MASTER NEGATIVE NO. 92-80766 MICROFILMED 1992 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES/NEW YORK as part of the . „ . .„ "Foundations of Western Civilization Preservation Project Funded by the TTnnTT-r. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Library COPYRIGHT STATEMENT The copyright law of the United States - Title 17, United States Code -» concerns the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.. Columbia University Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. AUTHOR: LIGUORI, ALPHONSO MARIA DE' , SAINT TITLE: THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH PLACE: LONDON DA TE: 1855 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT mBUnCRAFHIC rvIICRnFORM TARGET Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record Restrictions on Use: mf^Mmmmmmm ►242 L62 '^mmnry^^f^'^^fT Liguori, Alfonso Maria de'.* Saint,, . 1696-1787. The mysteries of the faith. The Holy Euchariet... by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori... newly tr. from the Italian and ed. by Robert A. Coffin... London, | Burns, 1855. X, 274 p. 17|- cm. 18178H o M^MkHaMBKliteJMi^AMi^iarM HMMHHnaMkABMik. Master Negative # FILM SIZE: 3_S.y-., IMAGE PLACEMENT: \ DATE FILMED: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA REDUCTION RATIO: __IJ__^ IIA) IB IIB INITIALS FILMED BY: RESEARCH PUBEICATIONS. INC WOODBRJDGE, CT %. c Association for Information and image IManagement 1100 Wayne Avenue. Suite 1100 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 12 3 4 iiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiii III Inches 1 5 ilii. TTl 6 7 8 9 MilMiiliiiiliin hm liiiiliiiilii I 10 11 12 13 14 15 mm iiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliiiiliniliiiiliiii rrr 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^1 2.8 2.5 ISO '" 1^ 132 2.2 •n as, 2.0 u bi u luuu 1.8 1.4 1.6 TTT MT MfiNUFOCTURED TO flllM STfiNDfiRDS BY fiPPLIED IMfiGE, INC. .^w -f — •- Class ^ ^ (L Book V- vo /i Columbia College Library Madison Av. and 49th St. New Tork. Given 2>2/ MtS AlSA.MoTTVSQyi B-side the main tcpic, this hook also trtai* of Subjtct No, On pag€ SubjtctNo, Onpagt \ ■ ..i^ THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH. \^ ij L »i I , i »t\n.ii» » gawiMm, - £HB MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH. I I Efje l&ols lEucfjavist. CONTAINING : PART I. THE VISITS AND OTHER DEVOTIONS TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT, rUEPAEATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR HOLY COMMUNION, ETC. PART IL NOVENA OF THE HOLY GHOST, SHORT SPIRITUAL TREATISES ON THE LOVfi OF GOD, UNIFORMITY TO THE WILL OF GOD, REST FOR SCRUPULOUS SOULS, ETC. BT LONDON : PBDTTKD BT BOBSOX, LEVEY, AND FEASKLTK, Great New Street and Fetter Lane. ST., ALPHpNStjS, MAFvIA DE LIGUORI, 5>t. to^. ^BISHOP OF ST. AGATHA, AND FOUNDER OF THE COXGBEGATION OF THE MOST HOl-Y BEDEEMEB. ^itolg ,tran»latelJ from tf)r Italian, AND EDITED BY ROBERT A. COFFIN, PBIEBT OF THE CONGEEGATION OF THE MOST HOLY BEDEEMEIi. , LONDON: BURNS AND LAMBERT, 17 PORTMAN STREET, AND 63 PATERNOSTER ROW. 1855. 4 _ — - \ I h V , ' RESCRIPT OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX. (TRAySLATIOS.) " Most Holy Father, "The Bishop of Sonthwark in England, in representing to your Holiness how the licdeniptorist Fathers have had the consolation to see an immense go..d ^sTutfrorthe condescension with which your Holiness was pleased to pra.sc ^foaZn edition of the works of St. Alphonsus. humbly begs to be authorised foblels inthe name of your Holiness, the translation already commenced, and in part published, of the pious works of St Alphonsus t,. EngU^. " in an audience with his Holiness on the 13th of November. If^' °"^ ™°«^ holy Lord, bv Divine Providence, Pope Pins IX.. at the request of me he undersi-^n^l Secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the F^^th was graciously pleased to grant the above petition; charging, however, the conscience of the petitioner with faithfulness in the translation. « Given at Rome, from the Palace of the Sacred Congregation, on the day and in the year as above. ..Grati.,&c.&c. Au BAnN.vro. Secretary. 