Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/177

 of His  passion  might  be  applied  to  us. In fine,  He  instituted this  sacrament  as  His  last  will  and  testament,  by which  He  bequeathed  Himself  to  us.

II. He instituted  the  sacrament  under  the  accidents of bread  and  wine,  in  order  that  He  might  be  more  perfectly united  to  us  by  becoming  our  meat  and  drink, and by  incorporating  Himself  with  us. Another motive was to  teach  us  that  this  divine  food  operates  in  the  soul those effects  which  ordinary  food  produces  in  the  body; that is,  it  nourishes,  preserves,  and  increases  our  spiritual strength, and  in  some  respect  transforms  us  into  Himself. "He who  eateth  Me,  the  same  also  shall  live  by  Me." (John vi.  58.)  As  bread  is  a  mass  composed  of  many grains, and  wine  a  liquid  produced  from  many  grapes, so, by  the  participation  of  this  divine  sacrament,  the hearts of  the  faithful  are  made  one  spirit. Hence the reception of  this  sacrament  is  properly  called  communion, or  a  union  of  many  among  themselves  and  with Christ.

III. Although under  each  of  the  sacramental  forms  the entire body  and  blood  of  Christ  are  contained,  without  any real separation  of  one  from  the  other,  yet  Christ  instituted the  sacrament  under  both  forms  in  order  that  He might  the  better  represent  His  passion  and  death,  during which His  blood  was  entirely  drained  from  His  sacred body. Recollect His  bloody  sweat,  His  scourging  at  the pillar, His  being  crowned  with  thorns,  nailed  to  the  cross, and pierced  with  the  spear. Think what  return  you  can make for  so  much  love;  say  with  David,  "  I  will  take  the chalice  of  salvation,"  by  grateful  recollections  and  compassion, "  and  I  will  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord." (Ps. cxv.  4.)