How We Ought to Communicate.

    PREPARE yourself for holy communion the evening before by many ejaculations of love, retiring earlier, that you may rise sooner in the morning. Should you awake in the night, raise your heart to God immediately, and make some ardent aspirations, in order to prepare your soul for the reception of her Spouse, Who, being awake whilst you were asleep, prepares a thousand graces and favors for you, if, on your part, you are disposed to receive them. In the morning, rise up with alacrity to enjoy the happiness you hope for; and having confessed, go with a great but humble confidence to receive this heavenly food, which nourishes your soul to immortality: and after repeating thrice, "Lord, I am not worthy," etc., cease to move your lips to pray, or to sigh, but opening your mouth gently and moderately, and lifting up your head as much as is necessary, that the priest may see what he is about, full of faith, hope, and charity, receive Him, in Whom, by Whom, and for Whom you believe, hope, and Whom you love. Represent to yourself that as the bee, after gathering from the flowers the dew of heaven, and the choicest juice of the earth, reducing them into honey, carries it into her hive, so the priest, having taken from the altar the Saviour of the world, the true Son of God, Who, as the dew, is descended from heaven, and the true Son of the Virgin, Who, as a flower, is sprung from the earth of our humanity, puts Him as delicious food into your mouth and body.

    Having received Him in your breast, excite your heart to do homage to the author of your salvation; treat with Him concerning your internal affairs; consider that He has taken up His abode within you for your happiness; make Him then as welcome as you possibly can, and conduct yourself in such a manner as to make it appear by all your actions that God is with you.

    But when you cannot enjoy the benefit of really communicating at holy Mass, communicate at least spiritually, uniting yourself by an ardent desire to this life-giving flesh of Our Saviour.

    Your principal intention in communicating should be to advance in virtue, to strengthen yourself in the love of God, and to receive comfort from this love; for you must receive through love that which love alone caused to be given to you. You can not consider Our Saviour in an action either more full of love, or more tender than this, in which He annihilates Himself, or, as we may more properly say, changes Himself into food, that so He may penetrate our souls, and unite Himself most intimately to the heart, and to the body of His faithful.

    If worldlings ask you why you communicate so often, tell them it is to learn to love God, to purify yourself from your imperfections, to be delivered from your miseries, to be comforted in your afflictions, and supported in your weaknesses. Tell them that two sorts of persons ought to communicate frequently: the perfect, because, being well disposed, they would be greatly to blame not to approach to the source and fountain of perfection; and the imperfect, to the end that they may be able to aspire to perfection; the strong, lest they should become weak; and the weak, that they may become strong; the healthy, lest they should fall into sickness; and the sick, that they may be restored to health: that for your part, being imperfect, weak, and sick, you have need to communicate frequently with Him Who is your perfection, your strength, and your physician. Tell them that those who have not many worldly affairs to look after ought to communicate often, because they have leisure; that those who have much business on hand should also communicate often, for he who labors much and is loaded with toil ought to eat solid food, and that frequently. Tell them that you receive the Holy Sacrament, to learn to receive it well; because one can hardly perform an action well which he does not often practise.

    Communicate frequently, then, and as frequently as you can, with the advice of your ghostly father; and, believe me, by approaching to and eating beauty, purity, and goodness itself, in this divine sacrament, you will become altogether fair, pure, and virtuous.

Preparation for Communion.

    St. Francis de Sales says that Oar Saviour can never be seen more amiable and more tender, in all that He has done for us, than in holy communion, in which He, so to say, annihilates Himself and becomes food, that He may unite Himself to the hearts and bodies of His faithful. Therefore the learned Gersonused also to say, that there was no means more efficacious than holy communion whereby to enkindle devotion and the holy love of God in our souls.

    And, indeed, if we speak of doing something agreeable to God, what can a soul do more agreeable to Him than to receive communion? St. Denis teaches us that love always tends towards perfect union; but how can a soul be more perfectly united with Jesus than in the manner of which He speaks Himself, saying: 4 ' He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me, and I in him " (John vi. 57)? St. Augustine says that if every day you receive this sacrament, Jesus will be always with you, and that you will always advance in divine love.

    Again, if there be question of healing our spiritual infirmities, what more certain remedy can we have than holy communion, which is called by the sacred Council of Trent "a remedy whereby we may be freed from daily faults, and be preserved from mortal sins "?

    Whence does it come, asks Cardinal Bona, that in so many souls we see so little fruit with such frequent communions, and that they constantly relapse into the same faults? He replies: c ' The fault is not in the food, but in the disposition of him who receives." "Can a man," says Solomon, "hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? " (Prov. vi. 27.) " God is a consuming fire." He comes Himself in holy communion to en kindle this divine fire; how is it, then, says William of Paris, that we see such a diabolical miracle as that souls should remain cold in divine love, in the midst of such flames?

    All comes from the want of proper dispositions, and especially from want of preparation. Fire immediately inflames dry but not green wood; for this latter is not disposed to burn. The saints derived great benefit from their communions because they prepared themselves with great care. St. Aloysius Gonzaga devoted three days to his preparation for holy communion, and three days he spent in thanksgiving to his Lord.

    To prepare well for holy communion, a soul should be disposed on two main points: it should be detached from creatures and have a great desire to advance in divine love.

    In the first place, then, a soul should detach itself from all things, and drive everything from its heart which is not God.

    "He that is washed," saith Jesus, "needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly" (John xiii. 10); which signifies, as St. Bernard explains it, that in order to receive this sacrament with great fruit, we should not only be cleansed from mortal sins, but that our feet also should be washed, that is, be free from earthly affections; for being in contact with the earth they excite a sort of repugnance in God, and soiling the soul prevent the effects of holy communion.

    St. Gertrude asked Our Lord what preparation He required of her for holy communion, and He replied: "I only ask that thou shouldst come empty of thyself to receive Me."

    In the second place, it is necessary in holy communion to have a great desire to receive Jesus Christ and His holy love. In this sacred banquet, says Gerson, only those who are famishing receive their fill; and the most blessed Virgin Mary had already said the same thing: "He hath filled the hungry with good things" (Luke i. 53). As Jesus, writes the venerable Father Avila, only came into this world after He had been much and long desired, so does He only enter a soul which desires Him; for it is not becoming that such food should be given him who has a loathing for it. Our Lord one day said to St. Matilda: "No bee flies with such impetuosity to flowers, to suck their honey, as I fly to souls in holy communion, driven by the violence of My love." Since, then, Jesus Christ has so great a desire to come into our souls, it is also right that we also should have a great desire to receive Him and His divine love by holy communion. St. Francis de Sales teaches us that the principal object which a soul should have in view in communicating should be to advance in the love of God; since He Who for love alone gives Himself to us should be received for love.

