Visit 25 Jesus Eucharistic and the Angels
I.
The angels constantly surround the tabernacle and the altar when Jesus is present.
II.
They praise and adore Him, as they did in the Holy Night on the plains of Bethlehem. Their life and their joy is the Holy Eucharist—that "Food of Angels" and "Bread from Heaven/’ which containeth in itself all sweetness.
III.
Seek to rival in fervor and devotion the holy1 angels when you kneel in adoration before the altar or receive our blessed Lord in holy communion.
CONSIDERATIONS.
When the- angels- at midnight had sung so sweetly on the plains of Bethlehem, proclaiming: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will," the pious shepherds said one to another: " Let us go over to Bethlehem I " There was the humble abode of the incarnate Son of God, the Infant Savior of the world, over which the angels ascended and descended between heaven and earth. The blessed plain, the refreshing oasis in the desert of this life, over which the angels ascend and descend is now the tabernacle in every church, in which Jesus dwells in the Most Holy Sacrament.
dddIn the Blessed Eucharist Our Lord is present
for love of us and to bestow His graces and benefits upon us. From His sacred heart there floivj uninterruptedly a stream of saving grace, and of tender mercy and compassion for the poor sinnei. He is here present as He is in heaven and for our happiness. Oh, how great, how sublime and how sweet and consoling is this sacrament! How we should be drawn to the tabernacle, to adore the Eucharistic Babe, as the angels adore Him in deepest silence, in profound reverence, in rapturous joy!
dddSaints have beheld the angels, while the
holy sacrifice of the Mass was offered, in glorious companies, mingling with the faithful at holy communion, prostrating themselves before the ciborium, in token of awe and veneration, and helping the celebrant to distribute the divine Food, at the same time praying that men may receive this gift of gifts worthily. " The angels," St. John Chrysostom tells us, utremble with amazement and fear when they approach the Majesty of Heaven, hidden under the appearance of bread." How is it, that wc, who arc sinful creatures, venture into the close proximity of Jesus Christ with so little reverence and recollection? The seraphim cover their faces before God with their wings, as we are told in Holy Writ; we alone are not afraid or inspired with respect and awe 1 We prof ess, to Jove Jesus Christ and we firmly believe that we are sincere in making this profession. But how do we prove the truth uf our words? If we rea’ly loved Jesus, if we really prized His divine friendship as we ought, we should study His wishes, learn His preferences, and strive to render ourselves pleasing to His sight; we should come to visit Him more frequently, we should come with purer hearts to the foot of the altar; we should be careful to see that the fair surface of our soul is not blurred and tarnished by the dust of that worldliness, which we ought to leave at the door, like a cloak which we slip from our shoulders,- to take up and wear again on leaving the church. A soul, which enters the church and allows itself to be troubled and disturbed by the images of events passing in the world is unfit for the service of an adorer, has no keen relish for heavenly converse, is out of tune with spiritual things, finds J.sus. with difficulty, and learns not the lessons of virtue inculcated by ,the eucharistic heart , of Our Savior. And when w? approach the holy table to partake of the " Food of Angels," let us again think of the angels, who, in their freedom from all bodily encumbrances, are the types of perfect purity and cleanness, which are the chief dispositions of spirit, requisite for devoutly and fruitfully receiving the Most Holy Eucharist, that is Purity itself.
ddd0 Lord Jesus! I will take to heart the lessons
that I have learned at this visit. I will visit Thee oftener; I will appear in Thy presence with reverential fear; I will banish from my mind all distracting thoughts of the world; I will take care to preserve my heart pure for Thy coming; I will strive to imitate the virtues of Thy sacred heart in my daily life; I will endeavor to please Thee in a’l things and to become more and more worthy of Thy love. I cannot love Thee with the pure, holy, and exalted love of the angels, but yet I give Thee all the affection of my heart, and I love Thee above all things. Give me, my Jesus, a deep faith in this .great mystery; strengthen my hope, inflame my love, that I may be made worthy, after this life, to behold Thee face to face, and to contemplate Thee with the angels in Thy eternity of heavenly bliss.
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.
FRUIT OF THE VISIT.
I.
Behold Christ within thy heart as a Furnace of love, breathing forth flames on every side; regard thyself as a piece of worthless rusty iron, plunged in that immense fire.
