Chapter 04. That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate dev... (Book 4. Exhortation to Holy Communion) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

1. The Voice of the Disciple

O Lord my God, prevent You Your servant with the blessings of Your sweetness, that I may be enabled to draw near worthily and devoutly to Your glorious Sacrament. Awaken my heart towards You, and deliver me from heavy slumber. Visit me with Your salvation that I may in spirit taste Your sweetness, which plentifully lies hid in this Sacrament as in a fountain. Lighten also mine eyes to behold this so great mystery, and strengthen me that I may believe it with undoubting faith. For it is Your word, not human power; it is Your holy institution, not the invention of man. For no man is found fit in himself to receive and to understand these things, which transcend even the wisdom of the Angels. What portion then shall I, unworthy sinner, who am but dust and ashes, be able to search into and comprehend of so deep a Sacrament?

2. O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart, in good and firm faith, and according to Your will, I draw nigh to You with hope and reverence, and truly believe that You are here present in the Sacrament, God and man. You willest therefore that I receive You and unite myself to You in charity. Wherefore I beseech Your mercy, and implore You to give me Your special grace, to this end, that I may be wholly dissolved and overflow with love towards You, and no more suffer any other consolation to enter into me. For this most high and most glorious Sacrament is the health of the soul and the body, the medicine of all spiritual sickness, whereby I am healed of my sins, my passions are bridled, temptations are conquered or weakened, more grace is poured into me, virtue begun is increased, faith is made firm, hope is strengthened, and charity is enkindled and enlarged.

3. For in this Sacrament You have bestowed many good things and still bestowest them continually on Your elect who communicate devoutly, O my God, Lifter up of my soul, Repairer of human infirmity, and Giver of all inward consolation. For You pourest into them much consolation against all sorts of tribulation, and out of the deep of their own misery You liftest them up to the hope of Your protection, and with ever new grace, do inwardly refresh and enlighten them; so that they who felt themselves to be anxious and without affection before Communion, afterwards being refreshed with heavenly food and drink, find themselves changed for the better. And even in such wise You deal severally with Your elect, that they may truly acknowledge and clearly make proof that they have nothing whatsoever of their own, and what goodness and grace come to them from You; because being in themselves cold, hard of heart, indevout, through You they become fervent, zealous, and devout. For who is there coming humbly to he fountain of sweetness, carries not away thence at the least some little of that sweetness? Or who standing by a large fire, feels not from thence a little of its heat? And You are ever a full and overflowing fountain, a fire continually burning, and never going out.

4. Wherefore if it is not suffered to me to draw from the fulness of the fountain, nor to drink to satisfying, yet will I set my lips to the mouth of the heavenly conduit, that at least I may receive a small drop to quench my thirst, that I dry not up within my heart. And if I am not yet able to be altogether heavenly and so enkindled as the Cherubim and Seraphim, yet will I endeavour to give myself to devotion, and to prepare my heart, that I may gain if it be but a little flame of the divine fire, through the humble receiving of the life-giving Sacrament. But whatsoever is wanting to me, O merciful Jesus, Most Holy Saviour, do You of Your kindness and grace supply, who have condescended to call all to You, saying, Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will refresh you.

5. I indeed labour in the sweat of my face, I am tormented with sorrow of heart, I am burdened with sins, I am disquieted with temptations, I am entangled and oppressed with many passions, and there is none to help me, there is none to deliver and ease me, but You, O Lord God, my Saviour, to whom I commit myself and all things that are mine, that You may preserve me and lead me to life eternal.

1. Receive me to the praise and glory of Your name, who have prepared Your Body and Blood to be my meat and drink. Grant, O Lord God my Saviour, that with coming often to Your mysteries the zeal of my devotion may increase.