Manners Of Visiting The Most Blessed Sacrament Every Day Of The Week: On Thursday

MANTEGNA, Andrea 
The Infant Redeemer 
1485-95

ON THURSDAY THE FIRST VISIT

Go to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as to your Souls Food in life, and viaticum at death. This Divine Food comes from Heaven, and will conduct us thither.

Good God is it possible, that the recompense of Saints, the joy of Angels; the Eternal Word should make himself the Food and Nourishment of my soul! what can I desire more? Nothing dear Lord but that I may correspond with such a love, and ever worthily dispose myself to receive yu, until I happily arrive to you; for the strength of this Divine Sacrament can male me walk in the way of perfection during life, and open to me the gate of Heaven at my death.

Grant dear Lord that your presence in this adorable Sacrament at he hour of my death may dissipate all fears which the enemy and my sins may then cause in me; and give me due disposition t receive my viaticum, with an humble and assured confidence in your goodness and mercy; and the promise you make me that if I eat your flesh and drink your blood, I shall live forever. Let your goodness in then visiting me give me a fresh assurance of it, and make me leave this world with joy and comfort.

AFTER WHICH, MAKE THESE FOLLOWING ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY

My God I firmly believe all that that faith teaches me concerning your being an infinite good. nd infinite in all perfections, nd I believe that I owe you all my love, all I am, and all I am capable of.

I hope and expect from your infinite goodness and mercy, the remission of all my sins, and all the graces I stand in need of to remain for ever faithful to your love, and to overcome all your enemies and mine.

An Act of charity after these two will be easily made: no matter in how few words express, provided it comes from the heart.

THEN COMMUNICATE SPIRITUALLY

Tho' it be less efficacious than to do it Sacramentally, yet the good it procures us is so considerable, that we cannot omit it without doing a great prejudice to our own souls, for by it God bestows great graces on them.

If interest did not engage us as often as we visit the Blessed Sacrament, to receive Christ spiritually, love ought to do it: since he remains there for our sakes, and express the desire he has that we receive him. To comply with it, we must dispose our selves by an act of humility, and of contrition of our heart by an inflamed desire to receive him, that he may enter and we be united to him.

AFTER WHICH SAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER, WHICH ST. GERTRUDE DAILY RECITED IN HONOR OF THE HEART OF JESUS

I adore you O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Source of Eternal Life, Treasure of the Divinity, Furnace of Love. You are my only Refuge, O amiable Saviour! inflame my Heart with that love which yours is inflamed with. Pour into my Heart those graces, of which yours is the Source, and grant that my heart may be so united with yours that your will may be mine, and that mine may be eternally conformed to yours: which from hence forward I beg, may be the rule of all my desires and actions.

II

SECOND VISIT FOR THE SAME DAY IN THE SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE

Reflect that Christ descends from Heaven to earth expressly for your sake alone, as often as you communicate, foreseeing that in such an host (into which he enter) you will receive him: this he does with a design to sanctify you, and to enrich you with his grace; being in that host only for you; and there he prays, and offers himself to his eternal Father for you: and his heart burns with love for you, and with a desire of inflaming yours.

Dear Saviour, what obligation have I to you! and how can I sufficiently thank you for being thus pleased to think on me, and to work such wonders for my sake? I offer you in return, all the thanks that are tendered you by the Blessed in Heaven, by your servants on earth. When can I wish for more than you would have done? Nothing, but that you would please to bid me come to you; for knowing myself unworthy I dare not other ways approach. And this you also do, saying, come to me all you that are burdened, and I will refresh and ease you. This being, I will not fear to approach, and receive you, since I have your orders for it. Whilst I may thus approach to you and receive you in this divine Sacrament, no loss shall afflict me; for in you I have all that is, or can be necessary for me.

AFTER WHICH, MAKE THESE FOLLOWING ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY

My God I firmly believe all that that faith teaches me concerning your being an infinite good. nd infinite in all perfections, nd I believe that I owe you all my love, all I am, and all I am capable of.

I hope and expect from your infinite goodness and mercy, the remission of all my sins, and all the graces I stand in need of to remain for ever faithful to your love, and to overcome all your enemies and mine.

An Act of charity after these two will be easily made: no matter in how few words express, provided it comes from the heart.

THEN COMMUNICATE SPIRITUALLY

Tho' it be less efficacious than to do it Sacramentally, yet the good it procures us is so considerable, that we cannot omit it without doing a great prejudice to our own souls, for by it God bestows great graces on them.