3lmjuimatur, N. CARD. WISEMAN. April 23, 1S55. TO THE CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN OF ^ r Minam "3 c ENGLAND AND IRELAND, ?rf)i'» Foluntf , FOR THE LOVE OF JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, THE SAFEGUARD OF THEIR FAITH AND rURITY, IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. v_3 Stmt 96712 ADVERTISEMENT. The various treatises which compose the present volume are too well known to need any introductory remarks. The ti-ans- lation and arrangement of them alone are new. It is hoped that the reader will not find it unacceptable to have collected in one volume all that St. Alphonsus has written on the Holy Eucharist, together with his smaller spiritual treatises, which are amongst the most engaging of his works. The Visits to the Blessed Sacrament speak for themselves ; they have but to be used, to prove the truth of what their saintly author has said with regard to that most Catholic de- votion ; for the promotion of which he has been, in the hands of God, one of the most powerful instruments. The little works which form the second part of the vol- ume have been hitherto known under the title of the Sjnrit of St, Liguori : and perhaps they could not have been more cor- rectly described ; breathing, as they do throughout, that pecu- liar unction and practical piety, united to the greatest simpli- city, which have always given to the works of St. Alphonsus an attraction especially their own. It is a matter of regret to the Editor, that circumstances, over which he had no control, prevented him from publishing, as he had desired, the volume on the Passion in time for the Lent of this year ; it is, however, in progress, and will, he hopes, appear in good time for the next Lent. Robert Aston Coffin, C.SS.R. Bishop Eton, near Liverpool, April 7, 1855. ^, , .ll CONTENTS. PART I. PAGB Visrre TO THE Most Holy Sacrament, and to the Blessed ^ Virgin Mary 70 Devout Acts to be made in the Visits Acts for Holy Communion : ^g Preparation • • g^ Thanksgiving LOVING Aspirations to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament . 87 Devout Aspirations to be made before and after Communion, FUOM Mss. OF St. Francis of Sales Aspirations of Love, to be made after Communion, and at ^^ the Visit to the Blessed Sacrament Petitions TO THE Most Holy Sacrament Meditations for THE Octave OF Corpus Christi . . .1^5 Account of the Miraculous Discovery of the Blessed Sa- crament which had been stolen in a Parish of the Dig- ^^ CESE OF Naples , -> » PART II. «j){n'tual 2Crfatigt». NOVENA OF THE HOLY SPIRIT . . • • On the Love of God, and Means for acquiring it 139 155 j^ CONTENTS. PAGE The Wat to converse always and famiuarly with God . 169 On Uniformity to the Will of God 1^^ Rest for Scrupulous Souls 218 COUNSEI^, FROM WHICH A SOUL, WHEN IN DESOLATION, MAY DE- RIVE Comfort and Confidence 225 Devout Affections of a Soul that desires to belong en- tirely TO Jesus Christ 249 Sighs of Love towards God 265 Aspirations of Love to Je-sus Christ 270 Maxims for the Direction of a Soul that desires to attain Perfection in the Love of Jesus Christ . . . .272 I PART I. THE HOLY EUCHAEIST. TO MAUY, THE EVER-IMMACULATE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD. My most holy Queen,— On the point of publishing the present little work, in which I treat of the love of thy Son, I know not to whom I can better dedicate it than to thee, my most beloved Mother, who, amongst all creatures, art His most tender lover. I believe that by this little offering which I present to thee, and which is composed for the sole purpose of inflaming souls more and more with the love of Jesus Christ,— I believe, I say, that by it I shall greatly please thee, who desirest to see Him loved by all as He deserves. To thee, then, I consecrate it, such as it is ; do thou graciously accept and protect it j not indeed that I may receive the praises of men, but that all who read it may for the future correspond, by their greater de- votion and affection, with the tender and excessive love which our most sweet Saviour has been pleased to show us in His Passion, and in the institution of the Most Holy Sacrament. As such, I place it at thy feet, and beseech thee to accept the gift as wholly thine, as also the giver, who has long since placed all his hopes in thee, and wishes and hopes always to call himself, and to rejoice in being. Most gracious Lady, Thy most loving, though most unworthy servant, ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI, Of Vie Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, TO THE READER. I BEG, my dear reader, that you will not despise tins little book, thoiigli written with the utmost simplicity. I have composed it in such simple style, because I believe that it will thus be more calculated to promote devotion amongst all classes of persons. I also beg, that whether I am livmg or dead, you will recommend me to the Most Holy Sacra- ment each time that you use it ; and on my part I promise to pray for all who do me this act of charity, every time I offer up the Most Holy Sacrifice. YISITS TO THE '•, MOST HOLY SACRAMENT AND TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. INTRODUCTION. FOR THE VISIT TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT. Our holy faith teaches us, and we are bound to believe, that in the consecrated Host, Jesus Christ is really present under the species of bread. But we must also understand, that He is thus present on our altars as on a throne of love and mercy, to dispense