Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/298

 The Sanctity  of  Catholic  churches.  The  Israelites  had  only  one Temple: we  have  many  churches. Although the  Temple  at  Jerusalem was exceptionally  beautiful  and  costly,  the  poorest  Catholic  chapel  is far  holier  and  richer,  because  in  our  churches  the  holy  Sacraments are dispensed,  and  because,  above  all  other  reasons,  our  Lord  Jesus Christ, with  His  Divinity  and  Humanity,  is  there  present  and,  in  the Mass, offers  Himself  for  us  to  His  Heavenly  Father. As St.  Chrysostom beautifully says:  “If  we  could  open  the  heaven  of  heavens,  we  should find nothing  greater  or  more  holy  than  that  which  reposes  on  our  altars.1' We ought  to  have  the  utmost  veneration  for  our  churches,  and  visit them diligently  and  devoutly. King Solomon  threw  himself  on  his  knees in the  outer  court  of  the  Temple  and  raised  his  arms  to  God  in prayer;  and  shall  we  be  ashamed  to  kneel  down  before  the  Blessed Sacrament and  devoutly  clasp  our  hands?

The Consecration  of  churches.  Our  churches  are  solemnly  consecrated. Thereby they  are  sanctified  to  be  the  property  and  dwellingplace  of  God  and  the  abode  of  grace. In memory  of  its  consecration or dedication,  and  as  a thanksgiving  for  the  benefits  it  has  brought to us,  it  is  usual  to  keep  every  year  the  feast  of  the  dedication  of a church. On that  anniversary  we  have  more  cause  than  had  the Israelites to  say:  “Praise  the  Lord,  for  He  is  good,  and  His  mercy endureth for  ever.”

The Presence  of  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  God  was present to  the  Israelites  in  a visible  cloud  in  the  Temple; and  therefore the Temple  was  in  very  deed  “a  dwelling-place  of  God  among  men”. Now, after  God  had  become  Man,  would  He  have  removed  Himself further from  us  than  He  was  from  the  Israelites? Are we  to  have no dwelling-place  of  God  in  our  midst? Is nothing  to  be  left  to  us Christians  but  the  bare  memory  of  God  made  Man? No! It  would be inconceivable  that  God,  after  His  Incarnation,  should  be  less  approachable than  He  was  before  it! Jesus Christ  would  not  leave  us orphans;  therefore  He  has  remained  with  us,  being  present  on  our altars under  the  visible  appearances  of  bread  and  wine  in  the  Blessed Sacrament. There He  is  in  the  Tabernacle,  His  Eyes  and  His  Heart beholding those  who  come  to  adore  Him. If Jesus  were  not  present in the  Most  Holy  Sacrament,  then  those  who  lived  under  the  Old Testament would  have  been  better  off  than  we  who  are  living  under the New  Testament,  and  we  should,  perforce,  envy  the  Israelites  with whom God  was  present  in  at  least  one  Temple.

Visit your  Divine  Saviour  present  in  the  church. Visit Him  this  very  day. Pray to  Him  with  devotion  and  faith, and thank  Him  for  the  love  which  makes  Him  dwell  with  us, offer Himself  up  for  us,  and  give  Himself to us as the food  of our  souls.