bestowed on the world, none is so precious, or so peculiarly the fruit of his sacred passion, as the Holy Eucharist; consequently, those who draw little or no profit from that fountain of grace, and who feel little love, gratitude, and respect for so astonishing a mark of God’s tenderness, are certainly those who should reproach themselves with having contributed most to the interior sufferings of Jesus Christ. Reflect seriously on yourself, and beg of God to enlighten your mind, that you may see whether you be not of this number. You cannot doubt of your being among those whom he has most loved and favoured; — early instruction, particular graces, spiritual assistance, and a thousand other marks of his tenderness, prove to you that Jesus thought of you in the height of his sufferings, and destined for you a particular share in the fruits and merits of his sacred passion. What use have you made of those special blessings? Have you been more grateful, from having been more favoured? Has the knowledge of your duty caused you to discharge it better? What profit have you drawn from your Communions? Where are the faults you have corrected, or the virtues you have acquired, after so many times receiving the Almighty himself? Ask your own conscience these questions; it is better you should do so now, than defer so necessary an examination to that tribunal of justice where we must all appear, to account for that precious blood, which our sins and his infinite love caused Jesus to shed in the course of his sacred Passion.
Third point. — Consider, seriously, that after Jesus had been in agony three hours; after he had proved the efficacy of his sacred Blood, by the wonderful conversion of a great criminal, and expressed his ardent thirst for the conversion of all men, he expired.