graces, and there to show us the love which He bears us, by being pleased to dwell night and day hidden in the midst of us. It is well known that the Holy Church instituted the Festival of Cori^us Christi with a solemn octave, and that she celebrates it with the many usual processions, and such frequent expo- sitions of this Most Holy Sacrament, that men may thereby be moved gratefully to acknowledge and honour this loving presence and dwelling of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, by their devotions, thanksgivings, and the tender affections of their souls. O God ! how many insults and outrages has not this amiable Redeemer had, and has He not daily, to endure in this Sacrament on the part of those very men for whose love He remains upon their altars on earth I Of this He indeed complained to His dear servant Sister Margaret Alacoque, as the author of the Book of Devotion to the Heart of Jems relates. One day, as she was in prayer before the Most Holy Sacrament, Jesus showed her His Heart on a throne of flames, crowned with thorns, and surmounted by a cross, and thus addressed her : «' Behold that Heart, which has loved men so much, and which has spared Itself nothing ; and has even gone so far as to consume Itself, thereby to show them Its love ; but in return the greater part of men only show Me mgra- titude, and this by the irreverences, tepidity, sacrileges, 6 DfTBODUCTIOX. and contempt which they offer Mc in this Sacrament of Love ; and that which I feel the most acutely is, that they are hearts consecrated to Me." Jesus then expressed His wish, that the first Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi should be dedicated as a particular festival in honour of His adorable Heart ; and that on that day all souls who loved Him should endeavour, by their homage, and by the affections of their souls, to make amends for the insults which men have offered Him in this Sacrament of the Altar ; and at the same time He promised abundant graces to all who should thus honour Him. We can thus understand what our Lord said of old by His prophet, that His delight is to be with the children of men ; since He is unable to tear Himself from them even when they abandon and despise Him. This also shows us how agreeable all those souls are to the Heart of Jesus who frequently visit Him, and remain in His company in the churches in which He is, under the sacramental species. He desired St. Maiy Magdalene of Pazzi to visit Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament thirty-three times a day ; and this beloved Spouse of His faithfully obeyed Him, and in ail her visits to the altar approached it as near as she possibly could, as we read in her life. But let all those devout souls who often go and spend their time with the Most Blessed Sacrament speak ; — let them tell us the gifts, the inspirations which they have received, the flames of love which are there enkindled in their souls, the para- dise which they cujoy in the presence of this hidden God. The servant of God and great Sicilian missionary-father, Louis La Nusa, was, even in his youth and as a layman, so enamoured of Jesus Christ, that lie seemed unable to tear himself from the presence of his beloved Lord ; and such were the joys which he there experienced, that his director, having commanded him, in virtue of obedience, not to remain there for more than an hour ; when that time had elapsed, he showed in obeying (says the author of his life), that in tearing himself from the bosom of Jesus Christ, he had to do himself just such violence as a child which has to detach itself from its mother's breast in the very moment in which it is satiating itself with the utmost INTRODUCTION. i avidity; and when he had to do this, we are told that he remained standing with his eyes cast on the altar, making repeated inclinations, as if he knew not how to quit his Lord, whose presence was so sweet and gracious to him. St. Aloysius was also forbidden to remain in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament ; and as he used to pass before it, finding himself drawn, so to say, by the sweet attractions of his Lord, and almost forced to remain there, he would, with the greatest efibrt, tear himself away, say- ing, with an excess of tender love : Depart from Qiie, Lo7'd, depart ! There it was also that St. Francis Xavier found refreshment in the midst of his many labours in India ; for he employed his days in toiling for souls, and his nights in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament. St. John Francis Regis did the same thing ; and sometimes finding the church closed, he endeavoured to satisfy his longings by remaining on his knees outside the door, ex- posed to the rain and cold, that at least at a distance he might attend upon his Comforter concealed under the sa- cramental