Of the Imitation of Christ/Book IV/Chapter X
CHAPTER X.
THAT THE HOLY COMMUNION IS NOT LIKELY TO BE FORBORNE.
HOU oughtest often to have recourse to the Fountain of grace and of divine mercy, so that thou mayest be healed of thy sins, and be made more strong and vigilant against the Fountain of goodness and of all purity; all the temptations and deceits of the devil.
The enemy, knowing what exceeding great profit and restoring aid cometh by the holy communion, endeavours by all means and on all occasions, to hinder the faithful and devout from partaking therein.
2. Thus it is that some persons when they are preparing to fit themselves for holy communion, suffer from the promptings of Satan worse than before.
That wicked spirit himself (as it is written in Job) cometh amongst the sons of God, to trouble them according to his accustomed malice, or to render them over fearful and perplexed; to the end he may, if possible, prevail on them, either altogether to forbear communicating, or at least to come with lukewarmness.
But there is no heed at all to be taken of his crafty suggestions, be they never so filthy and hideous, but all such vain imaginations are to be turned back upon his own head.
Thou must despise him and laugh him to scorn, nor dare to omit the holy communion on account of his assaults, or for the troubles which he raiseth within thee.
3. Oftentimes also a too great solicitude for the obtaining a certain height of devotion, and a kind of anxiety about the confession of sins hindereth thee.
Follow herein the counsel of the wise, and lay aside all anxiety and scrupulousness; for it hindereth the grace of God, and overthroweth the devotion of the mind.
Do not omit the holy communion for every small vexation and trouble, but rather proceed at once to confess thy sins, and cheerfully forgive others whatever offences they have done against thee.
And if thou hast offended any, humbly crave pardon, and God will readily forgive thee.
4. What availeth it to delay long the confession of thy sins, or to defer the holy communion?
Make thyself thoroughly clean as soon as possible. Spit out the poison with all speed, make haste to apply this sovereign Remedy, and thou shalt find it to be better with thee than if thou long defer it.
If thou omit it to-day for one cause, perhaps to-morrow another of greater force may occur to thee; and so thou mayest be hindered a long time from communion, and grow more and more unfit.
As quickly as ever thou canst, shake off from thyself all heaviness and sloth. For it is of no use to continue in disquietness, or to be going on with a disturbed conscience, and so for every-day impediments to separate thyself from this divine service.
Yea, it is very hurtful to defer the communion long, for this usually brings on heavy spiritual drowsiness.
Alas, some lukewarm undisciplined persons do willingly delay confessing their sins, and defer the holy communion, lest they should be engaged to keep a stricter watch over themselves.
5. O how poor and mean is their love, how weak their devotion, who so easily put off the holy communion!
How happy is he and how acceptable to God, who so ordereth his life, and in such purity keepeth his conscience, that he is prepared and well-disposed to communicate even every day, if it were in his power, and if it might be done not to be seen of men.
If a person do abstain out of humility, or by reason of some lawful cause preventing him, he is to be commended so far as it ariseth from a feeling of reverence.
But if a spiritual drowsiness have crept over him he must bestir himself, and do what lieth in him, and the Lord will assist his desire, for the good will he hath thereto, which is what God doth chiefly respect.
6. But when any lawful hindrance doth happen, he will yet always have a good will and a pious intention to communicate, and so shall he reap the fruit of the sacrament.
For any devout person may every day, yea, every hour, profitably and without let draw near to Christ in spiritual communion.
And yet on certain days, and at times appointed, he ought to receive sacramentally, with affectionate reverence, the body and blood of his Redeemer, and rather seek the honour and glory of God, than his own comfort.
For he communicateth mystically, and is invisibly refreshed, as often as he devoutly calleth to mind the mystery of the incarnation and the passion of Christ.
7. He that prepareth not himself, except only when a festival draweth near, or when custom compelleth him, shall be too often unprepared.
Blessed is he that offereth himself up as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, as often as he doth receive the holy communion.
Be not too slow nor yet hurried in celebrating, but keep the accustomed manner of those with whom thou livest.
Thou oughtest not to be tedious and troublesome to others, but to observe the received custom; according to the appointment of our fathers; and rather to yield thyself up to the edification of others, than to thine own devotion or feelings.
