Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/126



THE Lord feeds His holy ones in a threefold manner. First, with corporeal bread, Psal. civ. 14, “That He may bring forth food out of the earth.” Secondly, with spiritual bread, Prov. xx. 13, “ Open thine eyes,” i.e., the eyes of the heart to holy vigils, “ and thou shalt be satisfied with bread,” i.e., with holy doctrine or with heavenly joys. Thirdly, with eternal bread, Psal. cxxxii. 15, “I will satisfy her poor with bread.”

By these seven loaves are understood the seven breads with which the Lord feeds His faithful ones, that they may not fail in the way of righteousness; but in their strength they may come to the table of heavenly glory. The first is the most sweet effusion of tears from the desire of glory, Psal. xlii. 3, “ My tears have been my meat day and night.” S. August., “ Tears were flowing to me, and it was well for me in regard to them.” The second, the ineffable consolation in the words of God, S. Matt. iv. 4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proeeedeth out of the mouth of God.” Jer. xv. 16, “ Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of Hosts.” The third, the ineffable delight in the partaking of the Eucharist, S. John vi. 51, “The bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Wisdom xvi. 20, “ And gavest them bread from heaven, prepared without labour, having in it all that is delicious and the sweetness of every taste.” The fourth, the admirable sweetness from the presence of Christ, S. John vi. 51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven.” For it is evident that the just ever have Christ to dwell in their hearts; how great is the happiness of him who ever has Christ dwelling in his heart. Ephes. iii. 16, 17, “ That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner