Of The Sacrament.
The Voice Of Christ.
_Come to me all you that labour, and are
heavy burthened, and I will refresh you,_
saith the Lord. Matthew xi.
_The bread which I will give, is my flesh,
for the life of the world._ John vi.
_Take and eat, This is my body, which shall
be delivered for you: do this in remembrance
of me._ 1 Corinthians xi.
_He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, abideth in me, and I in him._ John
vi.
_The words which I have spoken to you are
spirit and life._ John vi.
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Chap. I.--_With how great reverence
Christ is to be received_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. These are thy words, O Christ, the Eternal
Truth, though not all delivered at one time,
nor written in one place.
Since therefore they are thy words, and they
are true, they are all to be received by me
with thanks, and with faith.
They are thine, and thou hast spoken them;
and they are also mine, because thou hast
delivered them for my salvation.
I willingly receive them from thy mouth, that
they may be more inseparably ingrafted in my
heart.
These words of so great tenderness, full of
sweetness and love, encourage me; but my own
sins terrify me, and my unclean conscience
keeps me back from approaching to so great
mysteries.
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The sweetness of thy words invites me, but
the multitude of my offence weighs me down.
2. Thou commandest me to approach to thee
with confidence, if I would have part with
thee, and to receive the food of immortality,
if I desire to obtain life, and glory
everlasting.
_Come_, sayest thou, _to me all you
that labour, and are heavy burthened, and I
will refresh you_. Matthew xi.
O sweet and amiable word in the ear of a
sinner, that thou, O Lord my God, shouldst
invite the poor and needy to the communion of
thy most sacred body!
But who am I, O Lord, that I should presume
to come to thee?
Behold, the heavens of heavens cannot contain
thee; and thou sayest, _Come you all unto
me_.
3. What means this most loving condescension,
and so friendly an invitation?
How shall I dare to approach, who am
conscious to myself of no good, on which I
can presume?
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How shall I introduce thee into my house, who
have oftentimes offended thy most gracious
countenance?
The angels and archangels stand with a
reverential awe, the saints and the just are
afraid; and thou sayest, _Come you all unto
me_.
Unless thou, O Lord, didst say it, who could
believe it to be true?
And unless thou didst command it, who would
dare attempt to approach?
4. Behold Noah, a just man, laboured a
hundred years in building of the ark, that he
with a few might be preserved; and how shall
I be able in the space of one hour to prepare
myself to receive with reverence the Maker of
the world?
Moses, thy servant, thy great and special
friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood,
which he also covered with most pure gold,
that he might reposite therein the tables of
the law; and shall I, a rotten creature,
presume so easily to receive thee the Maker
of the law, and Giver of life?
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Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel,
employed seven years in building a
magnificent temple for the praise of thy
name;
And for eight days together he celebrated the
feast of the dedication thereof: he offered a
thousand pacific victims, and brought in the
ark of the covenant in a solemn manner, into
the place prepared for it, with the sound of
trumpet and jubilee:
And I, a wretch, and the vilest of men, how
shall I bring thee into my house, who can
hardly spend one half hour devoutly? and
would to God I had ever once spent one half
hour as I ought!
5. O, my God, how much did they endeavour to
do to please thee?
Alas! how little it is that I do! How short a
time do I spend when I prepare myself to
communicate?
Seldom am I wholly recollected, very seldom
free from all distraction;
And yet surely, in the life-giving presence
of thy Deity, no unbecoming thought should
occur, nor any thing created take up my mind;
for it is not an angel, but the Lord of
angels, that I am to entertain.
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6. And yet there is a very great difference
between the ark of the covenant with its
relics, and thy most pure body with its
unspeakable virtues; between those sacrifices
of the law, which were figures of things to
come, and the true sacrifice of thy body,
which is the accomplishing of all those
ancient sacrifices.
7. Why then am I not more inflamed,
considering thy venerable presence?
Why do I not prepare myself with greater care
to receive thy sacred gifts, seeing that
these ancient holy patriarchs and prophets,
yea kings also and princes, with the whole
people, have shewn so great affection of
devotion towards the divine worship?
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8. The most devout King David danced before
the ark of God with all his force,
commemorating the benefits bestowed in times
past on the Fathers. He made musical
instruments of sundry kinds; he published
psalms, and appointed them to be sung with
joy; he himself likewise often sung them
playing upon his harp, inspired with the
grace of the Holy Ghost: he taught the people
of Israel to praise God with their whole
heart, and to join their voices in blessing
and magnifying him every day.
If so great devotion was then used, and such
remembrance of the praise of God before the
ark of the covenant; how great ought to be
the reverence and devotion which I, and all
Christian people, should have in the presence
of this sacrament, in the receiving the most
excellent body of Christ?
9. Many run to sundry places to visit the
relics of the saints, and are astonished to
hear their wonderful works; they behold the
noble buildings of their churches, and kiss
their sacred bones wrapt up in silk and gold;
And, behold, I have thee here present on the
altar, my God, the Saint of saints, the
Creator of men, and the Lord of angels.
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Oftentimes in seeing those things men are
moved with curiosity, and the novelty of the
sight, and but little fruit of amendment is
reaped thereby; especially when persons
lightly run hither and thither, without true
contrition for their sins:
But here, in the sacrament of the altar, thou
art wholly present, my God and man, Christ
Jesus; where also the fruit of eternal
salvation is plentifully reaped, as often as
thou art worthily and devoutly received.
And to this we are not drawn by any levity,
curiosity, or sensuality; but by a firm
faith, a devout hope, and sincere charity.
10. O God, the invisible Maker of the world,
how wonderfully dost thou deal with us? How
sweetly and graciously dost thou order all
things in favour of thy elect, to whom thou
offerest thyself to be received in the
sacrament?
For this exceeds all understanding of man;
this, in a particular manner, engages the
hearts of the devout, and enkindles their
love.
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For thy true faithful, who dispose their
whole life to amendment, by this most worthy
sacrament, frequently receive a great grace
of devotion and love of virtue.
11. Oh! the wonderful and hidden grace of
this sacrament, which the faithful of Christ
only know; but unbelievers, and such as are
slaves to sin, cannot experience.
In this sacrament is conferred spiritual
grace, and virtue lost is repaired in the
soul; and beauty disfigured by sin returns
again.
And so great sometimes is this grace, that
from the abundance of the devotion that is
bestowed, not only the mind but the frail
body also feels a great increase of strength.
12. Yet it is much to be lamented and pitied,
that we should be so lukewarm and negligent,
as not to be drawn with greater affection to
the receiving of Christ, in whom consists all
the hope and merit of those that shall be
saved:
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For he is our sanctification, and our
redemption; he is our comfort in our
pilgrimage, and the saints' eternal
enjoyment.
It is therefore much to be lamented that many
take so little notice of this saving mystery,
which rejoices heaven, and conserves the
whole world.
Oh! the blindness and hardness of the heart
of man, that doth not more consider so
unspeakable a gift, and from the daily use of
it falls into a disregard for it.
13. For if this most holy sacrament were only
celebrated in one place, and consecrated by
one only priest in the world, with how great
desire dost thou think would men be affected
to that place, and to such a priest of God,
that they might see the divine mysteries
celebrated?
But now there are made many priests, and
Christ is offered up in many places, that the
grace and love of God to man may appear by so
much the greater, by how much this sacred
communion is more spread throughout the
world.
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Thanks be to thee, O good Jesus, our eternal
Shepherd, who hast vouchsafed to feed us poor
exiles with thy precious body and blood, and
to invite us to the receiving of these
mysteries with the words of thy own mouth,
saying; _Come to me all you that labour,
and are burthened, and I will refresh
you._ Matthew xi.
Chap. II.--_That the great goodness and
charity of God is shewed to man in this
sacrament._
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Lord, trusting in thy goodness and in
thy great mercy, I come sick to my Saviour,
hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of Life,
needy to the King of Heaven, a servant to his
Lord, a creature to his Creator, and one in
desolation to his loving Comforter.
