Visit 17 Jesus Eucharistic Model of Purity
I.
The first sermon of Jesus was that which He preached on the Mount. Let us draw near to the altar, as to the holy mountain, and there meditate upon His sacred words.
II.
Among the first were these: "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God " (Matt. v. 8).
III.
Purity of heart is the necessary disposition for approaching Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
CONSIDERATIONS.
"Chastity," says St. John Climacus, "is a participation of the angelic, nature." "It gives us beforehand and in a certain manner," Bernard adds, "a foretaste of the life of heaven." "The chaste soul aspires to the likeness of God," the Holy Spirit informs us; and this grace of chastity unites the religious soul to her heavenly Lord and Spouse. The guardians of holy purity are: watchfulness over our thoughts, because "every action," as St Augustine says, "takes its rise in the thoughts;" humility, for St. Paul tells us: "Wherefore he that thinketh himself to stand, let him take heed lest he fall " (1 Cor. x. 12); modesty, for the pious soul should make a covenant with its eyes, and, forgetting earthly things, behold Jesus Christ alone.
The love of Jesus in the tabernacle for purity is constantly
before our eyes. Every detail of the sanctuary is stamped with purity—the whiteness of the Host, the unleavened bread of which it is composed; the wine, which must be free from any adulteration; the virgin wax of the candles which burn upon the altar; the spotlessness of the corporal, and, last, but not least, the chastity of the priest who celebrates the sacred mysteries and whose pure hand has alone the right to touch the body of the Lord. And the pure angels hover round the tabernacle in perpetual adoration.
Jesus loves the pure. Are we at pains to render ourselves pure, as He desires us to be before we enter His house? It may be that our lives are blameless as far as their exterior is concerned, but are we pure in mind, in heart, and in will? Do we carefully remove images and impressions from our minds which lessen our sense of purity—and this not only at church, but at all times, avoiding books, papers, journals, and magazines of a sensational or immoral tendency, loose conversation, acquaintances of doubtful reputation, and all occasions of temptation against the holy virtue, in order that the mirror of our soul may remain clear and shining and that thus we may see God the more readily?
O Jesus! Thou art purity itself, and if Thou dost desire purity in those who visit Thee, Thou wilt give it to all who pray for it. Therefore we beseech Thee to give us grace to fight against the insidious enemies lurking in our bosom, and to receive Thee in holy communion the more frequently the oftener we are tempted to sin, in order that by pressing Thee, Who art purity itself to our hearts, the demons of impurity may fly from us, giving place to angels.
0 Jesus! I will serve Thee all the days of my life with a clear heart.
"Who shall ascend into the mountain of the
Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? The innocent in hands, and clean of heart " (Ps. xxiii. 3, 4).
Our Lady of the Most ‘Holy Sacrament, Mother
and model of adorers, pray for us, who have recourse to thee.
St. Joseph, pray for us, that like thee, we may
die in the arms of Jesus and Mary.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
0 Holy Ghost, Thou Teacher and Sanctifier, Who givest light and strength to my soul, bless me that I may be more faithful to Jesus, my Savior and my God, Who is hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, and that I may love Him more and more. In the light of the tabernacle I ask of Thee, 0 Holy Spirit, to fill my heart with pure desire for Jesus, the Living Bread. Give me grace to adore Him with the zeal and humble veneration of the holy angels; grant that His will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that His will be done in my soul. Help me to thank Him for all His gifts, and, most of all, for Himself. By this Holy Sacrament He strengthens souls on earth, gives rest to souls in purgatory, and gladdens souls in heaven. He is the hidden manna, promised by Himself to all who overcome themselves and love Him. May I taste the sweetness of Jesus! Set up more and more Thy kingdom in my soul, that I may keep my body under and bring it to subjection, lest I should be a castaway from Jesus and from Thee.
SPIRTUAL COMMUNION
0 Jesus, my Savior, Who art truly present in the Blessed Sacrament for the nourishment of our souls! since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, I humbly and earnestly beseech Thee to refresh me spiritually. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Come into my mind to illumine it with the light of heaven; come into my heart to enkindle therein the fire of Thy love. Unite me so intimately with Thee, that it may be no more I that live, but Thou that livest and reigneth in me forever.
FRUIT OF THE VISIT.
I.
Behold Christ seated in thy heart, washing thy robes in wine and thy garments in the blood of the grape, that is, cleansing thy soul with His own blood: regard thyself as brought into His cellar, receiving from His hand a chalice of wine, the wine not of His fury, but of His love (Gen. xlix. 11; Cant. ii. 4; Jer. xxv, 15)
II.
Love Him with chaste love, as the holy virgins loved Him; that so thou mayest be without spot; or wrinkle, or any such thing, holy and without blemish (Ephes, vl 27).
III. Ask Him for "Cleanness of Heart:" that the eyes of thy mind may be purified, and that thou mayest be drawn to contemplate His beauty.
EUCHARISTIC GEMS.
The Eucharist demands of us purity, because of the immaculate splendor of the God Who resides there; it calls forth humility, because of the veils under which He conceals Himself; it asks for our love in return for the love that retains Him among us.—De la Bouillerie.
Anima Christi.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me ;
Body of Christ, save me ;
Blood of Christ, inebriate me;
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me ;
0 good Jesus, hear me;
Within Thy "wounds hide me ;
Permit me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me :
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to Thee,
That, with Thy saints, I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas.