Blessed Sacrament Book/Devotions for Communion

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Blessed Sacrament Book (1913)
by Francis Xavier Lasance

Devotions for Communion

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4267205Blessed Sacrament Book — Devotions for Communion1913Francis Xavier Lasance

Acts of Devotion and Prayers for Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

For the Hour of Adoration, for the First Friday of the Month, and for the Forty Hours' Exposition

IN my moments before the tabernacle I will try to obey the pious counsels contained Latin distich.

"Crede, dole, spera, grates age, dilige, adora,

Vulnera pande animae, donaque sancta pete."

"Believe, and grieve, and hope; thank, love, adore,

Show your soul's wounds, and holy gifts implore."

Believing all that Thou, my God, hast in any way revealed to us — grieving for all my sins, offenses, and negligences — hoping in Thee, O Lord, Who wilt never let me be confounded— thanking Thee for this supreme gift, and for all the gifts of Thy goodness — loving Thee, above all in this sacrament of Thy love — adoring Thee in this deepest mystery of Thy condescension: I lay before Thee all the wounds and wants of my poor soul, and ask for all that I need and desire. But I need only Thyself, O Lord; I desire none but Thee — Thy grace, and the grace to use well Thy graces, the possession of Thee by grace in this life, and the possession of Thee forever in the eternal kingdom of Thy glory. Thus, day by day, especially during my moments before the tabernacle, I will

"Believe, and grieve, and hope; thank, love, adore, Show my soul's wounds, and holy gifts implore."

-Fr. Matthew Russell, S.J.

The Venerable Peter Julian Epmard

PERE Eymard is sometimes called the Apostle of the Holy Eucharist, because he was in recent times the foremost propagator of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He is the founder of the society of priests known as The Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, who have in their houses perpetual exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Affiliated to this society are: The Priests' Eucharistic League and The People's Eucharistic League. Pere Eymard systematized the devotion to the Holy Eucharist, and made popular the 44 Hour of Adoration," to the practice of which indulgences are attached. One of the methods for keeping the Hour of Adoration, recommended and explained by Pere Eymard, in his beautiful work " La Presence Riele" is that which corresponds to the four ends of sacrifice. The Hour of Adoration is divided into four parts. During each quarter of an hour we are to honor Our Lord by one of the four ends of sacrifice, i.e., by Adoration, Thanksgiving, Reparation, and Supplication. Pere Eymara was born at La Mure d'Isere, France, on Feb. 4, 1811, and died in the odor of sanctity, worn out with his zealous labors, in 1868.

Offering of the Holy Hour

MY most sweet Jesus, I desire during this hour to " watch " with Thee, and by the love of my poor heart to console Thee for the bitter sorrow which overwhelmed Thee in the Garden of Gethsemani. I desire to forget myself and all that concerns me excepting my sins, the foresight of which caused Thee so much suffering in Thine agony, and as I was a cause of sorrow to Thee then, so now I desire to be to Thee a consolation. ... I offer Thee, moreover, this hour of prayer and reparation for the triumph of the Church, for the conversion of souls and of nations, and for every other intention for which Thou didst pray, sweat blood, endure Thy agony, and accept Thy bitter passion and death. Angel of the agony, help me so to pass this Holy Hour that I may console the Heart of my Jesus and promote His interests throughout the world.

—From " The Voice of the Sacred Heart."

A Prayer for a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament

(Including all the Acts Recommended)

MY Lord and my God, I firmly believe that Thou art really present in the most holy Sacrament of the Altar. I adore Thee beneath the eucharistic veil which Thou hast mercifully chosen in order to approach us. Permit me, O dearest Jesus, to render Thee my homage together with the angels who surround Thy altar-throne. I believe that Thou dwellest on our altars, not only to receive our humble adoration, but also to be the food of our souls, our sacrifice, our light in darkness, our counsel in doubt, our consolation in affliction, our strength in temptation, our friend in every need, our teacher in the school of perfection, our model in the way of sanctity and salvation.

