XXIV About the three chief effects of our Lord’s Body
XXIV
About the three chief effects of our Lord’s Body
The most Holy Body of Jesus has three chief effects: (1) it destroys sins; (2) it gives and increases spiritual gifts; (3) it strengthens souls, or gives everlasting life.
(1) The first chief effect of our Lord’s Body is the destruction of sin; and this it does in three ways: 1, it cleanses the stain of the heart; 2, it weakens the stings of the flesh; 3, it gives strength against bad thoughts.
1. Selmon, as we have already seen, the mountain of God, signifies the Body of Jesus. As shadow is from light and body, so in the Body of Christ there are human flesh and the light of His Godhead. On this mountain of shadow, that is, of grace, the faithful are made whiter than snow, being cleansed from their sins in the most wonderful way by the Body of their Lord.
2. The manna was like dew and hoar-frost, because the Body of Jesus cools the heat of sin. He rules the sea; for the sea signifies the many miseries of man, and the heaving of the waves signifies the movements of the flesh.
3. The myrrh to which the Bride compares her Beloved tells us of the Body of Jesus; for as myrrh keeps bodies uncorrupted and untouched by worms, so the Body of Jesus keeps the hearts of the faithful pure from evil thoughts. When we receive our loving Lord, all evil thoughts, like worms, are kept far from us, if we think tenderly and lovingly of the bundle of myrrh, that is, of the bitterness of His Passion.
(2) The second chief effect of the Body of Jesus is the increase of spiritual gifts and graces; and this in three ways; 1, in the beauty of chastity; 2, in the fervour of love; 3, in the taste of spiritual sweetness.
1. When Daniel and the Three Children seemed fairer than the others, their comeliness came from their chastity, and their chastity came from the Heavenly Bread, by which their souls were fed. As good food gives a healthy look to the body, so the deliciousness of spiritual food makes the soul beautiful with chastity. This food is spoken of by Ezechiel as fine flour, and honey, and oil.
2. The carbuncle set in gold, of which Scripture speaks, is the Body of our Lord, for that Holy Body adorns the heart of the receiver with chastity, and sets it on fire with love. A flame goes forth from the face of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and kindles the souls of those who receive Him with love. As Eliseus bowed himself over the child till the flesh of the child grew warm, so our souls are warmed in Holy Communion, when Jesus not only bows Himself over us, but gives Himself to us and unites us to Himself.
3. He feeds His people with the food of Angels, and gives them Bread from Heaven which has in it everything that is delicious, and the sweetness of every taste. He shows His substance and that sweetness to the devout communicant; and, as He came not to be ministered unto but to minister, He serves every man’s will; and the Bread of Heaven which He gives is turned to every man’s liking, that all may find refreshment and strength in Him. When the Bride says that she eats the honeycomb with the honey, she means that her soul feeds on the sweetness of the Flesh of Jesus and on the sweetness of His Godhead. When she says that she drinks wine with milk, she means that she drinks the sweetness of the Blood of Jesus with the sweetness of all spiritual consolation in gladness and peace.
(3) The third chief effect of our Lord’s Body is the strengthening of souls; and that in three ways: 1, in crushing the devils; 2, in bearing sorrow and pain; 3, in doing good works.
1. When David’s men found the Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread to eat and water to drink, he was refreshed and strengthened; then he went with David to the robbers and smote them. The Egyptian is the sinner whom preachers bring to Jesus by conversion. Such a one, being strengthened by the Bread of our Lord’s Body, often becomes one of the leaders of the army of God, and crushes the devils. As the Philistines fell before the holocaust of Samuel, when he offered a lamb, so the devils fall before the Body of the spotless Lamb of God. Jesus, if we love Him, gives us strength against all the powers of darkness.
2. Achab, King of Israel, put the prophet Micheas in prison and fed him with bread of affliction. He is cast into prison who in this world suffers adversity; and the bread of affliction with which he is sustained is the bread of eternal life by which he is strengthened to bear all his trials. As St. Paul, in the great storm at sea when his ship was nearly lost, told those who were in danger with him to take food for the health of their bodies, so in every danger of our heavenward way Jesus gives us Himself for the health of the soul.
