OF THE MARVELOUS INSTITUTION OF THE MOST
BLESSED SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST.
1. The voice of Jesus. I am the living Bread,
that came down from heaven. He that comes to
Me shall not hunger, for the Bread which I shall
give him, is My Flesh for the life of the world.
When I had said these things, My Child, the
Jews disputed among themselves, saying : How can
this man give us His Flesh to eat?
CHAPTER II. 575
And, in reply to them, I declared positively :
Verily, verily, I say to you, unless ye eat the
Flesh of the Son of man, and drink His Blood, ye
shall not have life in you.
For My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is
drink indeed.
2. Before the festival day of the Passover, know
ing that My hour had come, that I should pass out
of this world to the Father, having loved My own
who were in the world, I loved them unto the end.
It being now evening, I sat down to the last
Supper, and the twelve Disciples with Me : to
them, as they were seated around, I said : With
desire, I have desired to eat this Passover with
you.
And whilst they were at Supper, I took bread,
and blessed, and broke, and gave it to My Disciples,
saying : Take ye and eat ; this is My Body.
And taking the chalice, I gave thanks, and
gave to them, saying : Drink ye all of this; this is
My Blood.
Do this for a commemoration of Me.
3. The voice of the Disciple. These, then, are
Thy words, Lord God, truth eternal, whereby Thou
didst solemnly promise beforehand, that Thou
wouldst give Thyself to us as the Bread of Life :
these are the deeds, whereby Thou didst after
wards truly fulfill, what Thou hadst promised.
Thy Church, taught by these words and deeds,
even before they had been recorded, enjoyed this,
576 THE FOURTH BOOK.
Thy divine gift ; and was doing this, as Thou hadst
enjoined, for a commemoration of Thee.
By these words, Thou didst overthrow and
thwart the foreseen difficulties of infidels, and the
objections of heretics, and the temptations of
demons.
For, by them, Thou taughtest, that whatsoever
Thou, the infallible truth, utterest,
must be believed, even if we do not understand,
how these
things can be.
And through the holy Church, Thy true Spouse,
we know the things Thou didst utter ; but in what
manner the mysteries which Thou didst proclaim
by words, are inwardly constituted, or realized,
that we do not comprehend, since our limited
reason cannot reach those things which transcend
all the bounds of reason.
If we do not understand the things which are
below ourselves, how shall we understand those
which are above us ?
That a seed sown in the ground, after it has de
cayed, grows up into a new stalk, and produces
much fruit, we believe, because we perceive it out
wardly ; but how these things happen intrinsically,
although they belong to the natural order, we are
unable to penetrate.
Should he not deservedly be regarded as un
sound in mind, who, whilst, by means of the senses,
he perceives that there are mysteries of nature^
CHAPTER II. 577
would not be willing to admit them, because he
does not comprehend how they do exist ?
Now, even by means of the senses, we perceive,
that there are mysteries of religion revealed by
Thee ; because faith comes by hearing : and,
moreover, by reason itself, we see, that those mys
teries are true ; because it is evident to reason,
that it is impossible, that Thou, the essential truth,
shouldst utter what is false.
The submission, therefore, of all them that faith
fully believe in Thee, is reasonable. But they that
refuse to believe Thee, thinking themselves wise,
have become fools, and altogether unreasonable.
And it proceeds from a secret pride, instigated
by the cunning of the devil, that they are unwill
ing to subject to Thee, its Author, the noblest
gift, their reason ; and to honor Thee, by the sub
mission of the same.
But all they, that at any time have been humble
children of the Church, how greatly soever they
were distinguished for their genius, have brought
their intellect under subjection, to obey Thee by
faith.
By this, Thou showest, that Thou art the Lord
of all, good towards all, no respecter of persons : and
that from all, from the learned, as well as from
the unlearned, Thou desirest the obedience of a
subdued intellect, and a submissive will.
4. Lord God, my Creator and Redeemer, I pros
trate myself before Thee, and submit my reason
49
578 THE FOURTH BOOK.
wholly to Thee : ay, my whole intellect and will,
my body, and all my senses, in obedience to faith,
for Thy glory.
But it is also my glory and advantage, that I
may return to Thee, their beginning and end, all
the gifts of soul and body, which I have received
from Thee ; and that, by means of whatsoever I
have received, in the order of nature, I may freely
co-operate with Thy grace for the supernatural
order, and, consequently, for my own everlasting
honor, my never-ending bliss.
Reason and faith are both thy gifts, Lord : the
former a natural, the latter a supernatural gift :
both ever assist each other, are never contrary :
both given for truth, each one in its own order.
If I believe, because my natural reason moves me
thereto, my faith is a natural one, neither super
natural nor saving. If I believe, because a super
natural motive impels me, my faith is supernatural
and salutary.
