should not lead us to the other extreme, and cause us to keep ourselves away from our divine Lord, contrary to the advice of our spiritual Father. To avoid these snares of the enemy, let us consider, that our Lord absolutely commands us to eat his body and to drink his blood, under pain of being deprived of life, (St. John vi 54,) that is to say, of the life of grace and of eternal glory: but, we must also weigh well the words of St. Paul, who forbids us to approach unworthily, under pain of eating and drinking our own condemnation, and of being guilty of the body and blood of our Lord. (1 Cor. xi 29.) These two oracles should be the infallible rule for communion: the first, considered separately, might inspire a dangerous confidence, and cause us to approach too often and with little preparation; the second, considered independently of the first, might inspire too great a fear, and cause us to deprive ourselves of this greatest of all blessings. Let us then be obedient to the first precept, which commands us to approach; but, let us also be equally obedient to the second, which forbids us to approach unworthily. The error of considering these two precepts separately, has been the deplorable source of much loss and abuse of grace. In these two oracles is comprised a rule which we may follow without any fear of being deceived. We maybe certain, that we cannot go to holy communion too often, provided we do all in our power to receive worthily. But, to communicate often, without laboring to correct our habitual faults, without endeavoring to overcome any attachment which we may have to any sin, without trying earnestly to attain to the perfection of our state of life, and without fervor and care in our preparation, is a dangerous delusion, and may lead the soul to a deplorable abuse of this holy and august sacrament. But, to allow a false humility, which is often a pretext for sloth, to prevent us from communicating often, although privileged to do so by our rule or by the advice of our
