FREQUENT AND DAILY COMMUNION
The Sacred Congregation of the Council, in a Plenary Session held on December 16, 1905, determined and declared as follows:
1. Frequent and daily Communion, as a thing most earnestly desired by Christ our Lord, and by the Catholic Church, should be open to all the faithful of whatever rank and condition of life; so that no one who is in the state of grace, and who approaches the holy table with a right and devout intention, can lawfully be hindered therefrom.
2. A right intention consists in this: that he who approaches the holy table should do so, not out of routine or vainglory or human respect, but for the purpose of pleasing God, of being more closely united with Him by charity, and of seeking this divine remedy for his weaknesses and defects.
3. Although it is most expedient that those who communicate frequently or daily should be free from venial sins, especially from such as are fully deliberate, and from any affection thereto, nevertheless, it is sufficient that they be free from mortal sin, with the purpose of never sinning mortally in future; and, if they have the sincere purpose, it is impossible but that daily communicants should gradually emancipate themselves from venial sins also, and from all affection thereto.
4. But whereas the Sacraments of the New Law, though they take effect ex opere operato, nevertheless produce a greater effect in proportion as the dispositions of the recipient are better; therefore, care is to be taken that Holy Communion be preceded by serious preparation, and followed by a suitable thanksgiving, according to each one's strength, circumstances, and duties, etc., etc., etc.
The Decree ("Sacra Tridentina Synodus") of which the above regulations are an extract, was ratified and confirmed by His Holiness Pope Pius X., on the 17th December, 1905, and ordered to be published to the whole world.
I. PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION
St. Francis de Sales says that our Savior can never be seen more amiable and more tender in all that He has done for us, than in Holy Communion, in which He, so to say, annihilates Himself and becomes Food, that He may unite Himself to the hearts and bodies of His: faithful. Therefore the learned Gerson used also to say, that there was no means more efficacious than the Holy Communion whereby to enkindle devotion and the holy love of God in our souls.
And, indeed, if we speak of doing something agreeable to God, what can a soul do more agreeable to Him than to receive Communion? St. Denis teaches us that love always tends towards perfect union; but how can a soul be more perfectly united with Jesus than in the manner of which He speaks Himself, saying: He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. St. Augustine says that if every day you receive this Sacrament, Jesus will be always with you, and that you will always advance in divine love.
Again, if there is question of healing our spiritual infirmities, what more certain remedy can we have than the Holy Communion, which is called by the Sacred Council of Trent "a remedy whereby we may be freed from daily faults, and be preserved from mortal sins."
Whence does it some, asks Cardinal Bona, that in so many souls we see so little fruit with such frequent Communions, and that they constantly relapse into the same faults? He replies: "The fault is not in the food, but in the disposition of him who receives." w, says Solomon, hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? God is a consuming fire. He comes Himself in Holy Communion to enkindle this Divine fire; how is it, then, asks William of Paris, that we see such a diabolical miracle as that souls should remain cold in Divine love in the midst of such flames?
All comes from the want of proper dispositions, and especially from want of preparation. Fire immediately kindles dry but not green wood; for this latter is not disposed to burn. The Saints derived great benefit from their Communions because they prepared themselves with very great care. St. Aloysius Gonzaga devoted three days to his preparation for Holy Communion, and three days he spent in thanksgiving to his Lord.
To prepare well for Holy Communion, a soul should be disposed on two points: it should be detached from creatures, and have a great desire to advance in Divine love.
In the first place, then, a soul should detach itself from all things, and drive everything from its heart which is not God. He that is washed, saith Jesus, need not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly; which signifies, as St. Bernard explains it, that in order to receive this Sacrament with great fruit, we should not only be cleansed from mortal sins, but that our feet also should be washed, that is, free from earthly affections; for being in contact with the earth, they excite a sort of repugnance in God, and soiling the soul, prevent the effects of Holy Communion.
St. Gertrude asked our Lord what preparation He required of her for the Holy Communion; and He replied: "I only ask that thou shouldst come empty of thyself to receive Me."
