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The Disciple
O Lord my God, favor Your servant with the blessings
of Your sweetness that I may merit to approach Your
magnificent Sacrament worthily and devoutly. Lift up
my heart to You and take away from me this heavy
indolence. Visit me with Your saving grace that I may
in spirit taste Your sweetness which lies hidden in
this Sacrament like water in the depths of a spring.
Enlighten my eyes to behold this great Mystery, and
give me strength to believe in it with firm faith.
For it is Your work, not the power of man, Your
sacred institution, not his invention. No man is able
of himself to comprehend and understand these things
which surpass even the keen vision of angels. How,
then, shall I, an unworthy sinner who am but dust and
ashes, be able to fathom and understand so great a
mystery?O Lord, I come to You at Your command in
simplicity of heart, in good, firm faith, with hope
and reverence, and I truly believe that You are
present here in this Sacrament, God and man. It is
Your will that I receive You and unite myself to You
in love. Wherefore, I beg Your mercy and ask that
special grace be given me, that I may be wholly
dissolved in You and filled with Your love, no longer
to concern myself with exterior consolations. For
this, the highest and most worthy Sacrament, is the
health of soul and body, the cure of every spiritual
weakness. In it my defects are remedied, my passions
restrained, and temptations overcome or allayed. In
it greater grace is infused, growing virtue is
nourished, faith confirmed, hope strengthened, and
charity fanned into flame.
You, my God, the protector of my soul, the strength
of human weakness, and the giver of every interior
consolation, have given and still do often give in
this Sacrament great gifts to Your loved ones who
communicate devoutly. Moreover, You give them many
consolations amid their numerous troubles and lift
them from the depths of dejection to the hope of Your
protection. With new graces You cheer and lighten
them within, so that they who are full of anxiety and
without affection before Communion may find
themselves changed for the better after partaking of
this heavenly food and drink.
Likewise, You so deal with Your elect that they
may truly acknowledge and plainly experience how weak
they are in themselves and what goodness and
grace they obtain from You. For though in themselves
they are cold, obdurate, and wanting in devotion,
through You they become fervent, cheerful, and
devout.
Who, indeed, can humbly approach the fountain of
sweetness and not carry away a little of it? Or who,
standing before a blazing fire does not feel some of
its heat? You are a fountain always filled with
superabundance! You are a fire, ever burning, that
never fails!
Therefore, while I may not exhaust the fullness of
the fountain or drink to satiety, yet will I put my
lips to the mouth of this heavenly stream that from
it I may receive at least some small drop to refresh
my thirst and not wither away. And if I cannot as yet
be all heavenly or as full of fire as the cherubim
and seraphim, yet I will try to become more devout
and prepare my heart so that I may gather some small
spark of divine fire from the humble reception of
this life-giving Sacrament.
Whatever is wanting in me, good Jesus, Savior most
holy, do You in Your kindness and grace supply for
me, You Who have been pleased to call all unto You,
saying: "Come to Me all you that labor and are
burdened and I will refresh you."
I, indeed, labor in the sweat of my brow. I am
torn with sorrow of heart. I am laden with sin,
troubled with temptations, enmeshed and oppressed by
many evil passions, and there is none to help me,
none to deliver and save me but You, my Lord God and
Savior, to Whom I entrust myself and all I have, that
You may protect me and lead me to eternal life. For
the honor and glory of Your name receive me, You Who
have prepared Your Body and Blood as food and drink
for me. Grant, O Lord, my God and Savior, that by
approaching Your Mysteries frequently, the zeal of my
devotion may increase.
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