Acts Before Communion.

    Act of Faith.—"Behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills" (Cant. ii. 8). Ah, my most amiable Saviour, over how many, what rough and craggy mountains hast Thou had to pass in order to come and unite Thyself to me by the means of this most holy sacrament! Thou, from being God, hadst to become man; from being immense, to be come a babe; from being Lord, to become a servant. Thou hadst to pass from the bosom of Thy Eternal Father to the womb of a virgin: from heaven into a stable; from a throne of glory to the gibbet of a criminal. And on this very morning Thou wilt come from Thy seat in heaven to dwell in my bosom.

    " Behold he standeth behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices" (Cant. ii. 9). Behold, 0 my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with the same love with which He loved thee when dying for thee on the cross, is now concealed in the Most Blessed Sacrament under the sacred species; and what doing? " Looking through the lattices." As an ardent lover, desirous of seeing His love corresponded with, from the host, as from within closed lattices, whence He sees without being seen, He is looking at you, who are this morning about to feed upon His divine flesh; He observes your thoughts, what it is that you love, what you desire, what you seek for, and what offerings you are about to make Him.

    Awake then, my soul, and prepare to receive thy Jesus; and, in the first place, by faith, say to Him: So then, my beloved Redeemer, in a few moments Thou art coming to me? O hidden God, unknown to the greater part of men, I believe, I confess, 1 adore Thee in tha Most Holy Sacrament as my Lord and Saviour! And in acknowledgment of this truth I would willingly lay down my life. Thou comest to enrich me with Thy graces, and to unite Thyself all to me; how great, then, should be my confidence in this Thy so loving visit!

    Act of Confidence.—My soul, expand thy heart. Thy Jesus can do thee every good, and, indeed, loves thee. Hope thou for great things from this thy Lord, Who, urged by love, comes all love to thee. Yes, my dear Jesus, my hope, I trust in Thy goodness, that, in giving Thyself to me this morning, Thou wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful flame of Thy pure love, and a real desire to please Thee; so that, from this day forward, I may never will anything but what Thou wiliest.

    Act of Love.—Ah, my God, my God, true and only love of my soul, and what more couldst Thou have done to be loved by me? To die for me was not enough for Thee, my Lord; Thou wast pleased to institute this great sacrament in order to give Thyself all to me, and thus bind and unite thyself heart to heart with so loathsome and ungrateful a creature as I am. And what is more, Thou Thyself invitest me to receive Thee, and desirest so much that I should do so! O boundless DEVOTIONS FOR UOLY COMMUtflOtf. 565 love, incomprehensible love, infinite love, a God would give Himself all to me!

    My soul, believest thou this? And what doest thou? what sayest thou? O God, O God, O infinite amiability, only worthy object of all loves, I love Thee with my whole heart, I love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, more than my life! Oh, could I but see Thee loved by all! Oh, could I but cause Thee to be loved by all hearts as much as Thou de-servest! I love Thee, O most amiable God, and I unite my miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts of the seraphim, to the heart of the most blessed Virgin Mary, to the heart of Jesus, Thy most loving and beloved Son. So that, O Infinite Good, I love Thee with the love with which the saints, with which Mary, with which Jesus love Thee. And I love' Thee only because Thou art worthy of it, and to give Thee pleasure. Depart, all earthly affections, which are not for God, depart from my heart. Mother of fair love, most holy Virgin Mary, help me to love that God Whom thou dost so ardently desire to see loved!

    Act of Humility.—Then, my soul, thou art even now about to feed on the most sacred flesh of Jesus! And art thou worthy? My God, who am I, and who art Thou? I in deed know and confess Who Thou art Who givest Thyself to me; but dost Thou know what I am, who am about to receive Thee?

    And is it possible, O my Jesus, that Thou, Who art infinite purity, desirest to come and reside in this soul of mine, which has been so many times the dwelling of Thy enemy, and soiled with so many sins? I know, O my Lord, Thy great majesty and my misery; I am ashamed to appear before Thee. Eeverence would induce me to keep at a distance from" Thee; but if I depart from Thee, O my life, whither shall I go? to whom shall I have recourse? and what will become of me? No, never will I depart from Thee; nay, even I will ever draw nearer and nearer to Thee. Thou art satisfied that I should receive Thee as food, Thou even invitest me to this. I come then, O my amiable Saviour, I come to receive Thee this morning, all humbled and confused at the sight of my defects; but full of confidence in Thy tender mercy, and in the love which Thou bearest me. Act of Contrition.—I am indeed grieved, O God of my soul, for not having loved Thee during the time past; still worse, so far from loving Thee, and to gratify my own inclinations, I have greatly offended and outraged Thy infinite goodness: I have turned my back against Thee, I have despised Thy grace and friendship; in fine, O my God, I was deliberately in the will to lose Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and grieve for it with my whole heart. I detest the sins which I have committed, be they great or small, as the greatest of all my misfortunes, be cause I have thereby offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness. I trust that Thou hast already forgiven me; but if Thou hast not yet pardoned me, oh, do so before I receive Thee: wash with Thy blood this soul of mine, in which Thou art so soon about to dwell.

    Act of Desire.—And now, my soul, the blessed hour has arrived in which Jesus will come and take up His dwelling in thy poor heart. Behold the King of heaven, behold thy Redeemer and God, Who is even now coming; prepare thyself to receive Him with love, invite Him with the ardor of thy desire; come, O my Jesus, come to my soul, which desires Thee. Be fore Thou givest Thyself to me, I desire to give Thee, and I now give Thee, my miserable heart; do Thou accept it, and come quickly to take possession of it.

    Come, my God, hasten; delay no longer. My only and infinite good, my treasure, my life, my paradise, my love, my all, my wish is to receive Thee with the love with which the most holy and loving souls have received Thee; with that with which the most blessed Virgin Mary received Thee; with their communions I unite this one of mine.

    Most holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, behold, I already approach to receive thy Son. Would that I had the heart and love with which thou didst communicate! Give me this morning thy Jesus, as thou didst give Him to the shepherds and to the kings. I intend to receive Him from thy most pure hands. Tell Him that I am thy servant and thy client; for He will thus look upon me with a more loving eye, and, now that He is coming, will press me more closely to Himself.

Shorter Acts Before Communion.