Blessed are they who have not seen and have be
lieved. And, certainly, how can the senses perceive
what does not fall under the senses ? or, how can
reason comprehend what does not lie within the
grasp of reason ? Or, how can the cold utterance
of man explain that, which the exceeding love of
Thy Heart has effected ?
5. In the spirit, therefore, of Thy Church, I do
firmly believe that Thou, Lord Jesus Christ,
true God and man, art truly and substantially con-
CHAPTER II. 579
tained in the most Blessed Sacrament, under the
appearance of things visible, bread and wine.
I do firmly believe, that Thou art wholly and
entirely present under each species, and under
every part of each species, if they be sepa
rated.
I do firmly believe, that Thou, there present in
Thy glorified state, art the same, whom, at Thy
entrance into the world, the Angels adored, whom
Mary and Joseph, the Shepherds and the Magi,
worshiped under the form of a Child, who, meek
and humble of Heart, didst go about doing good ;
who, having died for us. didst rise again ; who,
having gone up into heaven, art seated in glory at
the right of God the Father.
I do not, as the Jews, ask for signs, nor search
into the manner ; I do not desire, like the unbe
lievers, to understand reasons intrinsically conceal
ed ; I do not require, like heretics, that my indi
vidual judgment be gratified : for me the testimony
of Thy infallible Spouse, the holy Church, which
is the ground of the truth, is sufficient.
I reject whatsoever is opposed to her doctrine :
this is my security, my faith.
6. Lord God of infinite Majesty, Thou the
Saint of the Saints ! who art so marvelously and so
lovingly hidden in this mystery, Thee I adore, Thee
I worship devotedly.
Humbly prostrate, with body and soul, in Thy
presence, I profess before heaven and earth, that
580 THE FOURTH BOOK.
Thou art my God and my Saviour ; to Thee do I
pay the supreme worship, due to Thy Majesty.
I offer to Thee also the adorations, honors, and
homage, which the Angels, and the Saints, and Thy
whole Church pay to Thee.
that all men would acknowledge Thee, would
adore Thee, would show Thee homage and rev
erence !
But, since so many fail in their duty, I, Lord,
uniting myself with Thy Saints and Angels, and
all faithful souls, do adore and venerate Thee, in
their stead : and I desire, in this manner, to make
amends for the negligence of all unfaithful souls.
7. Jesus ! whatsoever I may be able to do for
Thee, is as nothing in comparison of what I owe
to Thee.
In this most delightful Sacrament, by the pure
love of Thy Heart, Thou hast given me whatever
Thou possessest, Thy Body and Soul, Thy Human
ity and Divinity, with all their treasures. I owe,
therefore, to Thee, as much as Thou art worth,
Thou who art infinite.
1 give to Thee, in return, my body and soul,
whatsoever I have, whatsoever I am : but behold !
after I have given all this, my debt remains in
finite.
It is good for me, Lord Jesus, that I am thus
indebted to Thee, that I may be moved and im
pelled to love without bounds the infinite goodness
of Thy Heart.
CHAPTER III. 581
Mindful of Thy pure and boundless love, Jesus,
I love Thee, in return, with my whole heart, and I
long to be able to satisfy Thee by an unlimited
love.
8. Help me, most loving Jesus, that T may
love Thee with that affection, that tenderness, that
reverence, which love alone can inspire.
Grant that, henceforth, I may live by pure love
for Thee, who by infinite love livest for Me in the
most holy Tabernacle.
By Thy most Sacred Heart, thus made a captive,
thus detained by love, I beg and implore Thee, so
bind my heart to Thine, that it may be a captive
of Thy love, and be never dissevered nor separated
therefrom.
CHAPTER III.
WITH HOW LIVELY A FAITH THE CHURCH HAS,
ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE, MANIFESTED HER
DEVOTION TO THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT.
1. The voice of Jesus. My Child, the Church
exults at this most excellent favor of My Heart,
and venerates this supreme miracle of My love with
every demonstration of devotedness.
Enraptured at the excess of the goodness of My
Heart, she melts with love for Me, she rejoices se-
582 THE FOURTH BOOK.
curely in the possession of My most delightful
presence, and continues to rejoice, whilst genera
tions pass by, whilst the face of the earth is changed,
and ages speed away.
Behold ! in every age of the past, from the East
and the West, from the North and the South, the
children of the Church have arisen, and have called
their Mother blessed, on account of so great a love
of My Heart, which abides with her all days even
to the consummation of the world.
In this presence, uninterrupted, and full of mu
tual love, I celebrate the great Supper, the divine
festival of My spiritual nuptials, with My immacu
late Spouse, the holy Church.
To these the faithful are invited and called, be
they poor, and weak, and blind, and lame, that the
house may be filled with guests, and that their joy
may be full.
2. The voice of the Disciple. Hear ye this.
mortals, and come ye clothed with the nuptial gar
ment. Here taste ye, and see how sweet is the
Lord.
