of all his own heavenly treasures. The Father hath given all things into His hands.[1] Hence, when Jesus Christ comes to a soul in Holy Communion, he brings with him boundless treasures of grace; and consequently after Communion we can justly say, Now all good things came to me together with it.[2] St. Denis says, that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is far more powerful for the sanctification of souls than all other spiritual means of grace;[3] and St. Vincent Ferrer, that one Communion does more for the soul than a week's fasting on bread and water.
In the first place, as the Council of Trent teaches, Communion is that great remedy which frees us from venial, and preserves us against mortal sins.[4] It is said "from daily faults;" because according to St. Thomas,[5] a man is excited by means of this sacrament to make acts of love, by which venial sins are forgiven. And it is said that "we are preserved from mortal sins, because Communion increases grace, which will preserve us from great faults. Hence Innocent III. says, that Jesus Christ delivered us from the power of sin by his Passion, but that by the Eucharist he delivers us from the power of sinning.[6]
This Sacrament, moreover, above all others, inflames our souls with divine love. God is love.[7] And he is a fire which consumes all earthly affections in our hearts. He is a consuming fire.[8] And for this very purpose,
- ↑ "Omnia dedit ei Pater in manus."—John, xiii. 3.
- ↑ "Venerunt mihi omnia bona pariter cum illa."—Wisd. vii. 11.
- ↑ Eucharistia maximam vim habet perficiendæ sanctitatis."
- ↑ "Antidotum quo liberemur a culpis quotidianis, et a peccatis mortalibus præservemur."—Sess. xiii. c. 2.
- ↑ P. 3, q. 79, a. 4.
- ↑ "Per crucis mysterium, eripuit nos a potestate peccati; per Eucharistiæ sacramentum, liberat nos a voluntate peccandi."—De Alt. Myst. l. 4, c. 44.
- ↑ "Deus charitas est."—1 John, iv. 8.
- ↑ "Ignis consumens est."—Deut. iv. 24.
