Visit 23 Jesus Eucharistic His Sacred Passion

ConcatLine I. The Blessed Sacrament is a memorial of Our Lord’s Passion and the altar is another Calvary, where Jesus immolates Himself each day for love of us.

II. The same love which fastened Him by nails to the cross holds Him a prisoner in the tabernacle.

III. Let us in our visits love to meditate on the Passion of Our Lord and resolve to offer Him atonement for sin by our love and gratitude and patient endurance of trials.

CONSIDERATIONS.
(From Father James Nondl, S.J.)
A soul that desires to take advantage of all her trials in order to console the afflicted Heart of Jesus, must take care to be present in spirit at some scene in Our Lord’s sacred Passion, choosing the one that usually inspires her with the greatest tenderness and devotion. Fixing her eyes with reverence and affection upon the Holy Face, let her think He casts a glance of love upon her which speaks with an eloquence above all language. In order to aid ourselves, wo may consider the principal scenes of the dddPassion in the nine following points:
1. The Agony in teh Garden-Behold the heart of Jesus, become, as it were, an abyss of pain and anguish, full of terror, at the very thought of the Passion about to break over Him. Hear Him say, as He offers the bitter chalice, "Wilt thou—thou, whom I love so dearly—wilt thou drink some few drops of My cup? The more thou wilt take, the less shall I have to taste." What should be your reply 'f *' 0 my beloved Jesus! would that I could drink all, so that nothing might remain for Thee. Yes, I accept as precious drops from that chalice, such and such sufferings, by which Thou dost permit me to be a partaker of Thy Passion, a companion of Thy sorrow." ddd2. The night passed in the house of Caiphas.-See thy Redeemer become the sport of lewd soldiery. How they mock and make fun of Him; how they strike and buffet Him, as though He were a fool. Listen, as He-says: " 0 beloved of My heart, wilt thou for My sake, bear some of these insults and injuries? The more thou shalt suffer, the less shall 1 have to bear, and the greater relief wilt thou afford to My afflicted heart." Say, what answer wilt thou give to Jesus? ddd3. The Palace of Herod.- Behold hour He, Who is the Infinite Wisdom of the Father, is esteemed as a fool, and despised as a madman. Hear Him ask if thou wilt suffer, for Him, some portion of His shame and contempt. Consider what answer thou shalt gh e. ddd4. The Scourging at the Pillar.- See th cruelty with which the executioners tear that most pure flesh to pieces. Hear how Our Lord invites thee to put thyself between the executioners and their Victim, so that the blows may fall upon thine own body. Receive, with this intention, the bodily pains and the sicknesses which may afflict thee. ddd5.The Crowning with Thorns.-- Consider the sharp pains, which the thorns cause in the ador able head of thv Savior. Hear Him asking thee if in thine own head, thou wilt receive some of those thorns? Offer thyself to endure them all. ddd6. Christ Carrying His Cross.--Imagine thyself present, as Jesus ascends the hill of Calvary, ac companied by Simon of Cvreiu* and the women of Jerusalem. Listen to Him asking if thou wilt offer thy shoulders to bear the cross, so that His burden may be made lighter according as thine is increased. Beg that He will let thee carry it all thyself, so that He may be relieved entirely of its weight. ddd7. The Crucifixion.-See how they nail Him to the cross. Hear Him inviting thee to put thy hands and feet where His are, so as to receive the nails. If duty binds thee to a life which is painful, thou, too, -art nailed to the cross. Accept, with this intention, all thy trials and adversities. ddd8. The Deriliction on the Cross.-Hear Our Lord complain to His eternal Father of the deso lation in which He is left. Consider how bitterly it is felt by His divine heart. Hear Him ask if thou wilt relieve Him in this loneliness. Offer Him the desolation thou dost sometimes suffer in trials, so as to soothe and alleviate the weariness of His sufferings. ddd9. The Thirst which Our Lord suffers in His Agony.—Consider the cruelty of those who by their impatience and their murmurs against God in their troubles, or by their miserable sensuality, give Our Lord in His thirst gall and vinegar to drink. Hear how He implores thee to quench His thirst by the sweet wine of that charity and self-denial which is exercised in seeking and accepting suffering as a consolation to Hr»~. Deny not to thy Redeemer, to the Spouse of thy soul, to thy King and thy God, the comfort which thou canst afford Him in His extreme need. dddThese nine short considerations serve to rouse the soul that is desirous of comforting and consoling the heart of our most afflicted Jesus, and of accepting from God’s Hand all trials, of whatever kind they may be, suffering them for the end and intention of affording comfort to Him. Prayers to Jesus by the Merit of each Particular Pain which He suffered in His Passion. ddd0 my Jesus! by that humiliation which Thou didst practise in washing the feet of Thy disciples, I pray Thee to bestow upon me the grace of true humility, so that I may humble myself to all, especially to such as treat me with contempt. My Jesus, by that sorrow which Thou didst suffer in the Garden, sufficient as it was to cause Thy death, I pray Thee to deliver me from the sorrow of hell, from living forevermore at a distance from Thee, and without the power of ever lovmg Thee again. dddMy Jesus, by that horror which Thou hadst of my sins, which were then present to Thy sight, give me a true sorrow for all the offences which I have committed against Thee. dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst ex* perienee at seeing Thyself betrayed by Judas with a kiss, give me the grace to be ever faithful unto Thee, and nevermore to betray Thee, as I have done in time past. dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst feel at seeing Thyself bound like a culprit to be taken before the judges, I pray Theo to bind me to Thyself by the sweet chains of holy love, that so I may nevermore see myself separated from Thee, my only Good. dddMy Jesus, by all those insults, buffetings, and spittings which Thou didst on that night suffer in the house of Caiphas, give me the strength .to suffer in peace, for love of Thee, all the affronts which I shall meet with from men. dddMy Jesus, by that ridicule which Thou didst receive from Herod in being treated as a fool, give me the grace to endure with patience all that, men shall say of me, treating me as base, senseless, or wicked. dddMy Jesus, by that outrage which Thou didst receive from the, Jews in seeing Thyself placed after Barabbas, give me the grace to suffer with patience the dishonor of seeing myself placed after others. dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy most holy body when Thou wast so cruelly scourged, give me the grace to suffer with patience all the pains of my sicknesses, and especially those of my death. dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy most sacred head when it was pierced with the thorns, give me the grace never to consent to thoughts displeasing unto Thee. dddMy Jesus, by that act of Thine by which Thou didst accept of the death of the cross to which Pilate condemned Thee, give me the grace to accept of my death with resignation, together with all other pains which shall accompany it. dddMy Jesus, by the pain which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross on Thy journey to Calvary, give me the grace to suffer with patience all my crosses in this life. dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst suffer in having the nails driven through Thy hands and Thy feet, I pray Thee to nail my will unto Thy feet, that so I may will nothing save that which Thou dost will. dddMy Jesus, by the affliction which Thou didst suffer-in having gall given Thee to drink, give me the grace not to offend Thee by intemperance in eating and drinking.» dddMy Jesus, by that pain which Thou didst ex perience in taking leave of Thy holy Mother upon the cross, deliver me from an inordinate love of my relatives, or of any other creature, that so my heart may be wholly and always Thine. dddMy Jesus, by that desolation which Thou didst suffer in Thy death in seeing Thyself abandoned by Thy eternal Father, give me the grace to suffer all my desolations with patience, without ever losing my confidence in Thy goodness. dddMy Jesus, by those three hours of affliction and agony which Thou didst suffer when dying upon the cross, give me the grace to suffer with resignation, for love of Thee, the pains of my agony at the hour of death. dddMy Jesus, by that great sorrow which Thou didst feel when Thy most holy soul, as Thou wast expiring, separated itself from Thy most sacred body, give me the grace to breathe forth my soul in the hour of my death, offering up my sorrow then to Thee, together with an act of perfect love, that so I may go to love Thee in heaven, face to face, with all my strength, and for all eternity. dddAnd thee, most holy Virgin, and my Mother Mary, by that sword which pierced thy heart when thou didst behold thy Son bow down His head and expire, do I pray to assist me in the hour of my death, that so I may come to praise thee and to thank thee in paradise for all the graces that thou hast obtained for me from God.

Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament, Mother and model of adorers, pray for us, who have recourse 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 Savior 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 Savior, 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.

mutlion, p. 101.

FRUIT OF THE VISIT.
I. Behold Christ seated in. thy heart as a most loving Father, Who gave thee life by the depth of His agony on His cross: regard thyself as a prodigal son returning to Him from long wanderings and most utter destitution, and yet received by Him with unspeakable tenderness.

II. Love Him with all thy fortitude; that, for His sake, thou mayest despise riches and pleasures and honors, the health of thy body, and even life itself; and so mayest be able to live without creatures.

III. Ask Him for the gift of "Piety;" that thou mayest obediently and diligently seek out what is due to such a Father, and faithfully fulfil it.

Aspiration.
u Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee; I am not now worthy to be called Thy son; make me as one of Thy hired servants " (Luke xv. 18,19).

EUCHARISTIC GEMS.
"You are afflicted by your sufferings, and I assure you that you should draw from them your consolation, provided that you bear them with peace and submission to the heart of Jesus, who sends them to you in love." —Bl. Margarret Mary. dddViva, Viva, Gesus!
Glory be to Jesus, Who, iu bitter pains,
Poured for me the life-blood from His sacred veins.
Grace and life eternal, in that blood I find ;
Blest be His compassion, infinitely kind.
Blest through endless ages be the precious stream,
Which from endless torments doth the world redeem,
There the fainting spirit drinks of life her fill;
There, as in a fountain, laves herself at will.
O the Blood of Christ, it soothes the Father’s ire,
Opes the gate of heaven, quells eternal fire.
Abel’s blood for vengeance pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries.
Oft as it is s rinkled on our guilty hearts,
Satan in confusion, terror-struck, departs.
Oft as earth exulting wafts its praise on high,
Angel-hosts rejoicing make their glad reply.
Lift ye then your voices; swell the mighty flood;
Louder still and loader praise the precious blood.
—From the Italian by E. Caswall