Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/260

 attached to  the  vanities  of  the  world  and  to  their own will; as  impatient  and  peevish,  talkative  and uncharitable, slothful  and  idle,  as  if  they  never  communicated! Oh! how much  have  those  to  fear,  who thus destroy  with  one  hand  what  they  build  up  with the other! Such persons  injure  the  cause  of  religion much more  than  declared  sinners. A young person who frequents  the  sacraments  without  becoming more faithful  to  God,  more  useful  and  amiable  in  the domestic circle,  and  more  edifying  to  others,  gives more scandal  than  those,  whose  heads,  it  is  true, appear turned  with  the  vanities  and  pleasures  of  the world, but  whose  example  has  no  weight,  because they never  received  the  benefit  of  instruction,  the help of  the  sacraments,  or  perhaps  even  the  light  of faith. Consider these  truths  seriously: beg  of  God most earnestly  to  penetrate  your  heart  with  a holy fear of  the  account  you  will  have  to  render  for  the very Communion  you  have  just  made. Resolve to make  every  effort  necessary  on  your  part  for  profiting of so  great  a grace; be  on  your  guard  against  your accustomed faults; endeavour  at  least  to  lesson  their number, that  when  you  next  communicate,  your divine Lord  may  have  no  cause  to  reproach  and punish you  like  the  slothful  servant  of  the  Gospel. O my God! by that  infinite  mercy  which  caused  thee to die  for  my  salvation,  and  that  infinite  love  which induced thee  to  visit  me  in  thy  adorable  Sacrament, deign to  preserve  me  from  exposing  myself  by  negligence or  sloth  to  the  loss  of  the  blessing  I have received.

Third Point. — After  having  seriously  considered  the ingratitude and  misfortune  of  relapsing  sinners,  you must already  have  firmly  resolved  never  to  become one of  their  unhappy  number. This firm,  deter-