If I be tempted and afflicted with many tribulations, I will fear no evil, whilst thy grace is with me;
She is my strength; she gives counsel and help;
She is more mighty than all my enemies, and wiser than all the wise.
6. She is the mistress of truth, the teacher of discipline, the light of the heart, the comfort in affliction, the banisher of sorrow, the expeller of fear, the nurse of devotion, the producer of tears.
What am I without her but a piece of dry wood, and an unprofitable stock, fit for nothing but to be cast away!
Let thy grace therefore, O Lord, always both go before me and follow me, and make me ever intent upon good works, through Jesus Christ, thy Son. Amen.
1. Son, as much as thou canst go out of thyself, so much wilt thou be able to enter into me.
As the desiring of nothing abroad brings peace at home, so the relinquishing ourselves interiorly joins us to God.
I will have thee learn the perfect renouncing of thyself in my will, without contradiction or complaint.
Follow me, I am the way, the truth and the life. John xiv. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living.
I am the way which thou must follow; the truth, which thou must believe; the life, which thou must hope for.
I am the way inviolable, the truth infallible, and the life that has no end.
I am the straitest way, the sovereign truth, the true life, a blessed life, an uncreated life.
If thou abide in my way, thou shalt know the truth, and the truth shall deliver thee, and thou shalt attain to life everlasting.
2. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Luke ix.
[USCCB: Matthew xix. 17. "If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."]
If thou wilt know the truth, believe me: If thou wilt be perfect, sell all:
It thou wilt be my disciple, deny thyself:
If thou wilt possess a blessed life, despise this present life:
If thou wilt be exalted in heaven, humble thyself in this world:
If thou wilt reign with me, bear the cross with me:
For none but the servants of the cross find the way of bliss and of true light.
3. Lord Jesus, forasmuch as thy way is narrow, and despised by the world; grant that I may follow thee, and be despised by the world:
For the servant is not greater than his Lord, neither is the disciple above his master. Matthew vi.
[USCCB: Matthew x. 24. "No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master." ]
Let thy servant meditate on thy life, for there is my salvation and true holiness:
Whatever I read, or hear besides, does not recreate nor fully delight me.
4. Son, thou knowest these things, and hast read them all, happy shalt thou be if thou fulfil them.
He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and I will love him, and I will manifest myself unto him, (John xiv.); and I will make him to sit with me in the kingdom of my Father. Apoc. iii.
5. Lord Jesus, as thou hast said and hast promised, so may it be indeed; and may it be my lot to merit it:
I have received the cross, I have received it from thy hand; and I will bear it, and bear it till death, as thou hast laid it upon me. Indeed the life of a good religious man is a cross, but it is a cross that conducts him to Paradise:
We have now begun, it is not lawful to go back, nor may we leave off.
6. Take courage, my brethren, let us go forward together, Jesus will be with us:
For Jesus's sake we took up this cross; for Jesus's sake let us persevere in it.
He will be our helper, who is our captain and our leader.
Behold our king marches before us, who will fight for us.
Let us follow him like men of courage; let no one shrink through fear; let us be ready valiantly to die in battle, and not to suffer our glory to be blemished by flying from the standard of the cross.
1. Son, patience and humility in adversity are more pleasing to me, than much consolation and devotion in prosperity.
Why art thou disturbed at a little thing said against thee?
If it had been more, thou oughtest not to be moved.
But now let it pass, it is not the first, or any thing new, nor will it be the last, if thou live long.
Thou art valiant enough, as long as no adversary or opposition comes in thy way:
Thou canst also give good advice, and encourage others with thy words: but when any unexpected trouble comes to knock at thy door, then thy counsel and thy courage fails thee.
Consider thy great frailty, which thou often experiencest in small difficulties. Yet it is done for thy good, as often as these or such like things befal thee.
2. Put it out of thy heart the best thou canst; and if it had touched thee, yet let it not cast thee down, nor keep thee a long time entangled.
At least bear it patiently, if thou canst not receive it with joy.
And though thou be not willing to hear it, and perceivest an indignation arising within thyself, yet repress thyself, and suffer no inordinate word to come out of thy mouth which may scandalize the weak.
The commotion which is stirred up in thee will quickly be allayed, and thy inward pain will be sweetened by the return of grace.
