Act of Spiritual Communion

By St. Alphonsus Liguori

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as being already there, and unite myself wholly to Thee; never, never permit me to be separated from Thee. Jesus, my sweet love, wound, inflame this heart of mine so that it may be always and all on fire for Thee.

(Ind. of 60 days, once a day.—Leo XIII. June 30, 1893.)

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

When entering the church genuflect before the tabernacle, and say:

(Ind. of 100 days, each time.—Benedict XV. Mar. 22, 1917.)

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori before the Blessed Sacrament

O 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 having 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 this 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 reparation for all the injuries Thou hast received from thine enemies in this Sacrament; thirdly, I wish, by this visit, 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, nevermore 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 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 affections 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.

(Ind. of 300 days.—Pius IX. Sept. 7, 1857.)

Ejaculations

Jesus, my God, here present in the Sacrament of Thy love, I adore Thee.

We adore Thee, Thou true Bread of angels.

Praised and adored forever be the most holy Sacrament.

O Jesus, in the most holy Sacrament, have mercy on us.

Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.

When genuflecting on leaving church, say:

We adore and praise Thee, most holy Lord Jesus Christ, because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

(Ind. of 100 days, before the tabernacle or 300 days, at exposition.—Ben. XV. March 22, 1917.)

The Forty Hours Adoration

This devotion consists in solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the altar for forty hours, in memory of the forty hours during which the body of our Lord remained in the sepulchre.

In order to make the Forty Hours and gain the plenary indulgence attached, it is necessary to make at least one visit during the three days, and to go to confession and Holy Communion in any church on one of the three days, or on the day before.

Prayer of Saint Thérèse

Veiled in the white Host, O my Well-beloved, how meek and humble of heart dost Thou show Thyself to me! Thou couldst not stoop lower to teach me humility, and I, to respond to Thy love, desire to put myself in the lowest place and share Thy humiliations, that I may have part with Thee in the kingdom of Heaven.

I beseech Thee, my Jesus, to send me some humiliations each time that I shall attempt to put myself above others.

Hymn of St. Thomas Aquinas