Seventh 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.

"Behold I am with you all days, to the consummation of the world." Matth. xxviii. 20.

Our loving Pastor, who has given his life for his sheep, did not wish to be separated from us by death. Behold, he says, O my beloved sheep, I am always with you. For you, I have remained on earth in this sacrament; here you can find me whenever you wish, always ready to assist and console you by my presence. I will not leave you till the end of the world; as long as you shall remain on earth, I will dwell among you. "The Saviour," says St. Peter of Alcantara, "did not wish to leave his spouse, at such a distance, without a companion. Hence, he has instituted the holy sacrament, in which he himself, the best of all spouses, remains with her."

Most sweet Lord, most amiable Saviour, I now visit thee in this altar; but thou dost visit me with far greater love, when thou comest to my soul in the holy communion. Thou art not only present with me then, but thou art also my food, thou dost unite and give thyself entirely to me, so that I may then say with truth: My Jesus, now thou art all mine. Since thou givest thyself to me without reserve, it is but just that I offer myself entirely to thee. I am a worm, and thou art God. O God of love, O love of my soul, when shall I see myself altogether thine, not in words, but in deed. Thou canst make me entirely thine. Increase, O Lord, my confidence to obtain, through the merits of thy blood, the grace that before I die I may belong entirely to thee, and that I may be divested entirely of self-love. Thou, O Lord, dost hear the prayers of all; receive this day the petition of a soul that sincerely desires to love thee. I wish to love thee with all my strength; I wish to obey thee in all things without interest, without consolation, without reward. I desire to serve thee through love, for the sole purpose of pleasing thy heart, which has loved me to such excess. Thy love will be my reward. O beloved Son of the eternal Father! take possession of my liberty, of my will, of all that I am and have, and give thyself to me. I love thee, I seek and sigh after thee; I desire to possess thee.

Ejac. My Jesus, make me entirely thine.

The Spiritual Communion.

SEVENTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. Bernard.

O Blessed Queen! it is of thee the prophet speaks, when he says, "Who is she that riseth like the day star, beautiful as the moon, brilliant as the sun?" Yes, thou didst appear in the world like the bright day star, preceding by the light of thy sanctity the coming of the Sun of Justice. The day on which thou camest into the world, may well be styled a day of salvation and a day of grace. Thou art beautiful as the moon; because as none of the celestial bodies so nearly resembles the sun as it does, so there is no creature whose perfections so nearly approach to those of God as thy own. The moon enlightens the night by reflecting the rays of the sun, and thou enlightenest our darkness by the splendor of those virtues with which God has adorned thee. But thou art even more beautiful than the moon, because in thee is found neither spot nor shade; thou art brilliant like the sun; I mean that divine Sun who created the one which enlightens the earth, for, as he in his humanity is the most resplendent amongst men, so art thou the brightest amongst women.

Ejac. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners.

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