Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/204



JESUS ! the truth  and  the  life,  with  firm  faith,  I believe  that  this  admirable  Sacrament  contains in very  deed  thy  divinity  with  all  thy  power,  wisdom, and infinite  goodness,  thy  most  sacred  humanity  with all its  perfections  and  sanctity,  thy  soul  with  all  its Lowers, thy  true  and  loving  body,  entire  and  glorious. believe thy  whole  self  to  be  contained  in  each  Host, and in  the  smallest  portion  thereof. I believe all this because  thou,  who  art  the  sovereign  and  supreme truth, hast  said: “ This  is  my  Body.”  I believe  in this  mystery,  O my  Saviour! with humility  and simplicity since  thou  hast  revealed  it  to  us,  and  by thy  Church  hast  proposed  it  to  our  belief. I hold that faith  which  the  holy  Fathers  and  Doctors  of thy  Church  have  held  and  taught  for  more  than eighteen hundred  years. Therefore, though  the testimony of  my  senses  is  wanting,  though  heretics deny thy  clear  and  express  teaching,  I nevertheless believe in  the  infallible  words,  O Jesus ! which thou hast spoken,  who  canst  neither  deceive  nor  be deceived,  since  thou  art  the  eternal  wisdom  of  the Father, and  the  fountain  of  all  truth.

“ I believe all  the  Son  of  God  has  spoken, Than Truth’s  own  word  there  is  no  truer  token.”

F I consider  thy  majesty  and  omnipotence,  O Lord,  I must  fear  and  tremble. Was not  Ozias suddenly struck  dead  for  touching  the  Ark  of  the Covenant, which  was  but  a figure  of  the  Holy Eucharist, and  shall  I dare  to  touch  with  my  impure lips thy  sacred  Body,  the  living  and  all-holy  ark? The Israelites,  struck  with  terror,  dared  not  approach the smoking  mountain  of  Sinai  to  obtain  the  Law, and shall  I,  a sinner,  presume  to  ascend  to  the