Visit 31 Jesus Eucharistic and Viaticum.

I. Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the Viaticum of the traveller.

II. We are but poor pilgrims on the earth, journeying towards eternity.

III. It is by feeding often on the " Bread from Heaven" (John vi. 32) that we shall have strength "on the way."

CONSIDERATIONS.
"Viaticum is provision taken by a traveller for support during his journey. The long journey, which knows no return, is that journey from time to eternity, on which we must all some day set out. Our viaticum for this journey is the Holy Eucharist. This sweet name of the Eucharist is familiar to all Christians, and was well known to the ancients, as appears from St. Gaudentius, Bishop, in the fifth century, and from the Canons of the Third Council of Orleans, in the sixth. St. Thomas numbers it among the three principal names of the Eucharist, which he enumerates as, ‘the sacrifice, the communion, the viaticum.’ ddd"That is a remarkable saying of Jesus Christ: ‘He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath everlasting life ;. .and I will raise him up at the last day ’ (John vi. 55). When, therefore, the soul of the just man, nourished with the food of the Eucharist, crosses the threshold of death, it acquires a new kina of life more serene and spiritual through its union with Christ’s huifianity which stands instead of that union of which the soul has been deprived in losing the organs of bodily sense. There are two ‘ last days,’ a man’s own last day, which is the day of his death, and the last day of the world, which is the day of universal judgment. Jesus Christ includes both these days in His ample promise—‘in the last day’—and He therefore refers to two ‘resurrections,’ not only to that last one of the body, but also to that of the soul, for the food of the Eucharist is the cause of both the one and the other. But is not the soul then immortal? How can a soul rise again which never did, nor. can, die? dddMan’s soul is undoubtedly immortal, but once separated from the body it could no longer of its own power do anything hut lie in that lethargy and deep sleep in which the just of old were sunk in the bosom of Abraham. If the light of glory is now' communicated to the souls'of the just as soon as they are set free from the trammels of the flesh, this entrance into glory, which is a birth to a new life, can only be effected by their complete incorporation with Jesus Christ through the Holy Eucharist. Partaking of Christ’s life the disembodied soul of the just man sees God face to face along with Christ. The harmonious operation of divine grace has thus brought it about that, as the mysterious touch of Christ’s humanity uplifted.us in Baptism into the order of grace, so likewise the full incorporation with Christ, which takes place through the Eucharist, should tjansfer.’us after death into the order of glory. dddFor this reason it is that the Catholic Church recommends and wishes that the viaticum be given to the dying, ‘ that it may be the life of the soul ’ (Council of Trent: Sess. xiii., c. viii.), that is, that it may quicken the soul by raising it up to a glorious life at its separation from the body. The sacred Host which descends on the half lifeless lips of the dying Christian is true food of immortality. That death is but the setting below our horizon of a sun that will rise to shine more brightly in another hemisphere. So has Jesus Christ said: ‘ I am the 'Resurrection and the Life. He that helieveth in Me although he be dead shall live’ (John xi. 25). dddDeath is a tremendous step because on it" depends our eternal happiness or misery; but in that hard extremity our trust is in the bread of the Eucharist given us by our viaticum on our last journey to another life. The 'miraculous bread brought by the angel to Elias when he sojourned in the desert, where, fortified by that heavenly bread, he journeyed on to the mountain of God, Horeb (3 Kings xix. 8), was a beautiful symbol of the bread of the Eucharist; and heaven is our Horeb, the mountain of God, whither the soul separated from the body journeys on. dddWe must always remember, and hold firm this con viction, that man has no other strength and life but what he receives from Christ, from living by Christ’s life, from possessing Christ within him. The life of Christ, of which man participates in eating of Christ’s sacred body, is a fulness of life so powerful as to expel and banish every disease from the soul, cleansing it from venial sins and even from the mortal sins which may unconsciously be clinging to it. It is of the highest importance then to receive the Holy Viaticum in the last uncertain hours of life. This may have given rise in some churches to the ancient abuse of administering communion to the dead who had not been able to receive it in life, an abuse against which several Councils raised their voice, our Lord having said, f Take ye and eat,’ and the dead are incapable of talcing food."—From "Names of the Eucharist."
From an unprovided death; 0 Lord, deliver us! In the hour of my death, 0 Lord, grant me the grace of Holy Viaticum!

