Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/258

 age is,  the  more  untainted,  in  general,  is  the  baptismal  innocence.

Thirdly; that  the  longer  the  first  communion  is  put  off, the greater  fear  there  is,  that  either  domestic  occurrences, or the  violence  of  the  passions,  should  cause  it  still  to  be deferred  to  an  advanced  age,  or,  perhaps,  to  the  very  time of death. In short,  the  advice  of  the  great  St.  Charles Borromeo, must  be  also  remembered. "When children," says he,  "of  either  sex  have  attained  the  age  of  ten,  if they  can  be  capable  of  being  easily  prepared  for  communion, let  them  not  be  suffered  to  put  it  off  any  longer, which,  under  pretext  of  ignorance,  is  too  often  the  case; let  them  rather  be  prepared  in  good  time,  to  receive  a sacrament,  which  abounds  with  such  precious,  and  inestimable advantages."

With regard  to  frequent  communion,  follow  the  advice of your  confessor;  and  remember,  that  the  spirit  of  Jesus Christ, and  of  his  Church,  is,  that  you  should  communicate frequently. He gives  himself  to  us  in  the  Eucharist, under the  forms  of  bread  and  wine,  to  teach  us,  that  as  our common food  serves  to  nourish  our  bodies,  so. doth the holy Eucharist  support  and  fortify  our  souls. He assumes, in this  blessed  Sacrament,  the  titles  of  Brother,  Friend, Spouse, &amp;c,  to  induce  us,  by  these  tender,  and  affectionate appellations,  to  receive  him  often. The spirit  of  the Church is  made  known  to  us,  in  the  Holy  Council of  Trent, which exhorts  all  the  faithful  to  communicate  often;  and would wish  them  to  receive,  whenever  they  assist  at  the divine Sacrifice  of  the  Mass. To these  testimonies  may  be also  added,  the  discourses  and  examples  of  the  saints,  and the experience  of  all  pious  persons,  which  tend  to  convince us of  the  happiness  and  advantages  of  frequent  communion.

But if  it  be  advantageous  to  communicate  frequently,  it may  also  be  said,  that  a  greater  crime  cannot  be  committed, than to  communicate  unworthily;  this  being  a  shocking abuse of  what  is  most  august  in  religion. To avoid  this misfortune, reflect  seriously  upon  these  words  of  St. Paul. "Let a  man  prove  himself,  and  so  Jet  him  eat  of  this bread,  and  drink  of  the  chalice;  for  he  that  eateth  and drinketh  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh  judgment  to  himself, not  discerning  the  body  of  the  Lord." Now this proving consists  in  putting  yourself  in  such  a  state,  that your conscience  may  not  reproach  you  with  any  essential