species. St. Francis of Assisi used to go and communicate all his labours and undertakings to Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament. But tender indeed was the devotion of St. Wenceslaus, duke of Bohemia, to the Most Holy Sacrament. This holy king was so enamoured of Jesus there present, that he not only gathered the wheat and grapes, and made the hosts and wine witli his own hands, and then gave them to be used in the Holy Sacri- fice, but moreover, he used, even during the winter, to go at night to visit the church in which the Blessed Sacrament was kept ; and these visits enkindled in his beautiful soul such flames of Divine love, that their ardour imparted it- self even to his body, and took from the snow on which he walked its wonted cold ; for it is related, that the servant who accompanied him in these nightly excursions, having to walk through the snow, suffered much from the cold. The holy king, on perceiving it, was moved to compassion, and commanded him to follow him, and only to step in his footmarks : he did so, and never afterwards felt the cold. In the visits you will read other examples of the tender affection with which souls inflamed with the love of (x#d 8 IXTRODUCTION. loved to dwell in the presence of the Most Holy Sacrament. But you will find that all the Saints were enamoured of this most sweet devotion ; since, indeed, it is impossible to find on earth a more precious gem, or a treasure more worthy of all our love, than Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament. Certainly amongst all devotions, after that of receiving the Sacraments, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament holds the first place, is the most pleasing to God, and the most useful to ourselves. Be not then loth, devout soul, now to begin ; and forsaking the conversation of men, dwell each day, from this time forward, for at least half or quarter of an hour, in some church, in the presence of Jesus Christ under the sacramental species. " Taste and see how sweet is the Lord." Only try this devotion, and by experience you will see the great benefit that you will derive from it. Be assured that the time you will thus spend with devotion before this Most Divine Sacrament will be the most profit- able to you in life, and the source of your greatest conso- lation in death and in eternity. You must also be aware, that in a quarter of an hour's prayer spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, you will perhaps gain more than in all the other spiritual exercises of the day. It is ti*ue, that in every place God graciously hears the petitions of those who pray to Him, having promised to do so : " Ask, and you shall receive ;" yet the disciple tells us that Jesus dispenses His graces in greater abundance to those who visit Him in the Most Holy Sacrament. Blessed Henry Suso used also to say, that Jesus Christ hears the prayers of the faithful more graciously in the Sacrament of the Altar than elsewhere. And where, indeed, did holy souls make their most beautiful resolutions, but prostrate before the Most Holy Sacrament ? Who knows but that you also may one day, in tlie presence of a tabernacle, make the resolution to give yourself entirely to God ? In this little book I feel myself bound, at least out of gratitude to my Jesus in the Holy Sacrament, to declare, that through the means of this devotion of visiting the Most Blessed Sacra- ment, which I practised, though with so much tepidity and in so imperfect a manner, I abandoned the world, in M^iich, for my misfortune, I lived until I was six-and- INTRODUCTION. 9 twenty years of age. Fortunate indeed will you be if you can detach yourself from it at an earlier period, and give yourself without reserve to that Lord who has given Him- self without reserve to you. I repeat it, that indeed you will be blessed, not only in eternity, but even in this life. Believe me, all is folly : feasts, theatres, parties, excursions, —these are the pleasures of the world, but pleasures which are filled with the bitterness of gall and with sharp thorns. Believe me, who have experienced it, and now weep over it. Be also assured that Jesus Christ finds means to console a soul which remains with a recollected spirit before the Most Blessed Sacrament, far beyond what the world can do with all its feasts and pastimes. Oh, how sweet a joy it is, to remain with faith and tender devotion before an altar, and convei-se familiarly with Jesus Christ, who is there for the express purpose of listening to and graciously hearing those who pray to Him ; to ask His pardon for the dis- pleasures which we have caused Him ; to represent our wants to Him, as a friend does to a friend in whom he places all his confidence ; to ask Him for His graces, for His love, and for His kingdom ; but above all, oh, what a heaven is it