In the second place, it is very necessary in Holy Communion to have a great desire to receive Jesus Christ and His holy love. In this Sacred Banquet, says Gerson, only those who really hunger receive their fill; and the most Blessed Virgin Mary had already said the same thing: He hath filled the hungry with good things. As Jesus, writes the Blessed John of Avila, only came into this world after He had been much and long desired, so does He only enter a soul which desires Him; for it is not becoming that such Food should be given to him who has no liking for it. Our Lord one day said to St. Mechtilde: "No bee flies with such impetuosity to flowers, to suck their honey, as I fly to souls in the Holy Communion, driven by the violence of My love." Since, then, Jesus Christ has so great a desire to come into our souls, it is right that we also should have a great desire to receive Him and His Divine love in the Holy Communion. St. Francis de Sales teaches us that the principal object a soul should have in view when communicating should be, to advance in the love of God; since He, Who for love alone gives Himself to us, should be received for love.
ACTS BEFORE COMMUNION
1. ACT OF FAITH. Behold he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills. Ah, my most amiable Savior, over how many, and what rough, craggy mountains hast Thou not had to pass in order to come and unite Thyself to me by the means of this Most Holy Sacrament! Thou, from being God, hadst to become Man; from being immense, to become a Babe; from being Lord, to become a Servant. Thou hadst to pass from the bosom of Thy Eternal Father to the womb of a Virgin; from Heaven into a stable from a throne of glory to the gibbet of a criminal. And now this very morning Thou wilt come from Thy seat in Heaven to dwell in my bosom.
Behold he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices. Behold, O my soul, thy loving Jesus, burning with the same love with which He loved thee when dying for thee on the Cross, is now concealed in the Most Blessed Sacrament under the sacred species; and what is He doing? Looking through the lattices. As an ardent lover, desirous to see His love corresponded with, from the Host, as from within the closed lattices, whence He sees without being seen, He is looking at you, who are this morning about to feed upon His Divine Flesh; He observes your thoughts, what it is that you love, what you desire, what you seek for, and what offerings you are about to make Him.
Awake, then, my soul, and prepare to receive thy Jesus; and, in the first place, by Faith, say to Him: So then, my beloved Redeemer, in a few moments Thou art coming to me? O hidden God, unknown to the greater part of men, I believe in Thee and adore Thee in the Most Holy Sacrament as my Lord and Savior! And in acknowledgment of this truth I would willingly lay down my life. Thou comest to enrich me with Thy graces and unite Thyself all to me; how great, then, should be my confidence in this Thy so loving visit!
2. ACT OF CONFIDENCE. My soul, expand thy heart. Thy Jesus can do Thee every good, and, indeed, loves thee. Hope thou for great things from this thy Lord, Who, urged by love, comes all love to thee. Yes, my dear my Hope, I trust in Thy goodness, that, in giving Thyself to me this morning, Thou wilt enkindle in my poor heart the beautiful flame of Thy pure love, and a real desire to please Thee; so that, from this day forward, I may never will anything but what Thou wiliest.
3. ACT OF LOVE. Ah, my God, my God, true and only Love of my soul, and what more couldst Thou have done to be loved by me? To die for me was not enough for Thee, my Lord; Thou wast pleased to institute this great Sacrament in order to give Thyself all to me, and thus bind and unite Thyself heart to heart with so loathsome and ungrateful a creature as I am. And what is more, Thou Thyself invitest me to receive Thee, and desirest so much that I should do so! O boundless love I incomprehensible love! infinite love! a God would give Himself all to me!
My soul, believest thou this? And what doest thou? . What sayest thou? O God, O God, O infinite amiability, only worthy object of all love, I love Thee with my whole heart, I love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself, more than my life Oh, could I but see Thee loved by all I Oh, could I but cause Thee to be loved by all hearts as much as Thou deservest! I love Thee, O most amiable God, and I unite my miserable heart in loving Thee to the hearts of the Seraphim, to the heart of the most blessed Virgin Mary, to the Heart of Jesus, Thy most loving and beloved Son. So that, O Infinite Good, I love Thee with the love with which the Saints, with which Mary, with which Jesus loves Thee. And I love Thee only because Thou art worthy of it, and to give Thee pleasure. Depart, all ye earthly affections, which are not for God, depart from my heart. Mother of fair love, most holy Virgin Mary, help me to love that God Whom Thou dost so ardently desire to see loved!
3. ACT OF HUMILITY. Then, my soul, thou art even now about to feed on the most sacred Flesh of Jesus! And art thou worthy? My God, and who am I, and who art Thou? I indeed know and confess Who Thou art Who givest Thyself to me; but dost Thou know what I am who am about to receive Thee?
