Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter XI
CHAPTER XI.
THAT THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ARE MOST NECESSARY UNTO A FAITHFUL SOUL.
BLESSED Lord Jesus, how great is the blessedness of a devout soul that feasteth with Thee in Thy banquet; where there is set no other food to be eaten but Thyself, the only Beloved, and most to be desired above all the desires of the heart!
And unto me verily it would be a sweet thing in Thy presence to pour out tears from the very bottom of my heart, and with grateful Magdalene to wash Thy feet with tears.
But where now is that devotion? where that effusion of holy tears?
Surely in the sight of Thee and Thy holy angels, my whole heart ought to be inflamed, and even to weep for joy.
For in this sacrament I have Thee truly present, though hidden under another representation.
2. For to behold Thee in Thine own divine brightness mine eyes would not be able to endure, nor could even the whole world stand in the splendour of the glory of Thy majesty.
Herein then dost Thou have regard to my weakness, that Thou dost veil Thyself under this sacramental sign.
Him I do really possess and adore Whom the angels adore in heaven; but I, for the present and in the meantime, by faith; they, by sight, and without a veil.
I ought to be content with the light of true faith, and to walk therein, until the day of everlasting brightness dawns, and the shadows of figures pass away.
But when that which is perfect is come, the use of sacraments shall cease; because the blessed, in their heavenly glory, need not any sacramental remedy.
For they rejoice without end in the presence of God, beholding His glory face to face; and being transformed from glory to glory into His image, they taste the Word of God made flesh, as He was from the beginning, and as He abideth for ever.
3. Whilst I think of these wonderful things, it becometh wearisome unto me, even all spiritual comfort, because as long as I behold not my Lord openly in His own glory, I make no account of all I see or hear in this world.
Thou art witness unto me, O God, that nothing can comfort me, no creature can give me rest, but Thou only, my God, Whom I long to contemplate everlastingly.
But this is not possible, so long as I linger in this mortality.
Therefore I must frame myself to much patience; and submit myself to Thee in all my desires.
For even Thy saints, O Lord, who now rejoice with Thee in the kingdom of heaven, whilst they lived, waited in faith and in great patience for the coming of Thy glory. What they believed, I believe also; what they hoped for, I hope for; whither they are arrived, I trust by Thy grace I shall arrive.
In the meantime I will walk in faith, strengthened by the examples of the saints.
I have also holy books for my comfort and for the glass of my life, and above all these, Thy most holy body and blood for a singular remedy and refuge.
4. For I perceive two things to be very particularly necessary for me in this life, without which it would be insupportable unto me.
Whilst I am detained in the prison of this body, I acknowledge myself to stand in need of two things, namely, food and light.
Unto me then thus weak and helpless Thou hast given Thy sacred body, for the refreshment both of my soul and body; and Thy word Thou hast set as a light unto my feet.
Without these two I should not be able to live; for the word of God is the light of my soul, and Thy sacrament the bread of life.
These also may be called the two tables, set on the one side and on the other, in the treasury and jewel-house of the holy church.
One table is that of the sacred altar, having the holy bread, that is the precious body of Christ; the other is that of the divine law, containing holy doctrine, teaching men the right faith, and steadily conducting them forward even to that within the veil, where is the holy of holies.
Thanks be unto Thee, O Lord Jesu, Thou light of everlasting light, for that table of holy doctrine which Thou hast prepared for us by Thy servants the prophets and apostles and other teachers.
5. Thanks be unto Thee, O Thou Creator and Redeemer of mankind, Who to manifest Thy love to the whole world, hast prepared a great supper, wherein Thou hast set before us to be eaten, not the typical lamb, but Thine own most sacred body and blood, rejoicing all the faithful with this holy banquet, and replenishing them to the full with the cup of salvation.
6. O how great and honourable is the office of God's priests, to whom it is given with sacred words to consecrate this sacrament of the Lord of glory; with their lips to bless, with their hands to hold, with their own mouth to receive, and also to administer to others!
O how clean ought those hands to be, how pure that mouth, how holy that body, how unspotted that heart, where the Author of purity so often entereth!
Nothing but what is holy, no word but what is good and profitable, ought to proceed from the mouth of him who so often receiveth this sacrament of Christ.
7. Simple and chaste ought to be the eyes that are wont to behold the body of Christ; the hands should be pure and lifted up to heaven, that use to touch these emblems of the Creator of heaven and earth.
Unto the priests especially it is said in the law; "Be ye holy, for that I the Lord your God, am holy."
8. O Almighty God, do Thou assist us with Thy grace, that we who have undertaken the office of the priesthood, may be able to serve Thee worthily and devoutly, in all purity, and with a good conscience.
And if we live not in so great innocency as we ought to do, grant to us at the least worthily to lament the sins which we have committed: and in the spirit of humility, and with the full purpose of a good will, to serve Thee more earnestly for the time to come.