Chapter 14. Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the?... (Book 4. Exhortation to Holy Communion) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas)

Chapter 14. Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the?... (Book 4. Exhortation to Holy Communion) (The Imitation of Christ) (a-Kempis, Thomas) somebody

Chapter 14. Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ
Par. 1.

1. The Voice of the Disciple

O how great is the abundance of Your sweetness, O Lord, which You have laid up for them that fear You. When I call to mind some devout persons who draw nigh to Your Sacrament, O Lord, with the deepest devotion and affection, then very often I am confounded in myself and blush for shame, that I approach Your altar and table of Holy Communion so carelessly and coldly, that I remain so dry and without affection, that I am not wholly kindled with love before You, my God, nor so vehemently drawn and affected as many devout persons have been, who out of the very earnest desire of the Communion, and tender affection of heart, could not refrain from weeping, but as it were with mouth of heart and body alike panted inwardly after You, O God, O Fountain of Life, having no power to appease or satiate their hunger, save by receiving Your Body with all joyfulness and spiritual eagerness.

Par. 2.

2. O truly ardent faith of those, becoming a very proof of Your Sacred Presence! For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread, whose heart so ardently burns within them when Jesus walks with them by the way. Ah me! far from me for the most part is such love and devotion as this, such vehement love and ardour. Be merciful to me, O Jesus, good, sweet, and kind, and grant to Your poor suppliant to feel sometimes, in Holy Communion, though it be but a little, the cordial affection of Your love, that my faith may grow stronger, my hope in Your goodness increase, and my charity, once kindled within me by the tasting of the heavenly manna, may never fail.

Par. 3.

3. But Your mercy is able even to grant me the grace which I long for, and to visit me most tenderly with the spirit of fervour when the day of Your good pleasure shall come. For, although I burn not with desire so vehement as theirs who are specially devout towards You, yet, through Your grace, I have a desire after that greatly inflamed desire, praying and desiring to be made partaker with all those who so fervently love You, and to be numbered among their holy company.

Luke xxiv. 32.