To this sacred banquet, at which the Angels
minister, all the truly faithful do, always and every
where, come adorned with this festive garment,
that, being pleasing to the Lord, they may, whilst
they are nourished and refreshed, rejoice with
Him.
No sooner had the Church emerged from the
persecution of three hundred years, than, rejoicing
and crowned with laurels, she, in her first general
Council, her sons having been assembled from
every part of the world, regulated the manner in
which the divine Sacrament should be dispensed
throughout the world, in order that so sacred a
584 THE FOURTH BOOK.
mystery, might everywhere be handled with holy
awe.
She does not bring forward new things, but, faith
ful guardian of her deposit, she recalls and incul
cates the ancient practices. " Neither the Rule,
says this watchful Mother; " nor custom has handed
it down, that they, who have not the power of offer
ing the Sacrifice, should present the Body of Christ
to them that offer the same. Let them receive ac
cording to their rank the Holy Communion from the
Bishop or the priest, after the clergy." (1st Nic.
Counc., Cent. IV.)
Behold the most Holy Communion ! behold the
Sacrament of the Lord ! " For under the appear-
ance of bread, He gives us His Body, under the ap
pearance of wine He gives us His Blood, that, when
you have received the same, you taste the Body and
Blood of Christ, having become partakers of His
Body and Blood : for thus we become Christiferi,
that is, bearing Christ in our bodies : thus, according
to the blessed Peter, we are made partakers of the
divine nature." (S. Cyril of Jerus., Cent. IV.)
" Bread, indeed, it is before the sacramental
words : but when the Consecration has been pro
nounced thereon, of bread it becomes the Body of
Christ. By which words then, and by whose lan
guage is th^ Consecration made ? By the words
of Christ the Lord. Therefore, the Word of Christ
effects this Sacrament. Which Word of Christ?
The one, whereby all things were made. The Lord
CHAPTER III. 585
commanded, and the heavens were made : the Lord
commanded, and the earth was made : the Lord
commanded, and every creature was produced. You
see, then, how effective is the word of Christ. If,
then, there is so great a power in the word of the
Lord Jesus, that things, which were not, began to
exist, how much the more effective is it to change
into another, that which did already exist ? He
spoke, and it was done." (S. Ambros.. Cent. IV.)
" Sacrament of godliness ! sign of unity !
bond of charity ! He that desires to live has
where he may live, whereby he may live. Let him
become incorporate that he may receive lii e. Let
him not be a decayed member, which deserves to
be cut off; let him not be a misshapen one, of which
he is ashamed. Let him be fair, fit, sound : let
him cleave to the body : let him live of God for
God." (S. August., Cent. V.)
" As many of us, therefore, as become partakers
of this Body, let us reflect that we taste Him, who
is seated above, who is adored by the Angels. That
which the Angels dare not freely gaze upon, by
reason of the dazzling splendor, by that we are here
nourished, to that we are united, with that we be
came one body. In order, therefore, that we may
not only become this by charity, let us also in very
deed be blended with that body : for this is effected
by the food which He has granted to us. Let us, then,
go away from that table, like lions breathing fire.
586 THE FOURTH EOOX.
having become an object of dread to the devil."
(S. Chrysost., Cent, V.)
" How goodly is that Bread, which nourishes the
Angels by its outward appearance, that they may
be sated therewith in the land of bliss; and us by
faith, that we may not faint on the way. That
man might eat the Bread of Angels, the Creator of
Angels became man, nourishing both, and remain
ing whole and entire." (St. Fulgent., Cent. VI.)
4. " They, however, that live wickedly, and do
not cease to communicate, thinking, that, by such
a Communion, they are cleansed, let them learn,
that they make no progress toward a cleansing, but
toward condemnation. For the Body of Christ is
the food of Sainte." (St. Isid. of Seville, Cent.
VII.)
Prepare ye, therefore, your heart. " For the
Eucharist is a Communion, whereby we have fel
lowship with Christ, and receive His Humanity
and Divinity, and unite ourselves between us."
(St. John Damasc., Cent, VIII.)
"Let them hear, then, who wish to weaken this
word of the Body, as if it were not the true Body
of Christ, which is now celebrated in the Sacrament
by the Church, nor His real Blood. They seem
desirous to approve or invent something new, as if
it were merely a certain virtue of Christ s Body or
Blood, so that the Lord is made to speak falsely,
when Truth itself says : This is My Body. He did
not then say, when He broke and gave the bread ;
CHAPTER III. 587
This is, or in this mystery is a certain virtue or
figure of My Body, but He said plainly : This is My
Body : and, therefore, it is what He said, not that
which any one may imagine. No one has as yet
openly gainsaid that, which the whole world believes
and confesses." (St. Paschas., Ab., Cent. IX.)
