Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/321



I. In  consequence  of  the  sin  of  our  first  parents,  man was rendered  subject  to  eternal  death. " We  were  by nature,"  says  St. Paul, "  the  children  of  wrath." (Ephes. ii. 3.)  From  this  penalty  the  Eucharist  delivers  us, because it  gives  eternal  life. " If  any  man  eat  of  this bread,  he  shall  live  forever." (John vi.  32.)  The  tenth misery to  which  we  are  subject,  is  a  continual  decay  in good,  and  a  strong  inclination  to  evil. " For  the  imagination and  thoughts  of  man's  heart,  are  prone  to  evil from  his  youth." (Gen. vi.  21.)  This  inclination  to  evil is subdued  by  the  holy  Eucharist,  and  this  spiritual  decay remedied. The virtuous  Christian,  then,  grows  in spiritual  life,  and  advances  in  the  career  of  perfection. For "he  that  abideth  in  Me,"  says  Christ,  "and  I  in him,  the  same  beareth  much  fruit." (John xv.  5.)

II. The eleventh  misery  of  man  in  this  vale  of  tears  is an  irksomeness  and  tediousness  in  our  place  of  banishment. " Woe  is  me,"  said  royal  David,  "  that  my  sojourning is  prolonged." (Ps. cxix.  5.)  The  Eucharist  alleviates this  tediousness,  it  is  our  viaticum,  as  the  manna  was to the  Israelites,  whilst  we  journey  through  the  desert of this  world,  and  until  we  arrive  at  the  land  of  promise, the kingdom  of  everlasting  glory.

III. The twelfth  evil  is  a  continual  decay,  and  tendency td dissolution  in  our  bodies. " Dust  thou  art,  and  into dust  thou  shalt  return." (Gen. iii.  19.)  Thus,  according to the  course  of  nature,  this  body  of  ours  would  perish forever; but  in  consequence  of  their  corporal  participation with  Christ,  as  St.  Thomas  teaches,  the  saints