3. When I contemplate these wonders, even every spiritual solace seems to me tedious; for as long as I do not openly behold my Lord in His glory, I count as naught whatever I see and hear upon the earth.

Be Thou my witness, O my God, that nothing can console me, no creature give me peace, none but Thou, my God, whom I desire to contemplate for ever.

But this is impossible as long as I continue in this mortal state.

Therefore it behoves me to exercise great patience and to submit myself to Thee in all my desires. For Thy saints also, O Lord, who now exult with Thee in the kingdom of heaven, whilst they lived upon the earth, waited for the coming of Thy glory in great faith and patience. What they believed, I believe; what they hoped for, I hope for; and where they have arrived, I hope that I, through Thy grace, shall also come.1

In the meantime I will walk in faith, comforted by the example of the saints. I will moreover have holy books for my solace and for my picture of life, and above all these, Thy most blessed body as a singular remedy and refuge.3

4. For I feel two things to be particularly necessary to me, without them this wretched life would be insupportable; detained as I am in this body's prison, I confess that I need two things, to wit, food and light. Therefore hast Thou given to me, weak as I am, Thy sacred body as food for

1 Heb. vi. 12. "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises."

2 2 Cor. v. 7. "For we walk by faith."

31 Maccab. xii. 9. "For that we have the holy books of Scripture in our hands to comfort us."

mind and body, and hast so arranged that "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."1

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 my life. These may even be called two tables, placed on this side and on that of the treasure-house of the holy church.3

One of these is the table of the holy altar, holding the sacred bread, to wit, the precious body of Christ; the other is the table of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching true faith, and conducting firmly even to the interior of the veil where are the holy of holies.

Thanks to Thee, O Lord Jesus, Fountain of Eternal Light, for the table of holy doctrine which Thou hast given to us through Thy servants the prophets, the apostles, and other learned men.5

5. Thanks to Thee, Creator and Redeemer of men, Who, to manifest Thy love to all the world, hast prepared a great feast, in which Thou hast ordained to be eaten, not a typical lamb, but Thy most holy body and blood; Thou givest joy to all Thy faithful in this sacred feast, giving them beyond measure of the cup of salvation,

1 Ps. cxix. 105.

2 S. John vi. 35. "I am the bread of life."

3 Ezek. xl. 39. "And in the porch were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt-offering and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering."

4 1 Sam. xxi. 4. "And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread."

5 Ephes. iv. 11, 12. "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."

in which are all the delights of Paradise, and in which the holy angels feast with us, but with greater peace.

6. O, how great and honourable is the duty of priests, to whom it is given with the holy words of Majesty to consecrate the Lord, to bless with their lips, to hold in their hands, with their own mouths to receive, and to distribute unto others! O, how clean ought those hands to be, how pure that mouth, how holy that body! how spotless will the heart of that priest be, to whom the Author of purity so often goes! From the mouth of a priest ought no unholy word to proceed, none that is not honourable and useful, for his mouth often receives the sacrament of Christ.

7. His eyes ought to be single and pure, eyes which are wont to look upon the body of Christ. His hands should be clean and turned towards heaven, hands which handle the Creator of the heavens and the earth.1 To the priest is it specially said in the law: "Ye shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy."2

8. May Thy grace assist us, Almighty God, that we who have received the priest's office may be enabled to do Thy service worthily and devoutly, in all purity, and with a good conscience !3

And though we are unable to pass our lives with as much innocence as we ought, still grant us worthily to lament the evils we have done, and to serve Thee henceforth more fervently, in the spirit of humility and the determination of a good will.

1 1 Tim. ii. 8.

2 Levit. xix. 2.

3 1 Tim. i. 5.

"Lifting up holy hands."

"Now the end of the commandment is charity

out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience."

CHAPTER XII.

ONE ABOUT TO COMMUNICATE OUGHT TO USE GREAT
DILIGENCE IN SELF-PREPARATION.

AM the Lover of purity, the Giver of all sanctity. I seek the pure heart, and there is the place of My rest.1 Prepare for Me a large furnished chamber, and I will "eat the passover with My disciples "2 within thee. If thou desire Me to come and remain with thee, 'purge out therefore the old leaven,'3 and cleanse the habitation of thy heart. Shut out all the world and all the tumult of sin; sit like a solitary sparrow upon the house-top, and in the bitterness of Thy soul reflect on thy faults.

"For every one that loveth prepareth for the object of his affection some very good and beautiful place, for here the affection of him to whom he giveth his love is made manifest.

2. "Know then that thou canst not make this preparation satisfactorily by merit of thine own acts, even though thou shouldest spend a whole year in preparation, and occupy

Acts vii. 49. "What house will ye build Me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of My rest?"

2 S. Mark xiv. 14, 15.

3 1 Cor. v. 7.

U

thy mind on nothing else. Only by devotion and My grace wilt thou be permitted to approach My table; just as a beggar summoned to the rich man's feast hath nothing to give in return for his benefits, nothing but humility and gratitude.

"Do what in thee lieth, and do it with all diligence; not from habit, not from obligation, but with fear, reverence, and love partake of the body of the beloved Lord thy God, Who condescendeth to come unto thee. I am He Who called, I ordered to be done; I will supply what thou lackest; come and receive Me.

3. "When I bestow the spirit of devotion, render thanks to thy God, not that thou art worthy, but that I have had compassion on thee.1 When thou hast not the spirit of devotion, but rather feelest thyself barren, persist in prayer, mourn, punish thyself; and do not desist until thou dost obtain a crumb or drop of saving grace. Thou hast need of Me, not I of thee. Nor dost thou come to sanctify Me, but I come to sanctify and improve thee. Thou comest that thou mayest be sanctified by Me and united to Me; that thou mayest receive new grace and be again aroused to amendment. Neglect not this grace, but prepare thy heart with all diligence, and into thy heart introduce thy Beloved.

4. "But it is expedient, not only to prepare thyself for devotion before communion, but to keep thyself in devotion after partaking of the Sacrament. The watchfulness required afterwards is not less than the devout preparation beforehand. For good watchfulness afterwards is the

1 S. Matth. xviii. 33.