Chapter 03. That it is profitable to Communicate often (Book 4. Exhortation to Holy Communion) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. The Voice of the Disciple

Behold I come to You, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Your gift, and be made joyful in Your holy feast which You, O God, of Your goodness have prepared for the poor. Behold in You is all that I can and ought to desire, You are my salvation and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Your servant this day, for to You, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul. I long now to receive You devoutly and reverently, I desire to bring You into my house, so that with Zacchaeus I may be counted worthy to be blessed by You and numbered among the children of Abraham. My soul has an earnest desire for Your Body, my heart longs to be united with You.

2. Give me Yourself and it suffices, for besides You no consolation avails. Without You I cannot be, and without Your visitation I have no power to live. And therefore I must needs draw nigh to You often, and receive You for the healing of my soul, in case by chance I faint by the way if I be deprived of heavenly food. For so You, most merciful Jesus, preaching to the people and healing many sick, did once say, I will not send them away fasting to their own homes, in case they faint by the way. Deal therefore now to me in like manner, for You left Yourself for the consolation of the faithful in the Sacrament. For You are the sweet refreshment of the soul, and he who shall eat You worthily shall be partaker and inheritor of the eternal glory. Necessary indeed it is for me, who so often slide backwards and sin, so quickly wax cold and faint, to renew, cleanse, enkindle myself by frequent prayers and penitences and receiving of Your sacred Body and Blood in case perhaps by too long abstinence, I fall short of my holy resolutions.

3. For the imaginations of man's heart are evil from his youth, and except divine medicine succour him, man slides away continually to the worse. The Holy Communion therefore draws us back from evil, and strengthens us for good. For if I now be so negligent and lukewarm when I communicate [or celebrate], how should it be with me, if I receive not this medicine, and sought not so great a help? [And though I am not every day fit nor well prepared to celebrate, I will nevertheless give diligent heed at due season, to receive the divine mysteries, and to become partaker of so great grace]. For this is the one principal consolation of a faithful soul, so long as it is absent from You in mortal body, that being continually mindful of its God, it receives its Beloved with devout spirit.

4. Oh wonderful condescension of Your pity surrounding us, that You, O Lord God, Creator and Quickener of all spirits, deignest to come to a soul so poor and weak, and to appease its hunger with Your whole Deity and Humanity. Oh happy mind and blessed soul, to which is granted devoutly to receive You its Lord God, and in so receiving You to be filled with all spiritual joy! Oh how great a Lord does it entertain, how beloved a Guest does it bring in, how delightful a Companion does it receive, how faithful a Friend does it welcome, how beautiful and exalted a Spouse, above every other Beloved, does it embrace, One to be loved above all things that can be desired! Oh my most sweet Beloved, let heaven and earth and all the glory of them, be silent in Your presence; seeing whatsoever praise and beauty they have it is of Your gracious bounty; and they shall never reach to the loveliness of Your Name, Whose Wisdom is infinite.

Psalm lxviii. 10. Psalm lxxxvi. 4. Matthew xv. 32. Genesis viii. 21. Psalm cxlvii. 5.