Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/208

 may be  blotted  out,  and  that,  washed  in  the  blood  of the  Lamb,  I may  with  joy  and  fruit  refresh  my  soul with his  most  pure  flesh; implore  for  me  that  the love of  Jesus  may  light  up  my  lukewarm  heart,  and inflame it  wholly  with  his  love. Amen.

“ Come to  me,  all  you  that  labour,  and  are  burdened,  and  I will refresh you.” — Matt. xi. 28.

HESE are  thy  words,  O Christ  the  Eternal  Truth, and they  are  words  of  so  great  tenderness,  and so full  of  sweetness  and  love,  that  they  encourage  me, but my  sins  terrify  me,  and  my  unclean  conscience keeps me  back  from  approaching  to  so  great mysteries. The sweetness  of  thy  words  invites  me,  but the multitude  of  my  offences  weigh  me  down. Thou commandest me  to  approach  thee  with  confidence,  if I would  have  part  with  thee; and  to  receive  the  food of immortality,  if  I desire  to  receive  life  and  glory everlasting. "Come,” sayst  thou,  "to  me,  all  you that labour, and  are  burdened, and  I will  refresh  you." (Matt.  xi.  28.)  O sweet  and  amiable  word  in  the  ear of  a sinner,  that  thou,  O Lord,  my  God,  shouldst invite  the  poor  and  needy  to  the  communion  of  thy most  sacred  Body! But  who  am I,  Lord,  that  I should presume  to  come  to  thee? Behold,  the  heaven  of heavens  cannot  contain  thee; and  thou  sayst,  come you  all  to  me.

What means  this  most  loving  condescension,  and so friendly  an  invitation? How shall  I dare  to approach,  who  am  conscious  to  myself  of  no  good  in which  I can  presume? How shall  I introduce  thee into my  house,  who  have  so  oftentimes  provoked  thy indignation? The angels  and  archangels  stand  with a reverential awe; the  saints  and  the  just  are  afraid; and thou  sayst,  come  you  all  to  me. Unless thou,