If interest did not engage us as often as we visit the Blessed Sacrament, to receive Christ spiritually, love ought to do it: since he remains there for our sakes, and express the desire he has that we receive him. To comply with it, we must dispose our selves by an act of humility, and of contrition of our heart by an inflamed desire to receive him, that he may enter and we be united to him.

AFTER WHICH SAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER, WHICH ST. GERTRUDE DAILY RECITED IN HONOR OF THE HEART OF JESUS

I adore you O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Source of Eternal Life, Treasure of the Divinity, Furnace of Love. You are my only Refuge, O amiable Saviour! inflame my Heart with that love which yours is inflamed with. Pour into my Heart those graces, of which yours is the Source, and grant that my heart may be so united with yours that your will may be mine, and that mine may be eternally conformed to yours: which from hence forward I beg, may be the rule of all my desires and actions.

Grant I may in some sort merit this effect of your love, by suffering and laboring for your glory in this adorable Mystery. And since your food in it is the virtues of our souls, and the love and honor we pay you, when we receive you; my chief care shall be to prepare my soul for that happiness.

III

THE THIRD VISIT FOR THE SAME DAY. WHICH MAY LIKEWISE SERVE FOR THE THIRD VISIT OF EVERY DAY.

IT IS TO CONFER WITH OUR SAVIOUR ABOUT ALL OUR AFFAIRS.

Go to Jesus in the most Blessed Sacrament, to open your heart to him; and to tell him all your concerns, as to your Father, and best of friends. Speak to him of your spiritual concerns, and likewise of your temporal ones; for he is not tired with hearing our complaints, and miseries.

Speak to him of what passes in your interior. Of the sins and faults you commit notwithstanding your purposes to the contrary. Of the violent propensions of your corrupt nature which causes many evils. Of passions and inclinations which trouble you, &c. And you will doubtless experience the same goodness which they did who addressed themselves to Christ for their bodily maladies, when he was  upon earth. Say to him with the leper, Lord if you will, you can cure me.

If any one has offended you, tell him of it; and learn of him how to comport yourself towards the person. If any particular thing is to be done, consult with him about it: beg his assistance, and blessing on it. And when ended, if it succeed, thank him for it. If it does not succeed make to him an entire sacrifice of your will and desires; submitting yourself to his will, and judging that ti be best which he ordains,: which if you really do, you will gain more than if it had succeeded to your mind.

If you find yourself oppressed with melancholy,or of any afflicting accident has happened to you, or any temptation. Have recourse to Jesus, seek your solace and comfort in him alone, and tell him you expect help from no other. 

Finally, in ask your difficulties, have recourse to him.

AFTER WHICH, MAKE THESE FOLLOWING ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY

My God I firmly believe all that that faith teaches me concerning your being an infinite good. nd infinite in all perfections, nd I believe that I owe you all my love, all I am, and all I am capable of.

I hope and expect from your infinite goodness and mercy, the remission of all my sins, and all the graces I stand in need of to remain for ever faithful to your love, and to overcome all your enemies and mine.

An Act of charity after these two will be easily made: no matter in how few words express, provided it comes from the heart.

THEN COMMUNICATE SPIRITUALLY

Tho' it be less efficacious than to do it Sacramentally, yet the good it procures us is so considerable, that we cannot omit it without doing a great prejudice to our own souls, for by it God bestows great graces on them.

If interest did not engage us as often as we visit the Blessed Sacrament, to receive Christ spiritually, love ought to do it: since he remains there for our sakes, and express the desire he has that we receive him. To comply with it, we must dispose our selves by an act of humility, and of contrition of our heart by an inflamed desire to receive him, that he may enter and we be united to him.

AFTER WHICH SAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER, WHICH ST. GERTRUDE DAILY RECITED IN HONOR OF THE HEART OF JESUS

I adore you O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Source of Eternal Life, Treasure of the Divinity, Furnace of Love. You are my only Refuge, O amiable Saviour! inflame my Heart with that love which yours is inflamed with. Pour into my Heart those graces, of which yours is the Source, and grant that my heart may be so united with yours that your will may be mine, and that mine may be eternally conformed to yours: which from hence forward I beg, may be the rule of all my desires and actions.

Lady Lucy Herbert 
Prioress of the English Austin Canonesses at Bruges 
(1668-1744)

Comments

Popular Posts