And is it possible, O my Jesus, that Thou Who art infinite purity desirest to come and reside in this soul of mine, which has been so many times the dwelling of Thy enemy, and soiled with so many sins? I know, O my Lord, Thy great Majesty and my misery; I am ashamed to appear before Thee. Reverence would induce me to keep at a distance from Thee; but if I depart from Thee, O my Life, whither shall I go? To whom shall I have recourse? And what will become of me? No, never will I depart from Thee; nay, even I will ever draw nearer and nearer to Thee. Thou art satisfied that I should receive Thee as Food, Thou even invitest me to this. I come, then, O my amiable Savior, I come to receive Thee this morning, all humbled and confused at the sight of my defects; but full of confidence in Thy tender mercy, and in the love which Thou bearest me.
5. ACT or CONTRITION. I am indeed grieved, O God of my soul, for not having loved Thee during the time past; still worse, so far from loving Thee, to gratify my own inclinations I .have greatly offended and outraged Thy infinite goodness: I have turned my back upon Thee, I have despised Thy grace and friendship; in fine, O my God, I was willing and ready to lose Thee. Lord, I am sorry, and grieve for it with my whole heart. I detest the sins which I have committed, be they great or small, as the greatest of all my misfortunes, because I have thereby offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness. I trust that Thou hast already forgiven me; but if Thou hast not yet pardoned me, oh, do so before I receive Thee: wash with Thy Blood this soul of mine, in which Thou art so soon about to dwell.
6. ACT OF DESIRE. And now, my soul, the blessed hour has arrived in which Jesus will come and take up His dwelling in thy poor heart. Behold the King of Heaven, behold thy Redeemer and God, Who is even now coming; prepare thyself to receive Him with love, invite Him with all the ardour of thy desire. Come, O my Jesus, come to my soul, which desires Thee. Before Thou givest Thyself to me, I desire to give Thee, and I now give Thee, my miserable heart; do Thou accept it, and come quickly to take possession of it.
Come, my God! hasten; delay no longer. My only and Infinite Good, my Treasure, my Life, my Paradise, my Love, my All, my wish is to receive Thee with the love with which the most holy and loving souls have received Thee; with that with which the most Blessed Virgin Mary received Thee; with their Communions I unite this my Communion.
Most Holy Virgin and my Mother Mary, behold, I already approach to receive thy Son. Would that I had the heart and love with which thou didst communicate! Give me this morning thy Jesus, as thou didst give Him to the shepherds and to the kings. I intend to receive Him from thy most pure hands. Tell Him that I am thy servant and thy client; for He will thus look upon me with a more loving eye, and, now that He is coming, will press me more closely to Himself.
II.-THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION
There is no prayer more agreeable to God, or more profitable to the soul, than that which is made during the Thanksgiving after Communion. It is the opinion of many grave writers (Suarez, Gaetano, Valenza, De Lugo, and others), that Holy Communion, so long as the sacramental species lasts, constantly produces greater and greater graces in the soul, provided the soul is then constant in disposing itself by new acts of virtue. The Council of Florence, in the Decree of Eugenius IV to the Armenians, teaches that the Blessed Sacrament produces the same effect in the soul as material food in the body, which, when it is eaten, takes effect according to the state in which it finds the body.
For this reason, holy souls endeavor to remain as long as possible in prayer after Communion. The Blessed John of Avila, even when he was giving his missions, used to remain for at least two hours in prayer. Father Balthasar Alvarez used to say that we should make great account of the time after Communion, imagining that we hear from the lips of Jesus Christ kimself the words which He addressed to His disciples: But me you have not always with you.
It is not advisable, as many do, to begin to read immediately after Communion; it is then better to spend at least a short time in producing holy affections, and in conversing with Jesus Who is then within us, and in repeating many times words of tenderness, or some loving prayer. Jesus Christ said the same prayer in the Garden three times over: And he prayed the third time, saying the self-same word. In affections and prayers it is, then, that the soul should entertain itself with Jesus after Communion; for we must know that the acts formed in prayer after Communion are far more precious and meritorious in the sight of God than when made at another time; for the soul being then united with Jesus, the value of the acts is increased by the presence of Jesus. We should, moreover, know that after Communion Jesus Christ is more disposed to grant graces. St. Teresa says that after Communion Jesus places Himself in the soul as on a throne of grace, and then says: What wiliest thou that I should do for thee?: meaning O soul, I am come for the express purpose of granting thee graces; ask Me what thou wilt, and as much as thou wiliest, thou shalt receive all.