I am, indeed, a poor sinner, but I hope in that boundless mercy which detains Thee a prisoner of love in the tabernacle. I come to Thee with a contrite heart, and I beg Thy pardon and mercy. Thou art truly called the "lover of souls," for Thou hast sacrificed Thy life for our salvation; Thou hast said: "My delights are to be with the children of men;" and Thy death-bed gift to us was the Holy Eucharist. I behold the tabernacle surmounted by a cross, and this reminds me, dear Lord and Saviour, that the Blessed Sacrament is a memorial of Thy passion and death. I love that infinite goodness which induced Thee to institute this holy Sacrament of the Altar, the grandest memorial of all Thy works, wherein Thou dost communicate Thyself so wonderfully to Thy creatures. I thank Thee for this sublime proof of Thy love, and ardently wish that I could worthily acknowledge all the blessings that I have ever received from this fountain of grace and mercy. I sincerely regret that this precious pledge of Thy love is received by so many Christians with coldness and indifference. I wish to make amends for my own ingratitude, and heartfelt atonement for all those sinful acts of my life, by which I have wounded Thy sacred Heart. I offer Thee my profound adoration, my sorrow, and my love, to appease and to rejoice, as much as I can, Thy sacred Heart in this sacrament of love and to make reparation for all the acts of irreverence and profanation which have been committed against Thee. I love Thee with my whole soul; I acknowledge Thee as my only Master; I offer Thee all that I have, and all that I am. Jesus! I give Thee my heart with all its affections; I give Thee my soul with all its powers; I give Thee my body with all its senses. Jesus! I consecrate myself entirely to Thee; I wish to live and labor and suffer for the love of Thee. I abandon myself to Thee. Give me but Thy love and Thy grace; I will ask for nothing more. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done! I purpose now and ever to adore and love Thee, not only to supply the defect of those Catholics who adore and love Thee not, but also for the conversion of heretics, schismatics, atheists, blasphemers, Jews, and idolaters. O silent dweller in the tabernacle, Thou art, indeed, a hidden God! Here Thou art still the victim of the cross! As I gaze upon the sacred Host I recall that pathetic word of Thine,

O Lord, at the Last Supper: "Do this in commemoration of Me" — "Remember Me!" Yes, the Blessed Sacrament is a memorial of the "Man of sorrows," a memorial of the greatest pain a creature on earth ever endured, a memorial of the most tender, most constant, most unselfish and most heroic love the world shall ever know — the last sweet gift of a Heart that fears to be forgotten. Oh, yes! Lord I shall remember Thee. How could I forget Thy love, dearest Jesus! Mayest Thou be known, adored, and loved by all, and may thanks and praise for evermore be given to Thee in the most holy and most adorable sacrament. Amen.

Petition

Dear Jesus, present in the Sacrament of the Altar, be for ever thanked and praised. Love, worthy of all celestial and terrestrial love! Who, out of infinite love for me, ungrateful sinner, didst assume our human nature, didst shed Thy most precious blood in the cruel scourging, and didst expire on a shameful cross for our eternal welfare! Now, illumined with lively faith, with the outpouring of my whole soul and the fervor of my heart, I humbly beseech Thee, through the infinite merits of Thy painful sufferings, give me strength and courage to destroy every evil passion which sways my heart, to bless Thee in my greatest afflictions, to glorify Thee by the exact fulfilment of all my duties, supremely to hate all sin, and thus to become a saint.

Indulgence of 100 days, once a day. — Pius IX, Jan. 1, 1866.

Ejaculations

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Indulgence of 300 days, every time. — Pius X, Dec. 26, 1907.

II

DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, set free the holy souls in purgatory.

Indulgence of 300 days, every time. — Pius X, Nov. 6, 1906.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori for a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament

Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which Thou bearest to men, dost remain with them day and night in this sacrament, full of mercy and of love, expecting, inviting, and receiving all who come to visit Thee, I believe that Thou art present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the abyss of my nothingness I adore Thee, and I thank Thee for all the favors which Thou hast bestowed upon me, particularly for haying given me Thyself in this sacrament, for having given me for my advocate Thy most holy mother, Mary, and for having called me to visit Thee in tins church.

