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It is said that Mithridates, King of Pontus, who invented the
poison called after him, mithridate, so thoroughly impregnated his
system with it, that when eventually he tried to poison himself to
avoid becoming the Romans' slave, he never could succeed.
The Saviour instituted the most holy Sacrament of the
Eucharist, really containing His Body and His Blood, in order that
they who eat it might live for ever. And therefore whosoever
receives it frequently and devoutly, so strengthens the health and
life of his soul, that it is hardly possible for him to be
poisoned by any evil desires.
We cannot be fed by that Living Flesh and hold to the
affections of death; and just as our first parents could not die
in Paradise, because of the Tree of Life which God had placed
therein, so this Sacrament of Life makes spiritual death
impossible. The most fragile, easily spoilt fruits, such as
cherries, apricots, and strawberries, can be kept all the year by
being preserved in sugar or honey; so what wonder if our hearts,
frail and weakly as they are, are kept from the corruption of sin
when they are preserved in the sweetness ("sweeter than honey and
the honeycomb") of the Incorruptible Body and Blood of the Son of
God.
O my daughter, those Christians who are lost will indeed have
no answer to give when the Just Judge sets before them that they
have voluntarily died the spiritual death, since it was so easy
for them to have preserved life and health, by eating His Body
which He gave them for that very end. "Miserable men!" He will
say, "wherefore would ye die, with the Bread of Life itself in
your hands?"
As to daily Communion, I neither commend nor condemn it; but
with respect to communicating every Sunday, I counsel and exhort
every one to do so, providing the mind has no attachment to sin.
So says S. Augustine, and with him I neither find fault nor
unconditionally commend daily Communion, leaving that matter to
the discretion of every person's own spiritual Guide; as the
requisite dispositions for such frequent Communion are too
delicate for one to advise it indiscriminately. On the other hand,
these very special dispositions may be found in sundry devout
souls, and therefore it would not be well to discourage everybody.
It is a subject which must be dealt with according to each
individual mind; it were imprudent to advise such frequent
Communion to all, while, on the other hand, it would be
presumptuous to blame any one for it, especially if he therein
follows the advice of some wise director.
Saint Catherine of Sienna, when blamed for her frequent
Communions, under the plea that Saint Augustine neither commended
nor condemned daily Communion, replied gently, "Well, then, since
Saint Augustine does not condemn it, neither, I pray you, do you
condemn it, and I shall be content." But Saint Augustine earnestly
exhorts all to communicate every Sunday. And as I presume, my
daughter, that you have no attachment either to mortal or venial
sins, you are in the condition which Saint Augustine requires; and
if your spiritual Father approves, you may profitably communicate
more frequently.
Nevertheless, there are various hindrances which may arise, not
so much from yourself, as from those among whom you live, which
may lead a wise director to tell you not to communicate so often.
For instance, if you are in a position of subjection, and those
whom you are bound to obey should be so ignorant or so prejudiced,
as to be uneasy at your frequent Communions, all things
considered, it may be well to show consideration for their
weakness, and to make your Communion fortnightly; only, of course,
where there is no possible way of overcoming the difficulty
otherwise. But one cannot give any general rule on such a point,
each person must follow the advice of their own spiritual Guide;
only this much I will say, that monthly Communions are the very
fewest which any one seeking to serve God devoutly can make.
If you are discreet, neither father nor mother, husband nor
wife, will ever hinder you from communicating frequently, and that
because on the day of your Communion you will give good heed
always to be more than usually gentle and amiable towards them,
doing all you can to please them, so that they are not likely to
prevent your doing a thing which in nowise inconveniences
themselves, unless they were most particularly unreasonable and
perverse, in which case, as I have said, your Director might
advise you to yield.
There is nothing in the married life to hinder frequent
Communion. Most certainly the Christians of the Primitive Church
communicated daily, whether married or single. Neither is any
malady a necessary impediment, except, indeed, anything producing
constant sickness.
Those who communicate weekly must be free from mortal sin, and
also from any attachment to venial sin, and they should feel a
great desire for Communion; but for daily Communion people should
furthermore have conquered most of their inclinations to evil, and
no one should practise it without the advice of their spiritual
Guide.
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