Oh, what treasures of grace would you receive, devout soul, if you only entertained yourself with Jesus for an hour, or at least half an hour, after Communion! For this purpose you can read the following acts. Be also careful after your prayer is ended, to keep yourself during the whole day on which you have communicated united by affections and prayers with Jesus, Whom you have received.
ACTS AFTER COMMUNION
1. ACT OF FAITH. Behold, my God is even now come to visit me; my Savior to dwell in my soul. My Jesus is even now within me. He is come to make Himself mine, and at the same time to make me His. So that Jesus is mine and I belong to Jesus; Jesus is all mine, and I am all His.
O Infinite Goodness O Infinite Mercy! O Infinite Love! that a God should come to unite Himself to me, and to make Himself all mine! My soul, now that thou art thus closely bound to Jesus, that thou art thus one with Him, what doest thou? Hast thou nothing to say to Him? Lost thou not converse with thy God Who is within thee? Ah, yes, renew thy Faith; remember that the Angels now surround thee adoring their God, Who is within thy breast; do thou also adore thy Lord within thyself. Enter into thyself, and banish thence every other thought. Unite all thy affections together, and, clinging closely to God, say:
2. AN ACT OF WELCOME. Ah, my Jesus, my Love, my Infinite Good, my All, be ever welcome in the poor dwelling of my soul! Ah, my Lord, where art Thou? To what a place art Thou come? Thou hast entered my heart, which is far worse than the stable in which Thou wast born; it is full of earthly affections, of self-love, and of inordinate desires. And how couldst Thou come to dwell there? I would address Thee with St. Peter: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man. Yes, depart from me, O Lord, for I am indeed unworthy to receive a God of infinite goodness; go and find repose in those pure souls who serve Thee with so much love. But no, my Redeemer; what do I say? Leave me not! for if Thou departest, I am lost. I embrace Thee, my Life; I cling to Thee. Mad indeed have I been in having separated myself from Thee for the love of creatures; and in my ingratitude I drove Thee from me. But now I will never more separate myself from Thee, my Treasure; I desire to live and die ever united to Thee. Most Blessed Virgin Mary, ye Seraphim and blessed souls, who love God with pure love, lend me your affections, that I may worthily attend on my beloved Lord.
3. ACT OF THANKSGIVING. My God and Lord, I thank Thee for the grace which Thou hast this morning bestowed upon me, of coming to dwell in my soul; but I would wish to thank Thee in a manner worthy of Thee and of the great favor which Thou hast done me. But what do I say? How can such a miserable creature as I am ever worthily thank Thee?
Father Segneri says that the feeling most becoming a soul who communicates is that of wondering astonishment at the thought, and to repeat: "A God is united to me; a God is mine!" David said: What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that he hath rendered to me? But I! What return shall I make to Thee, my Jesus, Who, after having given me so many other good things, hast this morning, moreover, given me Thyself? My soul, bless and thank thy God, then, as best thou canst. And thou, my Mother Mary, my holy advocates, my Guardian Angel, and all ye souls who love God, -- Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what great things he hath done for my soul. -- Come and bless and thank my God for me, admiring and praising the indeed great graces which He has granted me.
4. ACT OF OBLATION. My beloved to me, and I to him. Should a king go to visit a poor shepherd in his hut, what could the shepherd offer him other than his whole hut, such as it is? Since, then, O Jesus, my Divine King, Thou hast come to visit the poor house of my soul, I offer and give Thee this house and my entire self, together with my liberty and will: My beloved to me, and I to him. Thou hast given Thyself all to me; I give myself all to Thee. My Jesus, from this day forward I will be no longer mine; I will be Thine, and all Thine. May my senses be Thine, that they may serve me only to please Thee. And what greater pleasure, says St. Peter of Alcantara, can be found than that of pleasing Thee, most amiable, most loving, most gracious God? I at the same time give Thee all the powers of my soul, and I will that they shall be all Thine; my memory I will use only to recall to mind Thy benefits and Thy love; my understanding I will use only to think of Thee, Who always thinks of my good; my will I will use only to love Thee, my God, my All, and to will only that which Thou wiliest. My most sweet Lord, I offer, then, and consecrate to Thee this morning, all that I am and have: my senses, my thoughts, my affections, my desires, my pleasures, my inclinations, my liberty; in a word, I place my whole body and soul in Thy hands.
