Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/340

 and continual  sacrifice,  and  in  union  with  that  bloody holocaust thou  didst  present  to  thy  eternal  Father on Mount  Calvary. Divine Jesus,  give  thy  blessing to the  ardent  desire  we  now  entertain,  and  the  holy resolution we  have  taken,  of  ever  loving  and  adoring thee in  thy  sacrament  of  love,  the  Eucharist,  thus  to repair,  by  a true  conversion  of  heart,  and  zeal  for  thy glory, our  past  negligences  and  infidelity. Be thou, O adorable Heart! who knowest  the  clay  of  which we are  formed,  be  thou  our  Mediator  with  thy heavenly Father,  whom  we  have  so  grievously offended; strengthen  our  weakness,  confirm  our resolution, and  with  thy  charity,  humility,  meekness, and patience,  cover  the  multitude  of  our  iniquities; be thou  our  support,  our  refuge,  and  our  strength, that nothing  henceforward,  in  life  or  in  death,  may separate us  from  thee. Amen.

[in order  to  receive  the  Holy  Communion  spiritually,  nothing more is  required  than  to  excite  in  the  heart  a fervent  and  earnest desire to  receive  it  in  reality  if  it  were  possible. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches  that  Spiritual  Communion  consists  in  an  ardent desire to  receive  Jesus  Christ  in  the  most  Holy  Sacrament,  and  in an  intimate  union  of  affection  with  him,  as  if  we  had  actually received him. The holy  Council  of  Trent  bestows  especial  praises Upon this  kind  of  Communion,  and  encourages  all  the  faithful  to make  it,  particularly  during  holy  Mass,  when  they  have  not  the privilege of  receiving  the  Blessed  Sacrament. This Spiritual Communion may  be  made  frequently  during  the  day,  even  when we are occupied  amid  the  daily  distractions  of  life. We should  not omit it  when  we  make  a visit  in  the  church  to  the  most  Holy Sacrament.]