O Jesus, I cannot be Christlike and an imitator of Thee, unless I am poor in spirit. I must seek heavenly riches and not those that pass away with time, for Thou hast said, "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37). "Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33). My greatest spiritual treasure is Holy Communion, for It not only enriches my soul with grace, but makes it like a heaven in which Thou dost dwell. Through Holy Communion, the Kingdom of Heaven will be mine and I shall be truly blessed.

The greatest blessing that Holy Communion gives me is an increase of Sanctifying Grace, the very life of my soul. It makes me share in Thine own Divine life. "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him." (John 6:57). Just as the heavenly Father gives Thee His Divinity, His power, His goodness, His life, from all eternity, so dost Thou give me Thy Divine life in Holy Communion. "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me". (John 6:58). As the stem and the branches of a vine are one same being, nourished and acting together, producing the same fruits because they are fed by the same sap, so too, Thou dost circulate Thy Divine life of grace in my soul through Holy Communion, in such a way that I live by Thy life and really become Christlike. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-6).

How marvelous is the fruit of Sanctifying Grace! It makes my soul holy, beautiful and pleasing to God, a sacred temple of the Holy Spirit Sanctifying Grace, which is increased in my soul in Holy Communion, not only makes me an adopted child of God, but also helps me to act as another Christ. It gives me the right to enter Heaven, for without grace I can never see God.

People try to be great and attractive in the eyes of the world. They seek riches, honor and beauty; but I know, dear Jesus, that there is nothing on earth that equals the riches of the Sanctifying Grace contained in one Holy Communion, that there is nothing more beautiful than a soul adorned with grace. The more grace I have, the holier and happier I shall be in time and in eternity, for by grace I know Thee more clearly, I love Thee more sincerely and I possess Thee more securely. How precious is this union between my soul and Thee, my God and my All! This union is made possible by the love of Thy Sacred Heart and is effected by the grace I receive at Holy Communion.

Lord Jesus, help me to appreciate Sanctifying Grace. May it mean more to me than everything else on earth. And since it is my treasure, may my heart be ever set upon it in conformity with Thy words, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:34). Let me hate and shun whatever may put me in danger of losing Sanctifying Grace through mortal sin, O my beloved Jesus!

Dear Jesus, I believe that Thou dost make me Christlike, not only by giving me Sanctifying Grace at Holy Communion, but also by giving me actual graces—helps from above—to preserve Thy Divine life in my soul. Through these helps given me at Holy Communion and in time of need, my mind receives the light to see and my will is imbued with the strength to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong. Through frequent Holy Communion, help me to think and desire, speak and act, like Thee. Make my thoughts upright, my desires pure, my words kind, my actions holy. As Thou art the Image of the Eternal Father, let me try to be as closely as possible the image of Thee. Detach my heart from myself and from everything created, so that I may give myself to Thee with my whole heart, as Thou dost give Thyself to me. In this sacred union, may Thy love and mine, Thy thought and mine, become one for the glory of God and the salvation of my soul May Thy Spirit rule me so completely that Thou alone mayest be the aim and the ideal of my life and that like St. Paul I may exclaim, "And I live, no not I; but Christ liveth in me." (Gal. 2:20).

ARE YOU CHRISTLIKE?

1. Do you value Sanctifying Grace more than anything else in the world?

2. Have you made up your mind to avoid everything that might put you in danger of losing Sanctifying Grace by mortal sin?

3. Are you trying to be like Christ in your thoughts, desires, words and actions?

4. Do you receiver Holy Communion as often as you can so that you may become Christlike?

NOVENA PRAYER
Aspiration for the day:

O my Jesus, Thou Who art very Love, enkindle in my heart that divine fire which consumes the Saints and transforms them into Thee.

Ind of 300 days. (74)

[NOTE: The number in parentheses indicates the place where this ejaculatory prayer can be found in the Church's official edition [as of 1950] of the manual of indulgences, the Raccolta.)