communion outside mass

The place where communion outside Mass is ordinarily given is a church or oratory in which the Eucharist is regularly celebrated or reserved, or a church, oratory, or other place where the local community regularly gathers for the liturgical assembly on Sundays or other days. Communion may be given, however, in other places, including private homes, when it is a question of the sick, prisoners, or others who cannot leave the place without danger or serious difficulty.¹

Among the possible forms, this form of service is used when the longer, more elaborate form is unsuitable.

Greeting

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And also with you.

Penitential Rite

℣. My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves for this celebration, let us call to mind our sins.

A pause for silent reflection follows. All say:

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault

They strike their breast:

in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The priest says the absolution:

May almighty God have mercy on us forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

The people answer: Amen.

Reading of the scripture

The minister should read a short scriptural text:

A reading of the holy gospel according to John 6:51

Jesus says: “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.”

℣. The Gospel of the Lord.

℟. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord’s prayer and Holy Communion

The minister takes the ciborium or pyx containing the body of the Lord, places it on the altar, and genuflects. He then introduces the Lord’s Prayer in these or similar words:

Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us:

He continues with the people:

Our Father . . .

The minister genuflects. Taking the host, he raises it slightly over the vessel or pyx and, facing the people, says:

℣. This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

The communicants say once:

℟. Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

The minister takes a host for each one and says:

℣. The Body of Christ

℟. Amen.

After Communion, the minister puts any particles left on the plate into the pyx, and he may wash his hands. He returns any remaining hosts to the tabernacle and genuflects. A period of silence may now be observed, or a psalm or song of praise may be sung.

Meanwhile, not forming part of the rite, one may pray inaudibly:

How holy this feast in which Christ is our food: His passion is recalled, grace fills our hearts, and we receive a pledge of the glory to come (P. T. Alleluia).

The minister then says the concluding prayer:

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

℟. Amen.

During Easter Time the following prayer is preferred:

Let us pray.

Lord, you have nourished us with your Easter sacraments. Fill us with your Spirit and make us one in peace and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

Concluding Rite and Blessing

If the minister is a priest or deacon, he extends his hands and, facing the people, says:

℣. The Lord be with you.

℟. And also with you.

He blesses the people with these words:

℣. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit.

℟. Amen.

℣. Go in the peace of Christ.

℟. Thanks be to God.

When a minister of the Church brings communion, the sick or elderly person shares in the eucharistic meal of the community. This holy communion manifests the support and concern of the community for its members who are not able to be present. Holy communion is a bond to the community for its members who are not able to be present. Holy communion is a bond to the community as it is a union with Christ. When the Eucharist is brought to the home, the family should prepare a table with a cloth and lighted candle. All members of the household may receive communion with the sick person according to the usual norms. The following texts are among many that may be chosen from the Rite of Communion of the Sick.

A briefcase to carry the following items:

White stole (for the priest or deacon)

Another white stole (if the sick person is a priest)

Holy water sprinkler

Ritual, or card with prayers

Crucifix

Purificator

Check with the priest on what is needed; in some cases (e.g. Communion in a hospital), the requirements differ. Priest usually does not wear surplice during the trip but a narrow white stole, under his suit coat.

GREETING

All make the sign of the cross. The minister of communion speaks the following or a similar greeting:

℣. Peace be with this house and with all who live here.

All respond:

℟. And also with you.

The blessed sacrament is placed on the table. The sick person and all present may be sprinkled with holy water. Before this sprinkling, the minister of communion says:

Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ, who by his death and resurrection has redeemed us.

The minister invites all to join in the penitential rite:

My brothers and sisters, let us turn with confidence to the Lord and ask forgiveness for all our sins.

After a brief silence, the penitential rite continues:

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault

They strike their breast:

in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

or he may speak the following invocations to which all respond.

℣. Lord Jesus, you healed the sick: Lord, have mercy.

℟. Lord, have mercy.

℣. Lord Jesus, you forgave sinners: Christ, have mercy.

℟. Christ, have mercy.

℣. Lord Jesus, you give us yourself to heal us and to bring us strength: Lord, have mercy.

℟. Lord, have mercy.

