| Chapter 10. That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted | ||||
1. The Voice of the Beloved | ||||
You must frequently betake you to the Fountain of grace and divine mercy, to the Fountain of goodness and all purity; to the end that you may obtain the healing of your passions and vices, and may be made stronger and more watchful against all temptations and wiles of the devil. The enemy, knowing what profit and exceeding strong remedy lies in the Holy Communion, strives by all means and occasions to draw back and hinder the faithful and devout, so far as he can. | ||||
2. For when some set about to prepare themselves for Holy Communion, they suffer from the more evil suggestions of Satan. The very evil spirit himself (as is written in Job), comes among the sons of God that he may trouble them by his accustomed evil dealing, or make them over timid and perplexed; to the intent that he may diminish their affections, or take away their faith by his attacks, if perhaps he may prevail upon them to give up Holy Communion altogether, or to come thereto with lukewarm hearts. But his wiles and delusions must not be heeded, howsoever wicked and terrible they be; but all his delusion must be cast back upon his own head. The wretch must be despised and laughed to scorn: neither must Holy Communion be omitted because of his insults and the inward troubles which he stirs up. | ||||
3. Often also too much carefulness or some anxiety or other touching confession hinders from obtaining devotion. Do you according to the counsel of wise men, and lay aside anxiety and scruple, because it hinders the grace of God and destroys devotion of mind. Because of some little vexation or trouble do not you neglect Holy Communion, but rather hasten to confess it, and forgive freely all offences committed against you. And if you have offended any man, humbly beg for pardon, and God shall freely forgive you. | ||||
4. What profits it to put off for long time the confession of your sins, or to defer Holy Communion? Cleanse yourself forthwith, spit out the poison with all speed, hasten to take the remedy, and you will feel yourself better than if you did long defer it. If to-day you defer it on one account, to-morrow perchance some greater obstacle will come, and so you may be long time hindered from Communion and become more unfit. As soon as you can, shake yourself from your present heaviness and sloth, for it profits nothing to be long anxious, to go long on your way with heaviness of heart, and because of daily little obstacles to sever yourself from divine things: nay it is exceeding hurtful to defer your Communion long, for this commonly brings on great torpor. Alas! there are some, lukewarm and undisciplined, who willingly find excuses for delaying repentance, and desire to defer Holy Communion, in case they should be bound to keep stricter watch upon themselves. | ||||
5. Alas! how little charity, what flagging devotion, have they who so lightly put off Holy Communion. How happy is he, how acceptable to God, who so lives, and in such purity of conscience keeps himself, that any day he could be ready and well inclined to communicate, if it were in his power, and might be done without the notice of others. If a man sometimes abstains for the sake of humility or some sound cause, he is to be commended for his reverence. But if drowsiness have taken hold of him, he ought to rouse himself and to do what in him lies; and the Lord will help his desire for the good will which he has, which God specially approves. | ||||
6. But when he is hindered by sufficient cause, yet will he ever have a good will and pious intention to communicate; and so he shall not be lacking in the fruit of the Sacrament. For any devout man is able every day and every hour to draw near to spiritual communion with Christ to his soul's health and without hindrance. Nevertheless on certain days and at the appointed time he ought to receive the Body and Blood of his Redeemer with affectionate reverence, and rather to seek after the praise and honour of God, than his own comfort. For so often does he communicate mystically, and is invisibly refreshed, as he devoutly calls to mind the mystery of Christ's incarnation and His Passion, and is inflamed with the love of Him. | ||||
7. He who only prepares himself when a festival is at hand or custom compels, will too often be unprepared. Blessed is he who offers himself to God for a whole burnt-offering, so often as he celebrates or communicateth! Be not too slow nor too hurried in your celebrating, but preserve the good received custom of those with whom you livest. You ought not to produce weariness and annoyance in others, but to observe the received custom, according to the institution of the elders; and to minister to the profit of others rather than to your own devotion or feeling. | ||||