But whence is this to me, that thou shouldst
come to me? Who am I, that thou shouldst give
me thyself?
How dare such a sinner appear before thee?
and how dost thou vouchsafe to come to a
sinner?
Thou knowest thy servant, and thou knowest
that he has nothing of good in him which can
entitle him to this favour.
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I confess therefore my unworthiness, I
acknowledge thy bounty, I praise thy
goodness, and I give thee thanks for thy
excessive charity:
For it is for thy own sake thou doest this,
not for my merits, that thy goodness may be
better known to me; that greater charity may
be imparted, and humility more perfectly
recommended.
Since therefore this is what pleaseth thee,
and thou hast commanded it should be so, thy
merciful condescension pleaseth me also; and
I wish that my iniquity may be no obstacle.
2. Oh! most sweet and most bountiful Jesus,
how great reverence and thanks, with
perpetual praise, are due to thee for the
receiving of thy sacred body, whose dignity
no man can sufficiently express?
But what shall I think of in this communion,
when I am approaching to my Lord, whom I can
never reverence so much as I ought, and yet
would gladly receive with devotion?
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What can I think of better or more wholesome
to my soul, than to humble myself entirely in
thy presence, and extol thy infinite goodness
above me?
I praise thee, O my God, and I extol thee for
ever: I despise myself, and subject myself to
thee, casting myself down to the depth of my
unworthiness.
3. Behold, thou art the saint of saints, and
I am the scum of sinners:
Behold, thou bowest thyself down to me, who
am not worthy to look up to thee.
Behold, thou comest to me; thou art willing
to be with me.
Thou invitest me to thy banquet, where thou
wilt give me thy heavenly food, and the bread
of angels to eat; no other, verily, than
thyself, the living bread, who didst come
down from heaven, and who givest life to the
world.
4. Behold, whence love proceeds, what a
bounty shines forth! how great thanks and
praises are due to thee for these things!
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Oh! how wholesome and profitable was thy
device in this institution! how sweet and
delightful this banquet in which thou givest
thyself to be our food!
Oh! how admirable is thy work, O Lord! how
powerful thy virtue! how infallible thy
truth!
For thou hast spoken the word, and all things
were made; and that has been done which thou
hast commanded.
5. A wonderful thing it is, and worthy of
faith, and exceeding all human understanding;
that thou, O Lord, my God, true God, and true
man, art contained whole and entire, under a
small form of bread and wine, and without
being consumed art eaten by the receiver.
Thou, the Lord of all things, who standest in
need of no one, hast been pleased by this
sacrament to dwell in us;
Preserve my heart and body without stain,
that with a joyful and clean conscience I may
be able often to celebrate thy sacred
mysteries, and to receive for my eternal
salvation what thou hast principally ordained
and instituted for thy honour and perpetual
remembrance.
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6. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks to thy
God for so noble a gift, and so singular a
comfort, left to thee in this vale of tears.
For as often as thou repeatest this mystery,
and receivest the body of Christ, so often
dost thou celebrate the work of thy
redemption, and art made partaker of all the
merits of Christ;
For the charity of Christ is never
diminished, and the greatness of his
propitiation is never exhausted.
Therefore oughtest thou to dispose thyself
for this, by perpetually renewing the vigour
of thy mind, and to weigh with attentive
consideration this great mystery of thy
salvation.
And as often as thou sayest or hearest mass,
it ought to seem to thee as great, new, and
delightful, as if Christ that same day, first
descending into the Virgin's womb, had been
made man; or hanging on the cross was
suffering and dying for the salvation of
mankind.
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Chap. III.--_That it is profitable to
communicate often._
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. Behold, I come to thee, O Lord, that it
may be well with me by thy gift, and that I
may be delighted in thy holy banquet, which
thou, O God, in thy sweetness, hast prepared
for the poor.
Behold, in thee is all whatsoever I can or
ought to desire: thou art my salvation and
redemption, my hope and my strength, my
honour and my glory.
Make therefore the soul of thy servant joyful
this day, because, O Lord Jesus, I have
lifted up my soul to thee.
I desire at this time to receive thee
devoutly and reverently; I would gladly bring
thee into my house, that, like Zaccheus, I
may receive thy blessing, and be numbered
among the children of Abraham. _Luke_
xix.
My soul longs after thy body; my heart
aspires to be united with thee.
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2. Give thyself to me, and it is enough; for
besides thee no comfort is available.
Without thee I cannot subsist; and without
thy visitation I cannot live;
And therefore I must come often to thee, and
receive for the remedy of my soul's health;
lest perhaps I faint in the way, if I be
deprived of this heavenly food.
For so, O most merciful Jesus, thou wert
pleased once to say, when thou hadst been
preaching to the people, and curing sundry
diseases, _I will not send them home
fasting, lest they faint by the way_.
Matthew xv.
Deal now in like manner with me, who hast
left thyself in the sacrament for the comfort
of thy faithful.
For thou art the most sweet refection of the
soul, and he that shall eat thee worthily,
shall be partaker and heir of everlasting
glory.
It is indeed necessary for me (who am so
often falling and committing sin, and so
quickly grow slack and faint) by frequent
prayers and confessions, and by the holy
communion of thy body, to repair my strength,
to cleanse and inflame myself, lest perhaps
by abstaining for a longer time I fall away
from my holy purpose.
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3. For the senses of man are prone to evil
from his youth; and unless thy divine
medicine succour him, man quickly falls to
worse.
The holy communion therefore withdraws him
from evil, and strengthens him in good.
For if I am so often negligent and lukewarm
now, when I communicate or celebrate, what
would it be if I did not take this remedy,
and should not seek so great a help?
And although I am not every day fit, nor well
disposed to celebrate, yet I will endeavour
at proper times to receive the divine
mysteries, and to make myself partaker of so
great a grace.
For this is the one principal comfort of a
faithful soul, as long as she sojourns afar
off from thee in this mortal body; being
mindful often of her God, to receive her
Beloved with a devout mind.
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4. O wonderful condescension of thy tender
love towards us, that thou, O Lord God, the
Creator and Enlivener of all spirits,
shouldst vouchsafe to come to a poor soul,
and with thy whole divinity and humanity
satisfy her hunger;
O happy mind, and blessed soul, which
deserves to receive thee her Lord God
devoutly; and in receiving thee to be filled
with spiritual joy!
Oh! how great a Lord does she entertain! how
beloved a guest does she bring into her
house! how sweet a companion does she
receive! how faithful a friend does she
accept of! how beautiful and how noble a
spouse does she embrace, who deserves to be
beloved above all her beloved, and beyond all
that she can desire!
Let heaven and earth, with all their attire,
be silent in thy presence, O my dearest
beloved; for whatever praise or beauty they
have, is all the gift of thy bounty; nor can
they come up to the beauty of thy name, of
whose wisdom there is no number.
{337}
Chap. IV.--_That many benefits are
bestowed on them who communicate
devoutly_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Lord, my God, prevent thy servant in the
blessings of thy sweetness, that I may
approach worthily and devoutly to thy
magnificent sacrament.
Raise up my heart towards thee, and deliver
me from this heavy sluggishness;
Visit me with thy grace, that I may taste in
spirit thy sweetness, which plentifully lies
hid in this sacrament as in its fountain;
Illuminate also my eyes to behold so great a
mystery, and strengthen me to believe it with
an undoubting faith:
For it is thy work, not the power of man; thy
sacred institution, not man's invention:
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For no man can be found able of himself to
comprehend and understand these things, which
surpass eventh subtlety of angels.
What shall I therefore, an unworthy sinner,
who am but dust and ashes, be able to search
into, or conceive of so high and sacred a
mystery?
2. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart,
with a good and firm faith, and in obedience
to thy command, I come to thee with hope and
reverence; and I do verily believe, that thou
art here present in the sacrament, God and
man.