    My beloved Jesus, true Son of God, Who didst die for me on the cross in a sea of sorrows and ignominy, I firmly believe that Thou art present in the Most Holy Sacrament; and for this faith I am ready to give up my life.

    My dear Redeemer, I hope by Thy goodness, and through the merits of Thy blood, that when Thou dost come to me this morning Thou wilt inflame me with Thy holy love, and wilt give me all those graces which I need to keep me obedient and faithful to Thee till death.

    Ah, my God, true and only lover of my soul, what couldst Thou do more to oblige me to love Thee? Thou wast not satisfied, my Love, with dying for me, but Thou wouldst also institute the Most Holy Sacrament, making Thyself my food, and giving Thyself all to me, thus uniting Thyself most closely to such a miserable and ungrateful creature. Thou dost Thyself invite me to receive Thee, and dost greatly desire that I should receive Thee. O infinite love! A God gives Himself all to me! O my God, O Infinite Love, worthy of infinite love, I love Thee above all things; I love Thee with all my heart; I love Thee more than myself, more than my life; I love Thee because Thou art worthy of being loved; and I love Thee also to please Thee, since Thou dost desire my love. Depart from my soul, all ye earthly affections; to Thee alone, my Jesus, my treasure, my all, will I give all my love. This morning Thou dost give Thyself all to me, and I give myself all to Thee. Permit me to love Thee; for I desire none but Thee, and nothing but what is pleasing to Thee. I love Thee, O my Saviour, and I unite my poor love to the love of all the angels and saints, and of Thy Mother Mary, and the love of Thy Eternal Father. Oh, that I could see Thee loved by all! Oh, that I could make Thee loved by all men, and loved as much as Thou dost deserve!

    Behold, O my Jesus, I am now about to draw near to feed on Thy most sacred flesh! Ah, my God, who am I? and "Who art Thou? Thou art a Lord of infinite goodness, and I am a loathsome worm, defiled by so many sins, and who have driven Thee out of my soul so often.

    Lord, I am not worthy to remain in Thy presence; I ought to be in hell forever, far away, and abandoned by Thee. But out of Thy goodness Thou callest me to receive Thee; be hold, I come, I come humbled and in confusion for the great displeasure I have given Thee, but trusting entirely to Thy inercy and to the love Thou hast for me. I am exceedingly sorry, O my loving Redeemer, for having so often offended Thee in time past. Thou didst even give Thy life for me; and I have so often despised Thy grace and Thy love, and have exchanged Thee for nothing. I repent, and am sorry with all my heart for every offence which I have offered Thee, whether grievous or light, because it was an offence against Thee, "Who art infinite goodness. I hope Thou hast already pardoned me; but if Thou hast not yet forgiven me, pardon me, my Jesus, before I receive Thee. Ah, receive me quickly into Thy grace, since it is Thy will soon to come and dwell within me.

    Come, then, my Jesus, come into my soul, which sighs after Thee. My only and infinite good, my life, my love, my all, I would desire to receive Thee this morning with the same love with which those souls who love Thee most have received Thee, and with the same fervor with which Thy most holy Mother received Thee; to her communions I wish to unite this one of mine. O Blessed Virgin and my Mother Mary, give me thy Son; I intend to receive Him from thy hands! Tell Him that I am thy servant, and thus will He press me more lovingly to His heart, now that He is coming to me.

Prayer Before Communion.

    O compassionate Lord Jesus Christ, I, a sinner, nothing presuming on my own merits, but trusting in Thy mercy and goodness, draw near with awe and trembling to the table of Thy sweetest banquet. For my heart and my body are stained with many sins, my mind and my tongue have not been kept with fitting diligence and circumspection. "Wherefore, O compassion ate Godhead, O dread and awful Majesty, I, Thy wretched creature, who am fallen into a great strait, betake myself to Thee, the Fountain of mercy; to Thee I hasten that I may be healed; beneath Thy protection I make my refuge; I long to have Thee for my Saviour, before Whom I can in no wise stand as my Judge. To Thee, O Lord, I now show my wounds; before Thee I lay bare all this my shame. I know my sins, so many and so great, by reason of which I am afraid. I hope in Thy mercies, which are past numbering. Look on me with the eyes of Thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, everlasting King, God and man, Who wast crucified for man. Graciously hear me who hope in Thee; have mercy on me who am full of miseries and of sins, O Thou full and over-flowing Fountain of pity and of mercy. Hail, Thou saving Yictim, offered for me and all mankind upon the tree of the cross. Hail, thou noble and precious blood, which dost ever flow forth from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, and wash away the sins of the whole world. Remember Thy creature, O Lord, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thine own blood. I grieve that I have sinned; I do earnestly desire to amend what I have done amiss. Wherefore, O most merciful Father, take away from me all my iniquities and my sins, that, being cleansed in soul and in body, I may worthily receive the holy food of the holy; and grant that the sacred taste of Thy body and blood, which I unworthy am about to receive, may be to me the remission of my sins, the perfect expiation and cleansing of all my faults, and the putting to flight of evil thoughts, the quickening and renewal of all good feelings, the healthful energy of all good works, the most assured protection of my body and soul from all the snares of my enemies. Amen.

Prayer.

    O almighty, everlasting God, behold, I draw near to the sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ; I draw near as a sick man to the Physician of life, as one defiled to the Fountain of mercy, as one blind to the Light of eternal splendor, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Wherefore I implore the fulness of Thine infinite bounty that Thou wouldst vouchsafe to heal all my sickness, to wash away my defilement, to give light to my blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, so that I may receive the bread of angels, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, with such contrition and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention, as may avail to' the welfare and salvation of my soul. Grant me, I beseech Thee, to receive not only the sacrament of the body and blood of my Lord, but also the very reality and substance of the sacrament. O most gracious God, grant me so to receive the body of Thine onlv begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, that very body which He took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be truly incorporated into His mystical body and so numbered amongst its members. O most lov✝ ing Father, grant me at last to behold face to face and forevermore the same Thy beloved Son Whom I purpose to receive now in my pilgrimage beneath the veils of the sacrament.

Prayer.

    For the love of Thee I bitterly grieve for all and every one of my sins and my negligences whereby I have ever offended and grieved Thy most tender loving-kindness and polluted my soul with such loathsome defilement. Oh, would that I could change the whole sea into blood, and that I could pour its mighty flood through my head and my heart, that thus that sink of unutterable abominations might be cleansed, which Thou, my last end, hast chosen for Thy habitation! Oh, would that my heart could be torn from my body and purified in fiercest fire from all its dross, that thus it might offer Thee an abode, not, alas, worthy of Thee, but at least not so utterly unworthy.

