleasing thee. From this moment I sacrifice my life to thee; I offer to thee my death whenever and in what way soever it shall happen.

Ejac. My Jesus, I wish to die to please thee.

The Spiritual Communion.

FIFTEENTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Anselm.

Help us, O Queen of mercy! without regarding the multitude of our sins. Remember, that our Creator assumed from thee a human body, not to condemn, but to save sinners. Hadst thou been chosen to be the Mother of God for thy own benefit alone, thou mightest then be said to have no particular interest in our salvation; but God clothed himself in thy flesh for the sake of all mankind. Help us, therefore, and protect us: thou knowest the need which we have of thy assistance, and we earnestly recommend ourselves to thy prayers. Pray that we may not be eternally lost, but with thee may serve and love Jesus Christ for ever.

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