Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/349

 in him,  who  strengthens  me. Or, with  the  man  according to my  own  heart,  Though  I should  walk  in  the  midst  of the  shadow  of  death, I will fear no  evils, for  thou  art  with me.

. Be  praise  and  glory to thee,  O Lord,  for  ever; for thou  hast  prepared  before me a table  against  them  that persecute me. And oh,  that henceforth I may  receive  from it strength  and  fortitude  to fight  against  my  enemies! But why  has  this  been  hitherto too  little  done,  and my strength  been  weakened through poverty? Why have I so easily  yielded  to  crosses and temptations? Is it  because I am  become  weary  of thy  table,  and  forgotten  to eat  my  bread,  and  that  my strength  has  thus  failed  me through  want? Is it  because I have very  often  too  irreverently and  unworthily  presumed to  eat  it?

. My  son,  thou  hast spoken but  the  truth. For as the  life  of  the  body  must  be sustained  by  the  food  which renovates continually  what  is wasted  by  the  natural  heat, so it  is  clear  that  the  strength of the  spirit  must  be  restored frequently by  food,  that  it may  not  be  gradually  worn down by  the  heat  of  concupiscence. Dost thou  ask  what that food  is? Behold, my flesh is  meat  indeed, and  my blood  is  drink  indeed. This is the  daily  bread,  the  bread which came  down  from  heaven, with  which,  if  the  faithful, and  especially  my  priests, would more  frequently  and more worthily  refresh  themselves, they  would  retire  from this table  like  lions  breathing fire, and  terrible  to  the  devil himself! There is  indeed  no remedy  more  effectual  against the fiery  darts  of  the  most wicked one,  and  the  temptations, principally  of  the  flesh, with which  you  have  also  to combat  daily,  but  are  seldom victorious. For its  desires will be  easily  restrained  by the  water  that  is  drawn  with joy out  of  the  Saviour’s  fountains — mine,  I mean,  which in this  Sacrament  I have opened to  all — and  the  wine springing forth  virgins,  which is here  given  you  to  drink; for it  is  I alone  who  satisfy the empty  and  hungry  soul with blessings  and  delights that are  never  to  perish; it  is  I who  give  her  the  bread  that has all  delight  in  itself. And what good  will  not  redound to him  to  whom  I shall  vouchsafe to  come,  who  am  the fountain and  author  of  all good! Come, therefore,  and eat of  my  bread,  and  drink  of the  wine  which  I have  mingled for you,  and  be  inebriated, my  beloved.