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Chapter II - That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the
Sacrament
The Voice of the Disciple
Trusting in Thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near,
the sick to the Healer, the hungering and thristing to the
Fountain of life, the poverty-stricken to the King of heaven, the
servant to the Lord, the creature to the Creator, the desolate to
my own gentle Comforter. But whence is this unto me, that Thou
comest unto me? Who am I that Thou shouldest offer me Thyself?
How doth a sinner dare to appear before Thee? And how dost thou
vouchsafe to come to the sinner? Thou knowest Thy servant, and
Thou knowest that he hath in him no good thing for which Thou
shouldest grant him this grace. I confess therefore mine own
vileness, I acknowledge Thy goodness, I praise Thy tenderness,
and I give Thee thanks for Thine exceeding great love. For Thou
doest this for Thine own sake, not for my merits, that Thy
goodness may be more manifest unto me, Thy charity more
abundantly poured out upon me, and Thy humility more perfectly
commended unto me. Therefore because this pleaseth Thee and Thou
hast commanded that thus it shall be, Thy condescension pleaseth
me also; and oh that mine iniquity hinder it not.
2. O most sweet and tender Jesus, what reverence, what giving of
thanks is due to Thee with perpetual praise for the receiving of
Thy sacred Body and Blood, the dignity whereof no man is found
able to express. But what shall I think upon in this Communion
in approaching my Lord, whom I am not able worthily to honour,
and nevertheless whom I long devoutly to receive? What shall be
better and more healthful meditation for me, than utter
humiliation of myself before Thee, and exaltation of Thine
infinite goodness towards me? I praise Thee, O my God, and exalt
Thee for evermore. I despise myself, and cast myself down before
Thee into the deep of my vileness.
3. Behold, Thou art the Saint of saints and I the refuse of
sinners; behold, Thou stoopest unto me who am not worthy to look
upon Thee; behold, Thou comest unto me, Thou willest to be with
me, Thou invitest me to Thy feast. Thou willest to give me the
heavenly food and bread of angels to eat; none other, in truth,
than Thyself, The living bread, which didst descend from heaven;
and givest life to the world.(1)
4. Behold, whence this love proceedeth! what manner of
condescenion shineth forth herein. What great giving of thanks
and praise is due unto Thee for these benefits! Oh how salutary
and profitable Thy purpose when Thou didst ordain this! How
sweet and pleasant the feast when Thou didst give Thyself for
food! Oh how admirable is thy working, O Lord, how mighty Thy
power, how unspeakable Thy truth! For Thou didst speak the word,
and all things were made; and this is done which Thou hast
commanded.
5. A thing wonderful, and worthy of faith, and surpassing all the
understanding of man, that Thou, O Lord my God, very God and very
man, givest Thyself altogether to us in a little bread and wine,
and art so our inexhaustible food. Thou, O Lord of all, who hast
need of nothing, hast willed to dwell in us through Thy
Sacrament. Preserve my heart and my body undefiled, that with a
joyful and pure conscience I may be able very often to
[celebrate, and](2) receive to my perpetual health. Thy
mysteries, which Thou hast consecrated and instituted both for
Thine own honour, and for a perpetual memorial.
6. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks unto God for so great a
gift and precious consolation, left unto thee in this vale of
tears. For so oft as thou callest this mystery to mind 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 never groweth less, and the
greatness of His propitiation is never exhausted. Therefore, by
continual renewal of thy spirit, thou oughtest to dispose thyself
hereunto and to weigh the great mystery of salvation with
attentive consideration. So great, new, and joyful ought it to
appear to thee when thou comest to communion, as if on this
self-same day Christ for the first time were descending into the
Virgin's womb and becoming man, or hanging on the cross,
suffering and dying for the salvation of mankind.
(1) John vi. 51.
(2) The words in brackets are only suitable for a priest.
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