Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/317



I. Everything  that  accompanies  this  Divine  feast  ten  J; to  increase  its  magnificence. The dignity  of  the  guests, the quality  and  number  of  waiters,  and  the  sumptuousness  of  the  service,  recommend  an  earthly  festivity. In this feast  the  guests  are  the  three  Divine  Persons  of  the Trinity. What can  be  more  dignified  or  sublime? "If any man  shall  hear  My  voice,"  says  the  Redeemer  by  the mouth of  His  Apostle,  "and  open  to  Me  the  gate  I  will come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with  Me." (Apoc. iii.  20.)  And  again,  "  If  any  one  love  Me  My Father  will  love  him,  and  We  will  come  to  him  and  will make  an  abode  with  him." (John xiv.  23.)

II. The waiters  are  angels,  the  most  excellent  of  all creatures by  nature. " Thousands  of  thousands  ministered to  Him,  and  ten  times  a  hundred  thousand  stood before  Him." (Dan. vii.  10.)  They  assist  their  Lord,  as the  holy  Fathers  teach,  during  the  time  of  Divine  service, and remain  with  you  as  long  as  Christ  is  personally  present. Learn with  what  reverence  you  ought  to  be  present during the  solemn  hour  of  sacrifice,  and  during  the  time of holy  Communion.

III. Though the  celebration  of  the  sacrifice  of  Mass may appear  externally  an  ordinary  ceremony,  yet  in reality  it  surpasses  all  the  powers  of  nature. The Food of Life  is  handed  to  you  under  the  appearances  of  bread, which appearances  are  miraculously  preserved  without their proper  substance. There is  no  miracle  so  great  as this  in  nature. Learn from  all  these  considerations  how well adorned  with  every  virtue  your  soul  ought  to  be