It is then thy will that I should receive
thee, and through love unite myself to thee.
Wherefore I implore thy mercy; and I beg of
thee to give me for this a special grace,
that I may be wholly melted away in thee, and
overflow with thy love, and seek no more any
comfort from any thing else:
For this most high and most excellent
sacrament is the health of soul and body, the
remedy of all spiritual diseases, by which my
vices are cured, my passions are restrained,
temptations are overcome or lessened, a
greater grace is infused, virtue receives an
increase, _Faith_ is confirmed,
_Hope_ strengthened, _Charity_
enflamed and enlarged.
{339}
3. For thou hast bestowed, and still
oftentimes dost bestow, many good things in
this sacrament to thy beloved who communicate
devoutly, O my God, the support of my soul,
who art the repairer of human infirmity, and
the giver of all interior comfort:
For thou impartest unto them much
consolation, to support them in their many
troubles; and thou liftest them up from the
depth of their own dejection to the hope of
thy protection; and thou dost recreate and
enlighten them interiorly with a certain new
grace; in such sort, that they who before
communion were anxious and felt no affection
in them, afterwards being fed with this
heavenly meat and drink, find themselves
changed for the better.
{340}
And thou art better pleased to deal thus with
thy elect, to the end that they may truly
acknowledge, and plainly experience, how
great is their infirmity, when left to
themselves, and how much they receive from
thy bounty and grace:
For of themselves they are cold, dry, and
indevout; but by thee they are made fervent,
cheerful, and devout.
For who is he that approaching humbly to the
Fountain of Sweetness, does not carry away
with him some little sweetness?
Or who, standing by a great fire, does not
receive from it some little heat?
Now, thou art a fountain always full, and
overflowing; thou art a fire always burning,
and never decaying.
4. Wherefore, if I cannot draw out of the
fulness of the fountain, nor drink my fill, I
will at least set my mouth to the orifice of
this heavenly pipe; that so I may draw from
thence some small drops to refresh my thirst,
to the end that I may not be wholly dried up:
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And if I cannot as yet be all heavenly, and
all on fire like the cherubim and seraphim, I
will, however, endeavour to apply myself to
devotion, and to prepare my heart for the
acquiring some small flame of divine fire, by
the humble receiving of this life-giving
sacrament.
And whatever is wanting to me, O good Jesus,
most blessed Saviour, do thou in thy bounty
and goodness supply for me, who hast
vouchsafed to call all unto thee, saying,
_Come to me all you that labour, and are
burthened, and I will refresh you_.
Matthew xi.
5. I _labour_ indeed in the sweat of my
brow, I am tormented with grief of heart, I
am _burthened_ with sins, I am troubled
with temptations, and am entangled and
oppressed with many evil passions; and there
is no one to help me, no one to deliver and
save me, but thou, O Lord God, my Saviour, to
whom I commit myself, and all that is mine,
that thou mayest keep me and bring me to
everlasting life.
Receive me for the praise and glory of thy
name, who hast prepared thy body and blood
for my meat and drink.
Grant, O Lord God, my Saviour, that with the
frequenting this thy mystery the affection of
my devotion may increase.
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Chap. V.--_Of the dignity of the
sacrament, and of the priestly state_.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. If thou hast the purity of an angel, and
the sanctity of St. John the Baptist, thou
wouldst not be worthy to receive or handle
this sacrament:
For this is not due to any merits of men,
that a man should consecrate and handle the
Sacrament of Christ, and receive for his food
the bread of angels.
Great is this mystery, and great the dignity
of priests, to whom that is given which is
not granted to angels:
For priests alone, rightly ordained in the
Church, have power to celebrate and
consecrate the body of Christ.
The priest indeed is the minister of God,
using the word of God, and by the command and
institution of God: but God himself is there
the principal author and invisible worker, to
whom is subject all that he wills, and to
whom obeys all that he commands.
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2. Thou must therefore give more credit to an
omnipotent God, in this most excellent
sacrament, than to thy own sense, or any
visible sign:
And therefore thou art to approach to this
work with fear and reverence.
Take heed to thyself, and see what kind of
ministry has been delivered to thee by the
imposition of the bishop's hands.
Lo! thou art made a priest, and art
consecrated to say Mass: see now that in due
time thou faithfully and devoutly offer up
sacrifice to God, and that thou behave
thyself in such manner as to be without
reproof:
Thou hast not lightened thy burthen, but art
now bound with a stricter band of discipline,
and art obliged to a greater perfection of
sanctity.
A priest ought to be adorned with all
virtues, and to give example of a good life
to others;
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His conversation should not be with the
vulgar and common ways of men, but with the
angels in heaven, or with perfect men upon
earth.
3. A priest, clad in his sacred vestments, is
Christ's vicegerent, to pray to God for
himself, and for all the people, in a
suppliant and humble manner:
He has before and behind him the sign of the
cross of the Lord, that he may always
remember the passion of Christ:
He bears the cross before him in his
vestment, that he may diligently behold the
footsteps of Christ, and fervently endeavour
to follow them:
He is marked with the cross behind, that he
may mildly suffer, for God's sake, whatsoever
adversities shall befal him from others:
He wears the cross before him, that he may
bewail his own sins; and behind him, that,
through compassion, he may lament the sins of
others, and know that he is placed, as it
were, a mediator betwixt God and the sinner:
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Neither ought he to cease from prayer and
oblation, till he be favoured with the grace
and mercy which he implores.
When a priest celebrates, he honours God, he
rejoices the angels, he edifies the Church,
he helps the living, he obtains rest for the
dead, and makes himself partaker of all that
is good.
Chap. VI.--_A Petition concerning the
exercise proper before Communion_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. When I consider thy greatness, O Lord, and
my own vileness, I tremble very much, and am
confounded in myself:
For if I come not to thee, I fly from life;
and if I intrude myself unworthily, I incur
thy displeasure.
What then shall I do, O my God, my helper, my
counsellor in necessities?
2. Do thou teach me the right way: appoint me
some short exercise proper for the holy
communion:
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For it is necessary to know in what manner I
should reverently and devoutly prepare my
heart to thee, for the profitable receiving
of thy sacrament, or for celebrating also so
great and divine a sacrifice.
Chap. VII.--_Of the discussion of one's
own conscience, and of a resolution of
amendment_.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. Above all things it behoves the priest of
God to come to the celebrating, handling, and
receiving this sacrament, with great humility
of heart, and lowly reverence; with an entire
faith, and with a pious intention of the
honour of God.
Diligently examine thy conscience, and to the
best of thy power cleanse and purify it by
true contrition and humble confession; so
that there be nothing weighty to give thee
remorse, and hinder thy free access.
Repent thee of all thy sins in general, and
in particular lament and grieve all thy daily
offences;
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And if thou hast time, confess to God, in the
secret of thy heart, all the miseries of thy
passions.
2. Sigh and grieve that thou art yet so
carnal and worldly; so unmortified in thy
passions.
So full of the motions of concupiscence; so
unguarded in thy outward senses; so often
entangled with many vain imaginations;
So much inclined to exterior things, so
negligent as to the interior;
So easy to laughter and dissolution; so hard
to tears and compunction.
So prone to relaxation, and to the pleasures
of the flesh; so sluggish to austerity and
fervour;
So curious to hear news, and to see fine
sights; so remiss to embrace things humble
and abject;
So covetous to possess much; so sparing in
giving; so close in retaining;
So inconsiderate in speech; so little able to
hold thy peace;
So disorderly in thy carriage; so over eager
in thy actions;
So greedy at meat; so deaf to the word of
God;
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So hasty for rest; so slow to labour;
So wakeful to hear idle tales; so drowsy to
watch in the service of God;
So hasty to make an end of thy prayer; so
wandering as to attention.
So negligent in saying thy office; so tepid
in celebrating; so dry at the time of
receiving;
So quickly distracted; so seldom quite
recollected within thyself;
So easily moved to anger; so apt to take
offence at others;
So prone to judge; so severe in reprehending;
So joyful in prosperity; so weak in
adversity.
So often proposing many good things, and
effecting little.
3. Having confessed and bewailed these, and
other thy defects, with sorrow and great
dislike of thy own weakness, make a strong
resolution always to amend thy life, and to
advance in virtue.
Then with a full resignation, and with thy
whole will, offer thyself up to the honour of
my name, on the altar of thy heart, as a
perpetual holocaust, by committing faithfully
to me both thy soul and body;
{349}
That so thou mayest be able to approach to
offer up sacrifice to God, and to receive for
thy salvation the sacrament of my body.
4. For there is no oblation more worthy, nor
satisfaction greater, for the washing away of
sins, than to offer up one's self purely and
entirely to God, together with the oblation
of the body of Christ, in the Mass and in the
communion.
If a man does what lies in him, and is truly
penitent; as often as he shall come to me for
pardon and grace; _as I live, saith the
Lord, who will not the death of a sinner, but
rather that he should be converted and live;
I will no longer remember his sins_, but
all shall be forgiven him. Ezekiel xviii.
{350}
Chap. VIII.--_Of the oblation of Christ
on the cross, and of the resignation of
ourselves_.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. As I willingly offered myself to God, my
Father, for thy sins, with my hands stretched
out upon the cross, and my body naked, so
that nothing remained in me which was not
turned into a sacrifice, for to appease the
divine wrath;
Even so must thou willingly offer thyself to
me daily in the Mass, for a pure and holy
oblation, together with all thy powers and
affections, as heartily as thou art able.
What do I require more of thee, than that
thou endeavour to resign thyself entirely to
me?
Whatsoever thou givest besides thyself, I
regard not; for I seek not thy gift, but
thyself.
2. As it would not suffice thee, if thou
hadst all things but me; so neither can it
please me, whatever thou givest, as long as
thou offerest not thyself.
{351}
Offer thyself to me, and give thy whole self
for God, and thy offering will be accepted.
Behold, I offered my whole self to the Father
for thee, and have given my whole body and
blood for thy food, that I might be all
thine, and thou mightest be always mine:
But if thou wilt stand upon thy own bottom,
and wilt not offer thyself freely to my will,
thy offering is not perfect, nor will there
be an entire union betwixt us.
Therefore, before all thy works, thou must
make a free oblation of thyself into the
hands of God, if thou desire to obtain
liberty and grace:
For the reason why so few become illuminated
and internally free, is because they do not
wholly renounce themselves.
My sentence stands firm. _Unless a man
renounce all, he cannot be my disciple_.
Luke xiv.
If therefore thou desirest to be my disciple,
offer up thyself to me with all thy
affections.
{352}
Chap. IX.--_That we must offer ourselves,
and all that is ours, to God, and pray for
all._
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. Lord, all things are thine that are in
heaven and earth.
I desire to offer up myself to thee as a
voluntary oblation, and to remain for ever
thine.
Lord, in the sincerity of my heart, I offer
myself to thee this day, to be thy servant
evermore, to serve thee, and to become a
sacrifice of perpetual praise to thee.
Receive me with this sacred oblation of thy
precious body, which I offer to thee this day
in the presence of thy angels invisibly
standing by, that it may be for mine and all
the people's salvation.
2. Lord, I offer to thee all my sins and
offences, which I have committed in thy sight
and that of thy holy angels, from the day
that I was first capable of sin until this
hour, upon thy propitiatory altar, that thou
mayest burn and consume them all with the
fire of thy charity, and mayest remove all
the stains of my sins, and cleanse my
conscience from all offences, and restore to
me thy grace, which I have lost by sin, by
fully pardoning me all, and mercifully
receiving me to the kiss of peace.
{353}
3. What can I do for my sins, but humbly
confess them, and lament them, and
incessantly implore thy mercy for them?
Hear me, I beseech thee, in thy mercy, where
I stand before thee, O my God:
All my sins displease me exceedingly; I will
never commit them any more: I am sorry for
them, and will be sorry for them as long as I
live; I am willing to do penance for them,
and to make satisfaction to the utmost of my
power.
Forgive, O my God, forgive me my sins, for
thy holy name's sake: save my soul, which
thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Behold I commit myself to thy mercy, I resign
myself into thy hands.
{354}
Deal with me according to thy goodness, not
according to my wickedness and iniquity.
4. I offer also to thee all the good I have,
though very little and imperfect: that thou
mayest make it better and sanctify it; that
thou mayest be pleased with it, and make it
acceptable to thee, and perfect it more and
more; and mayest, moreover, bring me, who am
a slothful and unprofitable wretch, to a good
and happy end.
5 I offer also to thee all the godly desires
of thy devout servants; the necessities of my
parents, friends, brethren, sisters, and of
all those that are dear to me; and of all
such, as for the love of thee have been
benefactors to me or others; or who have
desired and begged of me to offer up prayers
and masses for themselves and all that
belonged to them; whether they live as yet in
the flesh, or whether they are now departed
out of this world;
That they all may be sensible of the
assistance of thy grace, of the benefit of
thy comfort, of thy protection from all
dangers, and of a deliverance from their
pains; and that being freed from all evils,
they may with joy give worthy thanks to thee.
{355}
6. I offer up also to thee my prayers, and
this sacrifice of propitiation for them in
particular, who have in any thing wronged me,
grieved me or abused me, or have done me any
damage or displeasure;
And for all those likewise whom I have at any
time grieved, troubled, injured, or
scandalized, by word or deed, knowingly or
unknowingly; that it may please thee to
forgive us all our sins and offences one
against another.
Take, O Lord, from our hearts all jealousy,
indignation, wrath and contention, and
whatsoever may hurt charity, and lessen
brotherly love.
Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on those that
crave thy mercy; give grace to them that
stand in need thereof; and grant that we may
be worthy to enjoy thy grace, and that we may
attain to life everlasting. _Amen_.
{356}
Chap. X.--_That the holy communion is not
lightly to be forborne_.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. Thou oughtest often to have recourse to
the fountain of Grace, and of Divine Mercy;
to the Fountain of all Goodness and Purity;
that thou mayest be healed of thy passions
and vices, and be made more strong and
vigilant against all the temptations and
deceits of the devil.
The enemy, knowing the very great advantage
and remedy which is in the holy communion,
strives by all means and occasions, as much
as he is able, to withdraw and hinder
faithful and devout persons from it.
2. For when some are preparing themselves for
the sacred communion, they suffer the greater
assault of Satan.
This wicked spirit, as it is written in Job,
cometh among the sons of God to trouble them
with his accustomed malice, or to make them
ever fearful and perplexed, that so he may
diminish their devotion, or by his assaults
take away their faith: it haply they may
altogether forbear the communion, or at least
approach to it with tepidity.
{357}
But there is no heed to be taken of his
wiles, and suggestions, be they never so
filthy and abominable; but all his attempts
art to be turned back upon his own head.
The wretch is to be contemned and scorned,
nor is the holy communion to be omitted for
his assaults, and the commotions which he
causeth.
3. Oftentimes also a person is hindered by
too great solicitude for obtaining devotion,
and a certain anxiety about making his
confession.
Follow herein the counsel of the wise, and
put away all anxiety and scruple; for it
hindereth the grace of God, and destroyeth
devotion.
Leave not the holy communion for every small
trouble or vexation, but go quickly to
confession, and willingly forgive others
their offences against thee.
{358}
And if thou hast offended any one, humbly
crave pardon, and God will readily forgive
thee.
4. What doth it avail to delay thy confession
for a long time, or to put off the holy
communion?
Purge thyself with speed, spit out the venom
presently, make haste to take this
_remedy_, and thou shalt find it to be
better with thee, than if thou hadst deferred
it for a long time.