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 I
0 Lord of mercy, strengthen us Thy servants in Thy heavenly grace, that at the hour of our death the enemy may not prevail over us and that we may deserve to be conducted by the angels into everlasting life, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THEIR AGONY, AND FOR THE GRADE OF A HAPPY DEATH.
V. Incline unto my aid,
O God!
R. O Lord I make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, etc. dddWORDS OF JESUS OUT THE CROSS.
FIRST WORD.
Father, forgive them; for they know not .what they do. .V. We adore Thee, 0 Christ, and bless Thee. R. Because by.Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.
Jesus, my love I Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, there by Thy pains to pay the penalty of my sins, and dost open Thy divine mouth to obtain me pardon for them from Eternal Justice: 0 Jesus! pity all those faithful souls who now are in their last sad agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit of Thy most precious blood shed for our salvation, vouchsafe us all such lively sorrow for our sins as shall make us breathe forth our souls into the bosom of Thy boundless mercy.
Glory be to the Father, three times. My God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.
SECOND WORD.
This day shall thou he with Me in paradise.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
Jesus, my love! Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, and with such readiness and bounty dost meet the good thief’s cry of faith, when in Thy humiliations he acknowledges Thee to be the Son of God, and dost then assure him of paradise prepared for him: oh! pity all faithful souls now in their last agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit of Thy most precious blood, renew in our souls such firm and steadfast faith as shall never waver at any suggestions of the Evil One; that so we also may obtain the blessed prize of paradise.
Glory be to the Father, three times. Have mercy, etc.
My God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

THIRD WORD.

Behold thy Mother! Behold thy son!
We adoie Thee, etc
Jesus, my love! Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, and, unmindful of Thine own sorrows, dost leave us Thy own most holy Mother as a pledge of Thy love, that we through her may, in our greatest straits, seek Thee with confidence: have pity on all faithful souls now in their last agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the inward martyrdom of Thy dear Mother, quicken in our hearts a firm hope in the infinite merits of Thy most precious blood, that so we may escape the sentence of eternal death, which we know we well deserve for our sins.
Glory be to the Father, three times.
My God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

FOURTH WORD.

My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
We adore Thee, etc.
Jesus, my love! Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, and, heaping woe on woe, besides Thy sacred body’s pain, dost bear with infinite patience the most afflicting desolation of spirit, because Thou wast forsaken by Thine eternal Father; pity all faithful souls now in their last agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit of Thy most precious blood, grant us all Thy grace to suffer with true meekness all the pain and anguish of our agony, that joining our pains with Thine, we, too, may in paradise be made partakers of Thy glory.
Glory be to the Father, three times.
Have mercy, etc. My God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope; Thou art roy love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

FIFTH WORD.

I thirst. V. We adore Thee, etc. Jesus, my love 1 Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, and Who, ever thirsting for insults and for sufferings, dost will yet more and more to suffer, that all men may be saved, thus showing that all the torrent of Thy . passion is not enough to quench the thirst of Thy most loving heart: pity all faithful souls now in their last agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit of Thy most precious blood, kindle such a fire of charity within us that, with burning longing, we may thirst ever to be one with Thee for all eternity.
Glory be to the Father, three times.
Have mercy, etc. My God, in Thee I believe, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

SIXTH WORD
It is finished. V. We adore Thee. etc.
Jesus, my love 1 Who, for love of me, dost hang in agony on the cross, and from this pulpit of the truth dost declare the work of our redemption finished—that work by which, from children of wrath and of eternal woe, we were made sons of God and heirs of heaven: pity all faithful souls now in their last agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit of Thy most precious blood, detach us wholly from the world and from ourselves, and, at the moment of oui agony, grant us grace to offer Thee, with all our hearts, the sacrifice of our life in atonement for our sins.
Glory be to the Father, three times.
Have mercy, etc. My God, I believe in Thee, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

SEVENTH W0RD.

Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.
V. We adore Thee, etc.
Jesus, my love 1 Who, for love of me. dost hang in agony on the cross, and Who, to accomplish the great sacrifice, dost submit to the will of Thy eternal Father, commending Thy spirit into His hands, and then Thou dost bow Thy head and die: pity all faithful souls now in their agony, and pity me when I, too, shall be in mine. By the merit ’ of Thy most precious blood, give us in our agony an entire conformity to Thy divine will, that, ready to live or die as it shall please Thee, we may desire nothing but that Thy adorable will may ever find its full accomplishment in us.
Glory be to the Father, three times.
Have mercy, etc.
vvMy God, I believe in Thee, in Thee I hope; Thou art my love. I repent of my sins, because by them I have offended Thee.

Prayer to the Holy Virgin, Our Lady of Sorrows.

Mary most holy, Mother of sorrows, by that in tense martyrdom which thou didst suffer at the foot of the cross, during the three hours of Jesus’ agony; deign to aid us all, children of thy sorrows, in our last agony, that, by our prayers, we from our bed of death may pass to heaven’s holy joys, there to adorn thy crown.
Hail Mary, three times.
Mother of mercy, Mother of grace,
Mary, help a fallen race. Shield us when the foe is nigh,
And receive us when we die.
V. From sudden and un prepared death.
R. Deliver us, 0 Lord!
F. From the snares of the devil.
R. Deliver us, 0 Lord I
F. From everlasting death.
R. Deliver us, O Lord 1
LET US PRAY.
God, Who for our salva tion hast, in the most bitter death of Thy Son, made for ns l»oth an example and a refuge; grant we beseech Thee, that, in the last peril. at the hour of our death, we may be made worthy to experience the effect of His great charity, and to be made partakers of the Redeemer's glory. Through the same Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.

