Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/556

 so would  it  be  to  eat  it  without  preparation. On that  account  I again  repeat  to  you,  my  dearest  brethren,  with  the  church,  "  Prepare the  way  of  the  Lord  t"  let  your  preparations  for  receiving  him be of  long  standing:  banish  from  your  hearts  whatever  may  offend him: instruct  yourselves  in  the  dispositions  which  he  exacts  of those  who  receive  him:  use  every  effort  to  acquire  them:  there  is no  other  mean  of  avoiding  the  risk  of  an  unworthy  communion, and of  attracting  Jesus  Christ  into  your  souls.

This is  an  important  matter,  which  demands  all  your  attention. On one  side,  there  is  question  of  making  you  shun  the  horrible crime of  profaning  the  body  and  the  adorable  blood  of  Jesus Christ; on  the  other,  of  instructing  you  how  to  reap  from  the communion all  the  grace  which  it  is  capable  of  bringing  forth  in our  hearts. What, then,  are  those  preparations  so  essential  toward a profitable  and  worthy  communion? I reduce  them  to  four,  which shall be  the  subject  and  the  division  of  this  Discourse.

Reflection I. — The  eucharist  is  a  hidden  manna:  it  is  the food of  the  strong,  a  sensible  and  permanent  testimony  of  the  love of Jesus  Christ,  the  continuation  and  the  fulfilment  of  his  sacrifice. Now, it  is  necessary  to  know  how  to  discern  this  hidden  manna from common  food,  lest  it  be  taken  unworthily:  first  preparation. It is  the  food  of  the  strong:  we  ought,  therefore,  to  examine  ourselves before  we  venture  to  make  use  of  it:  second  preparation. The testimony  of  the  love  of  Jesus  Christ;  it  can  be  received, therefore, only  in  remembrance  of  him,  that  is  to  say,  in  feeling aroused in  his  presence  every  tender  and  exquisite  sensation  which can be  excited  by  the  remembrance  of  a  dear  and  beloved  object: third preparation. It is  the  fulfilment  of  his  sacrifice;  every  time, therefore, that  we  participate  in  it,  we  show  his  death,  and  we ought  to  bring  there  a  spirit  of  the  cross  and  of  martyrdom:  fourth preparation. A respectful  faith  which  enables  us  to  discern,  a prudent  faith  which  makes  us  examine,  an  ardent  faith  which enables us  to  love,  an  exalted  faith  which  makes  us  to  immolate. This is  the  summary  of  the  apostles'  doctrine,  in  relating  to  us  the institution of  the  eucharist,  and  likewise  that  of  all  the  saints  with regard to  the  use  of  that  adorable  sacrament.

First preparation, — a  respectful  faith  which  makes  us  to  discern. Think not,  my  brethren,  that  I  mean  here  to  speak  of  that  faith which distinguishes  us  from  unbelievers. Where is  the  merit  of believing  when  the  prejudices  of  childhood  have  accustomed  reason to it,  and  when  belief  is,  as  it  were  born  with  us? Exertion would even be  necessary  to  cast  off  its  yoke;  and,  to  pass  from  faith  to error,  a  greater  effort  is  perhaps  required  than  to  return  from  error to truth. I speak  of  that  lively  faith  which  pierces  through  the clouds which  surround  the  throne  of  the  Lamb;  which  sees  him not mystically,  and,  as  it  were,  through  a  glass,  but  face  to  face,  if I  may  venture  to  say  so,  such  as  he  is:  of  that  faith  which,  in spite  of  the  veil  with  which  the  true  Moses  covers  himself  on  this holy mountain,  fails  not,  however,  to  perceive  all  his  glory,  and  to