Accept, O Infinite Majesty, the sacrifice of the hitherto most ungrateful sinner Thou hast ever had on earth; but who now offers and gives himself all to Thee. Do with me, and dispose of me, O Lord, as Thou pleasest.
Come, O consuming Fire, O Divine Love! and consume in me all which is mine, and which is displeasing in Thy most pure eyes, so that henceforward I may be all Thine, and may live only to execute, not Thy commands and counsels alone, but all Thy holy desires and good pleasure as well. Amen.
O most holy Mary, do thou present this offering of mine to the Most Blessed Trinity with thine own hands; and do thou obtain their acceptance of it, and that They may grant me the grace to be faithful unto death. Amen, Amen, Amen.
5. ACT OF PETITION. O my soul, what art thou doing? This is not a time to be wasted; it is a precious time, in which thou canst receive from God all the graces thou ask. See thou not the Eternal Father, Who is lovingly beholding thee? For within thee He sees His beloved Son, the dearest object of His love. Drive, then, far from thee all other thoughts; re-enkindle thy Faith, enlarge thy heart, and ask for whatever thou wiliest.
Hear thou not Jesus Himself Who thus addresses thee: What wilt thou that I should do to thee? O soul, tell me, what dost thou desire of Me? I am come for the express purpose of enriching and gratifying thee; ask with confidence, and thou wilt receive all.
Ah, my most sweet Savior, since Thou hast come into my heart in order to grant me graces, and desirest that I should ask Thee for them, I ask Thee not for the goods of the earth—riches, honors, or pleasure, but grant me, I beseech thee, intense sorrow for the displeasure I have caused Thee; impart to me so clear a light that I may know the vanity of this world, and how deserving Thou art of love. Change this heart of mine, detach it from all earthly affections; give me a heart conformable in all things to Thy holy will, that it may seek only for that which is most pleasing to Thee, and have no other desire than Thy holy love: Create a clean heart in me, O God.
I deserve not this; but Thou, my Jesus, deservest it for me, since Thou art come to dwell in my soul: I ask it of Thee through Thy merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother, and by the love which Thou bearest to Thy Eternal Father.
Here pause to ask Jesus for some other particular grace for yourself and for your neighbors. Do not forget poor sinners, or the Souls in Purgatory; and pray also for me, who composed this little book for your good.
Eternal Father, Jesus Christ Himself Thy Son has said: Amen, amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it you. For the love, then, of this Son, Whom I now hold within my breast, do Thou graciously hear me and grant my petition.
Jesus and Mary, my sweetest Loves, may I suffer for you, may I die for you; may I be all yours, and in nothing my own! May the Most Blessed Sacrament ever be thanked and praised! Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
EN EGO
A Plenary Indulgence, applicable to the
Souls in Purgatory is annexed to this
prayer, when recited before a representation
of Christ Crucified, after Communion.
Behold, O good and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, whilst with all the affection of my heart and grief of soul I ponder within myself, and mentally contemplate Thy Five most Precious Wounds; having before my eyes what the Prophet David put in Thy mouth concerning Thee, O good Jesus: They have dug my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones (Psalms 21:17).
(Say five Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes for the Pope's intentions in order to gain all the Indulgences you can).
ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me!
Body of Christ, protect me!
Blood of Christ, inebriate me!
Water of the Side of Christ, purify me!
Passion of Christ, strengthen me!
O good Jesus, hear Thou me;
Within Thy Wounds, oh, hide me;
Suffer me not to leave Thee;
From the evil one defend me;
In my last hour call Thou me;
Bid me, oh, bid me, come to Thee;
With Saints and Angels may I praise Thee
Through endless ages of eternity. Amen.
(Indulgence of 7 years when said after Communion).
PETITIONS TO JESUS CHRIST RECEIVED IN HOLY COMMUNION
O my Jesus, now that Thou, Who art true Life, art come to me, make me die to the world, to live only to Thee, my Redeemer. By the flames of Thy love destroy in me all that is displeasing to Thee, and give me a true desire to gratify and please Thee in all things.
Give me that true humility which will make me love contempt and self-abjection, and take from me all ambition of putting myself forward.
