Page:Sermons by John-Baptist Massillon.djvu/570

 tality; they  even  desired  it;  and  the  ineffable  consolations  which the presence  of  Jesus  Christ,  hidden  under  mystical  veils,  already shed through  their  soul,  made  them  to  long  for  that  torrent  of  delight with  which  he  will  overflow  his  chosen  when  they  shall  behold him  face  to  face. Were they  dragged  to  prison,  and,  like felons, loaded  with  irons,  they  of  whom  the  world  was  unworthy? — they carefully  concealed  the  divine  eucharist  in  their  bosom; they feasted  upon  it  in  the  hope  of  martyrdom;  they  grew  fat  upon this heavenly  food,  like  pure  victims,  that  their  sacrifice  might  be more  pleasing  to  the  Lord. Chaste virgins,  fervent  believers,  holy ministers, partook  altogether  of  the  blessed  bread;  and  what  delight even  in  their  chains! What serenity  of  mind  in  these  dark and gloomy  abodes! What songs  of  thanksgivings  in  these  horrible places where  the  eye  encountered  nothing  but  the  sad  images  of death  and  preparations  for  the  most  cruel  tortures. How often  did they say  to  Jesus  Christ,  present  with  them  in  this  adorable  sacrament, Ah! we fear  no  ill,  Lord,  since  thou  art  with  us:  though hosts surround  us,  yet  we  will  not  be  afraid:  our  enemies  may  destroy our  bodies,  but  thou  wilt  restore  them  to  us  glorious  and  immortal; for  who  can  destroy  those  whom  the  Father  hath  bestowed upon thee? Blessed chains  which  thou  deignest  to  sustain! Holy prisons which  thou  consecratest  with  thy  presence! Beloved dungeons in  which  thou  fillest  our  souls  with  so  many  lights! Precious death which  is  to  unite  us  with  thee,  and  to  withdraw  the  veil which conceals  thee  from  our  sight! Thence what  fortitude  under their tortures! Filled with  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  washed  in his  blood,  they  quitted  their  prisons,  says  a  holy  father,  like  lions out of  their  den,  still  raging  and  thirsting  for  death  and  carnage: they flew  upon  the  scaffolds,  and,  with  a  holy  pride,  launched here and  there  looks  of  confidence  and  magnanimity  which  appalled the  most  ferocious  tyrants,  and  even  disarmed  their  executioners: they  showed  then  the  death  of  the  Lord  in  preparing  themselves for  martyrdom  by  the  communion.

The tranquillity  of  our  ages  and  the  religion  of  the  Caesars,  leave us no  longer  the  same  hope;  death  is  no  longer  the  reward  of faith,  and  the  eucharist  makes  no  more  martyrs:  but  have  we  not domestic persecutors? Has our  faith  only  tyrants  to  dread? And is there  not  a  martyrdom  of  love  as  well  as  of  blood? In approaching the  altars,  then,  my  brethern,  a  believing  soul  sighs  for the dissolution  of  this  mortal  body;  for,  could  he  love  this  life, and show  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  renew,  in  these  mystical signs, his  quitting  the  world  to  go  to  his  Father? He complains of the  length  of  his  exilement;  he  bears,  to  the  foot  of  the sanctuary, a  spirit  of  death  and  of  martyrdom,  "  Ah!  Lord,  since thou  art  dead  and  crucified  to  the  world,  why  detain  me  here? What  can  I  find  upon  the  earth  worthy  of  my  heart,  seeing  thou art  no  longer  there?  The  mystery  itself,  which  should  console  me through  thy  presence,  recalls  to  me  thy  death;  these  covers  which veil  thee  are  an  artifice  of  thy  love;  and  thou  half  concealest  thyself, only  to  inspire  my  heart  with  the  desire  of  fully  beholding  thee.