Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/287



I. Christ  is  often  called  in  the  inspired  pages  the  King of glory,  and  on  this  day  He  triumphs  in  the  most  complete manner,  by  ascending  to  the  highest  heavens  in great  glory  and  majesty. He is  the  source  from  which glory issues  to  all  the  Saints,  and  whence  the  several gifts of  grace  flow  upon  the  faithful. This is  especially the day  of  His  triumph;  and  as  earthly  princes  are  accustomed on  similar  occasions  to  be  more  profuse  of their  gifts,  so  on  this  day  our  triumphant  Saviour  has bestowed His  thousand  benefits  on  mankind. "Ascending on high,"  says  the  Apostle,  "  He  led  captivity  captive, He  gave  gifts  to  men." (Eph. iv.  8.)

II. This King  of  glory  will  visit  you  to-day,  concealed in the  cloud  of  the  Eucharistic  species,  in  order  that  by bestowing  on  you  the  gifts  of  His  grace,  He  may  make you a  partaker  of  His  glory. " The  glory  of  Libanus shall  come  to  thee  to  beautify  the  place  of  My  sanctuary, and  I  will  glorify  the  place  of  My  feet." (Ps. lx.  13.) What a  favor  is  this! what may  you  not  hope  for  from  so liberal  a  guest!

III. How ought  you  to  receive  this  King  of  glory? " Lift  up  your  gates,  O  ye  princes,  and  be  ye  lifted  up, O  eternal  gates,  and  the  King  of  glory  shall  enter." (Ps. xxiii. 7.)  The  gates  of  the  soul  are  its  interior  powers, by which  .intercourse  is  kept  up  between  the  soul  and exterior objects. They enter  through  these,  and  through