3. The valiant woman rose in the night, as the Scriptures tell us, and gave a prey to her servants and food to her maidens. That signifies the work of the Church of the Gentiles. She rose in the night, because by the hearing of the word she turns herself from the darkness of sins to Jesus. When the Jews refused the Sacraments that were offered to them, she took them away with all desire, and with them she feeds the faithful. By this food she strengthens them in three things: a, in works of mercy; b, in gain to the soul; c, in buying heavenly riches.
Hence it is said that this woman considered a field and bought it, and that she planted a vineyard with the fruit of her hands. Now works of mercy are signified by the fruit of her hands; the gain to the soul is signified by the planting of the vineyard; and the buying riches of God is signified by the field that she bought.
a. We are strengthened for good works by the food of our Lord. As fodder strengthens an ass to carry burdens, so Heavenly Bread strengthens the servant of God for good works. When you think rightly of God’s measureless bounty to you in this Holy Sacrament your hearts are greatly strengthened in the love of your neighbour.
b. We are strengthened in gain to the soul. For from the full Heart of Jesus the oil of grace is ever flowing for the salvation of souls.
c. We are strengthened for the buying of heavenly riches. The heritage of heavenly fields is bought with the money of virtue and good works; and these fields, as well as the names of the buyers, are written in the book of life. On the heart of the buyer are stamped as a sure pledge the sign of the Cross of Christ and the light of the image of God. There is a faithful witness, for in the day of judgment God will be witness before all, that truly by the price of good works you bought that kingdom of life.
N. You may, as was said, take the third chief effect to be the giving of everlasting life. This is seen in three things: 1, in the making ready of all delights; 2, in the fulfilling of all desires; 3, in the sureness of the everlasting enjoyment of all good. (See page 68.)
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
(1) About the destruction of sins; Thou sawest till a stone was cut out of a mountain without hands; and it struck the statue upon the feet thereof, that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Dan. 2:34.
For this end the Son of God appeared, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8.
1. Washing the stain from the heart; They shall be whited with snow in Selmon. Ps. 67:15.
If your sins be as scarlet they shall be made as white as snow, and if they be red as crimson they shall be as wool. Is. 1:18.
Grace be unto you, and peace, … from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood. Apoc. 1:4, 5.
God is light, and in Him is no darkness; … and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. 1 John 1:5, 7, 9.
I am He that blot out thy iniquities for My own sake, and I will not remember thy sins. Is. 43:25.
2. Lessening the sting of the flesh; In the morning a dew lay round about the camp … like unto the hoar-frost on the ground. Ex. 16:13, 14.
Thou rulest the strength of the sea, and dost appease the motion of the waves thereof. Ps. 88:10.
3. Giving strength against bad thoughts; A bundle of myrrh is my Beloved to me. Cantic. 1:12.
(2) Giving or increasing spiritual gifts; He that is good shall draw grace from the Lord. Prov. 12:2.
He giveth greater grace; wherefore He saith, God … giveth grace to the humble. St. James 4:6.
1. The beauty of chastity; After ten days their faces appeared fairer. Dan. 1:15.
How beautiful art Thou, and how comely, my Dearest, in Thy delights. Cantic. 7:6.
Thou didst eat fine flour and honey and oil, and wast made exceedingly beautiful, and wast advanced to be a queen.… My bread which I give thee, and the fine flour and oil and honey with which I feed thee, thou hast set before them for a sweet odour; and thus was it done, saith the Lord God. Ezech. 16:13, 19.
2. The fervour of charity; (Our Lord) is a carbuncle set in gold, and as a signet of an emerald in a work of gold. Ecclus. 32:7, 8.
A fire flamed from His face; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens and came down.… At the brightness that was before Him the clouds passed. Ps. 17:9, 10, 13.
3. The taste of spiritual sweetness; The bread of Aser shall be fat, and he shall yield dainties to kings. Gen. 49:20.
Thou didst feed Thy people with the food of Angels, and gavest them bread from Heaven, prepared without labour, having in it all that is delicious and the sweetness of every taste. For Thy sustenance showed Thy sweetness to Thy children. Wisd. 16:20, 21.
I have eaten the honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink and be inebriated, my dearly Beloved. I sleep and my heart watcheth. The voice of my Beloved knocking, Open to Me, My sister, My love, My dove, My undefiled; for My head is full of dew, and My locks of the drops of the night. Cantic. 5:1, 2.
(3) The strengthening of souls; The earth shall be filled with the fruit of Thy works, … that bread may strengthen man’s heart. Ps. 103:13, 14.
