A daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament is recommended to all faithful Catholics, and yet what to do, during that visit. How can we keep it from becoming a routine of the same prayers rattled off day after day? How can we go and spend quality time with the Prisoner of Love? Father Russell offers us an observation: “In these Visits the thoughts suggested are not always thrown into the form of a prayer. One cannot at all times command the attention and fervour that one desires to have while addressing directly the Divine Tenant of the Tabernacle. It is useful sometimes to interrupt our prayer and to let the mind rest quietly on some thought holy enough for the sacred spot where we are kneeling or sitting.” And let us consider this: “SACRAMENTUM altaris est amor amorum. This phrase of St. Bernard means, no doubt, that the Sacrament of the Altar is the supreme proof of God's love for man. But the Sacrament of the Altar is also the supreme incentive to love the most tender and most ardent that man can have for God. We have all of us good right to be frightened when we think of the return that we have made to Our Lord for this marvel of His love. In nothing else do we fail more sadly than in all that regards our visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Whatever was done by the Faithful in past centuries, whatever may be done at present by persons in other ranks of life, in other circumstances of occupation, residence, etc.-it is certain that he who writes these words and many of those who will read them are so circumstanced in every respect that they have no valid excuse for the manner in which they have neglected and, perhaps, continue to neglect the sources of grace that are open to them through that exercise of faith and piety which we call "a visit to the Blessed Sacrament." There are persons in the world so absorbed in the duties and interests of their state, so circumstanced altogether that they are free from blame for acting almost as if they forgot the dogma of the Real Presence except during one hour of the day out of the whole week. Many of them, indeed, could by a generous effort do something more for their faith; but God in H is mercy will take all things into account, and will not expect much fronl such as these. But He expects much more from us, and, alas! have we yet reached that low standard, the least that can be expected?”
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