The Sixth Treatise, How We Ovght to Prepare Ovr Selves for the Receiving of the Most Blessed…
AS amongst al the other Sacraments, the blessed Sacrament of the Altare is the greatest, so is there requisite greater puritie and preparation, for receauing of the same: because in the other Sacraments, the vertue of God worketh, but in this Sacrament is the real, and true presence of God him self; and therfore, besides the cleannes of the sowle, which must goe before, by meanes of the Sacrament of Penance, it requireth also especial deuotion, to which deuotion three things doe serue verie notablie.
The first of these things is, the feare and Reuerence of that diuine maiestie, which is in this Sacrament, for somuch as we doe trulie beliue, that in that little host is almightie God, the Creatour of heauen and earth, the lord of the world, the glorie of the Angels, the repose of all those that be blessed, the iudge of the world, whome the Angels, Archangels, Cherubines, and Seraphines doe praise, before whose sight the powers of heauen doe tremble, not for that they haue offended him, but for that considering the highnes, and greatenes of that soueraine maiestie, they acknowledge them selues to be but so manie wormes before the same. True it is, that this feare causeth not in them anie paine, but a most high Reuerence; because they know, that as there is dew all loue to that infinite goodnes and bountie, so to his greatenes there is due all feare. This affection is also much increased in a man, by consideration of the greate number of his sinnes, and dailie negligences. For yf the Angels and Principalities of heauen doe feare him, without hauing donne anie thing wherefore, since theye were created, how much more ought a vile and wretched worme to feare, which so oftentimes, and in so manie manners offendeth his creator?
This is then the first thing which a man ought to consider, when he commeth to this table, saying within him selfe with greate Reuerence. I goe now to receaue almightie God, not onlie into mie sowle, but also into mie bodie.
But now this feare must be tempered with Hope, which the same lord of ours giueth vs, by considering that he with the bowels of pitie, and compassion vppon our weakenes and miserie, inuiteth vs to his table, & calleth vs with those most sweete words, which are. Com ye to me, al that labour, 1 and ar burdened, to wit with the heauines of your mortalitie, and of your passions, because I wil restore and refresh your soules. And in an other place, when the Pharisees murmured of this lord, because he did eate and drinke with sinners, he answered them, that They that ar whole, 2 neede not the Phisition, but they that ar yll at ease; and that he came not to cal the iust, but sinners to penance. So that with these words, the sinners, that repent them selues of theire sinnes, maie take hart and confidence, to be bould to approche neere to this heauenlie bankette.
But touching the hunger & desire which this heauenlie bread requireth, a greate motiue maie be to consider the effects thereof, and the greate benifits, which by the same ar communicated to those, that deuoutlie doe receaue it; which be so greate, that no man is able to recount them. 3 For by the same the Grace of God is giuen vs; by it we becom vnited, and incorporated to our head; which is Christ. By it we ar made partakers of the merites, and trauails of his most sacred passion, and by it is renued the memorie therof. By it Charitie is inflamed, our weakenes is strengthned, and spiritual sweetenes is tasted euen in his owne proper spring which is Christ; and by it ar stirred vp in our sowles new purposes and desires towards all goodnes. By it is giuen vs a most pretious pawne of euerlasting life. By it ar forgiuen the sinnes, and negligences which we dailie commit, and by it also a man becommeth of Attrite, Contrite, which is as much as to rise from death to life. By it likewise is diminished the flame of our passions and concupiscences, and (that which is more) by it Christ entreth into our sowles to dwel in them, and dwelling there (as he him self signified when he saied, 4 that as his father was in him, and therfore his life was like to the life of his father) to make like him self in purenes of life, all those that worthilie receaue him into them selues, by meanes of this Sacrament, that now they maye saie eche one in particular, I liue, now not I, 5 but Christ liueth in me.
If therfore this celestiall bread, woorke all these effects in the sowles of those, that with a pure conscience doe eate it, what man is there so insensible, or so great an enimie of him self, that wil not haue hunger of bread, that worketh so great effects in him, that doth worthilie receaue it. A man ought therefore to occupie him self in the consideration of these things, the daie and the night before the blessed Communion, to stirre vp by meanes of the same these three affects aforesaid, in which doth consist actual deuotion, that is so greatlie requisite for this meate. To which purpose the twoe praiers folowing wil help verie much, yf they be read with as much attention and deuotion as is possible; because in them the deuoute sowle shal find woords, and considerations to stirre vp in it selfe those three affections and feelings afore mentioned.
