Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/455



I. It  is  read  in  the  gospel  of  to-day,  that  Christ  cured a man  that  was  afflicted  with  a  palsy. (Matt. ix.  i.) Spiritual palsy  is  an  enervation  of  the  soul  and  an  utter decay of  its  strength,  caused  by  sloth  and  pusillanimity. Reflect how  prone  you  are  to  this  complaint,  how  weak you are  in  bearing  adversity,  how  faint-hearted  in  undertaking any  thing  for  God,  and  lastly  inconstant  in  keeping your  good  resolutions. How remiss  you  are  in  your prayers and  indevout  in  your  spiritual  exercises. You may truly  say  with  the  Prophet,  "  My  strength  is  dried up  like  a  potsherd  and  my  tongue  has  cleaved  to  my jaws." (Ps. xxi.  16.)

II. Christ is  properly  the  fortitude  and  strength  of your  soul;  "O  Lord,"  says  the  Prophet,  "  my  might  and my  strength"  (Jer.  xvi.  19),  and  another  Prophet  exclaims, " The  Lord,  my  strength  and  my  praise." (Is. xii.  2.) This effect  He  chiefly  produces  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  for in that  sacrament,  when  worthily  received,  He  gives  the soul strength  to  overcome  every  fear  and  difficulty,  and to undertake  and  succeed  in  every  enterprise,  however great when  it  has  for  its  object  the  glory  of  God. Hence the Eucharist  is  called  by  the  holy  Fathers,  "  the  bread of  the  strong,  the  food  of  the  great,  the  bread  that  confirms and  strengthens  the  heart  of  man." The loaf  of bread  which  was  given  to  Elias,  and  which  enabled  him to walk  forty  days  and  forty  nights,  to  the  mountain  of