Twenty-sixth 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.

"Rejoice and praise, O thou habitation of Sion; for great is he that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel." Isa. xii. 6.

O God! what should be our joy, our hopes, and our affections, in considering that the Holy of Holies, the true God, whose presence gives beatitude to the saints in paradise, and who is love itself, lives and dwells in the midst of us, in our churches, in the vicinity of our houses. Amorem, says St. Bernard, non tam habet quam ipse est. This sacrament is not only the sacrament of love, but it is love itself; the very God, who, through the infinite love which he bears to his creatures, is called, and is love itself. "God is charity" 1 St. John iv. 16. But, O my Jesus, concealed in this sacrament, I hear thee complain, that thou hast come to be our guest on earth, and that we have not received thee. "I was a stranger, and ye received me not." Thy complaint is just, O Lord, and I am one of those ungrateful souls who have left thee alone, and have neglected to visit thee. Chastise me as thou pleasest, but not with the chastisement which I have deserved, of being deprived of thy presence. I will amend, and will correct my past neglect. Henceforth, I will not only visit thee frequently, but I will remain in thy presence as long as I can. O most merciful Saviour, grant that I may be faithful to thee, and that I may inflame, by my example, others to keep thee company in the most holy sacrament. The eternal Father exclaims, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matt. xvii. 5. Then, a God finds in thee all his delight, and shall not I, a miserable worm, feel happy in remaining with thee in this valley of tears? O consuming fire, destroy in me all attachment to created objects; for these only can make me unfaithful to thee, and separate me from thee. "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." Thou hast already done so much for me, grant me one favor more: banish from my heart all love which tends not to thee. Behold, I give myself entirely to thee; I consecrate all the remaining days of my life to the love of the most holy sacrament. Thou, O Jesus, in the blessed Eucharist, shalt be my consolation and my love during life, and also at the hour of death, when thou wilt come to be my viaticum and conductor to thy eternal kingdom. Amen, amen, such my hope and my ardent wish.

Ejac. When, O my Jesus, shall I see thy beautiful countenance?

The Spiritual Communion.

TWENTY-SIXTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

O Mary! I will say to thee in the words of thy servant St. Bernard: thou art the queen of mercy. And who are the subjects of thy mercy but such as are in misery and affliction? Yes, thou art truly the queen of mercy, and I, the most wretched of sinners, am thy subject. I, therefore, of all others, am the best entitled to thy compassion. Turn then, O my advocate, those eyes of mercy towards me, and after my days of exile, show me Jesus, the blessed fruit of thy womb

Ejac. O Mary, my refuge, pray for me to Jesus.

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