I. JESUS in the Holy Eucharist is the divine Master Who will teach us lessons of heavenly wisdom if we come like Mary, the sister of Martha, and sit at His feet (Luke x. 39).
II. Let us prefer to every other science, the "science of the saints," and to every other school, the school of the Holy Eucharist.
III. Say with St. Peter: "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" (John vi. 69).
CONSIDERATIONS
Consider the delight with which Mary and Martha learn that Jesus, their beloved and divine Master, was approaching to honor and to console them by His sacred presence. When thou dost kneel in the presence of Jesus, Who is in the tabernacle, and especially when He comes to visit thee in holy communion, take care that every power of thy soul, together with all thy interior and exterior senses, unite to render Him the most profound and respectful homage.
Jesus arrives at the dwelling of Mary and Martha, and the divine sweetness which beams forth in the heavenly countenance of this most beautiful " above the sons of men" (Ps. xliv. 3) was already to them a source of the purest joy, and a sure pledge of the ineffable delights they should taste in His sacred presence.
With what reverence do they behold Him! With what respect do they salute Him! With what gratitude do they conduct Him into their house. But, above all, with what tenderness and benignity does Jesus receive their lively demonstrations of attachment!
They place themselves at each side of their God, like two seraphim, one offering her love, the other her eagerness to serve and minister unto Him. They lodge Him, not only in their richest apartment, but also in the center of their hearts, where they lose not sight of His adorable presence, nor a single word of His heavenly instructions.
When thou dost kneel before the tabernacle, and especially when Jesus comes to visit thee in holy communion, let thy soul be penetrated with joy, let thy faith be animated, thy hope enlivened, thy charity inflamed. Receive thy Redeemer with ail the zeal of Martha and the recollection of Mary. The two sisters, though occupied in different ways, had but one object in view, namely, the service of Jesus.
Martha busied herself about "much serving" and prepared the corporal nourishment for her divine Lord; but Mary sat at His feet, and heard His words (Luke x. 39, 40); she remained at those sacred feet, where she had once received the pardon of her sins, and is now prostrated with as much tenderness and joy, as she then was with contrition and anguish. With what delight does she now enjoy the real presence of this amiable Saviour! How attentively does she listen to and how carefully does she treasure up His sacred words!
Martha complains to our divine Lord, that her sister leaves her alone to labor in the arrangement of temporal affairs. But her ideas are rectified by these admirable words of Jesus: "Martha, Martha, thou art careful, and art troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary " (Luke x. 41, 42). There is but one thing necessary one food, one support, and that is, the faithful, fervent accomplishment of the divine will of Him Who has sent us into the world for this sole purpose.
The science of the saints is to know and to do the will of God. my soul! lose not the precious but fleeting moments of this life in running after imaginary enjoyments, but listen to the voice of thy Redeemer, who this day tells thee, as He did Martha, that thou art solicitous about many things which are useless, perhaps destructive, to thy present peace and eternal rest. Jesus! I will learn of Thee to do the one thing necessary the will of the heavenly Father, that I may thereby save rny immortal soul. my Lord! My divine Master! with Mary I kneel at Thy feet, humbly and contritely. I adore Thee and I beseech Thee to teach me and to direct me, that like Mary, I may always choose the better part, always serve Thee faith fully and love Thee most fervently.
Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament, Mother and model of adorers, pray for us, who have re course to Thee.
St. Joseph, pray for us, that like thee, we may die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
0 Holy Ghost, Thou Teacher and Sanctifier, Who givest light and strength to my soul, bless me that I may be more faithful to Jesus, my Saviour and my God, Who is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, and that I may love Him more and more. In the light of the tabernacle I ask of Thee, 0 Holy Spirit, to fill my heart with pure desire for Jesus, the Living Bread. Give me grace to adore Him with the zeal and humble veneration of the holy angels; grant that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that His will be done in my soul. Help me to thank Him for all His gifts, and, most of all, for Himself. By this Holy Sacrament He strengthens souls on earth, gives rest to souls in purgatory, and gladdens souls in heaven. He is the hidden manna, promised by Himself to all who overcome themselves and love Him. May I taste the sweetness of Jesus! Set up more and more Thy kingdom in my soul, that I may keep my body under and bring it to subjection, lest I should be a castaway from Jesus and from Thee.
SPIRTUAL COMMUNION
0 Jesus, my Saviour, Who art truly present in the Blessed Sacrament for the nourishment of our souls! since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, I humbly and earnestly beseech Thee to refresh me spiritually. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Come into my mind to illumine it with the light of heaven; come into my heart to enkindle therein the fire of Thy love. Unite me so intimately with Thee, that it may be no more I that live, but Thou that livest and reigneth in me forever.
FRUIT OF THE VISIT
I. Behold Christ seated in thy heart as thy divine Master, ready to teach thee all virtues, as He practised them in His life and inculcates them now upon the altar.
II. Desire out of love to remain always at His feet, and ever to choose the " better part as Mary did Consider the words of Martha to Mary: "The Master is come and calleth for thee." "He is come." He is here, now, upon the altar. "He calleth for thee" He calleth thee to-day to the church, to thy duty, perhaps to some special work. Do not hesitate to obey. Be faithful to thy vocation.
III. Ask for the virtue or grace of " Perfect Conformity to the "Will of the Divine Master," that so thou mayest become perfect and always ready to speak the words that Mary, the virgin Mother of God spoke: "Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum" "Be it done to me according to thy word"
EUCHARISTIC GEMS
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous, teach me to serve Thee as Thou deservest. To give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, save that of feeling that I do Thy will. ST. IGNATIUS.
Within Thy Sacred Heart. Within Thy sacred heart, dear Lord
My anxious thoughts shall rest;
I neither ask for life nor death;
Thou knowest what is best
Say only Thou Last pardoned me;
Say only I am Thine;
In all things else dispose of me;
Thy holy will is mine!
Ah ! why is not my love for Thee
Unbounded, past control?
Alas! my heart obeyeth not
The impulse of my soul!
Ah, Jesus! if love's trusting prayer
Seem not too bold to Thee,
Place Thy own heart within my breast;
Love Thou Thyself for me!