    But why do I disquiet my soul within me, seeing that even if a thousand years were given me I could not prepare myself to receive Thee befittingly?—for of myself I have nothing what ever which could in any way avail towards so august and solemn a preparation as beseems Thy adorable majesty. Wherefore, O most loving Jesus, I cast myself in the dust before Thee in the humility of my heart, and I beseech Thy clemency to deign so to prepare me that I may partake of this heavenly banquet to Thy glory and to the profit of all the whole world. I offer and abandon to Thy tender pity all my substance, all that I am and all that I have, earnestly desiring and beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst Thyself vouchsafe to prepare within me all that is most pleasing to Thy divine goodness. I offer and abandon to Thee, O Thou surpassingly sweet lover of my soul, my whole heart, beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst wash it in that water of mighty efficacy which flowed from Thy most holy side, and adorn it for Thine indwelling with the precious blood of Thy most sacred Heart, and fit it for Thyself with the fragrant incense of Thy divine love. Amen.

Devout Aspirations Before Communion.

    O my true and perfect Love, what affection is this that brings Thee to such a miserable thing as I? Come, yes, come, desired of my heart; my soul sighs for Thee; I offer to Thee, O my God, this communion, to satisfy the desire Thou hast to come and unite me to Thyself, my God, and my all. Oh, what a wonder! A God descends from heaven for me, and hides His majesty under the vile clothing of the species of bread and wine! Oh, how true it is, my Lord, that, having always loved Thine own, Thou hast loved them especially at the end, when Thou didst institute this divine sacrament.

    O my God, Thou art goodness itself; how, then, is it possible that I can love anything else but Thee? Ah, Lord, draw me always closer and closer into Thy heart. I prefer Thy love and Thy goodness above all that is to be found in the world. Thou art the only object of my affections. I wish for none other but Thee. I will leave all in order to love Thee. Give me grace to do it; without that I can do nothing.

    Ah, my Beloved, if Thou wouldst have me look to Thee, do Thou first turn to me, and by Thy Spirit draw mine to Thee. I am nothing, I can do nothing, I am worth nothing; therefore let me not be ungrateful for all the graces that Thou hast deigned to grant to me. I offer myself for Thy love, to be entirely deprived of every sensible consolation, and to suffer all the afflictions Thou shalt be pleased to send me, whether in time or eternity. I am, and will be, all Thine; I dare to ask Thee not only for Thy gifts, but also for Thyself. I desire to receive Thee, to be more united to Thee.

    O Eternal Father, I offer to Thee the passion of Thy Son for my salvation and that of the whole world. Look not at my sins; but look at the love of Thy beloved Son towards us which has drawn Him into this sacrament. By this love, my God, have pity on me!

    My Redeemer, I acknowledge myself to be infinitely unworthy of approaching to receive Thee, by reason of my sins and my want of purity. Therefore I say to Thee, Lord, I am not worthy. Even if I had all the love of the seraphim, I should still be unfit to receive Thee; again, then, I repeat, Lord, I am not worthy.

    Come, O my sweet Saviour, and work in me that which Thou dost come to me to do. I am nothing but wretchedness; but Thy goodness does not let Thee see my misery. Come into my soul and sanctify it; take possession of my heart and purify it; enter into my body and keep it; and never separate me from Thy love.

    Burn, O consuming Fire, all Thou dost see in me unworthy of Thy presence, and that may put an obstacle to Thy grace and love. O Mother of my Redeemer, have compassion on me, a poor sinner; pray for me, that by thy help I may embrace thy Son with perfect love, and become a soul after His own heart.

At Communion.

    When the moment comes to approach the railing, excite in your heart a new act of contrition while the "Confiteor" is recited and the priest pronounces the absolution, in order to merit more and more the remission of your sins, and obtain a perfect purity to receive the spotless Lamb.

    At the Agnus Dei, and Domine, non sum dignus, pour forth your heart in sentiments of love, confusion, joy, respect, self-immolation, and tenderness. Say interiorly:

    " Whence comes it that this Lamb of God, that this God of purity and majesty, can vouchsafe to lower Himself to me, so unworthy of His presence? Yes, Lord, I do not deserve that Thou shouldst come to me; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed."

    Communicate with these sentiments and the religious feeling which faith inspires, and after receiving this sacred pledge of your salvation retire with respectful and religious modesty, and remain some time in sweet and respectful silence, with eyes closed or cast down, to avoid distraction.

Devotions After Communion.

On the Importance of the Thanksgiving After Holy Communion.

    The daily bread which we ask of God in the Lord's Prayer is either bread for our bodies, or the divine Eucharist, which is the bread of our souls. Hence, however anxious others may be in asking for that earthly bread, let us beseech the Eternal Father to give us grace to ask of Him our celestial bread. And as the eyes of the body cannot have the delight of beholding Him, be cause He is veiled, let us ask Him to discover Himself to the eyes of our soul, and to make Himself known to be that most pleasant and delicious food which can alone preserve our lives.

    Now, if, when He lived in this world, He healed the sick by the mere touch of His garments, how can we doubt that He will grant us whatever we ask of Him while He is actually in our house? His majesty is not wont to be a bad paymaster; let us, then, only give Him fitting entertainment. If you are troubled at not seeing Him with your corporal eyes, consider it is not expedient for us; for it is one thing to see Him glorified, and quite another to behold Him as He was when He lived and conversed on earth. Such is our weak nature that we could not endure it; the world itself would be moved, nor would any one be able to stay in it, because by the vision of this eternal truth it would evidently appear that all those things which we value here are a lie and a cheat. And how should such a sinner as I am, who have so highly offended Him, dare to behold Him, or to be so near Him? He is accessible under those accidents of bread; for if the King be disguised we are able to converse with Him without the wonted ceremonies and reverences, and it even appears that He is obliged to suffer this, because He has not made Himself known. But if Our Lord were to manifest Him self visibly, who would dare to approach Him with such tepidity, such unworthiness, and with so many imperfections as ours?

    Let us stay, then, willingly with Him, nor lose so fair an opportunity of treating with Him; for the time after communion is the best for conversing with Him. Consider that it is fraught with the richest blessings to the soul, and that our good Jesus then delights much in our company. Take heed, then, that you leave Him not. If obedience calls you to some other duty, endeavor that your soul at least may be still with Our Lord; your Master will not fail to teach you at this time, though you under stand not how; but if you immediately fix your thoughts on something else, and you heed Him not, nor regard Him Who is within you, then complain of no one but yourselves.