there to remain making acts of love towards that Lord who is on the very altar praying to the Eternal Father for us, and is there burning with love for us ; since indeed that love it is which detains Him there, thus hidden and unknown, and when He is even despised by ungrate- ful souls ! But why should we say more ] " Taste and see. And now as to the visits to the Most Blessed Virgin, the opinion of St. Bernard is well known, and generally believed : it is, that God dispenses no graces otherwise than through the hands of Usuy : ' God wills that we should receive nothing which does not pass through Mary s hands.' Hence Father Suarez declares that it is now the sentiment of the universal Church, that ^ the intercession of Mary is not only useful, but even necessary to obtain graces.' And we may remark that the Church gives us strong grounds for this belief, by applying the words ot the Sacred Scripture to Mary, and making her say : in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, 10 INTRODUCTION. all ye that desire me" (Ecclus. xxiv. 25). Let all come to me ; for I am the hope of all that you can desire. Hence she then adds : " Blessed is the man that iieareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors" (Prov. viii. 34). Blessed is he who is dili- gent in coming every day to the door of my powerful inter- cession ; for by finding me lie will find life and eternal salvation : " He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord" (ibid. 35). Hence it is not without reason that the Holy Church wills that we should all call her our common liope, by saluting her saying, * Hail, our hope I' * Let us then,' says St. Bernard (who went so far as to call Mary '■ the whole ground of his hope'), ' seek for graces, and seek them througli Maiy.' Otherwise, says St. Anto- ninus, if we ask for graces without her intercession, we shall be making an eftbrt to fly without wings, and we shall obtain nothing : ' He who asks without her as his guide, attempts to fly without wings.' In Father Auriemma's little book, Affetti ScambievoH, we read of innumerable favours granted by the Mother of God to those who practised this most profitable devotion of often visiting her in her churches or before some image : we read of the graces which she granted in these visits to blessed Albert the Great, to the Abbot Rupert, to Father Suarez, especially when she obtained them the gift of un- derstanding, by which they afterwards became so renowned throughout the Church for their great learning : the graces which she granted to the Venerable John Berchmans of the Society of Jesus, who was in the daily habit of visiting Mary in a chapel of the Roman college, and declared that he renounced all earthly love to love no other after God than the Most Blessed Virgin, and had written at the foot of the image of his beloved Lady : ' I will never rest until I shall have obtained a tender love for my Mother:' the graces which she granted to St. Bernardine of Sienna, who in his youth also went every day to visit her in a chapel near the city-gate, and declared that that Lady had ravished his heart ; hence he called her his beloved, and said that he could not do less than often visit her; and by her means he V INTRODUCTION. 11 n afterwards obtained the grace to renounce the world, and to become what he afterwards was, a great saint and the apostle of Italy. Do you, then, be also careful always to join to your daily visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament a visit to the most holy Virgin Mary in some church, or at least before a de- vout image of her in your own house. If you do this with tender affection and confidence, you may hope to receive great things from this most gracious Lady, who, as St. Andrew of Crete says, always bestows great gifts on those who offer her even the least act of homage. Mary, Queen of sweetest hope, Who can e'er forget thee .' By tJiy mercy, by thy love. Have pity. Queen, on me ! ON SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. As in all the following visits to the Most Blessed Sacrament a spiritual communion is recommended, it will be well to explain what it is, and the great advantages which result from its practice. A spiritual communion, according to St. Thomas, consists in an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, and in lovingly embracing Him as if we had actually received Him. How pleasing these spiritual communions are to God, and the many graces which He bestows through their means, was manifested by our Lord Himself to Sister Paula ^laresca, the foundress of the convent of St. Catherine of Sienna in Naples, when (as it is related in her life) He showed her two precious vessels, the one of gold, the other of silver ; He then told her that in the gold vessel He presened her sacramental commu- nions, and in the silver