Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/177

 this I answer,  make  your  communion  as  often  as your  Father-Confessor  permits,  and  with  the  good intention of  advancing  in  virtue,  and  let  people  say what they  will. The celebrated  John  of  Avila  says, that those  who  blame  others  for  frequently  approaching Holy  Communion,  perform  the  office  of  the  devil; and will  you  be  so  foolish  as  to  care  for  them?

Hear, too,  what  St.  Francis  of  Sales  says: "If  the children  of  the  world  ask  you  why  you  so  often receive  Holy  Communion,  answer  them: Two  classes of  men  should  go  to  communion  often; namely,  the perfect  and  the  imperfect: the  perfect,  that  they may  continue  so,  and  the  imperfect,  that  they  may attain  perfection.  The  strong,  that  they  may  not become  weak,  and  the  weak,  that  they  may  become strong.  The  sick,  that  they  may  recover  health,  and the  healthy,  that  they  may  not  become  sick.  As  for yourself,  go  often  to  communion,  as  one  imperfect, sick,  and  weak.”

O my God! of what  avail  are  all  these  miserable evasions and  excuses? Speak the  truth,  say  it  outright, that  you  are  not  willing  to  go  any  oftener  to Holy  Communion,  because  then  you  must  quit  the vanities and  sinful  satisfactions  of  the  world; and that you  do  not  love  this  food  of  Angels,  because you still  love  creatures  with  inordinate  affection; that you  do  not  dare  often  to  receive  Jesus  Christ, because you  fear  the  reproof  which  your  Saviour might give  you,  on  account  of  your  disorderly  and sinful way  of  life,  if  you  were  to  receive  him  often in the  most  holy  Sacrament. But take  it  seriously into consideration,  lest  your  sinful  lukewarmness should be  your  ruin. Fear not  that  on  your  deathbed you  will  reproach  yourself  on  account  of  those communions which  you  have  received  with  contrition