A DEVOVT PRAIER TO BE SAID before the receiuing of the blessed Sacrament
I Giue vnto thee, o my Sauiour and Lord, most hartie thankes and praise, for all the benifits which it hath pleased thee, to bestowe vppon this so vile and miserable creature. I giue the thankes for all the mercies, which thou hast vsed towards mankind, for the misterie of thy holy Incarnation, and chiefelie for thie most holie Natiuitie, for thy Circumcision, for thy Presentation in the Temple, for thy Flight into Egypt, for the trauails of thy voiages, for thy going vp and downe in preaching, for the persecutions of the world, for the tormentes and sorowes of thie passion, and for all that which thou diddest suffer in this world for me, and much more for the loue, with which thou diddest suffer, which without comparison was farre greater.
Aboue all this I giue the thankes, that thou hast vouchsafed to set me at thy table, and to make me partaker of thy selfe, and of the inestimable treasures and merites of thy passion. O my God, O my Sauiour! wherewith shall I repaie this thy new mercie? whoe was thou, o Lord, & whoe were we, that thou, being the king of maiestie, wouldest com doune to these our houses of claie? Heauen is thy seate, and the earth thy footestoole, and the glorie of thy maiestie doth fill all this. How then wilt thou repose thy self in so vile cotages? maie a man think (saith Salomon) that God wil dwell in earth with men? If the heauen, 6 and heauens of heauens be not sufficient to giue the place, how much les shall this so straite roome suffice for thee? O how maruailous a thing is it, that he which sitteth aboue the Cherubines, and from thence beholdeth the depths, doth now com doune to these depths, and place in them the seate of his maiestie?
Seemed it little to thy infinite goodnes, to haue appointed vnto vs the Angels for owre safegard, if thou thy self, being the lord of Angels, hadst not com vnto vs? and entred into our sowles, and handled there, with thine owne hands, the affairs of our saluation? There thou doest visit the sicke; thou doest raise vp those that ar fallen; thou doest instruct the ignorant; thou doest teach those that haue erred, the right waie; and finallie thou thy self art he, that dost heale vs of all our diseases, and this with no other hands, then with thine owne, nor with anie other medicine, then with thine owne most pretious bodie and bloud. O good pastour! how faithfullie hast thou fulfilled thy word, which thou diddest speake vnto vs by thy Prophet saying, 7 I will feede my sheepe, and giue them a sweete repose; I will seeke that wich was lost, and will bring back againe that which was cast out.
But whoe maie be worthie of such rewards? Whoe maie be worthie to receaue so greate benifits? Thie onlie mercie, o Lord, maketh vs worthie of so greate goodnes. And forasmuch as without it no man can be worthie, let thie mercie, o mie good God, be fauorable to me, and let the same make me partaker of this misterie, and thankful for this so greate a benifit. Let thie grace likewise supplie mie defects; let thie mercie pardon mie sinnes; let thy holie spirite prepare mie soule; let thie merites enriche mie pouerties; and let thie most pretious bloud wash al the spots of mie life, that so I maie worthilie receaue this venerable Sacrament.
I doe exceedinglie reioice, o mie God, when I remember that miracle, which Heliseus did after his death, 8 when he raised one that was dead, by touching him. For if the bodie of the dead Prophet was of such force, of how much more force is the liue bodie of the lord of Prophets? Thou, o lord, vndoubtedlie art not of lesse power, then was thy Prophet; neither is my sowle lesse dead, then was that bodie; neither is this touching of thine, of les vertue, then was that of his; wherfore then should I not hope herehence an other like benifit? wherfore should a bodie conceaued in sinne, woork greater wonders, then that bodie which was conceaued by the holie Ghost? wherfore should the bodie of the seruant, be more honoured then the bodie of the lord? wherfore should not thie most sacred bodie, raise againe the soules that approche vnto thee, seeing that the bodie of thie seruant, raised the bodies that approached vnto it? And for somuch as that dead bodie, without seeking for life, did receaue that which it sought not for, through the vertue of that holie bodie; let it please thie infinite mercie, o mie lord, that sith I seeke the same by meanes of this most blessed Sacrament, through it I be so raised vp and quickned, that hereafter I liue no more vnto mie self, but wholie vnto thee. O good IESVS, by that inestimable charitie which made thee to take our flesh vppon thee, and to suffer death for me, I most humblie beseeche thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to make me cleane from al mie sinnes; and to adorne and decke me with thie vertues and merites; and to giue me grace, that I maie receaue this most venerable Sacrament, with that humilitie and Reuerence, with that feare and trembling, with that sorow and repentance for mie sinnes, and with that purpose and resolution to leaue them, and with that loue and charitie, which is requisite for so highe a misterie.