I am still living, saith the Lord, ready to help thee, and comfort thee more than before, if thou put thy trust in me, and devoutly call upon me.
3. Keep thy mind calm and even, and prepare thyself for bearing still more.
All is not lost, if thou feel thyself often afflicted or grievously tempted:
Thou art man and not God, thou art flesh and not an angel.
How canst thou look to continue ever in the same state of virtue, when this was not found in the angels in heaven, nor in the first man in Paradise?
I am he that raises up, and saves them that mourn; and them that know their own infirmity I advance to my divinity.
4. O Lord, blessed be this thy word, it is more sweet to my mouth than honey, and the honey-comb.
What shall I do in my so great tribulations and anguishes, didst thou not encourage me with thy holy words?
What matter is it how much or what I suffer, so I come but at length to the haven of salvation.
Grant me a good end, grant me a happy passage out of this world:
Be ever mindful of me, O my God, and direct me by this strait road to thy kingdom. Amen.
1. Son, see thou dispute not of high matters, nor of the hidden judgments of God; why this man is left thus, and this other is raised to so great grace; or why this person is so much afflicted, and that other so highly exalted.
These things are above the reach of man, neither can any reason or discourse be able to penetrate into the judgments of God.
When therefore the enemy suggests to thee such things as these, or thou hearest curious men inquiring into them, answer that of the prophet, Thou art just, O Lord, and thy judgment is right. Psalms cxviii.
[USCCB: Psalms cxix. 137. "You are righteous, LORD, and just are your edicts."]
And again: The judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves. Psalms xviii.
[USCCB: Psalms xix. 8, 9. "The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye."]
My judgments are to be feared, not to be searched into, for they are incomprehensible to human understanding.
2. In like manner do not inquire nor dispute of the merits of the saints, which of them is more holy than the other, or which greater in the kingdom of heaven.
These things oftentimes breed strife and unprofitable contentions, and nourish pride and vain-glory; from whence arise envy and dissensions, whilst this man proudly seeks to prefer this saint, and another man is for preferring another.
Now to desire to know and to search into such things as these, is of no profit, but rather displeaseth the saints; for I am not the God of dissensions, but of peace (1 Corinthians xiv.), which peace consists more in true humility than in exalting one's self.
3. Some are carried by a zeal of love towards these, or those, with greater affection; but this affection is rather human than divine.
I am he who made all the saints; I gave them grace, I have brought them to glory.
I know the merits of every one of them, I prevented them by the blessings of my sweetness.
I foreknew my beloved ones before the creation: I chose them out of the world, they were not before-hand with me to chuse me;
I called them by my grace, and drew them to me by my mercy. I led them safe through many temptations, I imparted to them extraordinary comforts, I gave them perseverance, I have crowned their patience.
4. I know the first and the last, I embrace them all with an inestimable love.
I am to be praised in all my saints, I am to be blessed above all things, and to be honoured in every one of them whom I have thus gloriously magnified, and eternally chosen without any foregoing merits of their own.
He therefore that despises one of the least of my saints, honours not the greatest, for both little and great I have made:
And he that derogates from any one of the saints, derogates also from me, and from all the rest of them in the kingdom of heaven.
They are all one through the band of love; they have the same sentiment, the same will, and all mutually love one another.
5. And yet (which is much higher) they all love me more than themselves and their own merit.
For being elevated above themselves, and drawn out of the love of themselves, they are wholly absorpt in the love of me, in whom also they rest by an eternal enjoyment.
Nor is there any thing which can divert them from me, or depress them; for being full of the eternal truth, they burn with the fire of a charity that cannot be extinguished.
Therefore let carnal and sensual men (who know not how to affect any thing but their private satisfactions) forbear to dispute of the state of the saints: they add and take away according to their own inclination, and not according to what is pleasing to the everlasting truth.
6. In many there is ignorance, especially in such as being but little enlightened seldom know how to love any one with a perfect spiritual love.
They are as yet much inclined to such or such by a natural affection and human friendship; and as they are affected with regard to things below, they conceive the like imaginations of the things of heaven.
But there is an incomparable distance between what the imperfect imagine, and what enlightened men contemplate by revelation from above.
7. Take heed, therefore, my Son, that thou treat not curiously of those things which exceed thy knowledge, but rather make it thy business and thy aim, that thou mayest be found, though it were the least, in the kingdom of God.