    This, then, is the fitting time for our Master to teach us, and for us to hear Him and to kiss His feet, because He has been pleased thus to instruct us; beseeching Him not to depart from us.

    After you have received Our Lord, endeavor then to shut the eyes of the body, to open those of the soul, since you then possess His very person within you; for I tell you again, and would repeat it continually, that if you adhere to this practice as often as you communicate, and endeavor to keep your conscience pure, so that you may be admitted frequently to the enjoyment of this blessing, He will not come so disguised but, as I have said, He will make Himself known in manifold ways, according to our desire to see Him; and our desire should be that He would wholly reveal Himself to us. But if we make no account of Him, and, after we have received Him, go away from Him to seek after base earthly things, what can He do for us? Must He drag us by force to seek Him because He loves to be known by us? No; for men did not treat Him well when He openly exposed Himself to the gaze of all, and told them plainly Who He was; there were very few who believed Him. It is, therefore, a great mercy which He shows to us when He makes us understand that it is He Who is present in the Most Holy Sacrament; but He wills not to be seen openly, nor to communicate His favors and bestow His graces, except on His true friends, who, He knows, earnestly desire Him. Therefore let not any but such as thus lovingly and reverently approach Him venture to importune Oar Lord to manifest Himself to them.

Thanksgiving After Communion.

    There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable to the soul, than that which is made during the thanksgiving after communion.

    It is not advisable, as many do, to begin to read immediately after communion: it is then better to spend at least a short time in producing holy affections, and in conversing with Jesus, Who is then within us, and in repeating many times words of tenderness, or some feeling prayer. In affections and prayers it is, then, that the soul should entertain itself with Jesus after communion; for we must know that the acts formed in prayer after communion are far more precious and meritorious in the sight of God than when made at another time; for the soul being then united with Jesus, the value of the acts is increased by the presence of Jesus. We should, moreover, know that after communion Jesus Christ is more disposed to grant graces. St. Teresa says that after communion Jesus places Himself in the soul as on a throne of grace, and then says: "What willest thou that I should do for thee?" meaning, O soul, I am come for the express purpose of granting thee graces; ask Me what thou wilt, and as much as thou wiliest, thou shalt receive all.

    Oh, what treasures of grace would you receive, devout soul, if you only entertained yourself with Jesus for an hour, or at least half an hour, after communion! For this purpose you can read the following acts. Be also careful after your prayer is ended to keep yourself during the whole day on which you have communicated united by affections and prayers with Jesus, Whom you have received.

Acts After Communion.

    Act of Faith.—Behold, my God is even now come to visit me, my Saviour to dwell in my soul. My Jesus is even now within me. He is come to make Himself mine, and at the same time to make me His. So that Jesus is mine, and I belong to Jesus; Jesus is all mine, and I am all His.

    O infinite Goodness! O infinite Mercy! O infinite Love! that a God should come to unite Himself to me, and to make Himself all mine! My soul, now that thou art thus closely bound to Jesus, that thou art thus one with Him, what dost thou? Hast thou nothing to say to Him? dost thou not converse with thy God, Who is with thee? Ah, yes, renew thy faith; remember that the angels now surround thee, adoring their God, Who is within thy breast; do thou also adore thy Lord within thyself. Enter into thyself, and banish thence every other thought. Unite all thy affections together, and, clinging closely to thy God, say:

    An Act of Welcome.—Ah, my Jesus, my Love, my infinite Good, my All, be ever welcome in the poor dwelling of my soul! Ah, my Lord, where art Thou? to what a place art Thou come? Thou hast entered my heart, which is far worse than the stable in which Thou wast born; it is full of earthly affections, of self-love, and of inordinate desires. And how couldst Thou come to dwell there? I would address Thee with St. Peter: " Depart from me, for I am a sinful man " (Luke v. 8). Yes, depart from me, O Lord, for I am indeed unworthy to receive a God of infinite goodness; go and find repose in those pure souls who serve Thee with so much love. But no, my Redeemer; what do I say? Leave me not; for if Thou departest I am lost. I embrace Thee, my Life; I cling to Thee. Mad indeed have I been in having separated myself from Thee for the love of creatures; and in my ingratitude I drove Thee from me. But now I will nevermore separate myself from Thee, my Treasure; I desire to live and die united to Thee. Most blessed Virgin Mary, seraphim, and all souls, do you who love God with pure love lend me your affections, that I may worthily attend on rnybeloved Lord.

    Act of Thanksgiving.—My God and Lord, I thank Thee for the grace which Thou hast this morning bestowed upon me, of coming to dwell in my soul; but I would wish to thank Thee in a manner worthy of Thee and of the great favor which Thou hast done me. Bat what do I say? how can such a miserable creature as I am ever worthily thank Thee?

    One of Thy servants says that the feeling most becoming a soul who communicates is that of wondering astonishment at the thought, and to repeat: "A God is united to me; a God is mine!" David said: "What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered to me?" (Ps. cxv. 12.) But I; what return shall I make to Thee, my Jesus, Who, after having given me so many of Thy good things, hast this morning, moreover, given me Thyself? My soul, bless, then, and thank thy God as best thou canst. And thou, my Mother Mary, my holy advocates, my guardian angel, and all ye souls who love God, '"ome and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things He hath done for my soul" (Ps. Ixv. 16). Come and bless and thank my God for me, admiring and praising the indeed great graces which He has granted me.

    Act of Oblation.—"My Beloved to me, and I to Him" (Cant. ii. 16). Should a king go to visit a poor shepherd in his hut, what can the shepherd offer him other than his whole hut, such as it is? Since, then, O Jesus, my divine King, Thou hast come to visit the poor house of my soul, I offer and give Thee this house and my entire self, together with my liberty and will: "My Beloved to me, and I to Him." Thou hast given Thyself all to me; I give myself all to Thee. My Jesus, from this day forward I will be no longer mine; I will be Thine, and all Thine. May my senses ,be Thine, that they may only serve me to please Thee. And what greater pleasure, says St. Peter of Alcantara, can be found than that of pleasing Thee, most amiable, most loving, most gracious God? I at the same time give Thee all the powers of my soul, and I will that they shall be all Thine; my memory I will only use to recall to mind Thy benefits and Thy love; my understanding I will only use to think of Thee, Who always thinkest of my good; my will I will only use to love Thee, my God, my all, and to will only that which Thou wiliest. My most sweet Lord, I offer, then, and consecrate to Thee this morning all that I am and have—my senses, my thoughts, my affections, my desires, my pleasures, my inclinations, my liberty; in a word, I place my whole body and soul in Thy hands.

