Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter I
CHAPTER I.
WITH HOW GREAT REVERENCE CHRIST OUGHT TO BE RECEIVED.
HESE are Thy words, Christ, the everlasting truth, though not spoken all at one time, nor written in the same place.
Because therefore they are Thine and true, they are all thankfully and faithfully to be received by me.
They are Thine, and Thou hast pronounced them: and they are mine also, because Thou hast spoken them for my salvation.
I cheerfully receive them from Thy mouth, that they may be the more deeply implanted in my heart.
They arouse me, those most gracious words, so full of sweetness and of love; but mine own offences do dishearten me, and an impure conscience driveth me back from the receiving of so great mysteries.
The sweetness of Thy words doth encourage me, but the multitude of my sins weigheth me down.
2. Thou commandest me to come confidently unto Thee, if I would have part with Thee; and to receive the food of immortality, if I desire to obtain everlasting life and glory.
"Come unto Me 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, my Lord God, shouldst invite the poor and needy to the participation of Thy most holy body and blood!
But who am I, Lord, that I should presume to approach unto Thee?
Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee, and thou sayest, "Come ye all unto Me."
3. What meaneth this gracious condescension and this so loving invitation?
How shall I dare to come, who know not any good in myself, whereupon I may presume.
How shall I bring Thee into my house, I that have so often offended Thy most gracious countenance?
Angels and archangels stand in awe of Thee: holy and righteous men do fear Thee: and sayest Thou, "Come ye all unto Me"?
Unless Thou, O Lord, didst say this, who would believe it to be true?
And unless Thou didst command it, who could attempt to draw near?
Behold, Noah that just man laboured a hundred years in the making of the ark, that he might be saved with a few; and how can I in one hour's space prepare myself to receive with reverence the maker of the world?
4. Moses, Thy great servant, and thine especial friend, made an ark of incorruptible wood, which also he covered with the finest gold, wherein to lay up the tables of the law: and I a corrupted creature, how shall I dare so unconcernedly to receive the maker of the law and the giver of life?
Solomon the wisest of the kings of Israel bestowed seven years in building a magnificent temple to the praise of Thy name.
He also celebrated the feast of dedication thereof eight days together; he offered a thousand peace-offerings, and he solemnly set the ark of the covenant in the place prepared for it with the sound of trumpets, and great joy.
And I the most miserable and poorest of men, how shall I bring Thee into my house, I that can scarce spend one half hour in true devotion? And would that I could even once spend something like one half hour in worthy and due manner?
5. O my God, how earnestly did they study and endeavour to please Thee?
Alas, how little is that which I do! how short a time do I spend when I am preparing myself to receive the communion!
Seldom am I wholly collected; very seldom indeed am I cleansed from all distraction.
And yet surely in the life-giving presence of Thy Godhead no unbecoming thought ought to intrude itself, nor should any creature occupy my heart; for it is not an angel, but the Lord of angels whom I am about to receive.
6. And yet very great is the difference between the ark of the covenant with its relics, and Thy most pure body with its unspeakable virtues; between those legal sacrifices, figures of things to come, and the true sacrifice of Thy body, the fulfilment of all ancient sacrifices.
Why am I not more ardent and zealous in seeking Thine adorable presence?
Why do I not prepare myself with greater solicitude to receive Thy holy things? whereas those ancient holy patriarchs and prophets, yea kings also and princes, with the whole people, showed such an affectionateness of devotion to Thy divine service.
7. The most devout king David danced before the ark of God with all his might, calling to mind the benefits bestowed in time past upon his forefathers. He made instruments of sundry kinds, he set forth psalms, and appointed them to be sung with joy; he also oftentimes himself sung to the harp, being inspired with the grace of the Holy Ghost. He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole hearts, and with voices full of harmony to bless and praise Him every day.
If so great devotion was then used, and such celebrating of divine praise was kept up before the ark of the testament; what reverence and devotion ought now to be preserved by me and all Christian people, during the ministration of this sacrament, in receiving the most precious body and blood of Christ.
8. Many run to divers places to visit the memorials of departed saints, are full of admiration at hearing of their deeds, behold with awe the spacious buildings of their temples, and find their affections moved by whatever is connected with their memory.
But behold, Thou art Thyself here present with me on Thine altar, my God, Saint of saints, Creator of men, and Lord of angels.
Often in looking after such memorials, men are moved by curiosity, and the novelty of fresh sights, whilst little or no fruit of amendment is carried home; particularly when they go from place to place with levity, without true penitence of heart.
But here, in this Holy Sacrament, Thou art wholly present, my God, the Man Christ Jesus; here, to all worthy and devout receivers, is granted an abundant fruit of eternal salvation.
There is here to attract men nothing that savours of levity, or of curiosity, or sense; nothing but firm faith, devout hope, and sincere charity.
9. O God, the invisible creator of the world, how wonderfully dost Thou deal with us; how sweetly and graciously dost Thou dispose of all things with Thine elect, to whom Thou offerest Thyself to be received in this sacrament.
For this verily exceedeth all understanding. This specially draweth the hearts of the devout, and inflameth their affections.
For even Thy true faithful ones, who dispose their whole life to amendment, from this most precious sacrament oftentimes gain much of the grace of devotion, and love of virtue.
10. O the admirable and hidden grace of this sacrament, which only the faithful ones of Christ know. But the unbelieving and such as are slaves unto sin cannot have experience of!
In this sacrament spiritual grace is conferred, and the strength which was lost is restored in the soul, and the beauty which by sin had been disfigured again returneth.
This grace is sometimes so great, that out of the fulness of devotion here given, not the mind only, but the weak body also, feeleth great increase of strength bestowed on it.
11. Nevertheless our coldness is much to be bewailed and pitied, that we are not drawn with greater affection to receive Christ, in Whom doth consist all the hope of those that are to be saved, and all their merit.
For He Himself is our sanctification and redemption; He Himself is the comfort of those who are but pilgrims, and the everlasting fruition of saints.
It is therefore to be lamented that many do so little consider this salutary mystery, which causeth joy in heaven, and preserveth the whole world.
Alas for the blindness and hardness of men's hearts, that doth not more deeply weigh so unspeakable a gift; but rather cometh by the daily use thereof to regard it little or nothing!
12. For if this most holy sacrament were celebrated in one place only, and consecrated by one only priest in the world; with how great desire dost thou think would men be affected to that place, and toward such a priest of God, that they might be witnesses of the celebration of these divine mysteries?
But now many are made priests, and in many places Christ is offered; that the grace and love of God to man may appear so much the greater, the more widely this sacred communion is spread over the world.
Thanks be unto Thee, O merciful Jesu, Thou eternal shepherd, that Thou hast vouchsafed to refresh us, who are poor and in a state of banishment, with Thy precious body and blood, and to invite us to the receiving of these mysteries with the words even of Thine own mouth, saying, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."