Giue me also, o lord, that puritie of intention, with which I maie receaue this misterie to the glorie of thie holy name, to the remedie of al mie weakenes, and necessities, to defend me from the enimie with this armour, to susteine mie self in spiritual life with this foode, and to make mie self one thing with thee, by the meanes of this Sacrament of loue, and to offer vp to thee this sacrifice for the saluation of all faithfull Christians, as wel liuing, as dead, that all maie find help through the inestimable vertue of this Sacrament, which was instituted and ordeined for the saluation of all. Thou whoe liuest and raignest world without end, Amen.
AN OTHER PRAIER OF S. BONAuenture after Communion
O LORD God almightie, mie Creator, and mie Sauiour, how haue I ben so bould as to approche vnto thee, being so vile, so filthie, and so miserable a creature, as I am? Thou, o Lord, art the God of Gods, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Thou art the hight of al goodnes, of al vertue, beutie and pleasure. Thou art the fountaine of light, the spring of loue, and the embracing of most hartie Charitie. And being as thou art, thou dost praie me, and I doe flie from thee; thou hast care of me, and I haue no care of thee; thou dost alwaies regard me, and I doe alwaies forget thee; thou dost bestow manie fauours vppon me, and I doe not esteeme them; and finallie thou dost loue me, that am vanitie and nothing, and I doe make no account of thee, which art an infinite and vnchangeable good. I preferre the basenes of this world, before thee most gentel spowse; and the creatures moue me more, then doth the Creator; more detestable miserie, then the highest felicitie; and more boundage, then libertie. And albeit it be true, 9 that the woundes of a frind ar to be more esteemed, then the deceitful kisses of an enimie; yet I am of such a condition, that I rather desire the deceitfull wounds of him, which abhorreth me, then the sweete embracings of him, which loueth me. But remember not, o lord, mie sinnes, nether those of mie forefathers, but be mindful of thie merciful entrailes, and of the griefe of thie pretious wounds. Consider not that which I haue donne against thee, but that which thou hast donne for me: for if I haue donne manie things for which thou maist condemne me, thou hast donne manie moe for which thou maist faue me. Seeing then, o lord, that thou dost so loue me, as thou shewest, wherfore dost thou withdrawe thy self from me? O most louing lord hold me with thy feare, constraine me with thy loue, and quiet me with thy sweetenes.
I confesse o Lord that I am that prodigall sonne, 10 whoe liuing ouer rankly, and louing mie self and thy creatures disorderedlie, haue wasted all the substance which thou diddest giue me. But now that I doe know mie miserie and pouertie, and doe returne pined with hunger to the fatherlie bowels of thy mercie, and doe approche to this celestial table of thy most pretious body, vouchsafe to looke vppon one with eyes of pittie, and to com forth to receaue me with the secrete beames of thy grace, and to make me partaker of the maruailous fruites and effects of this most worthie Sacrament; for somuch as by it is giuen the grace of the holie Ghost; by it ar forgiuen sinnes; by it ar pardoned the debts dew vnto sinnes; by it deuotion is increased; by it is tasted spiritual sweetenes, euen in the verie spring of the same; by it arrenued all good purposes and desires; and by it finallie the sowle is ioined with her heauenlie spouse, and receaueth him into her self, that by him she maie be ruled, defended, and guided in the waie of this life, vntil he bring her to the desired harbour of his glorie. Receaue then, o pitiful father, this thy prodigal sonne, whoe trusting in thy mercie, returneth to thy house. I acknowledge, o my father, that I haue sinned against thee, & that I am not worthie to be called thy sonne no nether a hired seruant; yet for al this, haue mercie vppon me, and forgiue me my sinnes. I beseeche thee, o Lord, commaund that the garment of Charitie, the ring of liuelie faith, and the shooes of ioiful Hope be giuen me, with which I maie goe securelie through the rough and cragged waie of this life. Let the multitude of vaine thoughts and desires depart out of me; for one is mie beloued, one mie desired, & one mie God and Lord. Let nothing heereafter be sweete to me, nor delite me but onlie he. Let him be al mine, and I alhis, in such sort that mie hart doe becom one thing with him. Let me not know anie other thing, nor loue anie other thing, nor desire anie other thing, but onlie mie sweete Sauiour IESVS Christ, and him crucified. Whoe with the father and the holie Ghost liueth and raigneth world without end. Amen.
