Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/581

 profiteth nothing,  it  is  the  spirit  that  quickeneth.”  His  Flesh,  therefore, is penetrated  by  the  Spirit,  and  united  to  His  soul  and  divinity.

Communion under  one  kind.  It  is  evident  from  our  Lord’s  words: “He that  eateth  this  Bread  (My  Body  under  the  form  of  bread)  will live for  ever”,  that  he  who  receives  Holy  Communion  under  one  kind, does not  receive  less  than  he  who  receives  under  both  kinds.

The necessity  of  Communion  [the  fourth  commandment  of  the  Church]. Our Lord  makes  the  attainment  of  eternal  life  dependent  on  the  receiving of His  Body  and  Blood. “Except you  eat  the  Flesh  of  the  Son  of Man,  and  drink  His  Blood,  you  shall  not  have  life  in  you.”  — “He  that eateth My  Flesh  &amp;c.,  shall  live  for  ever.”  Since  it  is  the  duty  of  every man to  try  to  save  his  soul,  and  Holy  Communion  is  necessary,  as  of precept,  it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  to  receive  Holy  Communion,  as soon  as  he  is  capable  of  understanding  this  divine  mystery,  and  as  soon as his  will  is  sufficiently  formed  and  enlightened  to  decide  whether  or no  he  desires  to  partake  of  this  heavenly  Food. The Church,  therefore, is fulfilling  our  Lord’s  command,  and  providing  for  the  salvation  of souls,  when  she  commands  all  the  faithful  to  receive  Holy  Communion.

The effects  of  Holy  Communion  are  rich  in  blessings. He who receives the  Body  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  worthily  has,  in  His  own words, everlasting  life,  and  will  be  raised  up  by  Him  at  the  last  day. “He abides  in  Me,  and  I in  him. He will  live  in  Mel”  says  our  Lord. The Body  of  Christ  is  a living  bread,  which  gives  us  supernatural  and everlasting life,  and  is  a pledge  to  our  bodies  of  a glorious  resurrection. Even-after the  sacred  species  have  disappeared,  a nourishing  and  vivifying strength  is  left  in  our  souls,  which  is  none  other  than  the  divine strength of  the  Son  of  God  (Grimm). St. Cyril  expounds  the  interior union which  exists  between  our  Lord  and  him  who  receives  Holy  Communion by  the  following  simile:  “Even  as  melted  wax  unites  itself  to wax,  mingling  with  it,  and  becoming  one  with  it,  so  does  he  who receives the  Body  of  the  Redeemer  become  one  with  Him,  so  completely is  he  united  to  Him.”

The Blessed  Sacrament  the  touch-stone  of  faith. He  who  does  not believe in  the  Real  Presence  of  our  Lord  in  the  Holy  Eucharist,  has no part  in  Him,  because  he  has  no  firm  belief  in  the  Divinity  of Christ. The true  believer  does  not  ask,  as  did  the  Jews:  “How  can this be?”  but  believes  the  words  of  Christ  unconditionally,  because  he knows  that  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God,  and  that  with  God  all  things are possible.

Our Lord's  prophecy.  In  His  discourse  on  the  Blessed  Sacrament, our Lord,  distinctly  and  without  using  any  figure,  foretold  the  atoning Sacrifice of  His  death,  telling  those  present  that  He  would  give  His  Flesh for the  life  of  the  world. He foretold  with  equal  clearness  His  Ascension, when He  said  that  the  Son  of  Man  (the  Incarnate  Son  of  God  who