The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Devotions to the Blessed Sacrament
Devotions to the Blessed Sacrament.
FAITH teaches, and we.are bound to believe, that Jesus Christ is really present in the consecrated Host, under the appearance of bread. But we must know also that he remains on our altars, as on a throne of love and mercy, there to dispense his graces to us, and to show his love. He remains with us night and day, in this hidden manner, that Christians may visit him in the church, and by their devotions, their thanksgivings, and affections, gratefully acknowledge and honour the loving presence of Jesus Christ, dwelling in the Sacrament of the Altar. In the following visits you will find many examples of the tender affection with which souls inflamed with the love of God, desired to remain in the presence of the most Holy Sacrament. You will find that all the saints have been enamoured of this sweet devotion. On this earth we cannot find a more brilliant jewel, or a more lovely treasure, than Jesus in the Sacrament. O how delightful it is to remain with faith, and with a tender devotion, at the foot of the altar, and to converse familiarly with Jesus Christ, who dwells in our tabernacles for the purpose of hearing the prayers of all who visit him! How delightful to implore his pardon for our offences, to lay before him all our wants, as one friend does to another in whom he places all his confidence, to ask his grace, his love, and his glory! But O, what a paradise to continue in acts of love to that Lord, who remains on the altar interceding before his Father in our behalf, and burning with love for us! Blessed Henry Suso used to say, that Jesus on the altar hears the prayers of the faithful more readily than he does in any other place. Make a trial of this devotion, and you will see the great fruit which you will gather from it. Be sure that of all the moments of your life, the time which you spend in devotion before this divine Sacrament will be that which shall give you the greatest support during life, and the greatest consolation at the hour of death and for all eternity. And be persuaded that you will gain more in a quarter of an hour spent in prayer before the Holy Eucharist, than in all the other spiritual exercises of the day.
Do not, then, O devout soul, refuse to begin this devotion. From this day forward, retire each day from the conversation of men, and remain for some time, for a half-hour, or at least a quarter, in some church, before Jesus Christ in the Holy Sacrament.
EJACULATORY PRAYER TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
PRAISED and glorified each moment be the most Holy;ind Divine Sacrament!
The following indulgences are attached to the repetition of this prayer: — 1. An indulgence of 100 days once a day. 2. The same three times a day on all Thursdays in the year, on the feast of Corpus Christi, and on any day during the octave. 3. A plenary indulgence (with the usual conditions) to those who shall have repeated it every day for a month, on any day at choice. The partial indulgence of 100 days is applicable to the souls in purgatory on repeating the prayer when the bell announces the exposition, benediction, or elevation of the Blessed Sacrament.
EJACULATIONS IN HONOUR OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
O SACRED banquet, in which Christ is received; the memory of his passion is renewed; the mind is filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given to us. Alleluia.
O Lord, how sweet is thy Spirit, who, to show thy sweetness to thy children, by most sweet food from heaven, dost fill the hungry with good things, sending the rich away empty.
A certain man made a great supper, and sent his servant to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for all things were ready.
Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled.
I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat, manna in the desert, and they died. This is the bread that came down from heaven, that if any one eat of it, he may not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever.
The merciful Lord hath given food to them that fear him, in remembrance of his wonderful works.
He fed them with the finest of the wheat; and filled them with the honey out of the rock. Alleluia.
Feed me, Lord, thy poor famished beggar, with continual draughts of thy divinity; refresh me with the wished-for presence of thy grace.
The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thy hand, and fillest all things living with thy blessing. Alleluia.