Then the minister concludes the penitential rite:

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

℟. Amen.

READING OF THE SCRIPTURE

Then the Scripture is read. An appropriate reading should be selected and prepared by the family or the minister of communion. The following Scriptures are appropriate but should not limit the choice of a reading.

A reading of the holy gospel according to John: 6:51

Jesus says: “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.”

The reader concludes:

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All respond:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

or:

A reading of the holy gospel according to John: 15: 5

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.

The reader concludes:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All respond:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

or:

A reading of the first letter of John: 4:16

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him.

The reader concludes:

The Word of the Lord.

All respond: Thanks be to God.

LORD’S PRAYER AND COMMUNION

Following a time of silence, all join in prayers of intercession. Then, in preparation for holy communion, all recite the Lord’s Prayer.

Now let us pray to God as our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.

Our Father . . .

After this, the minister shows the eucharistic bread to those present, saying:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

All who are to receive communion respond:

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

The minister gives communion saying, “The Body of Christ,” “The Blood of Christ,” as appropriate. The sick person answers “Amen.” All who wish receive communion in the usual way. After a time of silence, the minister says the following or another prayer:

All-powerful and ever-living God, may the Body and Blood of Christ your Son be for our brother/sister N. a lasting remedy for body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Viaticum is the sacrament of the dying. When the minister has brought holy communion, the rite may begin with the renewal of the dying person’s profession of faith (p. 543).

Viaticum is then celebrated in the same manner as Communion of the sick (p. 308), but after giving communion, the minister says:

May the Lord Jesus Christ protect you and lead you to eternal life.

℟. Amen.

The concluding prayer follows:

God of peace, you offer eternal healing to those who believe in you; you have refreshed your servant N. with food and drink from heaven: lead him/her safely into the kingdom of light. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

℟. Amen.

RITUS INITIALES

℣. Dóminus vobiscum.

℟. Et cum spíritu tuo.

ACTUS PÆNITENTIALIS

℣. Fratres, agnoscamus peccata nostra, ut apti simus ad hanc sacram celebrationem participandam.

Et fit brevis pausa silentii. Postea simul faciunt confessionem:

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti et vobis, fratres, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, omnes Ángelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

Minister concludit:

Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus, et dimíssis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam æternam.

Omnes respondent: Amen.

LECTIO BREVIOR VERBI DEI

Legatur a ministro brevis textus Sacræ Scripturæ, in quo sermo sit de pane vitæ.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem. Ego sum panis vivus, qui de cælo descendi.Si quis manducáverit ex hoc pane, vivet in æternum; panis autem quem ego dabo, caro mea est pro mundi vita. Verbum Dómini.

SACRA COMMUNIO

Minister accipit vasculum vel pyxidem cum Corpore Dómini, illud super altare deponit et genuflectit. Deinde orátionem dóminicam his vel similibus verbis introducit:

Præceptis salutáribus móniti, et divina institutione formati, audemus dícere.

et omnes simul pergunt:

Pater noster...

His peractis, minister genuflectit, accipit hostiam, eamque parum elevatam super vasculum vel pyxidem tenens, ad communicandos versus, dicit:

℣. Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. Beati qui ad cenam Agni vocati sunt.

Et communicandi semel subdunt:

℟. Dómine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanábitur ánima mea.

Postea accipit vasculum vel pyxidem, accedit ad communicandos, et hostiam parum elevatam unicuique eorum ostendit, dicens:

℣. Corpus Christi.

℟. Amen.

Distributione communionis expleta, fragmenta quæ super patena forte inveniantur, minister in pyxidem immittit, itemque pro opportunitate manus abluit. Sacramentum autem, si particulæ superfuerint, in tabernaculo recondit, et genuflectit.

Tunc pro opportunitate sacrum silentium per aliquod temporis spatium servari vel psalmus aut canticum laudis proferri potest.

O sacrum convívium, in quo Christus súmitur, recólitur memória passionis eius, mens impletur grátia, et futuræ glóriæ nobis pignus datur (T.P. Alleluia). Panem de cælo præstitísti eis (T.P. Alleluia). Omne delectamentum in se habentem (T.P. Alleluia.)