End with the ejaculations :

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! may I breathe out my soul in peace with you.


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 seated in thy heart as a merciful Judge and a kind Father; regard thvself as a prodigal son, begging forgiveness for thy numerous and grievous offences.

II. Love Him with the tender, grateful love of Marv Magdalen, so that thou mayest serve Him with fidelity and perseverance to the end of thy life, seeking in all things only His divine pleasure, and fearing to offend Him by the least sin.

III. Ask Him for the spirit of "Fortitude" and for the grace of " Perseverance," that, as a faithful servant, thou mayest wish rather to die than to commit a mortal sin and that thou mayest be able to direct all thy actions to God as to thy last end, loving and serving Him in this life and securing for thyself eternal happiness.

EUCHARISTIC GEMS.
Last Communion of St. Teresa. During the time that St. Teresa dwelt in a convent at Avila, she usually fell into an ecstasy after receiving holy communion, and often on the spot where she had been communicated, so that it was necessary for others to lead her back to her place. At Toledo she was discovered by the portress in this state, standing against the wall like a statue, fixed and apparently lifeless. The portress endeavored with all her strength to force her to sit, and took her by the hands; but she was as a stone, until she came to herself. At Avila, on the Feast of St. Joseph, when she tarried after communion in the choir, she was soon by the sisters uplifted in the air. In the year 1582. on the 18th April, she had founded her last convent at Burgos. It was her wish to journey from Burgos to Avila, in order to end her days there, hut obedience called her to Alva on her way. Here she was overtaken by her last sickness; and three days before her death she passed a whole night in prayer, during which the Lord foretold her the near approach of her dissolution. During the whole time of her illness she conversed with her daughters in such a wonderful manner that they forgot their own grief. At five o’clock in the evening of October 3d she begged for the Holy Viaticum. Then she exhorted i-er daughters with motherly zeal to cultivate peace, sisterly love, poverty, and obedience; after which the Most Holy was brought to her. As soon as the Blessed Sacrament was carried into her cell, the servant of God sprang up out of her bed, although before she had been too weak to move without help. Her countenance was overspread with unearthly and majestic beauty, and she appeared to be much younger than.she really was. With folded hands and overflowing with joy, feeling -within her that her end approached, she raised her voice in glowing words of love: " 0 my Lord, my Bridegroom, that the long-desired hour might come, when we shall see each other face to face. Oh, that it were time to go! Lord I bless the journey! Thy will he done 1 At length shall I leave my banishment, and my soul shall taste Thy presence which it has so long desired I " Alter receiving the Blessed Sacrament with the deepest devotion, she remained for some time absorbed in contemplation, during which she often repeated these verses of the fiftieth psalm: " A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit; a contrite and humbled heart, 0 God, Thou wilt not despise. Cast me not away from Thy face, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. A clean heart create in me, 0 God I " Until the morning of the 4th October she suffered the severest pains, but to the last moment of her life her face shone with heavenly beauty, her body retained its calm, peaceful appearance, and it was as though her soul were floating in contemplation. Her departure was not the death of an ordinary person. Holy Church has pronounced, during the process of her canonization, that Teresa died rather of the overpowering fire of divine love than of any natural sickness. Her heart was kept at Alva, enclosed in a crystal case, and a wound is clearly visible in it; from this token it was concluded that a seraph had touched her heart in such a manner that it was an overflow of divine love which had separated her soul from her body. Hymn of St. Teresa. This union of divinest love, By which I live a life above, Setting my heart at lilx»rty My Hod to me enchains ; But then to see His majesty In such a base captivity, It so my spirit pains, That ever more I weep and sigh, Dying, because I do not die. This only gives me life and strength To know that die I must at length; For hope insures me bliss divine Through death, through death alone, O Death, for thee, for thee I pine, Sweet Death, of life the origin, Ah, wing thee hither soon I Forever more I weep and sigh, Dying, because I de not die. Absent from Thee, my Savior dear, I call not life this living here, But a long dying agony, The sharpest 1 have known. And I myself, myself to see In such a rack of misery, For very pity moan; And ever, ever, weep and sigh, Dying, because I do not die. When on the altar I espy, My God, Thy hidden majesty, And peace is soothing my sad heart, Then comes redoubled pain, To think that hero from Thee apart, I cannot see Thee as Thou art, But gazo and gazo in vain; While ever more I weep and sigh, Dying, because I do not die. The Viaticum. Ah Lord, my Light and living Breath, Take me, 0 take me from this death. And burst the bars that sever me From my true life above : Think how I die Thy face to see, And cannot live away from Thee, 0 iny eternal Love 1 And ever, ever, weep and sigh, Dying, because I do not die I I weary of this endless strife, I weary of this dying life, This living death, this heavy chain, This torment of delay, * In which her sins my soul detain ; Ah I when shall it be mine? ah I when With my last breath to say: •' No more I weep, no more I sigh, I'm dying of desire to die? " Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore ; Oh I make us love Thee more and more?