II.
Love Him with a burning love, as the cherubix and seraphim love Him; that so, through His love, thou mayest be altogether softened, altogether on firej and mayest kindle and inflame all others.
III.
Ask Him for perfect peace; that thou mayest rest in Him, as thy world, and mayest be reckoned among those true peacemakers who shall be called the sons of God (Matt. v. 9).
EUCHARISTIC GEMS.
" Although the Blessed Sacrament is the properly of the souls or men, and belongs to them in a way and with an intimacy which the spirits of the angels cannot share, there is nevertheless a great connection between the angels and the Blessed Sacrament. It is the especial mystery of chat human nature in which Jesus is Head of the angels. It is one of the mysteries they adore and humbly desire to look into. They admire it with a special admiration, and follow it all over the world—in the priests’ hands, on the throne, in the tabernacle, round the church, on its obscure visits to the sick—as if they were attracted by it, which they are. It is called angels’ food and the bread of angels; and although they cannot enjoy the proper sacramental union with the flesh of our dearest Lord, they doubtless feed on it in their intelligences by a kind of spiritual communion.*
ddd... It is said that St. Michael revealed to St.
Eutropius the hermit, that he had been chosen to be the guardian angel of the Blessed Sacrament . . . and there are also on record several revelations of his to various saints concerning the worship of the Blessed Sacrament. Some have supposed him to be the angel of the Mass referred tc in the Canon; he is spoken of at the beginning of the Mass in the ‘ Confiteor,’ and again in the second incensing at the High Mass; and also in the Offertory of Masses of Requiem." —F. W. Faber, D.D.
dddSt. Dominic assisted by the Angels. St. Dominic was one of the most fervent lovers
of Jesus and Mary who ever lived, and he was also the well-beloved of the angels. He received at their hands all kinds of help during those long watches of the night, which he spent prostrate at the foot of the holy altar, pouring forth the affections and longings of his heart without restraint in presence of his good Master in the Most Holy Sacrament, and invoking with tears the protection of the Blessed Virgin.' However wearied he might be while he was journeying on the load, he was never tired of watching whole nights in prayer, and used his utmost endeavors that it should be before the Adorable Eucharist. The angels, enraptured with this indefatigable love, associated themselves with him. These spirits of heaven took pleasure in accompanying this heavenly man.
dddThey were seen'to bring lights, and take them to
the room into which He had retired; open first the doors of the house and then of the church, whither they conducted him; and afterwards, when the time was come, they escorted him back in the same manner. The servants of a bishop with whom he lodged, having observed this marvel, mentioned it to the prelate, who watched the holy man about the time when the prodigy used to occur, and had the consolation of witnessing it, beholding with admiration the goodness of the heavenlv spirits to men.
dddFrom the Lauda Sion.
Whoso of this Food partaketh,
Rendeth not the Lord nor breaketh t •
Christ is whole to all that taste;
Thousands are, as one, receivers;
One, as thousands of believers,
Eats of Him Who cannot waste.
Bad and good the Feast are sharing;
But what different dooms preparing J
Endless death or endless life.
Life to these, to those damnation ;
See how like participation
Is with unlike issues rife.
When the Sacrament is broken
Doubt not, but believe tis spoken
That each severed outward token
Doth the very whole contain.
Naught the. precious Gift divideth
Breaking but the Sign betideth,
Jesus still the same abideth,
Still unbroken doth remain.
Lo, the "Angels’ Food" descending,
Given to pilgrims homeward wending,
Bread the children’s steps attending,
Which on dogs may not be spent.
See the Truth its types fulfilling—
Isaac bound, a victim willing;
Paschal Lamb, its Life-Blood spilling,
Manna to the fathers sent.
Very Bread 1 Good Shepherd tend us,
Jesu, of Thy love befriend ns;
Thou refresh us, Thou defend us,
Thine eternal goodness send us
In the Land of Life to see.
Jesus and the Angels. 30g
Thou Who all things canst and knowest,
Who on earth such Food bestowest,
Grant us with Thy saints, though lowest,
Where the heavenly feast Thou showest,
Fellow-heirs and guests to be.
—St. Thomas Aquinas