Preparation. THE following Preparation is chiefly intended for those who do not communicate oftener than once a month. Those who are so happy as to partake more frequently, may adapt it to their own use, using the whole or portions, as they think fit and as occasion serves, either at home or in Church. The fervent expressions of ardent longing for union with Christ, taken from Thomas à Kempis, will be found very suitable at any time before actual reception. In using these Devotions each day for a week, they may be added to Morning or Evening Prayers, or what is better, they may be used at some special time each day, using first some such ejaculation as, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be alway acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." Anima Christi. SOUL of Christ, sanctify me! Body of Christ, save me! Blood of Christ, refresh me! Water from the side of Christ, wash me! Passion of Christ, strengthen me! O good Jesu, hear me! Within Thy Wounds hide me! Suffer me not to be separated from Thee! In the hour of my death, call me! That with Thy saints I may praise Thee For ever and ever. Amen. A DEVOUT EXHORTATION TO THE HOLY COMMUNION. The voice of Christ. "COME unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you," saith the Lord. "The bread that I will give is My Flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 66 Take, eat: this is My Body, which is given for you: this do, in remembrance of Me." "He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him." "The words which I have spoken unto you are spirit and life." This exhortation should be read each day before what follows. Sunday. With how great reverence Christ ought to be THES received. HESE are Thy words, O Christ, eternal truth; and because they are Thine and true, they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me. They are Thine, and Thou hast uttered them; and they are also mine, because Thou hast spoken them for my salvation. I gladly receive them from Thy mouth, that they may be more deeply implanted in my heart. Words of so great kindness, so full of sweetness and love, encourage me; but mine own offences make me afraid, and an impure conscience discourageth me from receiving so great mysteries. The sweetness of Thy words inviteth, but the multitude of my faults oppresseth me. Thou dost bid me to approach Thee with confidence, if I wish to have part with Thee; and to receive the food of immortality, if I desire to obtain life and glory. "Come unto Me," Thou sayest, "all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” O sweet and loving word in the ear of a sinner, that Thou, O Lord my God, dost invite the poor and needy to the Communion of Thy most Holy Body and Blood! But who am I, Lord, that I should presume to approach Thee? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; and Thou sayest, Come ye all unto Me. What meaneth this most affectionate condescension, and so loving an invitation? How shall I dare to come, who am not conscious to myself of any good thing whereon I may be able to presume? How shall I bring Thee into my house, I who have so often offended Thy most gracious countenance? Angels and Archangels stand in awe of Thee, holy and just men fear Thee, and Thou sayest, "Come ye all unto Me!" Unless Thou, Lord, didst say this, who would believe it to be true? and unless Thou didst command, who would attempt to approach? O the admirable and hidden grace of this Sacrament, which only the faithful ones of Christ do know; but the unbelieving and servants of sin can have no experience of! In this Sacrament is conferred spiritual grace, and lost virtue is restored in the soul, and beauty marred by sin returneth. So powerful sometimes is this grace, that out |