Second 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 devout Nierembergh says, that since bread is a sort of food which is consumed for nourishment, and may be preserved for use, Jesus wished to remain on earth under its species, not only to be consumed by uniting himself to the souls of his lovers, by means of the holy communion, but also to be preserved in our tabernacles, and thus, by his presence on the altar, to remind us of the love which he bears us. "He," says St. Paul, "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant." Phil. ii. 7. But what should we say when we see him taking the form of bread? "No tongue," says St. Peter of Alcantara, "can express the greatness of the love which Jesus bears to all who are in the state of grace. Hence, that his absence from them might not be an occasion of forgetting him, this most sweet spouse, before his departure from this world, left, as a memorial of his love, this most holy sacrament, in which he himself remained. He did not wish that between him and his servants there should be any other pledge than himself, to keep alive the remembrance of him."

Since then, my Jesus, thou dost remain in this tabernacle, to hear the supplications of the miserable who come to present their petitions to thee, attend to the prayer of a sinner the most ungrateful among men.

Knowing the evil which I have done in offending thee, I repent, and cast myself at thy feet. I ask the pardon of all my offences. Ah, that I had never offended thee my God! Now that I know thy infinite amiableness, I am enamored of thee, and I feel a strong desire to love thee and to please thee. But this, O Lord, I cannot do, unless thou assist me. O sovereign Lord, make known to all paradise thy great power, and thy infinite goodness, by changing a great rebel against thy Majesty into an ardent lover of thy divinity. Thou art able and willing to do it. Supply what is wanting in me, that I may love thee intensely, or at least as much as I have offended thee. I love thee, O Jesus, I love thee above all things; I love thee more than my life, O my God, my love, my all.

Ejac. My God and my all.

The Spiritual Communion.

SECOND VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Ephrem.

O Queen of the universe and most bountiful sovereign! thou art the great advocate of sinners, the sure port of those who have suffered shipwreck, the resource of the world, the ransom of captives, the solace of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the refuge and salvation of every creature. O, full of grace! enlighten my understanding, and loosen my tongue, that I may recount thy praises, and sing to thee the angelical salutation, which thou so justly deservest. Hail, thou who art the peace, the joy, the consolation of the whole world! Hail, paradise of delight, the assured asylum of all who are in danger, the source of grace, the mediatrix between God and man!

Ejac. Refuge of sinners, take pity on me.

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