Ninth 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.

St. John says, that he saw the Lord "girt about the paps with a golden girdle." Apoc. i. 13. Jesus remains in the holy sacrament with paps full of milk; that is of graces, which, in his mercy, he wishes to dispense to all his children: and, like a mother in search of her infants to give them suck, he says to us all, "You shall be carried at the breasts." Isaias lxvi. 12.

The venerable Father Alvarez saw Jesus in the holy sacrament, having his hands full of graces, and seeking souls to whom he could dispense them. We read of St. Catherine of Sienna, that she approached the holy sacrament with the love and avidity with which an infant seizes its mother's breast.

O most beloved and only begotten of the eternal Father, I know that thou art worthy of infinite love. I desire to love thee as much as thou dost deserve, or, at least, as much as a soul can ever desire to love thee. I well know that I, who have been so great a traitor and rebel to thy love, am unworthy to love thee, or to approach so near thee as I do in this church. But I know that thou seekest my love. I hear thee say, "My son give me thy heart." "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart." Thou hast preserved me in life, and hast not sent me to hell, that I might be entirely converted to thee, and devoted to thy love. Since, then, thou dost wish to be loved even by me, behold, O my God, I give myself to thee. I love thee, O my God, who art all goodness, all love. I choose thee for the only King and Lord of my poor heart. Thou dost wish for it, I consecrate it to thee: it is cold and disgusting, but if thou accept it thou wilt change it. Change me, O my Lord, change me. I do not wish to be ever more, as I have hitherto been, so ungrateful to thee, and so little inflamed with the love of thy infinite goodness, which merits infinite love. Grant that henceforth I may supply my past want and neglect of thy love.

Ejac. My God, my God, I desire to love thee, I desire to love thee, I desire to love thee.

The Spiritual Communion

NINTH VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.

Prayer of St. John Damascene.

Hail! Mary, the hope of Christians. Hear the petition of a sinner, who wishes to love thee with the greatest tenderness, and to honor thee as thou deservest, and who reposes in thee, next to God, his hope of salvation. Being indebted to thee for the preservation of my life, I entreat thee to restore me to the grace of thy divine Son. Thou art the surest pledge of my salvation; deliver me, then, by thy prayers, from the heavy load of my sins. Disperse the darkness of my understanding; banish every inordinate affection from my heart; repress the temptations of my spiritual enemies, and so order my life that, under thy protection, I may arrive at eternal repose in heaven.

Ejac. O my Mother, obtain for me the grace that I may always remember thee.

← Visit VIII · Contents · Visit X →

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