HEERE FOLOWETH A PROFESSION OF THE CATHOLIQVE FAITH, SET out according to the decree of the holie…
I.N. doe with a stedfast faith beleeue, and professe al and euerie point, conteined in the Simbole of the Faith, that the holie Romane Church doth vse; to wit. I beleeue in God the Father almightie, maker of heauen and earth, of al things visible, and inuisible; and in one Lord IESVS Christ the Onlie begotten Sonne of God, and borne of the father before al worlds; God of God, light of light, true God of true God; begoten not made, of the same substance with the father, by whome al things were made; whoe for vs men, and for oure saluation came downe from heauen, and was incarnate by the holie Ghost of the Virgin Marie, and was made man; was crucified also for vs vnder Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried; and rose againe the third daie according to the Scriptures; & ascended vp into heauen; sitteth at the right hand of the father; and he shal come againe with glorie, to iudge the liue and the dead, of whose kingdom there shal be no end; and in the holie Ghost our lord and giuer of life, whoe proceedeth from the father and the sonne, whoe with the father and the sonne is together adored, and conglorified, whoe spake by the Prophets; and one holie Catholique, and Apostolique Church. I confesse one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes, and I expect the Resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
I doe most stedfastlie admit and embrace the Traditions of the Apostles and of the Church, and all other obseruances, and Constitutions of the same Church. I doe likewise admit the holie Scripture, according to that sense, which our holie mother the Catholique Church hath holden, and doth holde; vnto whome it doth appetteine to iudge of the true sense, and interpretation of the holie Scriptures: nether wil I euer vnderstand, nor interprete the same, otherwise then according to the vniforme consent of the fathers.
I doe also professe that there be trulie, and properlie Seuen Sacraments of the new lawe, instituted by IESVS Christ our Lord, and necessarie for the saluation of mankind, (although they be not all necessarie for all men,) to wit, Baptisme, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Vnction, Order, and Matrimonie; and that these Sacraments doe giue grace; and that of them, Baptisme, Confirmation and Order can not be reiterated, without sacrilege. I doe also receaue, and admit all the receaued, and approued Cermeonies of the Catholique Church, in the solemne administration of al the a foresaid Sacraments. I doe embrace and receaue al, and euerie of those things, which in the holie Councel of Trent haue ben defined, and declared touching Original Sinne, and Iustification. I doe professe also that in the Masse is offered vp vnto God a true, proper, and propitiatorie sacrifice, for the li[…]e and the dead; and that in the most holie Sacrament of the Altare, there is trulie, reallie, and substantiallie the bodie and bloud, together with the sowle and diuinitie of our lord IESVS Christ; and that there is made a Conuersion of the whole substance of bread into the bodie, and of the whole substance of wine into the bloud; which Conuersion the Catholique Church doth cal Transubstantiation. I doe also confesse, that vnder ether kind onlie, is receaued Christ whole and intire, and the true Sacrament.
I doe constantlie hold that there is Purgatorie, and that the sowles, which be there deteined, ar holpen by the praiers of the faithful. Also that the Saincts, whoe reigne together with Christ, ar to be worshipped, and called vppon, and that they offer vp praiers to God for vs, and that theire Reliques ar to be worshipped.
I doe most stedfastlie affirme, that the Images of Christ, of the mother of God alwaies Virgin, and of other Saincts, ar to be had and reteined, and that due honour and reuerence is to be giuen to them. I doe affirme that the authoritie of Indulgences, was left by Christ in the Church, and that the vse of them is verie behofeful for Christian people.
I doe acknowledge the holie Catholique, and Apostolique Romane Church, to be the mother and mistresse of al Churches; and doe promise and sweare true Obedience to the Bisshop of Rome, whoe is the Succesfor of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles, and the Vicar of IESVS Christ. All other things also defined, and declared by the holie Canons, & Oecumenical Councels, and chiefelie by the holie Councel of Trent, I doe vndoubtedlie receaue and professe; and also al contrarie things, and whatsoeuer heresies condemned, reiected, and accursed by the Church, I likewise doe condemne, reiecte and accurse.
This true Catholique faith, without which no man can be saued, which now I doe willinglie professe and hold, I the same N. doe promise, vow, and sweare to hold and confesse most constantlie, by Gods helpe, intiere and vncorrupted euen to the last end of mie life; and to procure, as much as shal lie in me, that mie subiects, or those of whome I shal haue care in mie office, shal hold, teache, and preache the same. So God help me, and these holie Ghospels of God.
Laus Deo & Beatissimae Virgini Mariae Dei Matri.
Footnotes
Chapter 23 of 23