Deinde minister dicit orátionem conclusivam:

Oremus.

Deus qui nobis sub sacramento mirábili passionis tuæ memóriam reliquisti, tríbue, quǽsumus, ita nos Córporis et Sánguinis tui sacra mystéria venerari, ut redemptionis tuæ fructum in nobis iúgiter sentiamus. Qui vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculórum.

℟. Amen.

Tempore Paschale dicitur:

Oremus.

Spíritum nobis, Dómine, tuæ caritatis infunde. ut quos Sacramentis paschálibus satiasti, tua facias pietate concordes. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

℟. Amen.

RITUS CONCLUSIONIS

Deinde minister, si est sacerdos vel diaconus, versus ad populum, extendens manus dicit:

℣. Dóminus vobiscum.

℟. Et cum spíritu tuo.

Et benedicit populum, dicens:

℣. Benedícat vos omnípotens Deus Pater, et Fílius, + et Spíritus Sanctus.

℟. Amen.

℣. Ite in pace.

℟. Deo grátias.

SALUTATIO

℣. Pax huic dómui et ómnibus habitántibus in ea.

Tunc, deposito Sacramento super mensam, ipsum cum astantibus adorat.

ASPERSIO

Tunc accepta aqua benedicta, aspergit infirmum et cubiculum, dicens:

Sit hæc aqua suscepti baptísmatis memória et Christum récolat, qui Passione et Resurrectione sua nos redemit.

ACTUS PÆNITENTIALIS

℣. Fratres, agnoscamus peccata nostra, ut apti simus ad hanc sacram celebrationem participandam.

Et fit brevis pausa silentii. Postea omnes simul faciunt confessionem:

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti et vobis, fratres, quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, omnes Ángelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

Et sacerdos concludit:

Misereátur nostri omnípotens Deus et, dimíssis peccátis nostris, perdúcat nos ad vitam æternam.

℟. Amen.

LÉCTIO S. SCRIPTURÆ

Legi potest a sacerdote textus Sacræ Scripturæ, v.g.

Léctio sancti Evangélii secúndum Ioánnem. Ego sum panis vivus, qui de cælo descendi. Si quis manducáverit ex hoc pane, vivet in æternum; panis autem, quem ego dabo, caro mea est pro mundi vita. Verbum Dómini.

ORÁTIO DÓMINICA

Tunc sacerdos his vel similibus verbis recitationem orátionis dóminicæ introducit:

Nunc autem una simul Deum deprecémur, sicut Dóminus noster Iesus Christus nos dócuit oráre.

et omnes simul pergunt:

Pater noster...

COMMUNIO

Tunc sacerdos ostendit Ss.mum Sacramentum, dicens:

℣. Ecce Agnus Dei, ecce qui tollit peccata mundi. Beati qui ad cenam Agni vocati sunt.

℟. Dómine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum: sed tantum dic verbo, et sanábitur ánima mea.

℣. Corpus Christi.

℟. Amen.

Distributionis Communionis expleta, minister de more purificationem peragit. Tunc pro opportunitate sacrum silentium per aliquod temporis spatium servari potest.

O sacrum convívium, in quo Christus súmitur, recólitur memória passionis eius, mens impletur grátia, et futuræ glóriæ nobis pignus datur (T.P. Alleluia). Panem de cælo præstitísti eis (T.P. Alleluia). Omne delectamentum in se habentem (T.P. Alleluia.)

Deinde sacerdos dicit orátionem conclusivam:

Oremus. Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens æterne Deus te fidenter deprecamur, ut sacrosanctum Corpus Dómini nostri Iesu Christi Fílii tui, accipienti fratri nostro (sorori nostræ) tam córpori quam ánimæ prosit ad remédium sempiternum. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

℟. Amen.

RITUS CONCLUSIONIS Benedíctio

Deinde infirmo et astantibus benedicit, vel super ipsos signum crucis faciendo (silentio) cum pyxide, si Sacramentum superfuerit, vel formula sequens usurpando:

℣. Benedíctio Dei Omnipoténtis, Patris, et Fílii, + et Spíritus Sancti, descéndat super vos et máneat semper.

