1. I believe most firmly, my dear Jesus, that in the consecrated Host is contained Thy humanity and Thy divinity, together with Thy sacred flesh and blood. I believe in this mystery of our faith, because Thou, Who art infinite wisdom, hast announced, “My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” I believe as firmly as Thy holy Mother Mary believed in all the sacred truths which Thou camest to preach. With the heart of Mary, O divine Infant Jesus, I would love Thee! I would wish to receive Thee into the shelter of my heart, as Mary didst receive Thee into her arms with devotion and tenderness, and Thou didst find a resting-place. Cold and dreary was everything about Thee, that night of Thy birth, but Thou didst find a warm heart in Thy holy Mother. Let me embrace Thee with the same fervor with which Joseph and Simeon welcomed Thee into their arms. Give me now, O divine Infant Jesus, through the participation in Thy body and blood, the burning love of Thy holy spirit, which induced Thee to become my Brother. Thou didst institute this Holy Sacrament that I might be united to Thee and Thou to me. I am heartily sorry that I have, hitherto, preferred creatures to Thee, and so far have done nothing to deserve Thy mercy. Forgive the sins for which I have had only a superficial sorrow, and which I, perhaps, have confessed in the same spirit. Clothe me with the garb of innocence of Thy holy childhood; by Thy adorable blood purify me, by Thy holy spirit enliven me, [pg 058] that from the present I may no longer live, but Thou, my Jesus, live in me forever.
O Holy Ghost, Who didst prepare the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by the infusion of sanctity, to be a worthy habitation of the body of the divine Infant Jesus, prostrate before Thee I beg that Thy grace may also render my soul and body worthy to receive the body of Christ, that I may receive Him with purity and faith, and may through the reception lay a foundation of sanctity, which will entitle me to enter the glorious kingdom of heaven.
O my good Jesus, my whole confidence is in Thee; Thy wounds and Thy sacred blood encourage me to hope in the Lord.
O Son of the almighty God, Son of the Virgin Mary, hear me, and be merciful unto me. My heart desires to receive Thee with the same joy and desire with which Mary conceived Thee and gave Thee birth.
Come, then, dear Lord, and fashion my heart according to Thy will; and, oh, holy saints, devout adorers of the Infant Jesus, St. Francis, St. Anthony, St. Stanislaus, pray that my faith may be strong, that my hope and confidence in the Infant Jesus may increase, that my love for Him and His good Mother may burn with an inextinguishable flame.
And thou, my guardian angel, as well as arch-*angels and angels, cherubim and seraphim, accompany me to the holy table of the Lord; cover me with thy wings, for I am not worthy to receive this heavenly food.
2. O my God, my Lord, is it possible that Thou lovest me, a miserable human being, so tenderly, that now Thou dost feed my soul with Thy precious [pg 059] blood, with the bread of angels? By this sacred food Thou dost so firmly unite me to Thee as to make us one; Thy soul unites itself with my soul, and Thy body with my poor human nature. Rejoice, then, O my soul, for no longer can it be said, “My tears have been my bread day and night: whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?”—Ps. xli. 4. For my food is the bread of angels and my God is not far from me and my God is in my soul! O dear Jesus, how liberal art Thou towards him that seeks Thee! How can I make return for this great kindness?
3. Consider, O my soul, that as often as you receive communion, you become, as it were, like Mary, the Mother of God, and a spouse of Jesus Christ: for in holy communion you may consider that the Lord comes to you as the little Child of Bethlehem. He becomes your Spouse because He loves you, takes care of you, and caresses you. O my soul, with what energy you ought to seek to acquire the virtues of our dear Mother Mary. She was adorned with every virtue when the incarnation took place in her, and she enjoyed the presence of her God.
Put yourself exclusively into the hands of God, and have the same sentiments that Mary had when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord,” or with the spouse in the Canticles: “My Beloved is a bunch of myrrh which rests in my bosom.” And with Simeon, the prophet, exclaim, “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace: Because my eyes have seen Thy salvation.”
4. Permit me, my dear Jesus, to use Thy words in the Gospel: “I am come to cast fire on the earth, [pg 060] and what will I but that it be kindled?”—Luke xii. 49. Why is it that I receive so often, and approach this fire of divine love, and am not ignited? Let, then, this fire of love, which burns in this Sacrament, communicate its flames to me, that I may rise from the things of this world. I will now endeavor to love Thee above all things and no creature shall hinder me from Thy love. I will love Thee with my whole strength.