1. Crushing devils; They found an Egyptian in the field, and they brought him to David; and they gave him bread to eat and water to drink.… When he had eaten them his spirit returned, and he was refreshed.… David said, Canst thou bring me to this company?… When he had brought him, behold they were lying spread upon all the ground eating and drinking.… And David slew them from evening unto evening of the next day. 1 Kings 30:11, 12, 15, 16.
Be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of His power; put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. Eph. 6:10, 11.
It came to pass, when Samuel was offering the holocaust the Philistines began the battle against Israel; but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and terrified them; and they were overthrown before the face of Israel. 1 Kings 7:10.
2. Bearing trials; Thus saith the king, Put this man in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction till I return in peace. 3 Kings 22:27.
I pray you to take some meat for your health’s sake; for there shall not a hair of the head of any of you perish. And when he had said these things, taking bread he gave thanks to God in the sight of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all of better cheer. Acts 27:34–36.
I can do all things in Him who strengtheneth me. Philip. 4:13.
3. Doing good works; Who shall find a valiant woman?… She hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household and food to her maidens. She hath considered a field and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard. Prov. 31:10, 15, 16.
a. Works of mercy; Fodder and a rod and a burden are for an ass; bread and correction and works for a servant. Ecclus. 33:25.
b. Gain to the soul; Thy name is as oil poured out; therefore young maidens have loved Thee. Cantic. 1:2.
c. The buying of heavenly riches; Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be written and sealed, and witnesses shall be taken … round about Jerusalem, in the cities of Juda; … for I will bring back their captivity, saith the Lord. Jerem. 32:44.
The kingdom of Heaven is like to a merchant seeking pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went his way and sold all that he had and bought it. St. Matt. 13:45, 46.
N. He that eateth this Bread shall live for ever. St. John 6:59.
Prayer
My Jesus, I am going to receive Thy adorable Body and Blood in the Sacrament of Thy love. My Jesus, I have many things to ask Thee. Hear me, dearest Lord, and answer my prayer, according to Thy Will.
O Son of God, destroy all sin in me by Thy cleansing might.
O Son of God, wash my heart, and make it whiter than snow, by Thy cleansing Blood.
O Son of God, weaken in me all desires of the flesh, by the dew of Thy Heart.
O Son of God, drive far from my soul every thought that is dark, by Thy brightness and by the flames of Thy love.
O Son of Man, pour out Thy grace on my soul without stint, that I may live and grow in Thee.
O Son of Man, adorn my soul for Thyself with all gifts of chastity.
O Son of Man, fill me with Thy love, that my soul may be all aflame with desire for Thee.
O Son of Man, let me taste and know how sweet Thou art.
O Jesus, God and man, strengthen my soul, and grant that by Thy grace it may stand against the evil in rocky might.
O Jesus, God and man, give me grace to trust in Thee, that so all devils may be driven far away.
O Jesus, God and man, help me by Thy Passion to bear all pain and sorrow gladly, and always to kiss most lovingly Thy chastening hand.
O Jesus, God and man, give me grace to do good works pleasing to Thee.
My Saviour, let me do works of mercy in Thee, and get great gain for my soul and buy many heavenly treasures. Thou, my Saviour, the treasure of treasures, art coming to me now.
Thanksgiving
My Lord and my Love, I thank Thee for Thy heavenly gift. Thou art now within me, Body and Blood and Soul and Godhead. Now I carry God in my body; and I pray that I may be Thine for ever.
My Lord and my Love, Thou hast visited me with blessing, and Thou dost crown my heart with gladness. Thou, my Heavenly Spouse, hast come into my garden; let Thy sunshine and rain fall upon it, that it may be a watered garden, whose waters do not fail.
My Lord and my Love, I bless Thee and praise Thee for Thy wheat and Thy vines, for Thy harvest and Thy vintage, for Thy granary and Thy wine-press, for Thy bread and Thy wine.
O Jesus, dwell in my soul, that the lilies there may please Thee by their whiteness and their fragrance, and that there the scarlet blossoms of the pomegranates may be dear to Thy Heart. Thou art strong and wise and loving, and I praise Thee. I bless Thee for the home Thou art making ready; for the hope of the fulfilment of every desire; for the fulness of joy that Thou dost promise me in Thy kingdom.