Eternal Wisdom.--The well prepared are the purified,the little prepared such as cleave to temporal things,but the unprepared are the sinful who continue by will and by deed in mortal sin.
The Servant.--But,tender Lord,if at the time a person is heartily sorry for his sins,and strives,to the best of his ability,to rid himself wholly of them,conformably to Christian precept,how is it then with him?
Eternal Wisdom.--In such a case a man is,for the time,no longer in sin.
The Servant.--Lord,in my opinion,it were one of the greatest things this world could accomplish,if any person,while living in this temporal state,was able to prepare himself worthily enough for Thy reception.
Eternal Wisdom.--That person was never yet born;nay,if a man had the native purity of all the angels,the sanctity of all the saints,and the good works of all mankind,he would yet be unworthy.
The Servant.--Ah,beloved Lord,with what trembling hearts ought not persons so unworthy,so deprived of grace,as we are,to approach Thee.
Eternal Wisdom.--If a man only does his best,nothing more is required of him,for God completes what is left incomplete.A sick man should cast aside all reserve,and should approach the physician whose attendance is his cure.
The Servant.--Lord,beloved Lord,which is better,OFTEN,or SELDOM,to receive Thee in the Blessed Sacrament?
Eternal Wisdom.--For him whose grace and devotion perceptibly increase by it,to receive Me often is profitable.
The Servant.--But,Lord,if a man in his own opinion remains the same,and cannot prove that he either increases or decreases by it in holiness,or if he is often visited by spiritual dryness,how should he then behave himself?
Eternal Wisdom.--A man,provided only he does his part,should not withdraw himself because of spiritual dryness.For the salvation of that soul which by God's will suffers from spiritual dryness is often accomplished as nobly in the light of pure faith alone,as in great sweetness.I am a boon which,turned to account,increases,but which,saved up,wastes away.It is better to approach once a week with a deep sense of real humility,than once a year with an overweening self-approbation.
The Servant.--Lord,at what time does the influence of grace from the Blessed Sacrament take place?
Eternal Wisdom.--In the very moment of actual reception.
The Servant.--Lord,but what if a man have a fervent desire for Thy bodily presence in the Sacrament,and he must yet be deprived of it?
Eternal Wisdom.--Many a man after being filled with Me,goes away hungry,and many a man obtains Me,though the table be empty;the former merely receives Me bodily,the latter enjoys Me spiritually.
The Servant.--Lord,has that man any advantage who receives Thee bodily and spiritually,over him who only receives Thee spiritually?
Eternal Wisdom.--Tell me whether that man has more who has Me and My grace,or he who has only My grace alone?
The Servant.--Lord,how long dost Thou remain in Thy real presence with a man who has received Thee?
Eternal Wisdom.--As long as the image and likeness of the Sacrament remain.
CHAPTER XXIV.A Prayer To Be Said When Thou Goest To Receive Our Lord's Holy Body
Thou living fruit,Thou sweet blossom,Thou delicious paradise apple of the blooming fatherly heart,Thou sweet vine of Cyprus in the vineyard of Engaddi,who will give me to receive Thee so worthily this day that Thou shalt desire to come to me,to dwell with me,and never to separate from me!
O unfathomable good,that fillest heaven and earth,incline Thyself graciously this day,and despise not Thy poor creature.Lord,if I am not worthy of Thee,yet do I stand in need of Thee.Ah,gentle Lord,art Thou not He who with one word created heaven and earth?Lord,with one word canst Thou restore health to my sick soul.O Lord,do unto me according to Thy grace,according to Thy infinite mercy,and not according to my deserts.
Yes,Thou art the innocent Paschal Lamb,which at this day is still offered up for the sins of all mankind.Ah,Thou sweet-tasting bread of heaven,which contains all sweet tastes according to the desire of everyone's heart,make the hungry mouth of my soul to rejoice in Thee this day;give me to eat and to drink;strengthen,adorn,and unite me interiorly to Thee.Ah,Eternal Wisdom,come down so powerfully this day into my soul,that all my enemies may be driven out of her,all my crimes be melted away,and all my sins be forgiven.Enlighten my understanding with the light of true faith.
Inflame my will with Thy sweet love.Cheer up my mind with Thy glad presence,and give virtue and perfection to all my powers.Watch over me at my death,that I may enjoy Thy beatific vision in eternal bliss.Amen.
CHAPTER XXV.How We Should At All Times Praise God The Servant.
--"Praise the Lord,O my soul,in my life I will praise the Lord;I will sing to my God as long as I shall be."[13]
Who will grant,O God,to my full heart to fulfill before my death its desire for Thy praise?Who will grant me worthily to praise,in my day,the beloved Lord whom my soul loveth?Ah,tender Lord,would that there issued from my heart as many sweet tones as ever have issued from sweet harpings,as many as there are leaves and blades of grass,would that they were all addressed on high to Thee in Thy heavenly court,so that a song of such a delightful and unheard of praise might burst from my heart,as would be pleasing to the eyes of my Lord,and full of joy to all the heavenly host!