If thou lettest it alone to-day for this
cause, perhaps to-morrow a greater will fall
out, and so thou mayest be hindered a long
time from communion, and become more unfit:
With all possible speed shake off this
heaviness and sloth, for it is to no purpose
to continue long in disquiet, to pass a long
time in trouble, and for these daily
impediments to withdraw thyself from the
_divine mysteries_.
Yea, it is very hurtful to defer the
communion long; for this usually causeth a
great lukewarmness and numbness.
{359}
Alas! some tepid and dissolute people are
willing to put off their confession, and
desire that their communion should be
deferred, lest they should be obliged thereby
to keep a stricter watch over themselves.
5 Ah! how little is their love of God, how
weak is their devotion who so easily put by
the sacred communion?
How happy is he, and acceptable to God, who
so liveth, and keepeth his conscience in such
purity, as to be ready and well disposed to
communicate every day, if it were permitted,
and he might do it without note.
If sometimes a person abstains out of
humility, or by reason of some lawful
impediment, he is to be commended for his
reverence.
But if sloth steal upon him, he must stir up
himself, and do what lieth in him; and God
will assist his desire, for his good will,
which he chiefly regards.
6. And when he is lawfully hindered, he must
yet always have a good will and a pious
intention to communicate, and so he shall not
lose the fruit of the sacrament.
{360}
For every devout man may every day and hour
receive Christ spiritually without any
prohibition, and with profit to his soul.
And yet on certain days, and at the time
appointed, he ought to receive sacramentally
with an affectionate reverence the body of
his Redeemer, and rather aim at the honour of
God, than seek his own comfort.
For he communicates mystically, and is
invisibly fed, as often as he devoutly
calleth to mind the mystery of the
incarnation of Christ, and his passion; and
is inflamed with the love of him.
7. He that prepareth not himself, but when a
festival draweth near, or when custom
compelleth him thereunto, shall often be
unprepared.
Blessed is he that offereth himself up as an
holocaust to the Lord, as often as he
celebrates or communicates.
Be neither too long, nor too hasty in
celebrating, but observe the good common
manner of those with whom thou livest.
{361}
Thou oughtest not to be tedious and
troublesome to others, but to keep the common
way, according to the appointment of
superiors; and rather suit thyself to the
profit of others, than to thine own devotion
or affection.
Chap. XI.--_That the body of Christ and
the holy scripture are most necessary to a
faithful soul_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Sweetest Lord Jesus, how great sweetness
hath a devout soul that feasteth with thee in
thy banquet; where there is no other meat set
before her to be eaten but thyself her only
beloved, and most to be desired above all the
desires of her heart!
And to me indeed it would be delightful to
pour out tears in thy presence, with the
whole affection of my heart, and like the
devout Magdalen to wash thy feet with my
tears.
But where is this devotion? Where is this so
plentiful shedding of holy tears?
{362}
Surely in the sight of thee, and of thy holy
angels, my whole heart ought to be inflamed,
and to weep for joy.
For I have thee in the sacrament truly
present, though hidden under another form.
2. For to behold thee in thine own divine
brightness, is what my eyes would not be able
to endure, neither could the whole world
subsist in the splendour of the glory of thy
Majesty.
In this therefore thou condescendest to my
weakness, that thou hidest thyself under the
sacrament.
I truly have and adore him whom the angels
adore in heaven; but I as yet in
_faith_, they by _sight_ and
without a veil.
I must be content with the light of _true
faith_, and walk therein till the day of
eternal brightness break forth, and the
shades of figures pass away.
But when that which is perfect shall come,
the use of the sacraments shall cease: for
the blessed in heavenly glory stand not in
need of the remedy of the sacraments.
{363}
For they rejoice without end in the presence
of God, beholding his glory face to face; and
being transformed from glory into the glory
of the incomprehensible Deity, they taste the
_Word of God made flesh_, as he was from
the beginning, and as he remaineth for ever.
3. When I call to mind these wonders, even
every spiritual comfort becomes grievously
tedious to me; because as long as I behold
not my Lord openly in his glory, I make no
account of whatsoever I see and hear in the
world.
Thou art my witness, O God, that not one
thing can comfort me, nor any thing created
give me rest, but only thou, my God, whom I
desire for ever to contemplate.
But this is not possible whilst I remain in
this mortal life.
And therefore I must frame myself to much
patience, and submit myself to thee in all my
desires.
For thy saints also, O Lord, who now rejoice
with thee in the Kingdom of heaven, whilst
they were living, expected in faith and great
patience the coming of thy glory. What they
believed, I believe; what they hoped for, I
hope for; and whether they are come, I trust
that I also through thy grace shall come.
{364}
In the mean time I will walk in faith,
strengthened by the example of thy saints.
I shall have moreover for my comfort, and the
direction of my life, thy holy books; and
above all these things, thy most holy body
for a singular remedy and refuge.
4. For in this life I find there are two
things especially necessary for me, without
which this miserable life would be
insupportable.
Whilst I am kept in the prison of this body,
I acknowledge myself to need two things, to
wit, _food_ and _light_.
Thou hast therefore given to me, weak as I
am, thy sacred body for the nourishment of my
soul and body, and thou hast set _thy Word
as a light to my feet_. Psalms cxviii.
Without these two I could not well live, for
the Word of God is the light of my soul, and
thy sacrament is _the bread of Life_.
{365}
These also may be called the two tables set
on the one side, and on the other, in the
store house of the _holy church_.
One is the table of the _holy altar_,
having the _holy bread_, that is the
precious _Body of Christ_.
The other is that of the _divine law_,
containing _holy doctrine_, teaching the
_right faith_, and firmly leading even
within the _veil_, where are the
_holies of holies_:
Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus, Light of
eternal Light, for the table of _holy
doctrine_ which thou hast afforded us by
the ministry of thy servants, the prophets
and apostles, and other teachers.
5. Thanks be to thee, O thou Creator and
Redeemer of men, who, to manifest thy love to
the whole world, hast prepared a great
supper, wherein thou hast set before us to be
eaten, not the typical lamb, but thy most
sacred body and blood: rejoicing all the
faithful with thy holy banquet, and
replenishing them with the cup of salvation,
in which are all the delights of paradise;
and the holy angels do feast with us, but
with a more happy sweetness.
{366}
6. O how great and honourable is the office
of priests, to whom it is given to consecrate
with sacred words the Lord of Majesty; to
bless _him_ with their lips, to hold
_him_ with their hands, to receive
_him_ with their own mouth, and to
administer _him_ to others!
Oh! how clean ought those hands to be, how
pure that mouth, how holy that body, how
unspotted the heart of a _priest_, into
whom thou the Author of Purity so often
enters!
From the mouth of a _priest_ nothing but
what is _holy_, no word but what is
_good_ and _profitable_ ought to
proceed, who so often receives the sacrament
of Christ.
7. His eyes ought to be _simple_, and
_chaste_, which are used to behold the
_Body of Christ;_ his hands _pure_
and lifted up to heaven, which use to handle
the Creator of heaven and earth.
{367}
Unto the priest especially it is said in the
law, _Be you holy, for I the Lord your God
am holy_. Leviticus xix. 20.
8. Let thy grace, O Almighty God, assist us,
that we, who have undertaken the office of
priesthood, may serve thee worthily and
devoutly in all purity and good conscience.
And if we cannot live in so great innocency
as we ought, grant us at least duly to bewail
the sins which we have committed; and in the
spirit of humility, and the resolution of a
good-will, to serve thee more fervently for
the time to come.
Chap. XII.--_That he who is to
communicate ought to prepare himself for
Christ with great diligence_.
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. I Am the lover of purity, and the giver of
all holiness.
I seek a pure heart, and there is the place
of my _rest_.
{368}
Make ready for me _a large upper room
furnished, and I will make the pasch with
thee, together with my disciples._ Mark
xiv. Luke xxii.
If thou wilt have me come to thee, and remain
with thee; purge out the old leaven, and make
clean the habitation of thy heart;
Shut out the whole world, and all the tumult
of vices; sit like a sparrow solitary on the
house top, and think of thy excesses in the
bitterness of thy soul.
