Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter II
CHAPTER II.
THAT THE GREAT GOODNESS AND LOVE OF GOD IS EXHIBITED TO MAN IN THIS SACRAMENT.
N confidence of Thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near, as one sick to the healer, as one hungry and thirsty to the fountain of life, as one needy to the king of heaven, a servant unto my Lord, a creature to my Creator, a desolate soul to my merciful comforter.
But whence is this to me, that Thou vouchsafest to come unto me? What am I, that Thou shouldst grant Thine own self unto me?
How dare a sinner appear before Thee? and how is it that Thou dost vouchsafe to come unto a sinner?
Thou knowest Thy servant, Thou knowest that he hath in himself no good, for which Thou shouldst grant him this favour.
I confess therefore mine own unworthiness, I acknowledge Thy goodness, I praise Thy tender mercy, and give Thee thanks for this Thy transcendant love.
For Thou doest this for Thine own sake, not for any merits of mine; to the end that Thy goodness may be better known unto me, Thy love more abundantly poured down, and Thy gracious humility more eminently set forth.
Since therefore it is Thy pleasure, and Thou hast commanded that it should be so, this Thy condescension also much pleaseth me, and would that mine iniquity might be no hindrance!
2. O most sweet and merciful Jesu, how great reverence and thanksgiving, together with perpetual praise, is due unto Thee for the receiving of Thy sacred body and blood, whose preciousness no mortal is able to express!
But on what shall my thoughts dwell at this communion, in thus approaching unto my Lord, Whom I am not able duly to honour, and yet Whom I cannot but desire devoutly to receive?
3. What can I think on better, and more profitable, than utterly to humble myself before Thee, and to exalt Thine infinite goodness above me?
I praise Thee, my God, and will exalt Thee for ever. I do despise myself, and cast myself down before Thee, into the deep of my unworthiness.
Behold, Thou art the Holy of Holies, and I the scum of sinners!
Behold, Thou inclinest Thyself unto me, who am not worthy so much as to look up unto Thee!
Behold, Thou comest unto me; it is Thy will to be with me; Thou invitest me to Thy banquet.
Thou art willing to give me heavenly food and bread of angels to eat, which is indeed no other than Thyself the living bread, which camest down from heaven, and gavest life unto the world.
4. Behold, from whence doth this love proceed! what gracious condescension shineth forth herein! how great thanks and praises are due unto thee for these benefits!
O how great and profitable was Thy counsel, when Thou didst ordain it! how sweet and pleasant the banquet when Thou gavest Thyself to be our food!
O how admirable is this Thy working, O Lord, how mighty is Thy power, how unspeakable Thy truth!
For Thou didst speak the word and all things were made; and this was done which Thou Thyself commandedst.
5. A thing much to be admired, worthy of all faith, and surpassing man's understanding, that Thou my Lord God, true God and man, shouldst offer Thyself wholly to me in a little bread and wine, and therein become my inexhaustible support.
Thou Who art the Lord of the universe, and standest in need of none, art pleased to dwell in us by means of this Thy sacrament.
Do Thou preserve my heart and body undefiled, that with a cheerful and pure conscience I may be frequently able to receive to my everlasting health, those mysteries which Thou didst specially ordain and institute for Thine own honour, and for a never-ceasing memorial of Thyself.
6. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks unto God, for so noble a gift, and so precious a consolation, left unto thee in this vale of tears.
For as often as thou callest to mind this mystery, and receivest the body of Christ, so often dost thou go over the work of thy redemption, and art made partaker of all the merits of Christ.
For the love of Christ is never diminished, and the greatness of His propitiation is never exhausted.
Therefore Thou oughtest to dispose Thyself hereunto by a constant fresh renewing of Thy mind, and to weigh with attentive consideration the great mystery of salvation.
So great, so new, and so joyful ought it to seem unto Thee, that comest to these holy mysteries, as if on this day Christ first descended into the womb of the virgin and became man, or hanging on the cross did this day suffer and die for the salvation of mankind.