5. " In churches, the Eucharist is always acces
sible : which custom the ancient churches have
preserved." (Luitprand., Cent. X.)
Wherefore, " Christ cannot be accused of forget-
fulness : Christ does not enjoin things contrary to
His commands. He is the Bread that came down
from heaven, which is daily brought to the table
of the Church, as a heavenly food, which is broken
for the forgiveness of sins, which feeds and nour
ishes unto life everlasting them that eat the same."
(St. Peter Damian., Cent. XI.)
" Neither need we pretend that to this our age
is denied, either that apparition, which was vouch
safed to the Fathers of the ancient Covenant ; or
that presence of His Body, which was exhibited to
the Apostles. Since, to them that consider faith
fully, neither the one nor the other can be wanting.
Surely, it cannot in the least be doubted that, in
the Sacrament, we have even now present with us
the true substance of His Body. We have revela
tions, but in spirit and in power, so that it is proved
that naught is wanting in any kind of grace " (St.
Bern., Cent. XII.)
6. " The delighfulness of this Sacrament none
588 THE FOURTH BOOK.
can adequately express, whereby spiritual sweetness
is tasted in its very source : and the remembrance
of that most excellent charity which He manifested
in His Passion, is recalled to mind. Wherefore,
that the immensity of this love might be the more
intimately imprinted in the hearts of the faithful,
at the last Supper, when, after He had celebrated
the Passover with His Disciples, He was about to
pass from this world to the Father, He instituted
this Sacrament, as an everlasting .memorial of His
Passion, the fulfillment of the ancient figures, the
greatest of the miracles wrought by Him, and the
exceeding comfort of those that were saddened by
His absence." (St. Thorn. Aq., Cent, XIII.)
" A spiritual and interior person finds in the
partaking of the Body of Christ Jesus twelve ex
cellent fruits: Fortitude, to forsake easily things
earthly and perishable: Progress, in the things
relating to salvation : Elevation of the soul above
whatever is outside of God : Strength to practice
good : Enlightenment of the understanding more
perfectly to know God, and all things which are
seen in the mirror of eternity : Fervor of love for
God: Fulfillment of those things, which beget hap
piness : a Treasure of wealth : a constant Cheer
fulness of spirit: a certain secure Firmness; per
fect Peace : Union of the soul with God." (Thauler,
Cent. XIY.)
" precious, magnificent, saving banquet, replete
with every delight 1 By this, sins are cleansed
CHAPTER III. 589
sway, virtues increased, the mind is enriched with
the abundance of all graces." (St. Antonin., Cent.
XV.)
7. Wherefore, delivering her doctrine concern
ing this august and divine Sacrament which the
Catholic Church, instructed by Jesus Christ our
Lord Himself, and by His Apostles, and taught by
the Holy Spirit, who always inspires her with every
truth, has ever retained and will preserve to the
end of the world, she teaches, and openly and
simply professes that, in the bountiful Sacrament of
the Eucharist, after the Consecration of the bread
and wine, our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and
man, is truly, really, and substantially contained
under the appearance of those visible elements.
She warns, exhorts, prays and entreats, through
the tender mercy of our God, that all and each one
of those that bear the name of Christian, do meet
and agree, in this sign of unity, this bond of char
ity, this symbol of concord, mindful of so great a
Majesty, and so eminent a love of Jesus Christ our
Lord, who, as the price of our salvation, laid down
His beloved life, and gave us His Flesh to eat :
that they do believe and revere these sacred mys
teries of His Body aud Blood, with constancy and
firmness of faith, with devotedness, and piety and
worsr r of spirit, so that they may be enabled fre-
quently to receive this supersubstantial Bread, and
that this may truly be to them everlasting life and
breath of the soul.
590 THE FOURTH BOOK.
Thai, being invigorated by the strength thereof
they may be enabled, from the journey of this
weary pilgrimage, to come to the heavenly country,
there to eat the same Bread of Angels, that
now they eat hidden beneath the sacramental veils.
(Council of Trent, Sess. 13, Cent, XVI.)
8. Lord God ! how did the faithful, through
all ages, burn to honor Thee in this Sacrament of
Thy love ! with what piety did they strive here to
exhibit for Thee the utmost reverence ! How they
did exert themselves to show due gratefulness to
Thy Heart, and to compensate by love for the love
of Thy Heart !
And, therefore, too, should we be blamed, we,
the heirs of the faith once delivered to the Saints,
we, the children of the Saints, were we to grow
lukewarm in this devotion of devotions, in this
chief point of our Religion ; whilst so long a suc
cession of ages calls forth our lively faith, when so
great a multitude of the faithrful of all times and
places throughout the world, stimulate us by their
example ; and since so great a goodness of Thy
Heart excites our hearts.
Enliven our faith, most loving Jesus, and, when
enlivened, increase it unceasingly. Strengthen our
hope and confidence. Enkindle and inflame our
love.
