The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Novena for the Festival of Corpus Christi
Novena
FOR THE FESTIVAL OF CORPUS CHRISTI.
(To begin on Wednesday in Pentecost Week.)
O AMIABLE Jesus! who hast given us in the adorable Eucharist, so convincing a proof of thy infinite love, permit us to thank thee in the name of all thy creatures, for the blessings included in this one precious gift. We adore thee, O hidden Deity! and most ardently wish we could offer thee such love as would atone for our own offences, and those committed by all mankind against this most amiable mystery. But, my God, if all creatures are so deeply indebted to thy mercy for this adorable sacrament, how much more sensibly should we feel our obligations, since by thy special predilection we have been chosen to assemble here under the same roof with thyself, to see thee daily offered on our altars, and to receive so frequently thy precious body and blood. Convinced by these thy tender mercies that our confidence in thy goodness cannot be too great, we come now to implore of thee, by that infinite love which induced thee to institute this adorable sacrament, and by all the graces which have ever flowed from this source of every blessing, to grant us the favour we ask in this Novena.
We firmly purpose to become from this moment the devoted adorers of this sacrament of love, and to take thy eucharistic life for the rule and model of ours. Give us grace to honour thy silence on our altar by the spirit of recollection and prayer; thy poverty, obedience, and adorable sanctity by detachment from all things, renunciation of self-will, and horror of sin. Above all, we beseech thee, O living Bread of eternal life! to remove all obstacles to our frequently and worthily receiving thee; and to grant us so tender a devotion to this adorable mystery, that our hearts and thoughts may ever be turned to thee present on our altars, and every action of our lives be directed to the perfect accomplishment of thy holy will. Amen.