consolation of the faithful soul, as long as it wanders in this mortal body away from Thee, that being oftener mindful of its God it receives its beloved with a devout mind.1

4. O wonderful condescension of Thy loving-kindness towards us, that Thou, O Lord God, Who hast formed and breathed life into all spirits, deignest to come to the wretched soul and to quench its thirst with all Thy divinity and humanity! O happy mind, O blessed soul, that can receive Thee, its Lord and its God, with all devotion, and be filled with spiritual joy in the reception of Thee!

O, how great a Lord does it receive; how beloved the guest it welcomes; how delightful the companion it entertains; how faithful the friend it accepts; how fair, how noble, the spouse it embraces, deserving love before all loved and above all desired! O my most dearly Beloved, let heaven and earth, and all their glory be silent before Thy face, for whatever praise and honour they have, they have of Thy condescending goodness, nor will they attain the honour of Thy name, Whose wisdom is unbounded.

12 Cor. v. 6.

"Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord."

2 Habak. ii. 20.

"But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all

the earth keep silence before Him." Ps. cxlvii. 5. "Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”

CHAPTER IV.

MANY GOOD THINGS ARE VOUCHSAFED TO THOSE WHO DEVOUTLY COMMUNICATE.

LORD my God, prevent Thy servant with the blessing of Thy goodness, that I may be enabled to approach Thy wonderful Sacrament worthily and devoutly. Excite my heart within me, and rouse me from my heavy torpor. Visit me in Thy

mercy that I may in spirit taste Thy sweetness, which in

this Sacrament, as in a fountain, lies hidden in abundance.1 Illumine mine eyes also to behold so great a mystery, and strengthen me to believe it with undoubting faith.

For Thine operation is not human power, Thy sacred institution is not man's invention. For no man can be found who is able of himself to receive and understand these things-things which transcend even the intelligence of the angels. How then shall I, an unworthy sinner, dust and ashes, be able to comprehend and receive so holy, so lofty a secret?

2. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart, in good firm faith, and in accordance with Thy command, I approach Thee with hope and reverence, and I sincerely believe that

1 Ps. cvi. 4. "O visit me with Thy salvation."

Thou art present here in the Sacrament, both God and Man. Grant, therefore, that I may receive Thee, and that I may unite myself to Thee in love.

Wherefore I implore Thy clemency, and pray that Thy special grace may be granted me, that I may flow into Thee and be lost in Thy love, and no longer give myself up to any external consolation. For this is the highest, the greatest Sacrament, the safety of the soul and of the body, the medicine for all spiritual languor; in this my vices are cured, my passions restrained, my temptations overcome or at least lessened, greater grace infused, crescent virtue increased, faith made firm, hope made strong, and love enkindled and enlarged.

3. For Thou hast bestowed many good things, and still dost very often bestow them, in the Sacrament, on Thy chosen who devoutly communicate, O my God, Receiver of my soul, Repairer of human infirmity, and Giver of every spiritual consolation. For to them Thou impartest much consolation against various troubles, and from the lowest depths of personal dejection raisest them to the hope of Thy protection, renewing and enlightening them within with some fresh grace; so that those who at first were anxious, and before communion, felt themselves deficient in affection, afterwards find themselves refreshed with heavenly food and drink, and changed for the better.

Thus Thou actest with Thine elect, that they may truly know, and patiently experience, how much weakness they have in themselves, and how much goodness and grace

1 Ps. liv. 4. "Behold, God is my helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul."

they obtain from Thee. For being of themselves cold, dull, and not devout, through Thee they become fervent, active, and devout. For who approaching humbly to the fountain of sweetness does not bear hence some portion of its sweetness? Or who standing near a large fire does not feel some of its warmth? And Thou art a fountain ever full and overflowing, a fire ever burning, never failing.1

4. Wherefore, if I may not draw from the fulness of this fountain, nor drink to satiety from it, I will yet place my mouth at the hole of the heavenly pipe, that I may catch some little drop at least to quench my thirst, and not altogether perish. And if I am not so entirely heavenly, and so aroused, as to be fit for the society of Cherubim and Seraphim, yet will I strive to be persistent in devotion, and to prepare my heart, that I may acquire a small flame from the divine fire by lowly partaking of the quickening Sacrament. What I need do Thou, good Jesus, most holy Saviour, benignly and graciously supply to me, for Thou didst condescend to call all to Thee, saying, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”2

5. I indeed labour in the sweat of my countenance, I am tormented with the grief of my heart, I am burdened with sins, disquieted with temptations, surrounded and weighed down by many evil passions; and there is none to help, none to rescue, none to save, unless Thou, O Lord

1 Levit. vi. 13. " The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out."

2 S. Matth. xi. 28.

my God, be my Saviour: to Thee do I commit myself and all that is mine, that Thou mayest guard me and lead me to life eternal.1 Receive me into the praise and glory of Thy name, Thou who hast prepared Thy body and Thy blood as meat and drink for me. Be Thou at hand, O Lord my Saviour, that by the frequent repetition of Thy mystery my love of devotion may increase.

CHAPTER V.

ON THE GRANDEUR OF THE SACRAMENT, AND THE
SACERDOTAL ORDER.

ADST thou the purity of angels and the sanctity of the blessed John the Baptist, thou wouldest be unworthy to partake of this Sa

crament or to discourse about it: for man oweth it not to his merits that he consecrateth and treateth of Christ's Sacrament, and taketh for food the bread of angels.2

"Great is the mystery, and great the dignity of the sacerdotal order, for to them hath been assigned what hath not been given to the angels; for only those who have

Gen. iii. 19. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." Ps. xxii. 11. "Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help." xxv. 5.

2 Ps. lxxviii. 25. "Man did eat angels' food."