Grant, Lord, that we may ever be enabled to
worship in the spirit of faith, to vene.vate devotedly
CHAPTER IV.
591
this most sacred and most sweet Mystery, and to
partake worthily thereof.
CHAPTER IV.
THAT THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS, IN THE
SACRAMENT OP HIS LOVE, IS PERFECTLY BLISS
FUL.
1. The voice of Jesus. That for which My Heart
longed, that which It sought through every excess
of love, this It now enjoys contented in the Holy
Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Behold ! now not only the justice of My heav
enly Father, but also the love of My Heart is
satisfied. Herein rejoices and exults My Heart,
that nothing is now wanting to Its wished-for bliss.
Rejoice with Me, My Child ; because here is the
joy, the delight, the blessedness of My Heart.
Here is the new heaven, wrought and adorned
by skill divine, where My Heart is well-pleased
and blissful all days.
All these I willingly do without: nay, frequently
592 THE FOURTH BOOK.
even I am wont to be surrounded with what the
world shuns and abhors. Yet My Heart is com
pletely contented and blissful.
2. Why should not My Heart be happy here,
since in this Paradise of supernatural delights It
overflows with a torrent of divine joys, and supreme
sweetness?
I am perfectly happy in Heart by possessing
those things, which as the Son I have by inherit
ance from the Father, and which, as the Saviour of
the world, I have acquired at the price of My life.
But thou, My Child, wherein dost thou seek thy
felicity? is it also in the divine union, in supernal
communing, in the sweet consolation of the divine
good pleasure ?
Dost thou not sometimes lose the joy or even the
peace of thy heart, because thou hast not that which
gratifies nature ? Art thou also, according to the
divine Will, gladly deprived thereof?
Look thou attentively, Child, and be persuaded,
that thy heart, like Mine, cannot be made happy
by the love and enjoyment of things sensible, of
objects created, but of those which are supernatural
and divine.
3. Here, moreover, is My Heart blissful, by
reason of the happiness which the faithful draw
from this fountain of blessings, whereof they par
take with Me.
As a good father experiences happiness, when ha
593
finds himself among his beloved children; so do I
in the midst of My people.
Here the faithful, as children most dear to My
Heart, are trained and formed by Me; they ban
quet, they entertain themselves with Me : they drink
in the generosity and fortitude of My Heart : they
are incited to emulate My virtues : yea, they learn
to glorify and delight in the same things with Me.
For this is My Heart glad indeed, as It deems
Itself happy whensoever It has made others happy.
Rejoice with Me, My Child, seeing that thy hap
piness is not only an object of care, but also of joy
to My Heart.
4. if thou knewest, how great a bliss My
Heart does, over and above, enjoy here, on account
of the tenderness, the devotedness of the love of so
many souls, that, in every state and condition of
life, are wholly consecrated to Me, and live, with
every affection of their heart, for Me alone !
Here, My Child, here is Benjamin with Me in
ecstasy of mind. Here are pure souls enraptured
with heavenly delights, wherewith the Angels them
selves are inebriated.
Here those generous souls, although weak by
nature, form great and noble designs for Me, and 5
by affection and deed, make compensation for the
sacrifices of My love, consecrate themselves wholly
to My interests.
And should not I be delighted with a love so great,
BO tender, so chaste ? Should I not pour forth My
50
594 THE FOURTH BOOK.
whole Heart upon them ? shall I suffer Myself to
be overcome by tenderness and generosity of love ?
My delight is to be with the children of men:
the height of My delight to enjoy the love of pure
souls, and, in return, to make them taste the sweets
of My love.
5. Here, therefore, is My Heart in various ways,
and perfectly replenished with bliss ; yet, if there
be any who are ungrateful or degenerate, and who
are. insensible to My love, or act unjustly towards
My Heart, they only can make themselves wretched,
but cannot render Me unhappy.
For, since I am risen to a life of glory, I die no
more; neither am I affected by sorrow. My joy,
My beatitude, is perfect and complete : none shall
take it away from My Heart, none shall lessen the
same.
As My Heart is personally united to the Divinity,
It is blissful with the beatitude of the very Di
vinity.
And, therefore, in order that My Heart may be
perfectly blissful, It needs no external means ; for,
whether these be present or absent, It will ever be
most blessed.
No less blissful in the hut with the dying poor,
than in the palace of the nobleman or king ; as
blissful in the Tabernacle of the altar, as upon the
throne in heaven.
Foi the reason of My beatitude is within ; whence
CHAPTER IV.
595
I am ever the very same in every place, at all times,
under all circumstances.
This is the inner recess, where I have placed My
abode, where I dwell in light inaccessible, where I
enjoy a full and unchangeable beatitude.
