I. The Wise Men were led by a star to Bethlehem, where they found Jesus. The lamp of the sanctuary is the light which shines for us and shows us where Jesus reposes.
II. "Venite, adoremus." "Come, let us adore Him" in union with these fervent worshippers of Jesus, with " exceeding great joy."
III. The Wise Men offered "gold and frankincense and myrrh" to their Infant King. What gifs have we brought to the God, Who dwells on out altars?
CONSIDERATIONS
Jesus is the King of kings, the King of Heaven, -and yet there is no trouble for either rich or poor to obtain an audience with Him. Let us go to Rim frequently; let us adore Him in the spirit of the three holy kings and in union with the angels that surround His altar-throne.
Alas! how many Catholics do not even come to visit Him on Sundays; how many even among practical Catholics run eagerly to amusements instead of going to church for evening service to attend the solemn reception of the heavenly King, our blessed Lord in Benediction!
How many even when present at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament do not adore Him devoutly, but lounge upon their seats, instead of kneeling properly, and gaze with curiosity around the church, upon the people and the decorations, rather than at the good and gentle King, Who is there waiting to receive their loving adoration, so that strangers might question the reality of. their faith in the Real Presence.
Let us also imitate, the three Holy Kings by offering to Our Lord in the Sacrament of the Altar the most becoming gifts: 1. The treasures of the hearts, i.e., the gold of charity, the frank incense of prayer, and the myrrh of mortification; 2. The treasures of the purse-gold and silver or any other donation for poor churches and especially for the embellishment of the sanctuary, and of the tabernacle, that now takes the place of the manger at Bethlehem. We may place our offerings in Mary's hands by means of her representative, the priest, the guardian of the eucharistic Babe, and we may be certain that Jesus will accept them and will smile upon us, as He smiled upon the holy kings when they adored Him and poured out their treasures at His feet.
Let us resolve, moreover, that Christ shall be our King in truth, and that He shall rule over us with absolute sway. In holy communion Jesus enters as King into our hearts. But when does He reign in us? When His doctrine is our guide of conduct and its divine truths form our rule of life. Christ reigns in us, when we live His life, so that His virtues supplant our vices and take the place of our imperfections. The Kingdom of Christ, when once firmly established in our hearts will make us inexpressibly happy. It is mild and beneficent in its rule. " My yoke is sweet and My burden is light."
Christ is the King of peace. Meekly and humbly He enters our hearts as we adore Him before the tabernacle or receive Him in reality in holy communion, to enrichit with the peace, the rest, the joy of Paradise. And when you go to the holy table, or when you kneel before the tabernacle, in the presence of the divine King, ever remember that you speak to your Lord, Who is infinitely rich and infinitely good, Who loves to be implored, because He is all love and is ever pleased to give.
Therefore, beseech Him that He would give you His spirit, the spirit of pro found humility, of willing self-abjection, and of humiliation; the spirit of perfect obedience, of delicate observance; of entire self-abandonment to His mercy, and entire self-denial; the spirit of utter self-abnegation, even in the smallest things, of a generous indifference to reputation and the affection of creatures; the spirit which instils a supreme esteem and a perfect love of the cross, interiorly and exteriorly, and which moves the soul to lead a life wholly intent and sacrificed, to desire only the divine pleasure, homage, service, and the divine glory above all else; the spirit which wisely guides and persuades the soul to purity of intention in every action, conducting it to sincerity and simplicity of operation, with a perfect love of the hidden life; a life unaffectedly retired, with gladness, with gentleness, with sweet condescension, and fraternal charity.
This is the spirit of Our Lord Jesus Christ, liberally granted and bestowed by Him to whoever shall ask it, especially in the precious moment of adoring Him in the Blessed Sacrament. He never suffers that soul to depart from His presence disconsolate or empty-handed which has come to Him in filial love, and has entirely confided in Him. Consider, then, yourself at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, as a poor ill-furnished lamp, devoid alike of oil and flame. Beg of Jesus in this adorable sacrament that He would bestow on you the oil of holy virtues, the living flame of His charity; protesting in His presence, with all your heart, your desire to struggle and be consumed for Him alone, through a life which shall imitate that of the same Lord Jesus here upon earth, which He led for the glory of His eternal Father, and for love of you, and which now He lives in the Divine Sacrament-the life of humility, of obedience, of sacrifice, of love, of unalterable constancy, faithfulness, and firmness in honoring and glorifying God, His eternal Father, while dwelling in this sacrament, wherein He has of His own will placed Himself, to make us partakers of the ineffable treasures and inspirations of His divinity.
To what great perfection and holiness may we not arrive, by the good use of this one hour of adoration, spent frequently before the Blessed Eucharist. What fearful remorse, what regrets in the hour of death for him who in his life has abused such signal grace! Approach, then, humbly and perseveringly, to the Light of your holy faith; there you will find all sweetness, there the fruit of life in the heavenly manna of the Adorable Eucharistic Jesus, be Thou forever blessed.
Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament,:Mother and model of adorers, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.
St. Joseph, pray for me, that like thee, I may die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
0 Holy Ghost, Thon 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 King, who demands thy whole heart and thy un divided affections. He shows thee the pattern of His life, that thou mayest look closely at it and do in like manner.
II. Desire out of love to be perfectly conformed to His likeness; that so thou mayest be clothed with all the perfections of God, as far as is possible to man; and mayest imitate those virtues, which are specially shown in the Most Holy Sacrament-His charity, humility, and obedience.
III. Ask of thy Lord the most perfect "Conformity to His Divine Will," so that God may be able to glory in thee, and say: " I have found a man according to My own heart, who shall do all My wills" (Acts xiii. 22).
ASPIRATION
"With Christ I am niled to the cross; and I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me" (Gal. ii. 19, 20).
EUCHARISTIC GEMS
0 King of angels! Who can tell Thy worth? The angels round Thy tabernacle know how far too short eternity will prove to exhaust the hymns that should enumerate the wonders of Thy Sacrament of Love!-.FABER.
0 Jesus! King Most Wonderful.
0 JESUS I King most wonderful!
Thon Conqueror renowned !
Thon sweetness most ineffable!
In Whom all joys are found!
When once Thou visitest the heart,
Then truth begins to shine;
Then earthly vanities depart;
Then kindles love divine.
0 Jesus, Light of ail below!
Thou Fount of life and fire!
Surpassing all the joys we know,
All that we can desire!
May every heart confess Thy name; And ever Thee adore;
And seeking Thee, itself inflame
To seek Thee more and more.
There may our tongues forever bless!
Thee may we love alone;
And ever in our lives express
The image of Thine own.