℟. R. Amen.

“The Catholic Church has always offered and still offers to the sacrament of the Eucharist the cult of adoration, not only during Mass, but also outside of it, reserving the consecrated hosts with the utmost care, exposing them to the solemn veneration of the faithful, and carrying them in procession.”

The tabernacle was first intended for the reservation of the Eucharist in a worthy place so that it could be brought to the sick and those absent outside of Mass. As faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species. It is for this reason that the tabernacle should be located in an especially worthy place in the church and should be constructed in such a way that it emphasizes and manifests the truth of the real presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. It is highly fitting that Christ should have wanted to remain present to his Church in this unique way. He wanted to give us his sacramental presence and he wanted us to have the memorial of the love with which he loved us to the end.

“The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith, and open to making amends for the serious offenses and crimes of the world. Let our adoration never cease.

Some Christians have the custom of entering a church, at sometime during the day, in order to make a visit to Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. They spend a few moments of intimacy with the Lord, as they recite short prayers and express personal petitions.

A short time before the Blessed Sacrament will help us to recall the presence of God in our daily routine.

“Jesus has remained in the Sacred Host for us so as to stay by our side, to sustain us, to guide us. And love can only be repaid with love.

“How could we not turn to the Blessed Sacrament each day, even if it is only for a few minutes, to bring Him our greetings and our love as children and as brothers?”⁴

Recite three times:

Our Father . . .

Hail Mary . . .

Glory be . . .

Spiritual Communion

I wish, my Lord, to receive you with the purity, humility and devotion with which your most holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.

After the people have assembled, a song may be sung while the minister comes to the altar. If the Holy Eucharist is not reserved at the altar where the exposition is to take place, the minister puts on a humeral veil and brings the sacrament from the place of reservation; he is accompanied by servers or by the faithful with lighted candles.

The ciborium or monstrance should be placed upon the table of the altar which is covered with a cloth. If exposition with the monstrance is to extend over a long period, a throne in an elevated position may be used, but this should not be too lofty or distant. After exposition, if the monstrance is used, the minister incenses the sacrament. If the adoration is to be lengthy, he may then withdraw.

In the case of more solemn and lengthy exposition, the host should be consecrated in the Mass which immediately precedes the exposition and after Communion should be placed in the monstrance upon the altar. The Mass ends with the prayer after Communion, and the concluding rites are omitted. Before the priest leaves, he may place the blessed sacrament on the throne and incense it.

During the exposition there should be Biblical readings, prayers, and songs to direct the attention of the faithful to the worship of Christ the Lord. Among the Biblical readings, the following may be used:

1 Cor 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body which shall be given up for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Jn 6:54-60

Lk 22:14-20

Mt 26:26-29

To encourage a prayerful spirit, there should be readings from scripture with a homily or brief exhortations to develop a better understanding of the eucharistic mystery. It is also desirable for the people to respond to the word of God by singing and to spend some periods of time in religious silence.

Part of the liturgy of the hours, especially the principal hours, may be celebrated before the blessed sacrament when there is a lengthy period of exposition. This liturgy extends the praise and thanksgiving offered to God in the eucharistic celebration to the several hours of the day; it directs the prayers of the Church to Christ and through Him to the Father in the name of the whole world. (One of the following songs may be sung:)

O salutáris Hóstia Quæ cæli pandis óstium. Bella premunt hostília; Da robur fer auxílium

Uni trinóque Dómino Sit sempitérna glória: Qui vitam sine término, Nobis donet in pátria. Amen.

or:

O Saving Victim opening wide The gate of heav’n to man below! Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow.

To thy great name be endless praise Immortal Godhead, One in Three; Oh, grant us endless length of days, In our true native land with Thee. Amen.

or:

Pange, lingua, gloriósi córporis mystérium, sanguinisque pretiósi, quem in mundi prétium fructus ventris generósi Rex effúdit géntium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus ex intácta Vírgine, et in mundo conversátus, sparso verbi sémine, sui moras incolátus miro clausit órdine.

or:

Adoro Te Devote

Eucharistic hymn and incensation

Toward the end the priest or deacon goes to the altar, genuflects, and kneels. As a hymn or other eucharistic song is sung, the minister, while kneeling, incenses the sacrament if the exposition has taken place with the monstrance. (One of the following hymns may be sung:)

* Tantum ergo sacraméntum venerémur cernui, et antíquum documéntum novo cedat rítui; præstet fides supleméntum sensuum deféctui.