    Accept, O infinite Majesty, the sacrifice of the hitherto most ungrateful sinner Thou hast ever had on earth; but who now offers and gives himself all to Thee. Do with me and dispose of me, O Lord, as Thou pleasest.

    Come, O consuming Fire, O divine Love! and consume in me all which is mine, and which is displeasing in Thy most pure eyes, so that from henceforward I may be all Thine, and may live only to execute, not Thy commands and counsels alone, but all Thy holy desires and good pleasure also. Amen.

    O most holy Mary, do thou present this offering of mine to the Most Blessed Trinity with thine own hands; and do thou obtain Their acceptance of it, and that They may grant me the grace to be faithful unto death. Amen, amen, amen.

    Act of Petition—O my soul, what art thou doing? The present is no time to be lost: it is a precious time, in which thou canst receive all the graces which thou askest. Seest thou not the Eternal Father, "Who is lovingly beholding thee? for within thee He sees his beloved Son, the dearest object of His love. Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts; rekindle thy faith, enlarge thy heart, and ask for whatever thou wiliest.

    Hearest thou not Jesus Himself, Who thus addresses thee: "What wilt thou that I should do to thee?" (Mark x. 51.) O soul, tell Me, what dost thou desire of Me? I am come for the express purpose of enriching and gratifying thee; ask with confidence, and thou wilt receive all.

    Ah! my most sweet Saviour, since Thou hast come into my heart in order to grant me graces, and desirest that I should ask Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the goods of the earth—riches, honors, or pleasures—but grant me, I beseech Thee, in tense sorrow for the displeasures I have caused Thee; impart to me so clear a light that I may know the vanity of this world, and how deserving Thou art of love. Change this heart of mine, detach it from all earthly affections; give me a heart conformable in all things to Thy holy will, that it may seek only for that which is most pleasing to Thee, and have no other desire than Thy holy love. " Create a clean heart in me, O God " (Ps. 1. 12).

    I deserve not this; but Thou, my Jesus, deservest it, since Thou art come to dwell in my soul: I ask it of Thee through Thy merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother, and by the love which thou bearest to Thy Eternal Father.

    [Here pause to ask Jesus for some other particular grace for yourself and for your neighbors. Do not forget poor sinners, or the souls in purgatory.]

    Eternal Father, Jesus Christ Himself, Thy Son, has said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you." For the love, then, of this Son, Whom I now hold within my breast, do Thou graciously hear me, and grant my petition.

    My most sweet loves, Jesus and Mary, may I suffer for you, may I die for you; may I be all yours, and in nothing my own! May the Most Blessed Sacrament ever be thanked and praised! Blessed be the holy and immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

Shorter Acts of Thanksgiving.

    Lo! my Jesus, Thou hast come, Thou art now within me, and hast made Thyself all mine. Be Thou welcome, my beloved Redeemer. I adore Thee, and cast myself at Thy feet; I embrace Thee, I press Thee to my heart, and thank Thee for having deigned to enter into my breast. O Mary, O my patron saints, 0 my guardian angel, do you all thank Him for me! Since, then, my divine King, Thou art come to visit me with so much love, I give Thee my will, my liberty, and my whole self. Thou hast given Thyself all to me, I will give my self all to Thee; I will no longer belong to myself; from this day forward I will be Thine, and altogether Thine. I desire that my soul, my body, my faculties, my senses, should be all Thine, that they may be employed in serving and pleasing Thee. To Thee I consecrate all my thoughts, my desires, my affections, and all my life. I have offended Thee enough, my Jesus; I desire to spend the remainder of my life in loving Thee, Who hast loved me so much.

    Accept, O God of my soul, the sacrifice which I, a miserable sinner, make to Thee, and who desires only to love and please Thee. Work Thou in me, and dispose of me, and of all tilings belonging to me, as Thou pleasest. May Thy love destroy in me all those affections which are displeasing to Thee, that I may be all Thine, and may live only to please Thee.

    I ask Thee not for goods of this world, for pleasures, for honors; give me, I pray Thee, by the merits of Thy passion, O my Jesus, a constant sorrow for my sins! Enlighten me, and make me know the vanity of worldly goods, and how much Thou dost deserve to be loved. Separate me from all attachment to the world, and bind me entirely to Thy love, that from hence forth my will may neither seek nor desire anything but what Thou wiliest. Give me patience and resignation in infirmities, in poverty, and in all those things which are contrary to my self-love. Make me gentle towards those who despise me. Give me a holy death. Give me Thy holy love. And above all I pray Thee to give me perseverance in Thy grace till death; never permit me to separate myself from Thee again. And I also ask of Thee the grace always to have recourse to Thee, and to invoke Thy aid, O my Jesus, in all my temptations; and the grace to ask Thee always for holy perseverance.

    O Eternal Father, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, has promised that Thou wilt grant me everything that I shall ask of Thee in His name: "If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you." In the name, therefore, and by the merits of this Thy Son, I ask for Thy love and holy perseverance, that I may one day love Thee in heaven with all my strength, and sing Thy mercies forever, secure of nevermore being separated from Thee.

    O most holy Mary, my mother and my hope, obtain for me these graces which I so desire, as also a great love for thee, my queen; may I always commend myself to thee in all my necessities.

Prayer of St. Gertrude.

    Wherefore, O Christ Jesus, in union with that all-transcending love wherewith Thou didst most gratefully refer back to their unfathomable source all those streams which flowed forth from the Divinity upon Thy deified humanity, I offer Thee, with the love of the whole universe of Thy creatures, this most holy sacrament, which the all-powerful sweetness of Thine unsearchable divinity drew forth from the depth of Thy loving heart, and which Thou hast now vouchsafed to impart to me, beseeching Thee, with the affections and the yearning desire of all creatures, that Thou wouldst draw up this holy sacrament and communion into Thyself through the love of Thy good and gentle spirit, that it may render Thee that eternal, immense, unceasing, unfaltering praise which Thy inscrutable wisdom knoweth to beseem the transcendent majesty of God the Father, and to gladden and rejoice the goodness of Thine unutterably gracious spirit; that it may be to Thee a full and adequate thanksgiving for all the good and all the grace which Thou hast ever wrought, or shalt ever hereafter work, in the hearts and souls of those who duly receive this divine sacrament; that it may make Thee full reparation and satisfaction for all things wherein my careless preparation, my feeble desire, or my languid devotion have impaired its effect within me; and lastly, that it may give Thee highest praise and thanks for Thine incomprehensible goodness by which Thou hast deigned to admit me, a vile worm of earth, to this royal banquet of heavenly delights. And seeing that my nothingness can make Thee no return for this Thine unimaginable goodness, I offer to Thee now Thy sweetest heart, with all that fulness of gratitude and manifold and consummate blessedness which render it supremely, transcendently, forever, and alone worthy of Thee. Amen.

