preservative against all evil. If I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear the no evil, for thou art with me. Another exercise on the Lord's Prayer, adapted to the seven words of Christ on cross, will be found below, in ch. vii. on the way to hear Mass.
CHAPTER IV.
A SHORT METHOD, OR ACT,
Both of celebrating and communicating at Mass with devotion and profit.
To reap fruit from the sacrament of the Eucharist, and the sacrifice of the Mass, the very manner of approaching them is of the greatest concern.
Observe, therefore, that only to repeat certain common set forms of prayer before and after Mass and Communion is a method that is very imperfect, and devoid of spiritual consolation. Surely greater care and preparation are required for a sacrament so sublime, and surpassingly rich in gifts of graces and virtues, but corresponding still in its operation with the manner and disposition of the receiver.
For this sacrament is the food of the soul, to which it is no less profitable and necessary than its own food is to the body. Besides, that food does good, and gives most nutriment, which is eaten with hunger, to the excitement of which bodily exercise before taking food is conducive, by carrying off and dispensing the vicious humours that remain in the stomach. Thus the natural heat is excited, and whets the stomach, thereby causing it to be more desirous of food, and the food itself to become fitter for digestion, and for the wholesome nutriment of the entire body. Precisely in the same way is the food of the soul, that is, the body and blood of Christ, to be taken with hunger, that it may profit the more.
How this is to be done will be briefly shown. The mind must be employed in pious meditations and holy exercises, which by degrees will expel the bad passions of the soul, and enkindle in it the heat of charity, and the fire of divine love, that so it may become more eager for the heavenly food, and fitter to receive it with fruit and increase. Otherwise thou wilt receive this food without hunger or appetite, and so wilt
