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The Voice of Christ
You must often return to the source of grace and
divine mercy, to the fountain of goodness and perfect
purity, if you wish to be free from passion and vice,
if you desire to be made stronger and more watchful
against all the temptations and deceits of the devil.
The enemy, knowing the great good and the healing
power of Holy Communion, tries as much as he can by
every manner and means to hinder and keep away the
faithful and the devout. Indeed, there are some who
suffer the worst assaults of Satan when disposing
themselves to prepare for Holy Communion. As it is
written in Job, this wicked spirit comes among the
sons of God to trouble them by his wonted malice, to
make them unduly fearful and perplexed, that thus he
may lessen their devotion or attack their faith to
such an extent that they perhaps either forego
Communion altogether or receive with little fervor.
No attention, however, must be paid to his cunning
wiles, no matter how base and horrible -- all his
suggestions must be cast back upon his head. The
wretch is to be despised and scorned. Holy Communion
must not be passed by because of any assaults from
him or because of the commotion he may arouse.
Oftentimes, also, too great solicitude for
devotion and anxiety about confession hinder a
person. Do as wise men do. Cast off anxiety and
scruple, for it impedes the grace of God and destroys
devotion of the mind.
Do not remain away from Holy Communion because of
a small trouble or vexation but go at once to
confession and willingly forgive all others their
offenses. If you have offended anyone, humbly seek
pardon and God will readily forgive you.
What good is it to delay confession for a long time
or to put off Holy Communion? Cleanse yourself at
once, spit out the poison quickly. Make haste to
apply the remedy and you will find it better than if
you had waited a long time. If you put it off today
because of one thing, perhaps tomorrow a greater will
occur to you, and thus you will stay away from
Communion for a long time and become even more unfit.
Shake off this heaviness and sloth as quickly as you
can, for there is no gain in much anxiety, in
enduring long hours of trouble, and in depriving
yourself of the divine Mysteries because of these
daily disturbances. Yes, it is very hurtful to defer
Holy Communion long, for it usually brings on a lazy
spiritual sleep.
How sad that some dissolute and lax persons are
willing to postpone confession and likewise wish to
defer Holy Communion, lest they be forced to keep a
stricter watch over themselves! Alas, how little love
and devotion have they who so easily put off Holy
Communion!
How happy and acceptable to God is he who so lives,
and keeps his conscience so pure, as to be ready and
well disposed to communicate, even every day if he
were permitted, and if he could do so unnoticed.
If, now and then, a man abstains by the grace of
humility or for a legitimate reason, his reverence is
commendable, but if laziness takes hold of him, he
must arouse himself and do everything in his power,
for the Lord will quicken his desire because of the
good intention to which He particularly looks. When
he is indeed unable to come, he will always have the
good will and pious intention to communicate and thus
he will not lose the fruit of the Sacrament.
Any devout person may at any hour on any day receive
Christ in spiritual communion profitably and without
hindrance. Yet on certain days and times appointed he
ought to receive with affectionate reverence the Body
of his Redeemer in this Sacrament, seeking the praise
and honor of God rather than his own consolation.
For as often as he devoutly calls to mind the mystery
and passion of the Incarnate Christ, and is inflamed
with love for Him, he communicates mystically and is
invisibly refreshed.
He who prepares himself only when festivals
approach or custom demands, will often find himself
unprepared. Blessed is he who offers himself a
sacrifice to the Lord as often as he celebrates or
communicates.
Be neither too slow nor too fast in celebrating
but follow the good custom common to those among whom
you are. You ought not to cause others inconvenience
or trouble, but observe the accepted rule as laid
down by superiors, and look to the benefit of others
rather than to your own devotion or inclination. |