thee, saying, Desiderio desideravi; with a desire have I desired to eat this passover with you. Christ our Saviour desired to shew what thou also oughtest to desire; as if He should say, I have prevented thee with great benefits, and will hereafter enrich thee with greater, only continue in the love of Me. Consider, what modesty thou wouldest have used at that Holy Table, with what attention thou wouldest have received the words of Jesus. "The remembrance of Josiah," saith the Wise Man, "is like a perfume;" much more pleasant is the remembrance of our Lord Jesus, His last institution unto us.

THE FRUIT OF THIS MEDITATION.

The fruit is, to give the Lord hearty thanks for this inestimable benefit, now to be received; to beseech Him, that He would not suffer thee to die ungrateful; to call to mind that Christ kept the best wine until the last, left this Holy Repast as a sweet remembrance of His love at parting; that this love of His was a motion natural, which motion (say the philosophers) is most forcible towards the end.

y Ecclesiastes xlix. 1.

THE SOLILOQUY.

O my soul, how lovingly doth the Lord knock at thy door with a desire of entering in, and resting with thee arise, O my soul, and Christ shall give thee light; not only the shepherds of Bethlehem had cause of joy, who found as it was told them, but thou hast cause of joy too, who shalt find the joy of Israel. No marvel though Martha and Mary went forth to meet the Lord, knowing how He would fill their minds with celestial consolation. Go forth, O my soul, to meet Him that cometh unto thee, who is the stay, yea, the whole stay of all thy being. The water that is separated from the fountain, vanisheth; the bough that is cut from the tree, withereth; the body from which the soul is gone, dieth; depart not, therefore, O my soul, from the soul of thy soul, but embrace Him with all gladness. Lord, as there is no doubt but that such was the excess of Thy love and favour, whereat even the Angels were amazed, so is it sure that I was most bound, not only to run the way of all Thy commandments, but also to spend my life for the love of Thee. Thou hast bestowed on me this so excellent a gift, more noble than human understanding is able to conceive, from whence springeth an obligation

K

which doth bind me unto Thee. Who doth not see that I shall be most unthankful, if I acknowledge not Thy singular love? O my heart, open thyself, and shew with what bond of reloving, Jesus loving thee, thou art bound.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

WHEN YOU ARE ABOUT TO COMMUNICATE, AND ART NOW RECEIVING THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST, MEDITATE UPON THESE SAYINGS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE.

1. Ecce sponsus venit; "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go forth to meet Him”.”

2. Ecce ancilla Domini; "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word a."

3.

Dic verbum, et vivet anima; "I am not worthy, &c. Do but say the word, and my soul shall live "

4. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in c."

5.

"Taste and see how gracious the Lord is:

z Matthew xxv. 6.

a Luke i. 38.

b Matthew viii. 8.

• Psalm xxiv. 7.

blessed is the man that putteth his trust in Hima:" saying, Hoc facite in meam commemorationem; "Do this in remembrance of Me."

O good Jesu, join me inwardly unto Thee, to the glory of Thy name, and the salvation of my soul.

Also, in the time of communicating, say, Turn unto thy rest, O my soul. Again, Lord, say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And again, O knit my heart unto Thee, and I will fear Thy name. And last of all say, O most loving and sweet Jesus, the love and sweetness of my heart, the life of my soul, my mellifluous food, have mercy upon me, be with me, O Lord, now and for ever. Amen.

Or thus,

Good Jesu, the sweetness of my heart, the life of my soul, my eternal God, bountiful Jesus, join me nearly unto Thee, to the praise and glory of Thy name, and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.

Immediately after your receiving, say the
103rd Psalm.

I. "Praise the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me praise His holy name.

d Psalm xxxiv. 8.

e 1 Corinthians xi. 24.

2. "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

3. "Who forgiveth all thy sins, and healeth all thy infirmities.

4. "Who saveth thy life from destruction, and crowneth thee with mercy and lovingkindness.

5. "Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, making thee young and lusty as an eagle."

Or that hymn of Simeon,

"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation?."

So soon as you have communicated, say also,

Thy Blood, O Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for us, let it be to the remission of all our sins, of all our negligences and ignorances; let it be to the strengthening, increase, and conservation of faith, hope, and charity, of graces, of virtues, of carefulness, of pleasing Thee, O Lord, in this life, and of attaining glory in the life to come.

f Luke ii. 29.