For every lover prepareth the best and
fairest room for his dearly beloved; and
hereby is known the affection of him that
entertaineth his beloved.
2. Know nevertheless, that thou canst not
sufficiently prepare thyself by the merit of
any action of thine, although thou shouldst
prepare thyself a whole year together, and
think of nothing else.
But it is of my mere goodness and grace that
thou art suffered to come to my table; as if
a beggar should be invited to dinner by a
rich man, who hath nothing else to return him
for his benefit, but to humble himself, and
to give him thanks.
{369}
Do what lieth in thee, and do it diligently;
not for custom, nor for necessity; but with
fear, and reverence, and affection, receive
the body of thy beloved Lord, thy God, who
vouchsafeth to come to thee.
I am he that have invited thee, I have
commanded it to be done, I will supply what
is wanting in thee, come and receive me.
3. When I bestow the grace of devotion give
thanks to thy God, not for that thou art
worthy, but because I have had mercy on thee.
If thou hast it not, but rather findest
thyself dry, continue in prayer, sigh and
knock, and give not over, till thou receivest
some crum or drop of saving grace.
Thou hast need of me, not I of thee.
Neither dost thou come to sanctify me, but I
come to sanctify and make thee better;
Thou comest that thou mayest be sanctified by
me, and united to me; that thou mayest
receive new grace, and be inflamed anew to
amendment.
{370}
Neglect not this grace, but prepare thy heart
with all diligence, and bring thy beloved
into thee.
4. But thou oughtest not only to prepare
thyself to devotion before communion, but
carefully also to keep thyself therein after
receiving the sacrament; neither is the
carefully guarding of thyself afterwards less
required than the devoutly preparing thyself
before: for a good guard afterwards is the
best preparation again for the obtaining of
greater grace.
For what renders a man very much indisposed
is, if he presently pour himself out upon
exterior comforts.
Beware of much talk, remain in secret, and
enjoy thy God; for thou hast him whom all the
world cannot take from thee.
I am he to whom thou oughtest to give thy
whole self; so that thou mayest henceforward
live, without all solicitude, not in thyself,
but in me.
{371}
Chap. XIII.--_That a devout soul ought to
desire with her whole heart to be united to
Christ in the sacrament_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. Who will give me, O Lord, to find thee
alone, that I may open my whole heart to
thee, and enjoy thee as my soul desireth; and
that no one may now despise me, nor any thing
created move me or regard me; but thou alone
mayest speak to me, and I to thee; as the
_Beloved_ is wont to speak to his
_Beloved_, and a friend to banquet with
his friend.
This I pray for, this I desire, that I may be
wholly united to thee, and may withdraw my
heart from all created things; and by the
holy communion, and often celebrating, may
more and more learn to relish heavenly and
eternal things.
Ah! Lord God, when shall I be wholly united
to thee, and absorpt in thee, and altogether
forgetful of myself:
Thou in me, and I in thee; and so grant us
both to continue in one.
{372}
2. Verily thou art my _Beloved_, the
choicest amongst thousands, in whom my soul
is well pleased to dwell all the days of her
life:
Verily, thou art my _peace-maker_, in
whom is sovereign _peace_ and true
_rest;_ out of whom is _labour_ and
_sorrow_, and endless _misery:_
Thou art in truth, a hidden God, and thy
counsel is not with the wicked; but thy
conversation is with the humble and the
simple.
Oh! how sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, who, to
shew thy sweetness towards thy children,
vouchsafest to feed them with the most
delicious bread which cometh down from
heaven!
Surely, there is no other nation so great,
that hath their God so nigh to them, as thou
our God art present to all thy faithful; to
whom, for their daily comfort, and for the
raising up their hearts to heaven, thou
gavest thyself to be eaten and enjoyed.
3. For what other nation is there so honoured
as the Christian people!
{373}
Or what creature under heaven so beloved as a
devout soul, into whom God cometh, that he
may feed her with his glorious flesh?
Oh! unspeakable grace! Oh! wonderful
condescension! Oh! infinite love, singularly
bestowed upon man!
But what return shall I make to the Lord for
this grace, and for so extraordinary a
charity?
There is nothing that I can give him that
will please him better, than if I give up my
heart entirely to God, and unite it closely
to him.
Then all that is within me shall rejoice
exceedingly, when my soul shall be perfectly
united to my God:
Then will he say to me, If thou wilt be with
me, I will be with thee; and I will answer
him: Vouchsafe, O Lord, to remain with me,
and I will willingly be with thee.
This is my whole desire, that my heart may be
united to thee.
{374}
Chap. XIV.--_Of the ardent desire of some
devout persons to receive the body of
Christ_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. _Oh! how great is the abundance of thy
sweetness, O Lord, which thou hast laid up
for them that fear thee._ Psalms xxx.
When I remember some devout persons, who come
to thy sacrament with the greatest devotion
and affection, I am often confounded and
ashamed within myself, that I approach so
tepidly and coldly to thy altar, and to the
table of the holy communion;
That I remain so dry, and without affection
of heart; that I am not wholly set on fire in
thy presence, O my God; nor so earnestly
drawn and affected, as many devout persons
have been, who, out of a vehement desire of
communion, and a sensible love in their
hearts, could not contain themselves from
weeping;
{375}
But with their whole souls eagerly thirsted
to approach, both with the mouth of their
heart and of their body, to thee, O God, the
living Fountain; being in no wise able to
moderate or satisfy their hunger, but by
receiving thy body with all joy and spiritual
greediness.
2. Oh! _true ardent faith_ of these
persons, being a probable argument of thy
sacred presence!
For they truly know their Lord in the
breaking of bread, whose heart burneth so
mightily within them, from Jesus his walking
with them. _Luke_ xxiv.
Such affection and devotion as this, so
vehement a love and burning, is often far
from me.
Be thou merciful to me, O good Jesus, sweet
and gracious Lord; and grant me, thy poor
beggar, to feel, sometimes at least, in the
sacred communion, some little of the cordial
affection of thy love, that my _faith_
may be more strengthened, my _hope_ in
thy goodness increased, and that my
_charity_, being once perfectly
enkindled, and having tasted the _Manna_
of heaven, may never decay.
{376}
3. Moreover, thy mercy is able to give me the
grace I desire, and to visit me in thy great
clemency with the spirit of fervour, when it
shall please thee:
For though I burn not at present with so
great a desire as those that are so
singularly devoted to thee; yet, by thy
grace, I desire to have this same great
inflamed desire; praying and wishing that I
may be made partaker with all such thy
fervent lovers, and be numbered in their holy
company.
Chap. XV.--_That the grace of devotion is
obtained by humility and self-denial._
1. Thou oughtest to seek the grace of
devotion earnestly, to ask it fervently, to
wait for it patiently and confidently, to
receive it thankfully, to keep it humbly, to
work with it diligently, and to commit to God
the time and manner of this heavenly
visitation, until it shall please him to come
unto thee.
{377}
Thou oughtest chiefly to humble thyself, when
thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion;
and yet not to be too much dejected, nor to
grieve inordinately.
God often giveth, in one short moment, what
he hath a long time denied:
He giveth sometimes in the end, that which in
the beginning of prayer he deferred to grant.
2. If grace were always presently given, and
ever at hand with a wish, it would be more
than man's infirmity could well bear:
Therefore the _grace of devotion_ is to
be expected with a good hope and humble
patience. Yet impute it to thyself, and to
thy sins, when it is not given to thee, or
when it is secretly taken away.
It is sometimes a little thing that hinders
or hides grace from us; if that may be called
_little_, and not rather _great_,
which hindereth so great a good:
{378}
But if thou remove this same, be it small or
great, and perfectly overcome it, thou shalt
have thy desire.
