Page:BlessedSacramentBook.pdf/290

 frequently receive  a  great grace of  devotion  and love of  virtue. Oh, the wonderful and  hidden grace of  this  sacrament, which only  the  faithful of Christ  know,  but  which unbelievers and  such  as are  slaves  to  sin  cannot experience! In this  sacrament is  conferred  spiritual grace, lost  virtue  is  repaired in  the  soul,  and beauty disfigured  by  sin returns again. And so great  sometimes  is  this grace, that  from  the  abundance of  the  devotion which is  bestowed,  not only the  mind,  but  the frail body  also  feels  a great  increase  of  strength.

Yet it  is  much  to  be lamented  and  pitied  that we should  be  so  lukewarm and negligent  as  not  to be  drawn  with  greater affection to  the  receiving of Christ,  in  Whom  consist all  the  hope  and merit of  those  who  will be saved. For He  is  our sanctification and  our  redemption: He  is  our  comfort in  our  pilgrimage, and the  eternal  beatitude of the  saints. It is,  therefore, much  to  be  lamented that many  take  so  little notice of  this  saving  mystery, which  rejoices heaven and preserves  the  whole world. Oh, the  blindness and the  hardness  of  the human heart,  which  does not consider  so  unspeakable a  gift,  and  from  a daily  use  of  it  falls  into a disregard  of  it! For if this  most  holy  sacrament  were  only  celebrated in  one  place  and consecrated only  by  one priest in  the  world,  how great a  desire  would  men have to  go  to  that  place and to  such  a  priest  of God,  that  they  might see the  divine  mysteries celebrated! But now  there are made  many  priests, and Christ  is  offered  up in  many  places,  that  the grace and  love  of  God  to man  may  appear  so  much the greater,  by  how  much more this  holy  communion is  spread  throughout the  world. Thanks be to  Thee,  O  good Jesus, our  eternal  shepherd, Who  hast  vouchsafed to  feed  us  poor exiles with  Thy  precious body and  blood,  and  to invite  us  to  the  receiving of these  mysteries  with the words  of  Thy  own