Give me the spirit of mortification, that I may deny myself all those things that do not tend to Thy love, and may lovingly embrace that which is displeasing to the senses and to self-love.
Give me perfect resignation to Thy will, that I may accept in peace, pains, infirmities, loss of friends or property, desolation, persecution, and all that comes to me from Thy hand. I offer myself all to Thee, that Thou mayest dispose of me according to Thy pleasure. And give me grace always to repeat this entire offering of myself, especially at the time of my death. May I, then, so sacrifice my life to Thee, with all my affection in union with the sacrifice that Thou didst Make of Thy life for me to the Eternal Father. My Jesus, enlighten me, and make me know Thy goodness, and the obligation to love Thee above all things, for ;he love Thou hast borne me in dying for me, and in leaving Thyself in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I pray Thee to give Thy light to all infidels who know Thee not, to all heretics who are out of the Church, and to all sinners who live deprived of Thy grace. My Jesus, make Thyself known, make Thyself loved. I recommend to Thee all the Souls in Purgatory, and especially (insert names here); alleviate the pains they suffer, and shorten the time of their banishment from Thy sight; do this through Thy merits, and those of Thy most holy Mother and all the Saints.
My God, enkindle the flame of Thy love within me, so that I may seek nothing but Thy pleasure; that nothing may please me but pleasing Thee. I drive from my heart everything which is not agreeable to Thee. May I always be able to say with real affection: O God, my God, I wish for Thee alone, and nothing more. My Jesus, give me a great love for Thy most sacred Passion, that Thy sufferings and Death may be ever before my eyes to excite me to love Thee always, and to make me desire to give Thee some grateful compensation for Thy so great love. Give me also a great love for the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, in which Thou hast made known the exceeding tenderness Thou hast for us. I also beg of Thee to give me a tender devotion to Thy most holy Mother: give me grace always to love her and serve her, always to have recourse to her intercession, and to induce others to honor her and confide in her patronage; and grant to me and to all men ever to have a great confidence, first in the merits of Thy Passion, and then in the intercession of Mary.
I pray Thee grant me a happy death. Grant that I may then receive Thee with great love in the most holy Viaticum, that in Thy embrace, burning with a holy fire, and a great desire of seeing Thee, I may quit this life to throw myself at Thy feet the first time it shall be my lot to see Thee.
Above all, I pray Thee, O my Jesus, to give me the grace of prayer, that I may recommend myself always to Thee and Thy most holy Mother, especially in time of temptation; and I pray Thee, by Thy merits, to grant me holy Perseverance and Thy holy love.
Bless me, O Jesus, and bless me altogether—my soul, my body, my senses, and my faculties. Bless especially my tongue, that it may only speak for Thy glory. Bless my eyes, that they may not look at anything that may tempt me to displease Thee. Bless my taste, that it may not offend Thee by intemperance; and bless all the members of my body, that they may all serve Thee and not offend Thee. Bless my memory, that it may always remember Thy love and the favors Thou hast accorded me. Bless my understanding, that it may know Thy goodness, and the obligation I have of loving Thee; and that it may see all that I must avoid, and all that I must do to conform myself to Thy holy will. Above all, bless my will, that it may seek for nothing but Thee, the infinite Good; that it may seek for nothing but to please Thee and may take delight in nothing but what conduces to Thy glory.
O my King, come Thou and reign alone in my soul; take entire possession of it, that it may neither serve nor obey anything but Thy love.
O that I might spend myself all for Thee, my Jesus, Who hast spent all Thy life for me!
O Lamb of God, sacrificed on the Cross, remember that I am one of those souls which Thou hast redeemed with so much labor and sorrow. Never let me lose Thee again. Thou hast given Thyself all to me; make me all Thine own, and let my only wish be to please Thee. I love Thee, O immense Good, in order to give Thee pleasure. I love Thee, because Thou art worthy of my love. I have no greater grief, than that of thinking that I have been so long in the world without loving Thee.
My beloved Redeemer, give me a portion of that grief which Thou didst feel for my sins in the garden of Gethsemani. O my Jesus, would that I had died and never offended Thee: O love of my Jesus, Thou art my love and my hope! I would rather lose my life, and a thousand lives than lose Thy grace.
