Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/360

 Holy Eucharist,  by  reason  both  of  its  intrinsic  nature and its  blessed  effects  on  mankind,  is  unspeakably superior, not  only  to  the  Mosaic  rites,  but  also  to  all the other  sacraments  of  the  New  Law. Among them the Eucharist  is  what  the  seraphim  are  among angels, what  the  arch  of  heaven  is  to  the  heavenly bodies, what  the  sun  is  among  luminaries,  fire  among elements, man  among  animals,  the  pine  among trees, gold  among  metals,  charity  among  virtues,  and theology among  sciences. No wonder  the  Church, in commemorating  the  institution  of  this  Blessed Sacrament, arrays  herself  in  joyous  apparel  and  calls into play  the  full  splendor  of  her  ritual.

But alas,  Brethren,  short  of  heaven  there  is  no  joy undimmed by  some  small  sorrow,  and  the  one  spot on our  feast  of  charity  is  that  so  many  Christians  persistently deny  the  real  presence  of  Our  Lord  in  the Blessed Eucharist. Christ's words,  "This  is  My body,"  are  interpreted  by  the  entire  Protestant world to  mean:  "  This  signifies  My  body." In their creed the  Eucharist  is  a  mere  figure,  in  dignity  less than the  Jewish  Passover,  and  in  usefulness  inferior to the  manna. But the  Catholic  Church,  by  her choice of  this  passage  for  to-day's  gospel,  clearly  indicates her  belief. " A  certain  man  made  a  great supper  and  invited  many." Who that  man  but  God? What that  supper  but  the  Eucharist? Who the  invited but  all  mankind? A great  supper,  indeed,  is the  Eucharist,  for  whereas  it  has  been  partaken  of throughout  the  whole  world  and  for  ages  by  millions and  billions  of  human  beings  whose  spiritual