one her spiritual communions. He also told Blessed Jane of the Cross that each time that she communicated spiritually she received a grace of the same kind as the one which she received when she really communicated. Above all, it will suffice us to know that the holy Council of Trent greatly praises spiritual commu- nions, and encourages the faithful to their practice. Hence all devout souls are accustomed often to prac- tise this holy exercise of spiritual communion. Blessed Agatha of the Cross did so two hundred times a day. And Father Peter Faber, the first companion of St. Ignatius, used to say that it was of the highest utility to make spiritual communions, in order to receive the sacramental communion well. All those who desire to advance in the love of Jesus Christ are exhorted to make a spiritual communion at least once in every visit that they pay to the Most Blessed ON SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 13 Sacrament, and at every Mass that they hear ; and it would even be better on these occasions to repeat the common' three times, that is to say, at the beginnmg, m the middle and at the end. This devotion is far more profitable than some suppose, and at the same time nothing can be ea^er in practice. The above-named Blessed Jane of the Cross used to say, that a spiritual communion can be made with- out aiiy one remarking it, without being fasting, withou the permission of our director, and that we can make it at any time we please : an act of love docs all. ACT FOR A SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present In the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Smce I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come a least srritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as bemg already there and unite myself wholly to Thee; never permit me to be separated from Thee. A SHORTER ACT. I believe that Thou, O Jesus, art in the Most Holy Sacrament ! I love Thee and desire Thee ! Come into my heart. I embrace Thee ; oh, never leave me ! ^ May the burning and most sweet power of Thy love, Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech Thee, absorb my mind, that 1 may die through love of Thy love who wast graciously pl^asid to die through love of my love.'-^^ Fraims of ^"^'o Love who art uot loved ! Love who art not known r— ^^ yfary Magdcd^neof Fazzi ^ < O my Spouse, when wilt Thou ravish me in Ihyself ? St, Peter of Alcantara. Jesus, my good, my sweetest love, Strike and inflame this heart of mmc. Make it all fire for love of Thee ! Hail to the love of Jesus, our Life, and our All ! Hail to Mary, our hope ! Amen. 14 ON SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. ACTS TO BE MADE BEFORE EACH VISIT TO THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT. My Lord Jesus Christ, who, for the love which Thou bearest to men, reraainest night and day in this Sacrament full of compassion and of love, awaiting, calling, and wel- coming all who come to visit Thee ; I believe that Thou art presen^t in the Sacrament of the Altar ; I adore Thee from the abyss of my nothingness, and I thank Thee for all the graces which Thou hast bestowed upon me, and in parti- cular for having j^iven me Thyself in this Sacrament, for having given me Thy most holy Mother Mary for my advo- cate, and for having called me to visit Thee in this church. I now salute Thy most loving Heart ; and this for three ends : 1. in thanksgiving for this great gift ; 3. to make amends to Thee for all the outrages which Thou receivedst in this Sacrament from all Thine enemies ; 3. I intend by this visit to adore Thee in all the places on earth in which Thou art present in this Sacrament, and in which Thou art the least revered and the most abandoned. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I grieve for having hitherto so many times offended Thy infinite goodness. I purpose by Thy grace never more to offend Thee for the time to come ; and now, miserable and unworthy though I be, I consecrate myself to Thee without reserve; I give Thee and renounce my entire will, my aflfections, my de- sires, and all that I possess. From henceforward do Thou dispose of me and of all that I have as Thou pleasest. All that I ask of Thee and desire is Thy holy love, final perse- verance, and the perfect accomplishment of Thy will. I recommend to Thee the souls in purgatory; but especially those who had the greatest devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. I also recommend to Thee all poor sinners. In fine, my dear Saviour, I unite all my affections with the affections of Thy most loving Heart ; and I offer them, thus united, to Tl»y Eternal Father, and beseech Him in Thy Name to vouch- safe, for Thy love, to accept and grant them. VISITS TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT, ETC. FIRST VISIT. Behold the