Prayer After Communion.

    I give thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, that Thou hast vouchsafed, for no merit of my own, but for the mere condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me, a sinner and Thine unworthy servant, with the precious body and blood of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I implore Thee, let not this holy communion be to me an increase of guilt unto my punishment, but an availing plea unto pardon and forgiveness. Let it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of good will.

Prayer.

    O sweetest Lord Jesus Christ, pierce, I beseech Thee, the inmost marrow of my soul with the tender and life-giving wound of Thy love, with true, and calm, and holy apostolical charity, so that my whole soul may ever languish and faint for love of Thee, and for desire of Thee alone. May it long for Thee and pine for Thee in the courts of Thy house; may it desire to be dissolved and to be with Thee. Grant that my soul may hunger for Thee, Thou Bread of angels, Thou Refreshment of holy souls, our daily supersubstantial Bread, having all manner of sweetness and savor, and all most thrilling delights. May my heart ever hunger for Thee and feed on Thee, on Whom angels long to look; and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of the taste of Thee. May it ever thirst for Thee, Thou well of life, Thou fountain of wisdom and knowledge, Thou source of everlasting light, Thou torrent of pleasures, Thou fatness and abundance of the house of God; may it ever yearn towards Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, tend towards Thee, attain to Thee, meditate ever on Thee, speak of Thee, and work all things to the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ready care and glad affection, with perseverance even unto the end; and do Thou be alone and evermore my hope, my whole trust, my riches, my delight, my gladness and my joy, my rest and my calm repose, my peace and my sweet content, my fragrance and my sweetness, my food and my refreshment, my refuge and my help, my wisdom, my portion, my own possession and my treasure, in Whom my mind and my heart are fixed and rooted firmly and immovably for evermore. Amen.

Aspirations of Love After Communion.

    O excess of love! Sacred host, I adore thee within me. One heart is too little to love Thee, my Jesus; one tongue is not enough to praise Thy goodness. O my Saviour, how great are my obligations to Thee for visiting such a poor creature as I am! I offer myself all to Thee in gratitude for so great a favor.

    No, I will no longer live in myself, but that Jesus alone should live in me. He is mine, and I am His, for all eternity. Oh, love, love; no more sins! I will never forget the goodness and mercy of God, my Saviour and my guest. Yes, my God, I firmly believe that Thou, body and soul, art in my breast: Thy divinity is now within me, and united to me.

    I adore Thee, and I venerate Thee, as if I were the smallest worm crawling along in the dust of its own nothingness, to testify the desire I have to give Thee glory. But is it possible that Thy infinite majesty should have deigned to visit the least of Thy creatures? "With a softened heart, my dear Saviour, I thank Thee for this great gift. I thank Thee for it a thousand times. Grant that I may thank Thee for it as Thou dost deserve. May Thy most holy Mother, and all the angels and saints, give Thee thanks for it! On my part I offer Thee all the praises and thanksgivings that have been and ever shall be offered to Thee by all creatures.

    O my God, Thou dost come to unite Thyself to me, to apply to my soul more abundantly the merits of Thy passion, and to sanctify me. Accomplish in me, then, all that Thou didst come to do. My God, Thou art all-wise and all-powerful; let not the fruit of Thy coming be lost: unite Thyself to me, and me to Thee, by an inseparable union and a perfect love. Unite the abyss of Thy mercy with the abyss of my misery, and make me live a life all divine.

    My Jesus, Thou knowest what is wanting in me; Thou knowest that without Thee I can do nothing; Thou knowest my weakness: have pity on me; give me humility, purity of heart, love and conformity to Thy holy will, strength against my bad habits, remission of my sins, and grace nevermore to commit them. Give me a thorough contempt for all things, so that I may love none other but Thee. Give me patience to suffer for Thy love all that may happen to me. I hope all from Thee. O most holy Virgin, my dear mother, beg of thy Son, by the love He bears thee, to grant me, for thy sake, all I ask.

    My God and my only Good, I am more pleased in Thy infinite perfections than if they were my own. I rejoice that nothing in the world can take them from Thee, or diminish them. Come, then, Thou art always welcome; always perfect and infinite in Thy majesty, O my Jesus, my Love, and my God. Come and make me all Thine.

    My Saviour, by that infinite goodness which made Thee come down to this earth, I pray Thee let me experience the effects of Thy love in feeling my soul so absorbed in Thee that, despising all earthly things, it may see nothing but Thee, and think of nothing but Thee; that the same love which made Thee die for me on the cross may make me in like manner die in Thee, to live in Thee for all eternity.

    O God of my soul, Who meritest to be loved above all creatures, I protest that I hold Thee as the only object of my affections, and I prefer Thee to all the goods of the world, and to myself. I desire to be faithful to Thee, and nevermore to see myself separated from Thee.

    I resign and abandon myself entirely to Thee, embracing with all affection and respect Thy will, and Thy just designs over me. And I pray that whatever Thou hast ordained concerning me in time and in eternity may be accomplished; but I hope one day to see Thy divine face and Thy infinite beauty. My God, draw me to Thee, to love Thee and to burn with Thy love, by which I would be entirely consumed. Hide me, I pray Thee, in Thyself, that no creature may ever be able to find me again. O Eternal Father, for the love of Thy Son, fill my memory with holy thoughts, which shall constrain it to have a continual remembrance of Thee and of Thy Son. Oh, make me know and do all that Thou desirest of me. And Thou, O Holy Spirit, fill my will with holy affections, that shall bring forth all those fruits which proceed from Thy love. Illuminate me with Thy light; so shall I walk straight to Thee, and my will shall be no longer free to give itself to any but Thee.

    My God and my all, I will no more seek anything out of Thee, now that I can find all things in Thee. O merciful Father, make me have a care for Thy service, as Thou hast had so much for my good. I wish to employ all my thoughts in seeking ways to please Thee, and in preserving me from offending Thee any more.

