Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/472

 resuscitation, "from  that  day  they  devised  to  put  Him to  death." Learn from  this,  that  there  is  no  action,  however  holy  or  virtuous,  which  is  not  a  subject  of  envy  or calumny  with  disaffected  persons. Let us  not  be  impatient with  perverse  people,  nor  disturbed  at  their  opposition to  what  is  good;  but  pray  for  them.

I. "Unless  you  see  signs  and  wonders,  you  believe not." (John iv.  48.)  Christ  wrought  many  wonders,  in order  to  confirm  our  faith;  and  hence  He  is  foretold  as the  wonderful,  by  His  prophet  Isaias. (Is. ix.  6.)  He never,  however,  appeared  more  wonderful  than  in  the Eucharist, and  in  order  to  render  this  sacrament  more dear to  us,  He  has  made  it  an  abridgment  of  all  of  His other wonderful  actions. In this  "  He  hath  made  a  remembrance of  His  wonderful  works;  being  a  merciful and  a  gracious  Lord;  He  hath  given  food  to  them  that fear  Him." (Ps. ex.  4.)

II. Many miracles  are  contained  in  the  sacrament  of the  Eucharist. 1. The  substances  of  the  bread  and  wine are entirely  changed,  when  the  priest  has  pronounced the words  of  Jesus  Christ,  "This  is  My  body,  this  is  My blood,"  and  in  place  of  these  succeeds  the  same  body  of Christ,  which  is  glorious  in  heaven  and  adored  by  the angels and  saints. No change  was  ever  so  miraculous  as this. 2. In  regard  to  the  accidents  of  bread  and  wine, they are  preserved,  and  exist  without  their  original  sub-