Eighth 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.

To every soul that visits Jesus in the holy sacrament he addresses the words of the spouse in the Canticles: "Arise, make haste, my love, my beautiful one, and come." Cant. ii. 10. O soul, who dost visit me, arise, arise from thy miseries; I am here to enrich thee with my graces. Make haste, draw near to me, be not afraid of my majesty, which is humbled in this sacrament, to take away from thee all fear, and to inspire thee with confidence. My love, be no more my enemy, but be always my beloved; for I love thee and thou lovest me. My beautiful one, my grace has made thee beautiful. And come, come and unite thyself to me, and ask with confidence whatsoever thou pleasest.

St. Teresa used to say, that this great King of Glory has clothed himself with the appearances of bread in the sacrament, and has concealed his majesty, to encourage us to approach with confidence to his divine heart.

Let us, then, draw near to Jesus with great confidence and love; let us unite ourselves to him, and ask his graces.

O eternal Word, made man, and concealed in this sacrament for my sake, what ought to be my joy when I stand before thee, who art my God, who art infinite majesty and infinite goodness, and whose love for my soul is so tender. O all ye souls that love God, whether you are in heaven or on earth, love him also for me. Mary, my Mother, assist me to love him. O most loving Lord, grant that thou mayest be the object of all my affections. Take full possession of me, and rule my whole will with undivided sway. I consecrate to thee my whole mind, that it may always think of thy goodness; I consecrate to thee my body, that it may help me to please thee; I consecrate to thee my soul, that it may be thine without reserve. O beloved of my soul, that all men were convinced of the tenderness of thy love for them, that thus they might all live only to honor and please thee as much as thou dost desire and deserve. May I, at least, live always enamored of thy infinite beauty. From this day forward, I will do all in my power to please thee. I purpose to do whatever I know to be pleasing to thee, though it should cost me the greatest pain, and though it should be an occasion of losing all my property, and even my life. Happy me, if I lose all things to gain thee my God, my treasure, my love, my all.

Ejac. Jesus, my love, take full possession of me.

The Spiritual Communion.

EIGHTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Prayer of St. Bernard.

Sweet and amiable Mary, no one can pronounce thy name without feeling the greatest desire of loving thee; and they who love thee cannot call thee to mind without being animated to love thee more. Pray for us to thy divine Son that he would vouchsafe to strengthen our weakness: no one is better entitled to speak in our favor to thy God, and ours, than thyself, who art nearest to him. Intercede, then, for us, O blessed Mother, because thy Son hears thee, and thou canst obtain whatever thou askest.

Ejac. O Mary, obtain for me the grace to have continual recourse to thee.

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