Advent, which refers to Jesus’ coming to us, refers to 2,000 years ago as well as his second coming. Another advent, which is the focus of this article, is Jesus coming to us today in the Blessed Sacrament. St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote the following inspiring quotes in Visits to the Blessed Sacrament (TAN books):
1. Visit the Blessed Sacrament even if the church is closed
“Finding the church closed, he (St. John Francis Regis) endeavored to satisfy his longings by remaining on his knees outside the door, exposed to rain or cold, that at least at a distance he might attend upon his Comforter concealed under the sacramental species.”
2. You might get physically warm from a visit to the Blessed Sacrament
Jesus’s love for us is spiritually on fire. This physical example reminds us for the spiritual reality of his burning love for us.
“The servant who accompanied him (St. Wenceslaus) in these nightly excursions, having to walk through the snow, suffered much from the cold. The holy King, on perceiving this, was moved to compassion and commanded him to follow him and only to step in his footmarks; he did so, and never afterwards felt the cold.”
3. It makes sense why we give thanks in front of the Blessed Sacrament
“What does a poor man do in the presence of a rich man? What does a sick man do in the presence of his doctor? What does a man parched with thirst do when he comes to a clear fountain? What does a starving man do when put sitting before a well-supplied table?”
4. Humility that we don’t love Jesus enough
“Change me from the great rebel I have been up to the present into one who loves you very much.”
St. Alphonsus was humble to acknowlege that he still have more room to grow in terms of how much and how well he loved Jesus. He prayed the following to this choir of angels.
“Blessed Seraphim, I envy you, not for your glory, but for the love you have for your God and mine. Teach me what I must do to love Him and to please Him.”
5. His home is not just in heaven but also to be near us
“The sparrow and the turtledove, says David, make a home for themselves in their nests; but it is on the altar that You, my King and my God, have found a home and a nest for yourself, that you might live in our midst and that we might be able to find you there always.”
6. Confidence
We all like confidence, right? Even non-Christians want confidence. Women say they find confidence attractive in a guy. It looks like Jesus doesn’t mind us being more confident too.
“St. Teresa says that the King of Glory has concealed his majesty under the appearance of bread in the blessed sacrament to encourage us to approach his divine heart with great confidence.”
7. Best remedy for sins
We might think that the best solution for sins would be penance, reading the Bible, or even talking to a priest.
“When any one of us commits a fault, is there any better remedy than immediately to go to Jesus in the blessed sacrament?…the waters of this fountain of yours cleanse me; they also give me light. They give me strength to avoid sin and to accept cheerfully whatever goes against me. They make me burn with love for you.”
8. Tender love
When the Eternal Word took flesh, he hid his divinity and appeared on earth as a man. But in remaining with us in the blessed sacrament, Jesus hides even his humanity and, as St. Bernard points out, appears only under the form of bread in order to show us how tender is the love he has for us.
9. The real reason we struggle to spend a lot of time in front of the blessed sacrament
“How comes it that they get so tired in your presence that a quarter of an hour seems an age? O Jesus, how great is your patience! Yes, my Lord, I know the reason. Your patience is great because your love for us men is great.”