6. The Angels that throng around Me are filled
with wonder, and prostrate they worship, and exult
ing they exclaim : Let us be glad, and give glory to
our God !
And much more are they rejoiced at My bliss
than at their own j for, rapt in Me, and forgetful
of themselves, in their exceeding love for Me, they
exult with Me amid joys unutterable.
In like manner, do many faithful souls, although
still in the body they experience the miseries of this
mortal life, rejoice exceedingly, because I am
what I am : and they derive the highest happiness
from this, that they know that I am supremely
blessed.
And thou also, My Child, if thou lovest Me
truly, wilt surely rejoice for that I am blissful, not
only in the enjoyment of the highest glory at the
right of God the Father, but also in this Sacrament
of the love of My Heart.
7. The voice of the Disciple. Thou art My wit
ness, most sweet Jesus, and knowest that, through
love for Thee, I rejoice at Thy perfect beatitude
in the most delightful Sacrament of Thy Heart.
Yea, Lord, my heart and my whole soul rejoice
596 THE FOURTH BOOK.
in Thee, because Thy Heart is blessed, and is con*
firmed in blissfulness forever and ever.
how truly must the highest joy overwhelm me,
because, Thy Passion being now over, Thy glory
and bliss are full, and placed beyond every change I
It is true, that, since I still have to endure the
hardships of my banishment, the time has not yet
^ome to rejoice at my own glory and bliss everlast
ing : but, meanwhile, it is enough for me that Thou,
my God, my Saviour and Father, rejoicest to the
utmost fullness, in glory and beatitude supreme.
This is for me a reason to rejoice, and to rejoice
with my whole heart, even while I abide and weep
in my captivity, and call to mind my everlasting
inheritance in heaven, which, as God, Thou hast
prepared for me, which, when lost, as Saviour, Thou
hast repurchased for me, which, as Father, Thou
bequeathest to me.
And because it is meet and just, that I do love
Thee more than myself, and whatsoever is my own j
so, in like manner, it is right and wholesome, that
I do rejoice more at Thy beatitude, than at my own
happiness, either present or future.
And in reality, Lord Jesus, I do rejoice more
intensely on account of Thy glory and blessedness >
than on account of any honor or exaltation of my
own, on account of any joy or consolation what
ever.
But I also rejoice, with all my heart, at the very
joy wherewith Thy Heart is replenished by the
CHAPTER IV. 597
happiness, the devotedness, the love of so many
souls, throughout the earth, consecrated to Thee.
8. Grant, most kind Jesus, that I too may be
of the number of those, who in return love Thee,
their pure and generous Lover, with so great a
purity and generosity.
I ask not for the singular and marvelous favors
granted to them so frequently and so abundantly :
Thee, my Jesus, Thyself do I ask, as a reward
of my labors and sorrows, if I have endured any
for Thy sake, and as my sole happiness in all
things.
Not the riches or the pleasures of this world, not
the things which flatter nature, not even merely
sensible consolations, can render me happy. My
bliss is, most sweet Jesus, to repose on Thy
Heart, to enjoy Thee.
Hard, indeed, is all rest which does not recline
on Thy Heart : Yain are all things which are not
referred to Thee : meaningless, whatsoever is not
in harmony with the sentiments of Thy Heart :
tasteless, whatsoever is not seasoned with the unc
tion of Thy love.
Grant me only, that, by divine union, I may pos
sess Thee, love Thee as purely, as generously as I
am able ; and I willingly abandon all the rest to
others : by this gift alone I shall be most blissful
With Thee.
598 THE FOURTH BOOK.
CHAPTER V.
THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS IS THE HEART
OF HIS HOLY CHURCH.
1. The voice of Jesus. My Heart, Child, which
lives in the Sacrament, is the heart of My Church,
which is My mystical Body.
This My Body, is a living one, endowed with a
soul. That soul is the principle of the supernatu
ral life, which the Body lives.
This principle of life proceeds from My divine
Heart : for out of My Heart the Church was made ;
which is evidently to be understood, not of the
members, not of the Body, but of the soul.
Many members, indeed, but one Body, which, by
the divine principle, My Heart animates, and fos
ters, that My life may be made manifest in the
Body.
The Church, therefore, consisting of a Body,
which is its human element, and a soul, which is
the divine element, subsists as a moral individual
ity in the oneness of person, and in the participa
tion of the human and divine nature.
As the vine, by its influence, communicates the
life-giving sap to the branches when properly dis
posed, so do I, to the properly-disposed members
of the Church, communicate thfi divine principle of
Life.
CHAPTER V. 599
And as the vine and the branches are one, so am
I and the Church, in a manner, one.
