Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/191

 He will  have  mercy  on  us  according  to  our  hope  in him,  as  the  prophet  says. O my God! how true  it is,  that  the  man  is  blessed  who  hopes  in  thee; since  that soul cannot  want  any  thing,  who  confidently  expects all from  thee. O! since I am  going  to  receive  the greatest gift  thou  canst  bestow,  why  should  I not firmly trust  that  thou  wilt  strengthen  my  weakness, inflame my  insensibility,  and  give  me,  by  this  Communion, the  grace  to  do  all  that  is  necessary  for obtaining the  effect  of  thy  promises,  since  hope without good  works  is  no  better  than  presumption? Yes, my  God, I hope  for  all  this,  and  hoping  in  thee, I can never  be  confounded.

Third point. — Consider  why  did  Jesus  Christ  resolve to remain  on  our  altars  to  the  end  of  time,  in  a state of degradation  and  obscurity? Because he  loves  you too much,  to  leave  you  an  orphan. Why does  he conceal  his  adorable  majesty,  his  divinity,  and  even his humanity,  in  this  sacrament? It is,  as  St. Bernard  says,  “that  the  excess  of  his  love  alone may appear,  and  that  the  splendour  of  his  glory  may not deter  you  from  approaching  him  with  confidence.” Why will  this  divine  victim  of  love  descend  from heaven to-morrow,  and  renew  the  oblation  of  himself on our  altars? To give  you  in  his  precious  body and blood  the  most  amazing  proof  of  his  tenderness, and to  afford  you  by  his  actual  presence  a favourable opportunity of  asking  and  receiving  whatever  you  7 desire, that  your  joy  may  be  complete. All this  is so  certain,  that  you  may  truly  say  with  the  Apostle, He has  loved  me  and  delivered  himself  for  me. Were I alone to  be  redeemed,  he  would  have  died  for  my sake; and  were  1 alone  to  communicate,  he  would descend from  heaven  to  become  my  nourishment.

O infinite love ! O mystery of  charity ! how little  art