3. For as soon as ever thou hast delivered
thyself up to God with thy whole heart, and
neither seekest this nor that for thine own
pleasure or will, but wholly placest thyself
in him, thou shalt find thyself united and at
peace; for nothing will relish so well, and
please thee so much, as the good pleasure of
the divine will.
Whosoever therefore with a single heart shall
direct his attention upwards to God, and
purge himself of all inordinate love or
dislike of any created thing, he shall be the
most fit to receive grace, and worthy of the
gift of devotion:
For the Lord bestows his blessing there where
he finds the vessels empty.
And the more perfectly one forsakes these
things below, and the more he dies to himself
by the contempt of himself, the more speedily
grace cometh, entereth in more plentifully,
and the higher it elevateth the free heart.
{379}
4. _Then shall he see and abound, he shall
admire, and his heart shall be enlarged_
within him, because the hand of the Lord is
with him, and he has put himself wholly into
his _hand_ for ever. Behold, thus shall
the man be blessed that seeketh God with his
whole heart, and taketh not his soul in vain.
Such a one as this, in receiving the Holy
Eucharist, obtains a great grace of _divine
union;_ because he looks not towards his
own devotion and comfort, but, above all
devotion and comfort, regards the honour and
glory of God.
Chap. XVI.--_That we ought to lay open
our necessities to Christ, and crave his
grace._
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. O Most sweet and loving Lord, whom I now
desire to receive with all devotion, thou
knowest my weakness, and the necessity which
I endure; in how great evils and vices I am
immersed; now often I am oppressed, tempted,
troubled, and defiled;
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To thee I come for remedy; I pray to thee for
comfort and succour.
I speak to him that knows all things, to whom
all that is within me is manifest, and who
alone can perfectly comfort and help me.
Thou knowest what good I stand most inn need
of, and how poor I am in virtues.
2. Behold, I stand before thee poor and
naked, begging thy grace, and imploring thy
mercy:
Feed thy hungry beggar; inflame my coldness
with the fire of thy love; enlighten my
blindness with the brightness of thy
presence;
Turn all earthly things to me into
bitterness; all things grievous and cross
into patience; all things below and created,
into contempt and oblivion:
Lift up my heart to thee in heaven, and
suffer me not to wander upon earth:
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Be thou only sweet to me from henceforth for
evermore; for thou only art my meat and my
drink, my love and my joy, my sweetness and
all my good.
3. Oh! that with thy presence thou wouldst
inflame, burn, and transform me into thyself,
that I may be made one spirit with thee, by
the grace of internal union, and by the
melting of ardent love!
Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and dry;
but deal with me in thy mercy, as thou hast
dealt wonderfully with thy saints.
What marvel if I should be wholly set on fire
by thee, and should die to myself; since thou
art a _fire_ always burning, and never
decaying; a _love_ purifying the heart,
and enlightening the understanding.
{382}
Chap. XVII.--_Of fervent love and
vehement desire to receive Christ_.
The Voice of the Disciple.
1. With the greatest devotion and burning
love, with all the affection and fervour of
my heart, I desire to receive thee, O Lord;
as many saints and devout persons, who were
most pleasing to thee in holiness of life,
and most fervent in devotion, have desired
thee when they have communicated.
O my God, my eternal love, my whole good, and
never-ending happiness, I would gladly
receive thee with the most vehement desire,
and most worthy reverence, that any of the
saints ever had or could feel.
2. And though I be unworthy to have all those
feelings of devotion, yet I offer to thee the
whole affection of my heart, as if I alone
had all those highly pleasing inflamed
desires;
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Yea, and whatsoever a godly mind can conceive
and desire, all this, with the greatest
reverence and most inward affection, I offer
and present to thee:
I desire to reserve nothing to myself, but
freely and most willingly to sacrifice
myself, and all that is mine, to thee.
O Lord, my God, my Creator and Redeemer, I
desire to receive thee this day with such
_affection, reverence, praise_, and
_honour;_ with such _gratitude,
worthiness,_ and _love;_ with such
_faith, hope,_ and _purity,_ as thy
most holy Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary,
received and desired thee, when she humbly
and devoutly answered the angel, who declared
to her the mystery of the incarnation;
_Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be
done unto me according to thy word_. Luke
i.
3. And as thy blessed forerunner, the most
excellent among the saints, John the Baptist,
in thy presence leaped for joy through the
Holy Ghost, whilst he was as yet shut up in
his mother's womb; and afterwards seeing
Jesus walking amongst men, humbling himself
exceedingly, said with devout affection,
_The friend of the bridegroom that standeth
and heareth him, and rejoiceth with joy for
the voice of the bridegroom._ John iii. So
I also wish to be inflamed with great and
holy desires, and to present myself to thee
with my whole heart:
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Wherefore I here offer and present myself to
thee the excessive joys of all devout hearts,
their ardent affections, their extasies and
supernatural illuminations, and heavenly
visions; together with all the virtues and
praises which are or shall be celebrated by
all creatures in heaven and earth; for myself
and all such as are recommended to my
prayers, that by all thou mayest be worthily
praised and glorified for ever.
4. Receive my wishes, O Lord, my God, and my
desire of giving thee infinite praise and
immense blessing, which, according to the
multitude of thy unspeakable greatness, are
most justly due to thee.
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These I render, and desire to render to thee
every day and every moment: and I invite and
entreat all the heavenly spirits, and all thy
faithful, with my prayers and affections, to
join with me in giving thee praises and
thanks.
5. Let all people, tribes, and tongues praise
thee, and magnify thy holy and sweet name,
with the highest jubilation and ardent
devotion.
And let all who reverently and devoutly
celebrate thy most high sacrament, and
receive it with full faith, find grace and
mercy at thy hands, and humbly pray for me, a
sinful creature.
And when they shall have obtained their
desired devotion and joyful union, and shall
depart from thy sacred heavenly table, well
comforted, and wonderfully nourished, let
them vouchsafe to remember my poor soul.
{386}
Chap. XVIII.--_That a man be not a
curious searcher into this sacrament, but a
follower of Christ, submitting his sense to
holy faith._
The Voice of the Beloved.
1. Thou must, beware of curious and
unprofitable searching into this most
profound sacrament, if thou wilt not sink
into the depth of doubt.
_He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be
oppressed by glory._ Proverbs xxv. God is
able to work more than man can understand.
A pious and humble inquiry after _truth_
is tolerable, which is always ready to be
taught, and studies to walk in the sound
doctrine of the _Fathers_.
2. Blessed is that simplicity that leaveth
the difficult ways of disputes, and goeth on
in the plain and sure path of God's
commandments.
Many have lost devotion, whilst they would
search into high things.
{387}
It is _faith_ that is required of thee,
and a _sincere life;_ not the height of
understanding, not diving deep into the
mysteries of God.
If thou dost not understand nor comprehend
those things that are under thee, how
shouldst thou comprehend those things that
are above thee?
Submit thyself to God, and humble thy
_sense_ to _faith_, and the light
of knowledge shall be given thee, as far as
shall be profitable and necessary for thee.
3. Some are grievously tempted about faith
and the sacrament; but this is not to be
imputed to them, but rather to the enemy.
Be not thou anxious, stand not to dispute
with thy thoughts, nor to answer the doubts
which the devil suggests, but believe the
words of God, believe his saints and
prophets, and the wicked enemy will fly from
thee.
It is often very profitable to the servant of
God to suffer such things;
{388}
For the devil tempteth not unbelievers and
sinners, whom he already securely possesseth;
but the faithful and devout he many ways
tempteth and molesteth.
4. Go forward therefore with a sincere and
undoubted faith, and with an humble reverence
approach to this sacrament; and whatsoever
thou art not able to understand, commit
securely to God, who is _Omnipotent_.
God never deceiveth, but he is deceived that
trusts too much to himself:
God walketh with the simple, and revealeth
himself to the humble; he giveth
understanding to little ones, openeth the
gate of knowledge to pure minds, and hideth
his grace from the curious and proud.
Human _reason_ is weak and may be
deceived; but true _faith_ cannot be
deceived.