Truly, then, am I and the Church intimately
united, not only by a moral, but also by a substantial
union ; not by a sensible, but a spiritual union ;
not by an hypostatic, but nevertheless by a per
sonal union, in this sense, that I am so united to
the Church, that she constitutes with Me one moral
personality, receiving from Me her principal part,
her soul, the divine principle of supernatural Life,
and having, at the same time, members, each of
them personalities, in another respect, which sub
sist by and for themselves, truly distinct and merely
human personalities.
2. Thus united to Me, thus animated by a divine
principle, the Church lives, in some manner, a di
vine Life, a supernatural Life, a Life of merits
worthy of everlasting beatitude.
Nay more, it is from the same source that man
is enabled to begin to be a member of the Church,
when, in Baptism, he is regenerated by the water
and the Spirit of My Heart, as the Scripture says :
We were all baptized into one body, whether Jews
or Gentiles, whether bondmen or free.
For this did the water flow from My opened Side,
the symbol of Baptism, which is the laver of regen
eration.
By the same principle, likewise, are the members
of the Church intimately united. The faithful
are, indeed, gently and happily bound together
600 THE FOURTH BOOK.
among themselves by many links ; but in the Sa
crament of the love of My Heart, they become, as
it were, incorporated with Me and endowed with
My Spirit, and thus they become incomparably
more closely, more sweetly, and more perfectly
united together.
And this is the mystery of love, whereof the
Apostle speaks, when he says : Although many,
we are one body, who partake of one Bread. One
body and one spirit.
What wonder, then, if the faithful should pos
sess but one heart, My Heart, of whose fullness all
receive the Spirit of Life?
For, as in the natural body the blood, with its
life-giving power, starts from the heart, and dif
fuses itself through all, even the most remote and
the least, parts which present no obstruction ; so the
principle of the supernatural Life proceeds from
My Heart, and is imparted to all, and every one of
the members of My mystical Body, that present no
obstacle.
3. By this divine power not only does the Church
live, but at the same time that her members are in
timately united, by this she is nourished, endowed
with vigor, and preserved in the perpetual bloom
of youth.
Yea, if any member is weak, or even, by the
abu&e of his free-will, has hindered or cast aside My
life-giving influence and communication, so as to
become supernaturally dead ; so long as he cleavei
CHAPTER V. 601
to the Body of the Church, he can recover life it-
Bclf and supernatural health from My Heart, if, by
the Sacrament of Penance, he cleanses himself in
the bath of the life-restoring and purifying Blood
of My Heart, and thus removes the obstacle or
hindrance.
But the living members of the Church, as they
are animated by My Spirit, as they are constantly
nourished by the influence of My Heart, as, lastly,
they abide in Me and I in them, bring forth much
fruit, true and permanent fruit, fruit of life ever-
Insting.
All false religions and sects, as they neither do
nor can receive Life from My divine Heart, since
they are altogether cut off from My mystical
Body, are soulless beings, destitute of the princi
ple of the supernatural Life ; and, therefore, they
cannot bear genuine and saving fruit. For, as the
branch of the vine cannot bear fruit of itself, un
less it abide in the vine, so neither can men, unless
they abide in Me.
Do not then wonder, if the sects and false reli
gions, like branches lopped off, wither, decay, and
finally perish altogether.
4. If these things, whereby the Church thus
lives, flourishes, and brings forth fruit, are marvel
ous and sweet, still more wonderful and sweeter far
are those other favors, which I impart to her, and
whereby she has a resemblance to Myself,
51
602 THE FOURTH BOOK.
For, whatsoever I have by nature, the Church,
according to her capacity, has of Me by grace.
And, since I, who am the Holy One, animate the
Church with the divine principle of Life, and have
her so united to Me, that we are, as it were, one,
ehe is necessarily holy, not only outwardly, by her
origin, by her end, and the means she employs to
attain to eternal bliss, but also inwardly, by her
very soul, wherein, properly speaking, holiness re
sides.
By the perpetual union and influence of My
Heart, I perfect her in holiness, that I may exhibit
her as a Church, glorious, without blemish, or
wrinkle, or aught of the kind.
I cannot err : therefore neither can the Church.
Should she err, 1 Myself should err : but I am the
infallible truth, whence also she herself is infal
lible.
The words which the Father gave Me, I gave to
her : and I unfolded their meaning, that, under the
guidance of My Holy Spirit, she might understand
and keep them.
The Church, which is My Body, dies not, be
cause I die no more ; but so she remains, until I
come, in glory, at the end of the world.
I Jesus yesterday, and t(.-day : the same also
forever: and, therefore, My Heart, which vivifies
and preserves the Church, nurses and fills her with
vigor, sanctifies her by Its holiness, arid consolid
ates her by Its truth endows her also with Its own
CHArTER V. 603
perpetual Life, and imparts to her a bright immor
tality.
5. Learn hence, My Child, how worthy of thy
veneration, how worthy of thy love is the Church,
who is so intimately united to Me, and represents
My Own Self so completely, that she may justly
say : He that sees me, sees also Christ.
