Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/210

 high and  most  excellent  sacrament  is  the  health  of soul  and  body,  the  remedy  of  all  spiritual  diseases, by which  my  vices  are  cured,  my  passions  are restrained, temptations  are  overcome  or  lessened, a greater grace  is  infused,  virtue  receives  an  increase, faith is  confirmed,  hope  strengthened,  charity  inflamed and  enlarged. For thou  hast  frequently bestowed, and still  oftentimes  dost  bestow,  many  good things in  this  sacrament  on  thy  beloved  who  communicate devoutly,  O my  God,  the  support  of  my  soul, who art  the  repairer  of  human  infirmity,  and  the  giver of all  interior  comfort. For thou  impartest  unto  them much consolation,  to  support  them  in  their  many troubles; and thou  liftest  them  up  from  the  depth  of their  own  dejection,  to  the  hope  of  thy  protection; and thou  dost  recreate  and  enlighten  them  interiorly with a certain  new  grace; in  such  sort  that  they  who, before communion,  were  perplexed,  and  felt  no  affection in  themselves,  after  being  fed  with  this  heavenly meat and  drink,  find  themselves  changed  for  the better. And thou  art  pleased  to  deal  thus  with  thy elect, to  the  end  that  they  may  truly  acknowledge, and plainly  experience  how  great  is  their  infirmity when left  to  themselves,  and  how  much  they  receive from thy  bounty  and  grace. For of  themselves  they are cold,  tepid,  and  indevout; but  by  thee  they  are made fervent,  cheerful,  and  devout. For who  is  he that  approaching  humbly  to  the  fountain  of  sweetness, does  not  carry  away  with  him  some  little  sweetness? Or who,  standing  by  a great  fire,  does  not receive from  it  some  little  heat? Now thou  art  a fountain  always  full  and  overflowing: thou  art  a fire always burning,  and  never  decaying. Wherefore if  I cannot  draw  out  of  the  fulness  of  the  fountain,  nor drink my  fill,  I will  at  least  set  my  mouth  to  the