    O incarnate Lord, make me love Thee, and none other than Thee. Remove from me all occasions which might drive me from Thy love. Let my heart be always occupied in contemplating Thee and serving Thee, Thou that art the master-love of all hearts. Thou didst but come into the world to dwell in the hearts Thou hadst redeemed with Thy blood; then may my heart be all Thine, do Thou possess it. See, then, all my wants, and enlighten me; excite me and make me prompt to obey Thy will.

    O Jesus Almighty, take from me all that can hinder the effects of Thy power and goodness. I renounce my liberty, and consecrate it entirely to the designs of Thy will. Have pity on me, and cure me of all my impurities and infidelity; fill me with Thy grace and wisdom. I abandon myself wholly to Thee, O my Jesus; I wish to be all Thine, I wish to employ myself with fervor for Thy glory, and to suffer patiently all tribulations at the sight of Thy sufferings. Enable me to employ my self solely in things that are pleasing to Thee. My God, let me discern Thee with a true faith, to know Thee and love Thee; let me know Thy will to fulfil it, let me see myself to confess my deformity, to abhor and humble myself; and in the end let me see Thy divine face in all eternity. Lord, I have wasted my substance, like the prodigal son; but I have not been able to exhaust Thy mercies. Grant that I may take Thy will for the sole guide of my life, and not my own senses nor human respect. Write in my heart the law of Thy love so deeply that it may never be effaced.

    My God, even if there were no place of torment for the wicked, I would not leave off loving Thee, and suffering for Thee. Make me correspond to Thy desires. From this time forth Thou shalt be my portion forever. I submit myself with confidence to all that Thou shalt ordain for me in time and in eternity. O incarnate Word, wash my heart with Thy blood, and imprint there, as a sign of Thy love, Thy holy name of Jesus.

    Lord, abandon me not into the power of my vices; remember that I am the work of Thy hands; permit me not to become the prey of demons. I am a sinner, it is true, but I have been redeemed by Thy blood. Eternal Father, look at the passion of Thy Son, Whose merits sue mercy for me; these I offer to Thee; by these do Thou detach me from worldly affections and fill me with Thy love, and make me die with resignation, with faith, with confidence, and with perfect love.

    O my Jesus, by that eternal love which Thou hast borne me, give me grace to love Thee during the short time that remains for me to live on this earth, that I may afterwards love Thee eternally in heaven. O God of love, make me live only for Thee. When shall I be all Thine, as Thou art all mine? When shall I die to myself, to live only for Thy love? I do not even know how to give myself to Thee as I ought. Ah, my God, take me, and make me all Thine!

    My God, I wish for my sight only to look at Thee; for my tongue only to speak of Thee; for my heart only to love Thee; for my body only to offer it to Thee; for my life only to sacrifice it to Thee. O God of love, give me Thy love. Infinite Power, help my weakness. Eternal Wisdom, enlighten my darkness. Immense Goodness, pardon my malice. O infinite Goodness, too late have I loved and known Thee; do with me what Thou pleasest; I wish for nothing but what Thou shalt do.

    O Blessed Virgin, I rejoice with thee in that thou hast gained the heart of thy God; ah, unite me wholly to thy Son, speak to Him for me, and obtain for me the grace of following all His inspirations. Thou must teach me to practise the virtues thou didst exercise on earth, and detach me from affection to all that is not God, that I may love Him with all my strength.

    My God, enkindle Thy love in me, so that I may seek nothing else but Thy pleasure; so that nothing may please me that does not please Thee; and drive from my heart all things that are not agreeable to Thee. May I always be able to say with true affection: My God, Thee alone do I desire, and nothing more. My Jesus, give me a great love for Thy passion, that Thy sufferings and Thy death being always before my eyes may continually excite my love towards Thee, and make me desirous of rendering Thee some token of gratitude for so much love. Give me also a great love to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, in which Thou hast revealed the great affection Thou dost bear us. Besides this, I beg of Thee to give me a tender devotion to Thy most holy Mother: give me grace always to love and serve her; always to have recourse to her intercession, and to induce others to honor her; and to give me and to all men a great confidence, first in the merits of Thy passion, and next in the intercession of Mary.

    I pray Thee to grant me a holy death. Enable me at that moment to receive Thee with great love in the most holy Viaticum; so that, united to Thee, burning with a holy fire, and with a great desire of seeing Thee, I may go forth from this life to embrace Thy feet the first time it shall be given me to see Thee.

    O my King, come and reign alone in my soul; do Thou possess it entirely, that it may not serve nor obey anything but Thy love.

    O my Jesus, would that I could annihilate myself all for Thee, Who hast annihilated all Thy life for me!

    O Lamb of God, sacrificed on the cross, remember that I am one of those souls that Thou hast redeemed with so much suffering and grief. Let me never lose Thee. Thou hast given Thyself all to me, let me be all Thine; let all my eagerness be to please Thee. I love Thee, O immense Good, in order to please Thee; I love Thee because Thou art worthy of it: my greatest sorrow is to think I have been so long in the world without loving Thee.

    My beloved Redeemer, make me feel the grief Thou hadst for my sins in the Garden of Gethsemani. O my Jesus, would that I had died before, and had never offended Thee! O love of my Jesus, Thou art my love and my hope! I will rather lose my life a thousand times than lose Thy grace.

    My God, if I had died when I was in sin, I could never love Thee again: I thank Thee for giving me time, and calling me to love Thee. Now, then, that I can love Thee, I will love Thee with all my soul. For this reason hast Thou borne with me, that I should love Thee; yes, I will love Thee.

    Ah, by the blood which Thou hast shed for me, permit me not to betray Thee again: "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: I shall not be confounded forever." What is the world? what are riches? what are pleasures? what are honors? God, God, I will have God alone. My God, Thou art sufficient for me, Thou art an infinite good.

    O my Jesus, bind me altogether to Thy love, and draw all my affections to Thee, that I may love none other but Thee; make me all Thine before I die.

    Ah, my God, as long as I live I am in danger of losing Thee. When shall the day come that I can say to Thee: My Jesus, I cannot lose Thee more?

    O Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, despise me not; accept of me to love Thee, and do Thou give me Thy love. I wish to love Thee much in this life, that I may love Thee much in the next.

    O infinite Good, I love Thee; but make me know the great good that I love, and give me such a love as Thou dost desire. May I conquer all things to please Thee!

    O Mary, of thee, who so much desirest to see thy Son beloved, do I ask this grace, to love Him during all the remainder of my life; and I desire nothing more. My lady and my mother, I trust in thee; thou dost obtain all thou dost ask of thy God; thou dost pray for all who are devoted to thee, pray also for me.