from the dictates of the senses, against a firm belief in the mystery; tell them that the veracity of God Himself, Whose revelations are not to be judged at the tribunal of man's weak senses and limited understanding, is pledged for its truth.
III. The second preparation requisite for a worthy communion is purity of mind and conscience. In proportion to the perfection of this purity, will you receive the benefits of the sacrament. Hence, Isaias exclaims, " Be ye clean, you that carry the vessels of the Lord." (Is. lii. ii.) The Church recommends the same purity to us; hence she has ordained that the Eucharist shall be consecrated on clean corporals. These corporals, says the Angelical Doctor, are first washed, then wrung, and lastly dried: so he who approaches the sacrament, must first wash his sins by the tears of penance; he must then drain from his soul every affection to sin that may linger in it, by mortification, and thirdly, the fire of charity must expel from it every inclination to relapse. Examine if these be your dispositions when you approach the holy table.
SATURDAY.
To Receive the Holy Eucharist by Desires and Prayers.
I. To a lively faith and purity of mind and conscience must be joined an ardent desire and hunger for this heavenly banquet. To such as these only does our Lord address the invitation: "Come over to Me, all ye that desire Me, and be filled with My fruits." (Ecclus. xxiv. 26.) And the Psalmist tells us, "He hath satisfied the empty soul, and hath filled the hungry soul with good
