Book 4, Chapter 1: On How Great Reverence is to be Shown When Christ is to be Received.
by Ariel Agemian
Chapter Focus: Book Four opens with a paragraph on the Words of Christ. “In the beginning was the Word….”(John 1:1). This is significant in itself since a book on The Eucharist opens with a meditation on the Word of Christ. And while Thomas doesn’t mention “the Word” as Scripture, he does take the thought into Scripture, with several references to Scripture throughout this first chapter. Thomas will make his case: How can we dare to approach the Altar of God and receive Holy Communion when we don’t measure up to the likes and efforts of Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, The Angels, The Saints.
Heck, I can’t even spend 30 minutes in devoted prayer without some distraction. In point of fact, we can’t ever be worthy or measure up. But as Thomas will repeat throughout this chapter, God keeps telling us:
“Of course you don’t qualify to be here, but come anyway! Come because My Son has opened the gates of Grace for you.”
And then he says: “Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you (Matt 11:28).”
Take this book to Eucharistic Adoration with you, or read a chapter just prior to receiving Holy Communion. God will weave the power of Thomas’ words with the power of the Holy Eucharist. Holy Communion will never be the same to you again. Come to the table of plenty and find refreshment.
Chapter 1, In Short.
1. Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
2. You command me to approach You with confidence if I would abide with You, and to receive the food of immortality.
3. What does Jesus mean by this most loving condescension and friendly invitation?
4. How shall I be able, in the one hour, prepare myself to receive with reverence the Maker of the world?
5. O my God, how much did these Patriarchs endeavor to do to please You!
6. There is a great difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its relics, and God’s most pure Body.
7. Why am I not more inflamed, considering Your holy Presence?
8. King David danced before the Ark of Got with all his might commemorating the benefits bestowed in times past on his fathers.
9. While many run to various places to visit the relics of the saints, behold, God is here present on the Altar.
10. O God, the invisible Maker of the world, how wonderfully You deal with us!
11. In this Sacrament spiritual grace is conferred, lost virtue is repaired in the soul and beauty disfigured by sin returns.
12. It is sad and pitiful that we are so lukewarm and negligent to the point of not being drawn with to the receiving of Christ.
13. If this most Holy Sacrament were only celebrated in one place in the world, how hard would people desire to attend it?
Key Quote: And behold, I have You here present on the Altar, my God, the Saint of saints, the Creator of men, and the Lord of Angels.
Questions: How shall I bring God into my house when I can hardly spend one half-hour in devotion?
What would happen if I would even spend one half-hour in devotion?
The text of Chapter 1: On How Great Reverence is to be Shown When Christ is to be Received.
A devout exhortation to Holy Communion.
The Voice of Christ:
Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28),” says the Lord.
The bread that I will give is My Flesh which I give for the life of the world (Jn 6:51).
Take, eat: this is My Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me (Matt 26:26).
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him. The words that I speak to you are spirit and life (Jn 6:51, 63).
The Disciple:
These are your words, O Christ, the Eternal Truth, though not all delivered at one time, nor written in one place.
Since, therefore, these are Your words, and true, all are to be received by me with thanks and with faith.
These are Your words and You have spoken them; and these words are also mine because You have delivered these for my salvation.
I willingly receive Your words from Your mouth that these may be more integrated, yes even grafted into my heart forever.
Such great and tender words! Full of sweetness and love – this encourages me.
But my sins terrify me and my unclean conscience keeps me back from approaching such great mysteries.
The sweetness of Your words invites me, but the multitude of my sins weighs me down.
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2. You command me to approach You with confidence if I would abide with You, and to receive the food of immortality if I desire to obtain life and glory everlasting.
“Come,” You say to me , “all you that labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest (Matt 11:28).
Oh sweet and amiable word in the ear of the sinner, that You, O Lord my God, should invite me as a poor and needy sinner to the communion of Your most sacred Body!
Who am I, O Lord, that I should presume to come to You?
Behold, the heaven of heavens cannot contain You (1 Kgs 8:27) and yet You say “come you all to Me.”
3. What do You mean by this most loving condescension and friendly invitation?
How shall I dare to approach You, when I am conscious of no good on which I can presume for Your favor?
How shall I introduce You into my house when I have so often provoked Your anger and displeasure?
The angels and the archangels stand with reverential awe in Your Presence. Even the saints and the just are afraid – and still You say, “Come to Me.”
Only because You, O Lord said it, otherwise who could believe this invitation to be true?
And unless You commanded it who would dare to attempt to approach Your Throne?
4. Behold Noah, a just man (Gen 6:9) labored one hundred years in building the Ark, that he, with a few others might be saved. How then shall I be able, in the space of one hour, prepare myself to receive with reverence the Maker of the world?
Moses, Your servant, Your great and special friend, made an Ark out of incorruptible wood, which he also covered with pure gold, that he might deposit the tablets of the Law within. Shall I, a corrupt creature, presume so easily to receive you – The Maker of the Law and the Giver of life?
Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Israel, worked for seven years in building a magnificent temple for the praise of Your name. And for eight days together he celebrated the feast of the dedication. Solomon offered a thousand animal victims as peace offerings, and brought the Ark of the Covenant to the place prepared for it in a solemn procession, with the sound of trumpet and jubilee (1 Kings 8:6).
And I, a wretch, and the most unworthy servant, how shall I bring You into my house who can hardly spend one half-hour devoutly? What if I would even spend one half-hour as I ought!
5. O my God, how much did these patriarchs endeavor to do to please You!
Alas! How what I do is so meager! How short a time do I spend when I prepare myself to communicate, being seldom wholly reconciled, very seldom free from all distraction!
And yet, surely in the life-giving presence of Your Divinity, no unbecoming thought should occur, nor anything created take up my mind: For it is not an angel, but the Lord of Angels that I am to entertain.
6. An yet there is a very great difference between the Ark of the Covenant with its relics, and Your most pure Body, with its unspeakable virtues. There is a difference between those sacrifices of the Law, which prefigured things to come, and the true sacrifice of Your Body, which is the fulfillment of all these ancient sacrifices.
7. Why then am I not more inflamed, considering Your holy Presence? Why do I not prepare myself with greater care to receive Your sacred gifts, seeing that those ancient holy patriarchs and prophets, yes – kings and princes, with the whole people, have shown so great an affection of devotion towards Your divine worship?
8. King David, Your devout servant danced before the Ark of Got with all his might and wild abandon (2 Sam 6:14) commemorating the benefits bestowed in times past on his fathers. He made musical instruments of different kinds. He published psalms, and appointed these to be sung with joy. He likewise often sang songs, playing upon his harp, inspired with the grace of the Holy Spirit. He taught the people of Israel to praise God with their whole heart, and to join their voices in blessing and magnifying Him every day.
If such great devotion took place then; if such remembrance took place in the praise of God before the Ark of the Covenant, how great ought to be the reverence and devotion to which I and all Christian people should have in the presence of this Sacrament and in receiving the most excellent Body (and Blood) of Christ!
9. Many run to various places to visit the relics of the saints, and are astonished to hear of the saints’ wonderful works; they behold the noble church buildings and kiss the saints’ sacred bones, wrapped up in silk and gold.
And behold, I have You here present on the Altar, my God, the Saint of saints, the Creator of men, and the Lord of Angels.
Often in seeing these things people are moved with curiosity – the novelty of the sight but experience little fruit of amendment – especially when people lightly run here and there, without any true contrition for their sins.
But here, in the Sacrament of the Altar, You are wholly present, my God, the man Christ Jesus. Here is reaped the plentiful fruit of eternal salvation, as often as You are worthily and devoutly received.
And to this we are not drawn by any levity, curiosity, or sensuality but by a firm faith, a devout hope, and a sincere charity.
10. O God, the invisible Maker of the world, how wonderfully You deal with us! How sweetly and graciously You order all things in favor of Your elect, to whom You offer Yourself to be received in this Sacrament!
For this exceeds all understanding of man. This in a particular manner engages the hearts of the devout, and enkindles their love.
For Your true faithful followers, who dispose their whole life to amendment by this most worthy Sacrament, frequently receive a great grace of devotion and love of virtue.
11. Oh, the wonderful and hidden grace of this Sacrament, which only the faithful of Christ know, but unbelievers and such as are slaves to sin cannot experience. In this Sacrament spiritual grace is conferred, lost virtue is repaired in the soul and beauty disfigured by sin returns again. And so great sometimes is this grace that from the abundance of devotion that is bestowed, not only the mind, but the frail body also feels a great increase of strength.
12. It is sad and pitiful that we are so lukewarm and negligent to the point of not being drawn with to the receiving of Christ. In Jesus consists all the hope and merit of those that shall be saved. For He is our sanctification and our redemption. He is our comfort in our pilgrimage and the eternal beatitude of the saints. It is therefore much to be lamented that many regard this saving mystery which rejoices heaven and preserves the whole world so lightly. Oh, the blindness and hardness of your heart that does not more highly prize so unspeakable a gift and from daily use falls into a disregard of it.
13. For if this most Holy Sacrament were only celebrated in one place and consecrated by only one priest in the world, how great a desire would you have to go to that place and to such a priest of God, so that you might see the divine mysteries celebrated? But now there are made many priests, and Christ is offered up in many places, that the grace and love of God to man may appear the greater, the more this Sacred Communion is spread throughout the world.
Thanks be to You, O Good Jesus, our Eternal Shepherd, Who has promised to feed us poor exiles with Your precious Body and Blood, and Who invited us to receive these mysteries with the very words of Your own Mouth, saying: “Come to Me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you (Matt 11:28).”