CHAPTER LVIII.

THE MANNER OF COMMUNICATING USED BY A CERTAIN VIRGIN.

In prav. vit. spirit.

EFORE I communicate I prepare myself after

BEFORE

this manner: some two days before, I examine my own conscience, I humbly confess me of my sins to God, I am heartily sorry for my sins; when I may not fast, at the least I eat and drink sparingly.

2. The next morning I begin sooner than at other times a prayer in my mind; in preparing my mind I crave the assistance of God to communicate sincerely, and that He make me such a one as I ought to be, coming to His Holy Table, that this most Holy Sacrament may obtain in my heart that fruit which it obtaineth in the hearts of those who worthily communicate.

3. Then I consider how great a thing it is to be partaker of so holy a Mystery, to receive Him whom the Angels adore, the Prophets have desired, the Apostles loved, the Martyrs imitated, and all holy men coveted, with unspeakable desire, to honour, love, and unite them unto Him by this Holy Sacrament.

4. Moved with this desire, I study to inflame my soul more largely by considering Christ's unspeakable love, by calling to mind the manifold graces this Sacrament bringeth with it to the soul of the devout Communicant.

5. When I come to communicate I exercise my heart in these contemplations: first, I call to mind my own vileness; secondly, I cast myself down at the feet of Jesus my only Saviour and Redeemer; thirdly, I make a short confession of my faith, as, I believe in God, &c.

6. Sometimes I talk thus with my soul: saying, Behold, my soul, thy Lord and God; I love Him whom thou desirest; account thyself happy in receiving Him; love Him, and desire Him to dwell with thee.

7. Lastly, I lay before Him all my sins and infirmities in the depth of my heart, and I most fervently desire that He would pardon them all, and I purpose earnestly to amend what hath been amiss; and so with all humble reverence I come to the Lord's Table.

My demeanour after this short form of

preparing myself.

After this short form of preparing myself I betake me to some secret place, that I may talk only with

my Lord, whom I have by faith received into the house of my soul; and, first, I set before God the Father the Holy Sacrifice of Christ our Lord, and I set before Him whatsoever He hath suffered for me, using these or the like words :-Behold, O Eternal Father, Thy Son, whom of Thy infinite love Thou hast sent from heaven unto the earth that He might take flesh of man, be born in a stable, fly into Egypt by the persecution of Herod, and should be in great poverty. Behold, O Father, what great things He hath done and suffered for me in the wilderness, in preaching, in fasting, in praying, in journeying, in persecutions of the Jews, in hearing blasphemies, sustaining injuries and reproaches, all which He suffered at the hands of the ungrateful Jews: see Him betrayed and sold for thirty pence. I offer Him unto Thee, O Holy Father, bound in the garden, led away to Annas, beaten and buffeted in the house of Caiaphas, accused before Pilate, mocked of Herod, scourged and crucified of the Jews. Behold, O Father, His head hanging down, His hands and feet pierced through, His most sacred side opened.

Behold the Heavens and Earth mourning after their manner, the sorrowful Mother, the dear Disciples bewailing Him, and the ungrateful Jews by so much the more to wax mad against Him. I offer

Him unto Thee, anointed with myrrh, wrapped in clean linen, buried in a new sepulchre. These things done, I make an end, praising, blessing, and giving thanks to God, that He hath loved us so that He gave His only Sonfor our salvation.

2. After this I turn me unto Christ with all thankfulness for His benefits, and I open unto Him as unto a most holy Physician my infirmities, and all my faults, as to a most gentle Lord; I open unto Him all my defects, into which I am wont to fall, desiring Him to minister a remedy, that I relapse not so often, and specially I pray that He would grant me grace to receive Him hereafter worthily.

3. I purpose to amend wherein I am wont to offend, and namely, I decree to root out some one sin, and in the place thereof to insert some virtue whereof I have need, that I may always go forward from better to better; and I humbly pray God's Divine Majesty that He grant me strength to execute that thing.

4. Last of all, I diligently keep my heart all that day, thinking that the Lord resteth therein as His house; wherefore I give my endeavour, that I may use all modesty, as well in speaking, seeing, and walking, as in all my outward conversation : often I say with myself, This day, O Lord, Thou

me.

hast vouchsafed to come unto me a sinner; this day Thou hast renewed my heart by Thy Holy Passion; I pray Thee abide with me, go not from And so applying myself unto the prayers of the day, I use the same prayers with greater devotion than ordinary, I give thanks for all benefits, especially for those received by this most high and holy Sacrament.

CHAPTER LIX.

CERTAIN BRIEF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CONCERNING THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

Q. For what cause do you receive the Blessed Sacrament?

A. First, that I may observe and dutifully keep Christ's most Holy Institution.

Secondly, that I may shew myself a member of that body whereof He is the Head.

Thirdly, that I may receive this sovereign repast to the strengthening of my faith and the health of my sinful soul.

Q. What do you receive?

A. The very Body and Blood of Christ, after

a most divine and heavenly manner.

Q. What profit have you by receiving ?