Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/324

 things." (Ps.  cvi.  9.)  Excite  in  your  soul,  therefore, this  hunger  and  thirst,  as  often  as  you  approach  this holy  table.  "  Open  thy  mouth  wide,  and  I  will  fill  it," says  the  Lord.    (Ps.  lxxx.  11.)

II. To this  desire  must  be  added  earnest  prayer,  for God bestows  His  blessings  on  those  who  ask  them. Therefore King  David  said;  "They  asked  and  the  quail came,  and  He  filled  them  with  the  bread  of  heaven." (Ps. civ.  40.)  If,  therefore,  you  wish  to  be  satisfied  with this heavenly  food,  you  must  surrender  your  soul  to meditation  and  prayer. " I  sat  down  under  His  shadow, whom  I  desired,"  says  the  spouse  in  the  canticles. (Cant, ii. 3.)  "I  sat,"  that  is,  in  holy  meditation  and  contemplation; and  having  experienced  their  sweetness,  the  spouse immediately adds,  "  and  His  fruit  was  sweet  to  my palate."

III. You must  not  wonder,  if  after  diligent  preparation on your  part,  you  do  not  immediately  discover  the sweetness of  this  heavenly  food. As a  skilful  physician sometimes prescribes  medicine,  which  is  disagreeable  to the  palate,  and  sometimes  that  which  is  agreeable,  so does  God  temper  the  sweetness  of  this  Divine  food,  in such  a  manner,  that  some  feed  on  it  with  sensible  devotion, whilst  others  only  relish  it  by  the  knowledge  and satisfaction, which  they  receive  of  its  great  benefits. Submit yourself,  therefore,  to  this  heavenly  Physician, and beg  of  Him  to  give  you  that  relish  of  this  holy bread, which  He  knows  to  be  most  for  your  benefit.