Seventeenth 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.

The greatest enjoyment of loving souls is found in the presence of those whom they love. If, then, we ardently love Jesus Christ, behold we are in his presence. Jesus, in the holy sacrament, sees and hears us, and shall we say nothing to him? Let us console ourselves by his society; let us rejoice at his glory, and at the love which so many souls enamored of the most holy sacrament bear to him. Let us desire that all may love and may consecrate their hearts to Jesus in the blessed Eucharist: let us at least consecrate to him all the affections of our souls. Let Jesus be the object of all our love and of all our desires. Father Sales, of the Society of Jesus, was consoled by the bare mention of the most holy sacrament; his desire of visiting his Redeemer was never satiated. In going to the door, in returning to his cell, or passing through the house, he always took occasion to repeat his visit to his beloved Lord, so that he was observed to visit the blessed sacrament almost every hour in the day. He thus merited the grace to die by the hands of the heretics, while he was defending the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. O most amiable Jesus, that I too had the happiness of dying in defence of the truth of this sacrament, in which thou hast shown the tenderness of thy love for us. But since thou, O my Lord, dost work so many wonders in this sacrament, perform also the miracle of drawing me entirely to thyself. Thou dost desire and deserve to possess my whole being; give me strength to love thee with my whole heart. Give to those who wish for them, the goods of this world: I renounce them all for thy sake; I wish and sigh only for thy love. This only do I ask, this only shall I always seek. I love thee, my Jesus: make me always love thee; I desire nothing else.

Ejac. My Jesus, when shall I truly love thee?

The Spiritual Communion.

SEVENTEENTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Damian.

O Mother of God! cast upon us one look of compassion. I know that thou art full of goodness, and that thou lovest us in a measure that surpasses all other love. How often dost thou appease the anger of our Judge, when the hand of his justice is raised to strike us? All the treasures of mercy are in thy hands, and thou seekest every opportunity of saving miserable sinners and making them partakers of thy glory. Ah! never cease to interest thyself in our regard, that we may one day arrive at the happiness of seeing thee in heaven, as the greatest good that we can enjoy, next to that of seeing God, is to see thee, to love thee, and to be under thy protection. Since thy Son desires to honor thee by refusing nothing that thou askest, hear our prayer, and intercede in our behalf.

Ejac. O Mary! I love thee as the most amiable of the works of God, and place my confidence in thee.

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