Be glad, Child, rejoice with all thy heart, be
cause thou art a member of this My mystical Body,
than which there is naught seen on earth, more
beauteous, more noble, more marvelous.
If thou lovest Me, love also My Church, for
which I gave Myself up, and than which, of all
the things that are made, in heaven and in earth,
there is nothing dearer to My Heart.
Above all, in the most Holy Sacrament of Mj
love, thou wilt be more closely united in Me to the
Church, and there wilt thou better learn of My
Heart her spirit.
Whosoever wishes to know the spirit of the
Church, must learn the Spirit of My Heart ; be
cause the Spirit of both is one and the same.
The Church must be considered in the same
spirit wherewith she is animated : and her manner
of acting must be viewed, not in a worldly sense,
but in that spiritual sense by which she is moved
when acting.
0! if all knew the sentiments of the Church
which far surpass the sentiments of the best of
mothers, since hers are the very sentiments of My
604 THE FOURTH BOOK.
Heart ; how fondly would they love the Church !
how completely would they approve all her works !
Do thou pray, My Child, that all may know and
love the Church, that they may be worthy mem
bers of this Body, animated with the Spirit of Life :
members by whom I may be honored and glorified.
I)o thou pray, much and frequently, that all may
be invigorated with the sentiments of My Heart,
and increase throughout therein, until they all meet
into a perfect Body, and be joined in fellowship
with the Angels and Saints, who, in heaven, are
confirmed in union with My Heart.
6. Meanwhile, My Child, have a special care,
that thou abide in Me, not by faith, hope, and
charity alone, but also by means of the Sacrament,
by a perfect union.
This is the one, the necessary thing for thee,
that thou be united with Me. From this union
arise for thee life, and vigor, and perfection, and
holiness.
The more closely thou art united with Me, and
the better disposed thou keepest thyself, the more
copious streams of graces, and supernal blessings,
thou wilt draw upon thyself from My Heart, at all
times, indeed, but, chiefly, in Holy Communion.
Hence thou wilt bear much fruit of holiness,
whereby thou wilt show forth the divine power of
My Heart, and promote Its true glory.
7. The voice of the Disciple. Lord, our God !
how wonderful, how lovely is Thy Heart I Who
CHAPTER V. 605
should not be astonished at the depth of the mys
teries of Its power ! who should not be moved fry
the boundless tokens of Its love !
The taking upon Thyself of our nature, was in
deed a great and marvelous work of Thy love ; but
O, how much greater, how much more marvelous
was the giving of Thyself in the Sacrament !
In the Incarnation Thou didst assume our hu
manity : but in the Communion Thou bountifully
givest us Thy own Divinity, and grantest us Thy
own Humanity.
By assuming our nature, Thou didst come down
to us, and live a mortal life ; but, by communica
ting Thyself to us in the Sacrament, Thou raisest
us up to Thyself, and impartest to us a divine
Life.
When Thou beeamest man, Thou didst redeem
and gather us together : by becoming the food of
our life, Thou unitest us to Thyself, that we may be
perfected in Thee and through Thee.
O Lord ! how prodigious, how delightful is the
love of Thy Heart for us, for whom Thou workest
such mighty things]
Would that ail might know and love these won
ders so stupendous, so deserving of love ! Would
that I possessed the hearts of all, that I might con
secrate them to Thy love.
8. Jesus, the life and delight of my soul ! how
unutterable is the love, wherewith Thou didst love
mel
606 THE FOURTH BOOK.
For, how great a condescension of Thy love wag
it, that, by nature, Thou didst create me in Thy
image ! But how incomparably greater was that
love, whereby, through grace, Thou didst raise me
to Thy likeness ! What shall I say, what shall I
think of that, whereby Thou didst elevate me to
an intimate union with Thyself! Who am I, and
who art Thou, that Thou dealest in this manner
with me !
love incomprehensible ! O most sweet Jesus,
lovely above all things lovely ! How shall I not
die, if I love Thee not ! how shall I live, if I live
not for Thee !
O Lord, the principle, the support, the end of my
life! grant, I beseech Thee, grant that I may live
united with Thee, that I may live through Thee,
that I may live for Thee, to the glory and joy of
Thy Heart, whereby Thou effectest such marvelous,
such delightful things. 5 ^
* The things whereof the author speaks in this Chapter
are very useful and consoling. But, although there is nothing
in them which cannot be understood, yet it may be of use to
give some explanation, and to develop that which, in the
matter here treated, may be asserted upon theological
grounds.
The Head of the mystical Body of Christ, or of the Church,
ia Christ; its members are the faithful. But between the
Head and the members, as the author concisely says, there
exists a union :
1. Substantial, not simply moral, such as exists, for example,
between the head and the citizens of a commonwealth.
2. Spiritual, in this sense, that it is not a physical union,
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