Genitóri Genitóque laus et iubilátio, salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio; procedénti ab utróque compar sit laudátio. Amen.

or:

Bowing low, then, offer homage To a Sacrament so great! Here is new and perfect worship; All the old must terminate. Senses cannot grasp this marvel: Faith must serve to compensate.

Praise and glorify the Father, Bless His Son’s life-giving name, Singing their eternal Godhead, Power, majesty and fame, Offering their Holy Spirit Equal worship and acclaim. Amen.

℣. Panem de cælo præstitísti eis. (T.P. Alleluia).

℟. Omne delectamentum in se habentem. (T.P. Alleluia).

℣. You have given them Bread from heaven (P.T. Alleluia).

℟. Having all sweetness within it (P.T. Alleluia).

Prayer

Afterward the minister rises and sings or says:

Oremus.

Deus qui nobis sub sacramento mirábili, passionis tuæ memoriam reliquísti: *

tríbue quǽsumus, *

ita nos córporis et sánguinis tui sacra mysteria venerári, ut redemptiónis tuæ fructum in nobis iúgiter sentiámus. * Qui vivis et regnas in sǽcula sæculorum.

℟. Amen.

or:

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

℟. Amen.

Eucharistic Blessing

After the prayer the priest or deacon puts on the humeral veil, genuflects, and takes the monstrance or ciborium. He makes the sign of the cross over the people with the monstrance or ciborium, in silence. (Afterwards, the divine praises may be said:)

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy. Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His saints. Amen.

Reposition

After that the priest or deacon who gave the blessing, or another priest or deacon, replaces the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle and genuflects. Meanwhile the people may sing or say an acclamation, and the minister then leaves. (One of the following songs may be sung:)

O Sacrament Most Holy O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving Be every moment Thine, Be every moment Thine.

or:

Holy God, we praise thy name! Lord of all, we bow before thee; All on earth thy scepter claim, All in heav’n above adore thee; Infinite thy vast domain, Everlasting is thy reign.

or:

Laudáte Dóminum omnes gentes; Laudáte eum omnes pópuli. Quóniam confirmáta est super nos misericórdia eius; Et véritas Dómini manet in ætérnum. Glória Patri . . .

That the Body and Blood of Christ are truly present in the Blessed Sacrament is something that “cannot be apprehended by the senses,” says St. Thomas Aquinas, “but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.”

I devoutly adore You, O hidden God, truly hidden beneath these appearances. My whole heart submits to You and in contemplating You it surrenders itself completely.

Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in their judgment of You, but hearing suffices firmly to believe. I believe all that the Son of God has spoken: there is nothing truer than this word of Truth.

On the Cross only the Divinity was hidden, but here the Humanity is also hidden. I believe and confess both and I ask for what the repentant thief asked.

I do not see the wounds as Thomas did, but I confess that You are my God. Make me believe more and more in You, hope in You, and love You.

O Memorial of our Lord's death! Living Bread that gives life to man, grant my soul to live on You and always to savor Your sweetness.

Lord Jesus, good Pelican, wash me clean with Your Blood, one drop of which can free the entire world of all its sins.

Jesus, whom now I see hidden, I ask You to fulfill what I so desire: that on seeing You face to face, I may be happy in seeing Your glory. Amen.

Adoro te devote, latens Déitas, Quæ sub his figuris vere látitas: Tibi se cor meum totum súbiicit, Quia te contemplans totum déficit.

Visus, tactus, gustus in te fállitur, Sed auditu solo tuto créditur. Credo quidquid dixit Dei Fílius: Nil hoc verbo Veritatis vérius.

In cruce latebat sola Déitas, At hic latet simul et humánitas; Ambo tamen credens atque cónfitens, Peto quod petivit latro pǽnitens.

