Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/323

 from the  dictates  of  the  senses,  against  a  firm  belief  in the  mystery;  tell  them  that  the  veracity  of  God  Himself, Whose revelations  are  not  to  be  judged  at  the  tribunal  of man's  weak  senses  and  limited  understanding,  is  pledged for its  truth.

III. The second  preparation  requisite  for  a  worthy communion is  purity  of  mind  and  conscience. In proportion to  the  perfection  of  this  purity,  will  you  receive the benefits  of  the  sacrament. Hence, Isaias  exclaims, " Be  ye  clean,  you  that  carry  the  vessels  of  the  Lord." (Is. lii.  ii.)  The  Church  recommends  the  same  purity  to us;  hence  she  has  ordained  that  the  Eucharist  shall  be consecrated  on  clean  corporals. These corporals,  says the Angelical  Doctor,  are  first  washed,  then  wrung,  and lastly dried:  so  he  who  approaches  the  sacrament,  must first wash  his  sins  by  the  tears  of  penance;  he  must then drain  from  his  soul  every  affection  to  sin  that  may linger in  it,  by  mortification,  and  thirdly,  the  fire  of charity  must  expel  from  it  every  inclination  to  relapse. Examine if  these  be  your  dispositions  when  you  approach the  holy  table.

I. To  a  lively  faith  and  purity  of  mind  and  conscience must be  joined  an  ardent  desire  and  hunger  for  this heavenly banquet. To such  as  these  only  does  our  Lord address the  invitation:  "Come  over  to  Me,  all  ye  that desire  Me,  and  be  filled  with  My  fruits." (Ecclus. xxiv. 26.)  And  the  Psalmist  tells  us,  "He  hath  satisfied  the empty  soul,  and  hath  filled  the  hungry  soul  with  good