of His passion might be applied to us. In fine, He instituted this sacrament as His last will and testament, by which He bequeathed Himself to us.
II. He instituted the sacrament under the accidents of bread and wine, in order that He might be more perfectly united to us by becoming our meat and drink, and by incorporating Himself with us. Another motive was to teach us that this divine food operates in the soul those effects which ordinary food produces in the body; that is, it nourishes, preserves, and increases our spiritual strength, and in some respect transforms us into Himself. "He who eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me." (John vi. 58.) As bread is a mass composed of many grains, and wine a liquid produced from many grapes, so, by the participation of this divine sacrament, the hearts of the faithful are made one spirit. Hence the reception of this sacrament is properly called communion, or a union of many among themselves and with Christ.
III. Although under each of the sacramental forms the entire body and blood of Christ are contained, without any real separation of one from the other, yet Christ instituted the sacrament under both forms in order that He might the better represent His passion and death, during which His blood was entirely drained from His sacred body. Recollect His bloody sweat, His scourging at the pillar, His being crowned with thorns, nailed to the cross, and pierced with the spear. Think what return you can make for so much love; say with David, " I will take the chalice of salvation," by grateful recollections and compassion, " and I will call upon the name of the Lord." (Ps. cxv. 4.)
