That it is profitable to Communicate often
Behold2 I come unto Thee, O Lord, that I may be blessed through Thy gift, and be made joyful3 in Thy holy feast which Thou, O God, of Thy goodness hast prepared for the poor.1 Behold in Thee is all that I can and ought to desire, Thou art my salvation4 and redemption, my hope and strength, my honour and glory. Therefore rejoice the soul of Thy servant this day, for unto Thee, O Lord Jesus, do I lift up my soul.2 I long now to receive Thee devoutly5 and reverently7, I desire to bring Thee into my house, so that with Zacchaeus I may be counted worthy8 to be blessed by Thee and numbered among the children of Abraham. My soul hath an earnest desire for Thy Body, my heart longeth to be united with Thee.
2. Give me Thyself and it sufficeth, for besides Thee no consolation9 availeth. Without Thee I cannot be, and without Thy visitation I have no power to live. And therefore I must needs draw nigh unto Thee often, and receive Thee for the healing of my soul, lest haply I faint by the way if I be deprived of heavenly food. For so Thou, most merciful Jesus, preaching to the people and healing many sick, didst once say, I will not send them away fasting to their own homes, lest they faint by the way.3 Deal therefore now to me in like manner, for Thou left Thyself for the consolation of the faithful in the Sacrament. For Thou art the sweet refreshment10 of the soul, and he who shall eat Thee worthily11 shall be partaker and inheritor of the eternal glory. Necessary indeed it is for me, who so often slide backwards12 and sin, so quickly wax cold and faint, to renew, cleanse13, enkindle myself by frequent prayers and penitences and receiving of Thy sacred Body and Blood lest haply by too long abstinence, I fall short of my holy resolutions.
3. For the imaginations of man’s heart are evil from his youth,4 and except divine medicine succour him, man slideth away continually unto the worse. The Holy Communion therefore draweth us back from evil, and strengtheneth us for good. For if I now be so negligent14 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 diligent15 heed16 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 Thee in mortal body, that being continually mindful of its God, it receiveth its Beloved with devout6 spirit.
4. Oh wonderful condescension17 of Thy pity surrounding us, that Thou, O Lord God, Creator and Quickener of all spirits, deignest to come unto a soul so poor and weak, and to appease18 its hunger with Thy whole Deity19 and Humanity. Oh happy mind and blessed soul, to which is granted devoutly to receive Thee its Lord God, and in so receiving Thee to be filled with all spiritual joy! Oh how great a Lord doth it entertain, how beloved a Guest doth it bring in, how delightful20 a Companion doth it receive, how faithful a Friend doth it welcome, how beautiful and exalted21 a Spouse22, above every other Beloved, doth 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 Thy presence; seeing whatsoever23 praise and beauty they have it is of Thy gracious bounty24; and they shall never reach unto the loveliness of Thy Name, Whose Wisdom is infinite.5
2 Psalm lxxxvi. 4.
3 Matthew xv. 32.
4 Genesis viii. 21.
5 Psalm cxlvii. 5.
1 disciple | |
n.信徒,门徒,追随者 | |
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2 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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3 joyful | |
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的 | |
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4 salvation | |
n.(尤指基督)救世,超度,拯救,解困 | |
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5 devoutly | |
adv.虔诚地,虔敬地,衷心地 | |
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6 devout | |
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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7 reverently | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
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8 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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9 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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10 refreshment | |
n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点 | |
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11 worthily | |
重要地,可敬地,正当地 | |
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12 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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13 cleanse | |
vt.使清洁,使纯洁,清洗 | |
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14 negligent | |
adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的 | |
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15 diligent | |
adj.勤勉的,勤奋的 | |
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16 heed | |
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心 | |
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17 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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18 appease | |
v.安抚,缓和,平息,满足 | |
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19 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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20 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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21 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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22 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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23 whatsoever | |
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么 | |
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24 bounty | |
n.慷慨的赠予物,奖金;慷慨,大方;施与 | |
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25 psalm | |
n.赞美诗,圣诗 | |
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