My God, if I were to die in sin, I could no more love Thee. I thank Thee that Thou givest me time, and dost call me to love Thee. Now, then, that I can love Thee, I will love Thee with all my soul. Thou hast borne with me so long that I might love Thee. Yes, and I will love Thee. Ah, by the precious Blood Thou hast shed for me, suffer me not to betray Thee again. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be confounded forever. What is the world? What are riches? What are pleasures? What are honors? God! God! I wish for God alone! My God, Thou art sufficient for me; Thou art an infinite Good.
O my Jesus, bind me wholly to Thy love, and draw all my affections to Thyself, that I may love none other but Thee. Make me all Thine before I die.
Ah, my God, as long as I live I stand in danger of losing Thee. When shall the day come that I can say: My Jesus, I can no longer lose Thee?
O Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, despise me not; suffer me to love Thee, and give me Thy holy love. I wish to love Thee greatly in this life, that I may love Thee greatly in the next.
O infinite Good, I love Thee; but do Thou make me know the great good that I love, and give me the love Thou dost desire to see in me. Enable me to conquer all things to please Thee. Amen.
Wound, O my most tender Jesus, the inmost of my soul with the sweet dart of Thy love, that through Thy love and the desire of possessing Thee, my soul may languish and melt within me, and so long to quit this life, to come and unite itself perfectly with Thee in a happy eternity. Make my soul always hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, my Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. May it ever thirst after Thee, O Fountain of life and light! May it ever desire Thee, seek Thee, speak to Thee alone, find Thee, and do all things to Thy praise and glory to the end! Thou, my Redeemer, art my only hope, my riches, my consolation, my peace, my refuge, my wisdom, my portion, and my treasure. On Thee may my heart and my mind be ever fixed I Amen.
ACT OF CONSECRATION OF THE HUMAN RACE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
(Ordered by Our Holy Father, Pius XI, to be recited each year on the Feast of the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ).
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more securely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and to unity of Faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them all into the light and Kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of that race, once Thy chosen people. Of old, they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them, a laver of Redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor for ever. Amen
PRAYER TO CHRIST THE KING OF ALL
O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge Thee as the King of all. Whatsoever has been made, has been created for Thee. Exercise Thy rights over me.I renew my Baptismal vows, renouncing Satan with all his works and pomps, and promising to live as a good Christian. I pledge myself especially to promote, as far as in me lies, the triumph of God's rights and those of Thy Church.
Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my feeble help to make all hearts recognize Thy Sacred Kingship, and thus to establish the reign of Thy Peace throughout the world. Amen.
(His Holiness Pope Pius XI grants a Plenary Indulgence once a day on the usual conditions to all who recite the above prayer).
TO OBTAIN THE LOVE OF JESUS AND LOVE TOWARDS HER
O Mary, thou dost so much desire to see this thy Son Jesus loved; if thou lovest me, this is the grace I ask of thee, and which thou must procure for me: obtain for me a great love for Jesus Christ, and not to love any other than Him. Thou obtainest from Him all that thou dost wish; listen to me, then, pray for me and comfort me; bind me in such a manner to Jesus that. I shall no longer be able to leave off loving Him. Obtain for me also a great love towards thee, who art of all creatures the most loving, the most lovely, and the most loved by God. I rely greatly on thy compassion, and I love thee, my Lady; but I love thee only a little: ask thy God to give me a greater love; for to love thee is a grace God grants only to those whom thou dost wish to be saved. Live Jesus our Love, and Mary our hope!
PRAYER TO TILE MOTHER OF PERPETUAL SUCCOR.
O Mother of Perpetual Succor, thou art the dispenser of all the graces which God bestows upon us wretched creatures; and for this end has He made thee so powerful, so rich, so kind, in order that thou mayest succor us in our miseries. Thou art the advocate of the most miserable and abandoned criminals who have recourse to thee. Help me, then, who recommend myself to thee. I place my eternal salvation in thy hands; to thee I consign my soul. Number me amongst thy more special servants, take me under thy protection and I am satisfied; yes, for if thou helpest me, I fear nothing; neither my sins, since thou wilt obtain for me the pardon of them; nor the devils, for thou art more powerful than all hell; nor even Jesus, my very Judge, because by one prayer of thine He will be appeased. My only fear is that through my own negligence, I should cease to recommend myself to thee, and should thus be lost. Obtain for me, my Lady, the pardon of my sins, the love of Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace of ever having recourse to thee, O Mother of Perpetual Succor.
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