Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/228

 2. But how  often  ought  you  to  approach the Table  of  the  Lord? In 1849  Peter Perboir, a  missionary  priest,  met  with  a martyrs  death  in  China  for  the  sake  of  Christ Since the  time  when  he  made  his  first  communion he  had  remained  faithful  to  his  resolution that  he  would  receive  this  food  of  the soul, the  Bread  of  Angels,  every  month,  and on the  chief  feasts  cf  the  Church. His devotion on  these  occasions  was  so  striking,  that he seemed  to  be  an  angel  when  he  knelt  at the  altar  rails. And it  was  from  this  frequent reception of  holy  communion  that  he  gained strength to  become  a  missionary,  and  die  a martyr's  death.

If you  are  not  called  to  such  things  as  these you nevertheless  need  strength  from  above, whatever state  of  life  you  may  choose,  in order  to  wage  a  relentless  war  against  the world, the  devil,  and  the  concupiscence  of your  flesh. Seek it,  as  that  saintly  missionary did,  in  frequent  communion  —  in daily,  weekly,  fortnightly,  or  at  least  monthly communion. Make it  your  fixed  resolution to approach  the  Table  of  the  Lord  once  at least  in  every  month;  or  if  this  is  not  possible, not  to  postpone  this  sacred  duty  for more than  six  or  eight  weeks. If your  circumstances  are  such  that  your  confessor urges upon  you  to  go  to  communion  once a week,  or  once  a  fortnight,  follow  his  wise direction with  alacrity.

3. But  many  objections  are  brought  for-