Plagas, sicut Thomas, non intúeor; Deum tamen meum te confíteor. Fac me tibi semper magis crédere, In te spem habére, te dilígere.

O memóriale mortis Dómini! Panis vivus, vitam præstans hómini! Præsta meæ menti de te vívere. Et te illi semper dulce sápere.

Pie pellicane, Iesu Dómine, Me immundum munda tuo sánguine. Cuius una stilla salvum fácere Totum mundum quit ab omni scélere.

Iesu, quem velatum nunc aspicio, Oro fiat illud quod tam sítio; Ut te revelata cernens facie, Visu sim beatus tuæ gloriæ. Amen.

As a suggestion for having a personal conversation with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament we include this well known devotion. Jesus is the one asking us to trust him and to open our heart with all the concerns, burdens and desires that we have.

My child, you need not know much in order to please me; only love me dearly. Speak to me as you would talk to your best friend:

• Have you no one to recommend to me? Tell me the names of your relatives, of your friends; after each name add what you wish me to do for them. Ask a great deal: I love generous hearts that forget themselves for others.

• Tell me about the poor whom you want to help, the sick whom you have seen suffer, the sinner whom you would like to convert, the people who are alienated from you, and whose affections you wish to win back. For all recite a fervent prayer. Remind me that I have promised to grant every prayer that comes from the heart; and surely the prayers are heartfelt which we say for those whom we love, and who love us.

• Have you no favors to ask for yourself? Write, if you like, a long list of all your wishes—all the needs of your soul—and come and read it to me. Tell me simply how self-indulgent you are, how proud, how touchy, how selfish, how cowardly, how idle; ask me to help you to improve. Poor child! Do not blush! There are in heaven many saints who had the same faults as you; they prayed to me, and, little by little, they were cured.

• Do not hesitate to ask for the goods of body and mind—for health, for memory, for success. I can give everything, and I always give when the gifts would make souls more holy. What do you want today, my child? Oh, if you knew how I long to do you good!

• Have you no plans to interest you? Tell me all about them. Do they concern your vocation? What do you dream about? What would you like? Are you planning something pleasing for your mother or father, for your family, for those close to you? What do you wish to do for them?

• And have you no thoughts of zeal for me? Are you not anxious to do a little good for the souls of your friends, for those whom you love, and who, perhaps forget me? Tell me who interests you, what motives urge you, what means you wish to use.

• Confide to me your failures; I will show you the cause. Whom do you wish to see interested in your work? I am the Master of all hearts, my child, and I lead them gently where I please. I will place about you those who are necessary to you; never fear!

• Have you nothing that annoys you? My child, tell me you annoyances, with every detail. Who has pained you? Who has wounded your self-love? Who has treated you contemptuously? Tell me all, and then say that you forgive and forget; and I will give you my blessing.

• Do you dread something painful? Is there in your soul a vague fear which seems unreasonable, and yet torments you? Trust fully in my providence. I am here, I see everything; I will not leave you.

• Are there about you friends who seem less kind than formerly, who neglect you through indifference or forgetfulness, without your having consciously done anything to wound them? Pray for them, and I will restore them to you, if their companionship is good for you.

• Have you no joys to tell me? Why not confide to me your pleasures? Tell me what has happened since yesterday to console you, to make you look happy, to give you joy. A surprise visit has done you good; a fear has been suddenly dispelled; you have found unexpected success; you have received some mark of affection—a letter, a present; some trial has left your stronger than you supposed. All these things, my child, I obtained for you. Why are you not grateful? Why do you not say I thank you’? Gratitude draws benefits, and the benefactor loves to be reminded of his bounty.

• Have you no promises to make me? You know I read the very bottom of your heart. Men are deceived, but not God; be frank.

• Are you resolved to avoid that occasion of sin, to give up the object which leads you astray—not to read that book which excites your imagination; to withdraw your friendship from that person who is irreligious, and whose presence disturbs the peace of your soul? Will you go at once and be kind to that companion who annoyed you?

• Well, my child, go now and resume your daily work. Be silent, be honest, be patient, be charitable, love very much the Blessed Mother of Jesus; and tomorrow bring me a heart even more devoted and loving. Tomorrow I shall have new favors for you.