think, what will people say? How the neighbors will talk, as if it were all up with me! They will think me half dead already! See, there is the bolt that shuts the door against Our Lord, and keeps Him off for months, until the near approach of death forces them to open the door. O blind and unjust doors! What greater folly and madness could reasoning Christians be guilty of? What will people say! Well! what can they say? That I am dangerously ill. But if they do say that, are you any worse therefor? or will you die any sooner? And if the neighbors do not say that because you refuse to admit Our Lord, will you be any better on that account? or will you be in less danger of death? Are you afraid to send for the doctor, lest the people should think you very ill? But if you settle your accounts with God in good time, when you are still able to dispose yourself properly for such a holy sacrament, do you know what people will think and say of you? They will say: that is a good, pious Christian, who does in time what all Christians ought to do; and they will be edified by the good example which you give them and are bound to give them at all times, whether sick or well. But if you put off receiving holy Communion, or do not receive it till the very last gasp, and till extreme necessity forces you, so that you die immediately after; what will people think then? They will be scandalized at your conduct, and will speak of you in no favorable terms, as of one who could not be induced to receive holy Viaticum until death was already in his face. That is a nice reputation to leave behind you in the neighborhood! A fine eulogy for a Christian! O blind and unjust doors!
Or from the same motive have the Blessed Sacrament brought privately to their houses.
There is another unchristian abuse amongst those who would indeed willingly receive Our Lord in their illness, if, like Nicodemus, He would come to them secretly and by night; they are unwilling that the Blessed Sacrament should be brought through the streets by day with due honor and ecclesiastical ceremonies, and try, therefore, to have it brought in a hidden and secret manner, all for the sake of avoiding talk. My indignation almost deprives me of the power of speech. Christians! where are we living? Amongst Turks? Under the yoke of heretics or infidels? In a heretical town where public Catholic worship is forbidden? Where such a step could not be taken without running the risk of martyrdom? If that were the case, necessity must dispense from the law, and allow the secret visits of Our Lord.