And if any one should know who were more holy or greater in the kingdom of heaven, what would the knowledge profit him, unless he would take occasion from knowing this to humble himself in my sight, and to praise my name with greater fervour?
It is much more acceptable to God for a man to think of the greatness of his own sins, and how little he is in virtues, and at how great a distance he is from the perfection of the saints, than to dispute which of them is greater or less.
It is better to invocate the saints with devout prayers and tears, and to implore their glorious suffrages with an humble mind, than by a vain inquiry to search into their secrets.
8. They are well and perfectly contented, if men would be but contented, and refrain from their vain discourses.
They glory not of their own merits, for they ascribe nothing of goodness to themselves, but all to me; because I bestowed all upon them out of my infinite charity.
They are filled with so great a love of the Deity, and such overflowing joy, that there is nothing wanting to their glory, nor can any happiness be wanting to them.
All the saints by how much they are the higher in glory, by so much are they the more humble in themselves, and nearer to me, and better beloved by me.
And therefore thou hast it written, that they cast down their crowns before God, and fell upon their faces before the lamb, and adored him that lives for ever and ever. Apoc. iv.
9. Many examine who is greatest in the kingdom of God, who know not whether they shall be worthy to be numbered amongst the least.
It is a great matter to be even the least in heaven, where all are great; because all shall be called the children of God:
The least shall be as a thousand, and a sinner of an hundred years shall die.
For when the disciples asked, Who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matthew xviii.) they received this answer:
Unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little one, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
10. Woe to them who disdain to humble themselves willingly with little children; for the low gate of the heavenly kingdom will not suffer them to enter thither.
Woe also to the rich who have their comforts here, for when the poor shall go into the kingdom of God, they stand lamenting without.
Rejoice you humble, and be glad you that are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God; yet so, if you walk in the truth.
1. Lord, what is my confidence which I have in this life? or what is my greatest comfort amongst all things that appear under heaven?
Is it not thou, my Lord God, whose mercies are without number?
Where was it ever well with me without thee? or when could it be ill with me when thou wast present?
I had rather be poor for thee, than rich without thee.
I chuse rather to sojourn on earth with thee, than to possess heaven without thee. Where thou art, there is heaven: and there is death and hell, where thou art not.
After thee I have a longing desire, and therefore I must needs sigh after thee, and cry and pray.
In fine, I cannot fully trust in any one to bring me seasonable help in my necessities, save only in thee, my God.
Thou art my hope, thou art my confidence, thou art my comforter, and most faithful above all.
2. All seek their own interest; thou aimest only at my salvation and profit, and turnest all things to my good.
And although thou expose me to various temptations and adversities, yet all this thou ordainest for my good, who art wont to prove thy beloved servants a thousand ways:
Under which proofs, thou oughtest no less to be loved and praised, than if thou wert to fill me with heavenly comforts.
3. In thee, therefore, O Lord God, I put all my hope and refuge; in thee I place all my tribulation and anguish; for I find all to be infirm and unstable whatever I behold out of thee.
For neither will a multitude of friends be of any service to me, nor can strong auxiliaries bring me any succours, nor wise counsellors give me a profitable answer, nor the books of the learned comfort me, nor any wealth deliver me, nor any secret and pleasant place secure me, if thou thyself do not assist; help, strengthen, comfort, instruct and defend me.
4. For all things which seem to be for our peace and for our happiness, when thou art absent, are nothing, and in truth contribute nothing to our felicity.
Thou therefore art the fountain of all good, and the height of life, and the depth of wisdom; and to trust in thee above all things is the strongest comfort of thy servants.
To thee I lift up mine eyes; in thee, O my God; the Father of mercies, I put my trust:
Bless and sanctify my soul with thy heavenly blessing, that it may be made thy holy habitation, and the seat of thy eternal glory; and let nothing be found in the temple of thy dignity that may offend the eyes of thy Majesty.
According to the greatness of thy goodness, and the multitude of thy tender mercies, look down upon me, and give ear to the prayer of thy poor servant, who is in banishment afar off from thee in the region of the shade of death.
Protect and defend the soul of thy servant amidst so many of this corruptible life; and direct him in the company of thy grace, through the way of peace to the country of everlasting light. Amen.
End Of Book III.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.