source of every good, Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, who says, " If any man thirst, let him come to Me" (St. John vii. 37). Oh, what torrents of grace have the Saints drawn from the fountain of the Most Blessed Sacra- ment I for there Jesus dispenses all the merits of His Fas- sion, as it was foretold by the Prophet : " You shaU draw waters with joy out of the Saviour's fountains (Is xu. 3). The Countess of Feria, that illustrious disciple of the Vene- rable Father John d'Avila, afterwards a poor Clare, and surnamed the spouse of the Most Blessed Sacrament from her long and frequent visits to it, on being asked how she employed the many hours thus passed in the presence of the Holy of holies, replied : ' I could remain there for a eternity: And is not the very essence of God, which will be the food of the blessed, there present? Good God ! am I asked what I do in His presence 1 Rather, what is not done there? We love, we ask, we praise, we give thanks. We ask, what does a poor man do in the presence of one who is rich 1 What does a sick man do in the presence ot his physician 1 What does a man do who is parched with thirst in the presence of a limpid fountain? What is the occupation of one who is starving, and is placed before a well-charged table V , i i t O my most amiable, most sweet, most beloved Jesus, my Life, my Hope, my Treasure, the only Love of my soul ; oh, what has it cost Thee to remain thus in the midst of us in this Sacrament ! Thou hadst to die, that Thou mightest m^ w» * 16 VISITS TO THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT thus dwell amongst us on our altars ; and then, how many insults hast Thou not had to endure in this Sacrament, iu order to aid us by Thy presence ! Thy love, and the desiro which Thou hast to be loved by us, have conquered all. Come then, O Lord, come and centre Thyself within my heart ; close its doors for ever, that hencefonvard no creature may enter there, to divide the love which is due to Thee, and which it is my ardent desire to bestow all on Thee. Do Thou alone, my dear Redeemer, rule me ; do Thou alone in full possess me ; and if betimes I do not obey Thee perfectly, chastise me with rigour, that thence- forward I may be more watchful to please Thee as Thou wiliest. Grant that I may no longer seek for any other pleasure than that of giving Thee pleasure ; that all my pleasure may be to visit Thee often on Thine altars ; to en- tertain myself with Thee, and to receive Thee in the Holy Communion. Let all who will, seek other treasures ; the only treasure which I love, the only one which I desire, is that of Thy love ; for this alone will I ask at the foot of the altar. Do Thou make mc forget myself, tliat thus I may alone remember Thy goodness. Blessed Seraphim, I envy you, not for your glory, but for the love which you bear to your and my God ; oh, do you teach me what I must do to love Him, and to give Him the greatest plea- sure. Ejaculaiory jyrayer. My Jesus, I will love Thee alone ; I will please Thee alone. Then Mloics the Spiritual Communion, after which the visit should he paid to the eier-hlessed Mary, the Mother ofOod, l^ore some xmagc ojh^, VISIT TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MAHY. In our Mother Mary we have another fountain, which is indeed fruitful to us. She is so rich in good things and in graces, says St. Bernard, that there is no one in the world who does not participate in them : * Of her fulness we have all received.' The Most Blessed Virgin Mary was filled by God with grace, and as such was saluted by the angel : " Hail, full of grace ;" not tor herself alone, but also for us. St. Peter Chrysologus adds, that she received ' VISIT II.] AND TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. 17 that great abyss of grace, that she might then impart it to all who are devout to her : ' The Blessed Virgin received this grace, that she might give in return salvation to all.' Ejacid be loved by others. I place all my )iof<6 iu thcc, wkAI confide my salvation to thy care ; acoerit mo for thy «r- vant, and receive me under thy mantle, O ^fo(Hrr of Mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, do Uiou deliver me from all temptations, or rather ol>eAin wo tlKi^i to triumph over them until death. Of thee I mU tho true lov« of Jesus Christ ; through thee I hope to die « good dcAtli. My Mother, by the love which thou bcftn^ to Ood, I bo- seech thee to help me always, but cfpecially ai tlie lait nioment of my life ; leave me not until tbou MC8t mc iufc in heaven, blessing thcc, and singing thy ihcikSm for all eternity. Amen. SECOND VISIT, The devout Father Nieremberg sjtvf, tli«t breni! being a food which is consumed by eating m<\ which kecfkn when preserved for use, .lesus was pleased to dwell on e^rtb under its species, that He might thuii not om\y ht