I this day salute Thy most loving Heart, and I wish to salute it for three ends: first in thanksgiving for this great gift; secondly, in compensation for all the injuries Thou hast received from Thy enemies in this sacrament; thirdly, to adore Thee in all places in which Thou art least honored and most abandoned in the Holy Sacrament. My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I am sorry for having hitherto offended Thy infinite goodness. I purpose, with the assistance of Thy grace, never more to offend Thee; and, at this moment, miserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to Thee. I give Thee my entire will, all my affections and desires and all that I have. From this day forward, do what Thou wilt with me, and with whatever belongs to me. I ask and desire only Thy holy love, the gift of final perseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of Thy will. I recommend to Thee the souls in purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and to most holy Mary; and I also recommend to Thee all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my sections with the affections of Thy most loving Heart; and, thus united, I offer them to Thy eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Thy name, and for Thy sake, to accept them

Indulgence of 900 days when said before the Blessed Sacrament. — Pius IX, Sept 7, 1854.

O Sacrament most holy!

O Sacrament divine!

All praise and all thanks giving be every moment thine!

Indulgence of 100 days, once a day.— Pius VII, Dec. 7, 1819.

A Prayer for the Holy Hour or for any Visit to the Blessed Sacrament

Ejaculation

O Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us.

Prayer

O Jesus, humbly kneeling in Thy presence and united with all the faithful on earth and all the saints in heaven, I adore Thee, true God and true man, here present in the Holy Eucharist. Grateful even to the very depths of my soul, I love Thee with my whole heart, O Jesus, Who art infinitely perfect and infinitely amiable. Enrich me with Thy grace, so that I shall never in any way offend Thee; and, thus strengthened here on earth by Thy eucharistic presence, may I merit to enjoy with Mary Thy eternal and blessed presence in heaven. Amen.

An indulgence of 100 days each time this ejaculation is said, and an indulgence of 300 days on any day of the year may be gained by all the faithful who devoutly recite this prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.— Acta Apostolic Sedis, April, 1909. Vide "The Ecclesiastical Review Year Book" for 1911, p. 134.

The Crown or Chaplet of the Blessed Sacrament

V. O God, come to my assistance.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Our Father, Glory be to the Father.

The chaplet consists of thirty-three aspirations, which may be used during the hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. After each aspiration may be added an Our Father, and at the end of each decade a Glory be to the Father.

The first Decade

Acts of Faith, Hope and charity

I. Faith:

I BELIEVE, O my Jesus, Thy divine word, that under this appearance of bread Thou Thyself art here present as Thou art in heaven. Our Father.

II. I believe that Thou art the divine Son, eternally equal to the Father; that by the operation of the Holy Ghost Thou didst take human flesh of the Blessed Virgin.

Our Father.

III. I believe that Thou art the same Jesus Who wast born of Mary, ever virgin, adored an infant by Thy angels, by the shepherds, and the magi.

Our Father.

IV. I believe, O my Redeemer, here present m the sacrament, that Thou art the same Jesus of Nazareth Who didst heal the sick, and didst raise the dead, Who for us didst suffer and die upon the cross.

Our Father.

V. I believe, finally, that Thou Thyself, now sitting glorious at the right hand of Thy Father in heaven, and there interceding for me, yet art verily present in this sacrament, my nourishment on earth.

Our Father.

VI. Hope:

O most loving Jesus, Who in this sacrament hast left me a pledge of future glory, I hope through the merits of Thy death and passion to behold Thee face to face in heaven.

Our Father.

VII. O Jesus, cause of our glorious resurrection, I hope, through the virtue of this divine food, wherewith Thou nourishest me, to rise glorious into life eternal.

Our Father.

VIII. Love:

I love Thee, O Jesus, Who art perfect charity; Who, in Thy essence, art true God and true man: in Whom are contained the treasures of the divinity, and all the fulness of grace, which descends to us upon this earth.