5. All reason and natural search ought to
follow faith, and not to go before it, nor
oppose it;
For _faith_ and _love_ are here
predominant, and work by hidden ways in this
most holy and super-excellent sacrament.
{389}
God, who is eternal and incomprehensible, and
of infinite power, doth great and inscrutable
things in heaven and earth, and there is no
searching out his wonderful works.
If the works of God were such as might be
easily comprehended by human reason, they
could not be called wonderful and
unspeakable.
The End.
Erratum, page 356, line 2, for likely read
lightly.
[Transcriber's note: This correction has
been applied.]
{390}
Contents.
Chap. BOOK I. Page.
i. Of following Christ and despising
all the vanities of the world 3
ii. Of having an humble sentiment
of one's self 6
iii. Of the doctrine of truth 8
iv. Of prudence in our doings 13
v. Of the reading the holy scriptures 14
vi. Of inordinate affections 16
vii. Of flying vain hope and pride 17
viii. Of shunning too much familiarity 19
ix. Of obedience and subjection 20
X. Of avoiding superfluity of words 21
xi. Of acquiring peace and zeal of
spiritual progress 23
xii. Of the advantage of adversity 26
xiii. Of resisting temptation 28
xiv. Of avoiding rash judgment 33
{391}
xv. Of works done out of charity 34
xvi. Of bearing the defects of others 36
xvii. Of a monastic life 38
xviii. Of the examples of the holy fathers 40
xix. Of the exercises of a
good religious man 44
xx. Of the love of solitude and silence 49
xxi. Of compunction of heart 54
xxii. Of the consideration of the
misery of man 58
xxiii. Of the thoughts of death 63
xxiv. Of judgment and the punishment
of sins 69
XXV. Of the fervent amendment of
our whole life 75
Book II.
i. Of interior conversation 83
ii. Of humble submission 89
iii. Of a good peaceable man 90
iv. Of a pure mind and simple intention 93
v. Of the consideration of one's self 95
vi. Of the joy of a good conscience 97
{392}
vii. Of the love of Jesus above
all things. 100
viii. Of familiar friendship with Jesus 102
ix. Of the want of all comfort 106
X. Of gratitude for the grace of God 111
xi. Of the small number of the
lovers of the cross of Jesus 115
xii. Of the King's highway of the
Holy Cross 119
Book III.
i. Of the internal speech of Christ
to a faithful soul 129
ii. That truth speaks within us
without noise of words 131
iii. That the words of God are to be
heard with humility, and that many
weigh them not 133
A prayer to implore the grace
of devotion 136
iv. That we ought to walk in truth
and humility in God's presence 138
v. Of the wonderful effect of divine love 141
vi. Of the proof of a true lover 146
{393}
vii. That grace is to be hid under
the guardianship of humility 150
viii. Of the mean esteem of one's
self in the sight of God 155
ix. That all things are to be referred
to God, as to our last end 157
X. That it is sweet to serve God,
despising this world 159
xi. That the desires of the heart are
to be examined and moderated 163
xii. Of learning patience, and of
fighting against concupiscence 165
xiii. Of the obedience of an humble
subject after the example of
Jesus Christ 168
xiv. Of considering the secret judgments
of God, lest we be puffed up
by our good works 171
xv. How we are to be disposed, and what we
are to say when we desire any thing 173
A prayer for the fulfilling of the
will of God 175
{394}
xvi. That true comfort is to be
sought in God alone 177
xvii. That we ought to cast all our
care upon God 179
xviii. That temporal miseries are to be
borne with patience after the
example of Jesus Christ 181
xix. Of supporting injuries, and
who is proved to be truly patient 183
xx. Of the confession of our own
infirmity, and of the miseries
of this life 186
xxi. That we are to rest in God
above all goods and gifts 190
xxii. Of the remembrance of the
manifold benefits of God 195
xxiii. Of four things which bring
much peace 198
A prayer against evil thoughts 200
A prayer for the enlightening
of the mind 201
xxiv. That we are not to be curious in
enquiring into the life of others 202
xxv. In what things the firm peace of the
heart and true progress doth consist 204
{395}
xxvi. Of the eminence of a free mind,
which humble prayer better procures
than reading 207
xxvii. That self love chiefly keeps a
person back from the sovereign good 209
A prayer for the cleansing of the heart
and the obtaining of heavenly wisdom 211
xxviii. Against the tongues of detracters 212
xxix. How in the time of tribulation
God is to be invoked and blessed 213
xxx. Of asking the divine assistance,
and of confidence of recovering grace 215
xxxi. Of disregarding all things created,
that so we may find the Creator 220
xxxii. Of the denying ourselves,
and renouncing all cupidity 224
xxxiii. Of the inconstancy of our heart,
and of directing our final
intention to God 226
xxxiv. That he that loves God relishes him
above all things, and in all things 228
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xxxv. That there is no being secure
from temptation in this life 231
xxxvi. Against the vain judgments of men 234
xxxvii. Of a pure and full resignation
of ourselves, for the obtaining
freedom of heart 236
xxxviii. Of the good government of
ourselves in outward things, and
of having recourse to God
in dangers 238
xxxix. That a man must not be
over eager in his affairs 240
xl. That man hath no good of himself,
and that he cannot glory in any thing 242
xli. Of the contempt of all
temporal honour 245
xlii. That our peace is not to be
placed in men 246
xliii. Against vain and worldly learning 248
xliv. Of not drawing to ourselves
exterior things 251
xlv. That credit is not to be given
to all men; and that men
are prone to offend in words 252
{397}
xlvi. Of having confidence in God
when words arise against us 256
xlvii. That all grievous things are to be
endured for life everlasting 260
xlviii. Of the day of eternity, and
of the miseries of this life 263
xlix. Of the desire of eternal life,
and how great things are
promised to them that fight 268
l. How a desolate person ought to offer
himself into the hands of God 274
li. That we must practise ourselves in
humble works, when we cannot attain
to high things 280
lii. That a man ought not to esteem
himself worthy of consolation,
but rather guilty of stripes 282
liii. That the grace of God is not
communicated to the earthly-minded 285
liv. Of the different motions of nature
and grace 288
iv. Of the corruption of nature,
and of the efficacy of divine grace 295
{398}
lvi. That we ought to deny ourselves,
and to imitate Christ by the cross 300
lvii. That a man should not be too much
dejected when he falls into
some defects 303
lviii. Of not searching into high matters,
nor into the secret
judgments of God 306
lix. That all hope and confidence
is to be fixed in God alone 314
Book IV.
Of The Blessed Sacrament.
i. With how great reverence Christ
is to be received 319
ii. That the great goodness and
charity of God is shewed to man
in this sacrament 328
iii. That it is profitable to
communicate often 333
iv. That many benefits are bestowed
on them who communicate devoutly 337
{399}
v. Of the dignity of the sacrament,
and of the priestly state 342
vi. A petition concerning the exercise
proper before communion 345
vii. Of the discussion of one's own
conscience, and of a resolution of
amendment 346
viii. Of the oblation of Christ on the
cross, and of the resignation of
ourselves 350
ix. That we must offer ourselves,
and all that is ours, to God,
and pray for all 352
x. That the holy communion is
not lightly to be forborne 356
xi. That the body of Christ and the holy
scriptures are most necessary to
a faithful soul 361
xii. That he who is to communicate ought
to prepare himself for Christ
with great diligence 367
xiii. That a devout soul ought to desire
with her whole heart to be united
to Christ in this sacrament 371
{400}
xiv. Of the ardent desire of some devout
persons to receive the body of Christ 374
XV. That the grace of devotion is
obtained by humility and self-denial 376
xvi. That we ought to lay open our
necessities to Christ, and crave
his grace 379
xvii. Of fervent love and vehement
desire to receive Christ 382
xviii. That a man be not a curious
searcher into this sacrament;
but an humble follower of Christ,
submitting his sense to holy faith 386
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