Twentieth 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.

"In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for the washing of the sinner." Zach. xiii. 1.

Jesus, in the holy sacrament, is the fountain foretold by the prophet, which is open to all, and in which we can, whenever we wish, wash our souls from the stains of our daily sins. When a fault is committed, what more efficacious remedy can there be than to have immediate recourse to the holy sacrament! My Jesus, I purpose always to avail myself of this remedy; for I know that the waters of this fountain not only cleanse my soul, but also give me light and strength to avoid sin, and to suffer with joy all crosses, and, at the same time, inflame my heart with thy love. I know that for these ends thou dost expect me to visit thee and dost reward with so many graces the visits of thy lovers. My Jesus, wash me from all the faults which I have this day committed; I am sorry for them, because they have displeased thee, give me strength to love thee ardently. Oh that I could, like thy faithful servant Mary Diaz, remain always near thee. This holy soul lived in the time of St. Teresa and had permission from the bishop of Avila to live in the tribune of the Church. Here she remained almost continually before Jesus in the holy sacrament, whom she called her neighbor, and scarcely ever left the church except to go to confession or communion. The venerable Brother Francis of the Infant Jesus, of the order of the discalced Carmelites, could never pass by a church without paying a visit to the blessed sacrament. He used to say, that a person should not pass the house of a friend without going in to salute him and speak a word to him. But he was not content with saying a word to his beloved Lord, he remained before him as long as he was allowed.

O my only and infinite good, I see that thou hast instituted this sacrament, and that thou remainest on this altar to be loved by me. For this end thou hast given me a heart capable of loving thee. Why, then, am I so ungrateful as not to love thee, or to love thee so little? It is not just that such amiable goodness should be so little loved. The love which thou dost bear me merits far greater love from me. Thou art an infinite God, I am a miserable worm. It would be very little for me to die, to be consumed for thee who hast died for my sake, and who dost offer thyself in sacrifice every day for the love of me. Thou dost deserve infinite love. I desire to love thee with my whole heart. Assist me, O my Jesus; help me to love thee, and to do all thou dost demand of me.

Ejac. "My beloved to me, and I to him."

The Spiritual Communion.

TWENTIETH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of the Abbot of Celles.

Most sweet virgin, thou hast found grace and favor with God, in having been preserved from original sin, filled with the Holy Ghost and chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God. Thou holdest in thy hands all the treasures of grace, not only for thy own benefit, but also for ours; and thou failest not to distribute them according to our necessities. Thou assistest the good, by obtaining for them grace to persevere, and thou helpest the wicked by preparing them to receive the divine mercy; thou aidest the dying by defending them against the snares of the devil, and, after death, thou receivest their souls, and conductest them to the mansions of the blessed.

Ejac. O Mary! happy is he who serves thee and trusts in thee.

← Visit XIX · Contents · Visit XXI →

Also in the free Liturgical Living app's Spiritual Classics shelf, offline: Android · iPhone.