Our Father.

IX. I love Thee, dear Jesus, Who, for love of me, hast made Thyself like unto me; kindle within me the flame of sacred love which Thou didst bring from heaven, that, loving Thee, I may grow into Thy likeness.

Our Father.

X. I love Thee, O divine Jesus, my Lord and master, because Thou hast redeemed and freed me, poor slave of sin, with Thy all-precious blood. Oh, of Thy sweet mercy, grant that I may enjoy the full fruit of Thy redemption.

Our Father, Glory be to the Father, etc.

The Second Decade

Acts of Adoration

I.I adore Thee, O living bread, descended from heaven for my spiritual food; give me grace worthily to receive Thee in life and in death.

Our Father.

II. I adore Thee, divine food of the strong; strengthen my weakness, that I may ever be constant and faithful to Thy love.

Our Father.

III. I adore Thee, O my Jesus, hidden beneath the sacramental veil; let my life be hidden, through Thee, in God:

Our Father.

IV. I adore Thee, great God, Who art the only way; make me ever to walk in the path of Thy precepts, and after Thy shining ex ample, that so I may arrive at eternal salvation.

Our Father.

V. I adore Thee, O Jesus, true and spiritual life of all who love Thee; give me grace to die to myself, and to live to Thee alone, Who didst die for the love of me.

Our Father.

VI. I adore Thee, my dear Redeemer, truth ineffable; enliven, I beseech Thee, and increase my faith, that it may be fruitful in good works.

Our Father.

VII. I adore Thee, O Jesus, divine light of the world; illuminate my mind, that, knowing, I may love Thee, and may come to enjoy Thee eternally in heaven.

Our Father.

VIII. I adore Thee, divine and loving shepherd; draw to Thyself this wounded sheep, that it may never more leave Thy fold, to fall into the hands of the infernal wolf.

Our Father.

IX. I adore Thee, divine Lamb, Who, for the sins of the world, didst give Thyself to be slain; grant that may bear all my sufferings patiently for Thy sake, in satisfaction for my sins.

Our Father.

X. I adore Thee, O Jesus, king of glory, judge of the living and the dead; make me on earth so to fear Thy justice, that in heaven I may eternally sing Thy mercy.

Our Father; Glory be to the Father, etc.

The Third Decade

Acts of Thanksgiving

I.I thank Thee, O divine Redeemer, that, not content with having for our sakes come upon the earth, Thou hast instituted this adorable sacrament, that therein Thou mightest remain with us unto the consummation of the world.

Our Father.

II. I thank Thee, O glorious Jesus, that Thou dost veil, beneath the eucharistic species, Thy infinite majesty and beauty, which Thy angels delight to behold, that so I might have courage to approach the throne of Thy mercy.

Our Father.

III. I thank Thee, O Jesus most loving, that, having made Thyself my food, Thou descendest upon this tongue, which so often has offended Thee, and dost enter within this body, which alas! has too often deserved to be visited with Thy anger.

Our Father.

IV. I thank Thee, my dear Saviour, that in this ineffable sacrament Thou unitest me to Thee with so much love, that I therein live in Thee, and Thou in me.

Our Father.

V. I thank Thee, O my Jesus, that, giving Thyself to me in this Blessed Sacrament, Thou hast so enriched it with the treasures of Thy love, that Thou hast not a greater gift to give me.

Our Father.

VI. I thank Thee, O my good Jesus, that not only Thou art become my food, but also in this Blessed Sacrament, offerest Thyself a continual sacrifice for my salvation to Thy eternal Father.

Our Father.

VII. I thank Thee, divine Priest, for this great boon that Thou dost sacrifice Thyself daily upon our altars, in adoration and homage to the most blessed Trinity, and dost supply for our poor and miserable adorations.

Our Father.

VIII. I thank Thee, O my Saviour, because, renewing in this daily sacrifice the very sacrifice of the cross offered on Calvary, Thou dost satisfy divine justice for us miserable sinners.

Our Father.

Blessed Sacrament Book/Devotions for Communion

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