XXV About three effects of the Body of Jesus, taken from three of its names
XXV
About three effects of the Body of Jesus, taken from three of its names
Our Lord’s Body is called by three names: (1) the true Bread; (2) the Sacrament of the Altar; (3) the Sacrament of Love.
(1) As the true Bread it has three effects; for as bread does chiefly three things for the body, in satisfying, in strengthening and preserving life, so this Bread, 1, satisfies the soul to the loathing of sweetness of the world; 2, strengthens it to the getting rid of all guilt; 3, preserves its life to God, who is to be praised for ever.
1. St. Gregory says, ‘When we have tasted of the Spirit all flesh is tasteless.’
2. They who are not strengthened by this Bread are easily slain by sin. The King of Babylon and his army besieged Jerusalem, and there was no bread for the people. Then the men of war fled by night to the king’s garden and to the plains of the wilderness. They fell into sins of the flesh, and went on the broad way that leads to death.
3. As Jesus lives by the Father, so we live by Him; and this is the life to God, who is to be praised for evermore.
(2) As the Sacrament of the Altar it has also a threefold effect, because of the threefold state of the faithful: 1, in this world; 2, in Purgatory; 3, in Heaven. In this world it forgives sin, in Purgatory it lessens suffering, in Heaven it increases glory.
1. It is by Jesus that we are freed from sin. The austerities of penance are useless without full confidence in His Sacrifice. He is the Lamb of God, whose Blood takes away sin. Paschasius says, ‘Though all sins are forgiven in Baptism, the weakness of sin, namely, desire in the flesh, abides; and because we daily fall, at least, into venial sins, Christ is sacrificed for us daily, that He who once overcame death by dying may daily forgive by this Sacrament the sins into which we fall back.’ St. Ambrose says, ‘As that Body which is everywhere offered is one, so the Sacrifice is one. Christ once on the Cross offered a victim for all, and we offer that Victim now; but that which we do is the remembrance of His Sacrifice, offered not because of His weakness, but because of ours, in that we daily sin.’
2. The blood with which, over the Altar, they made atonement for their souls in the old law, was a sign that the Sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Jesus has power to help souls in the pain of Purgatory.
N. There are three companies of souls that leave this life: a, sinners; b, penitents; c, those without any debt of punishment. Mass cannot help the first; it lessens the pain of the second; the third go without punishment to Heaven.
a. God casts away the reprobate from His face, that is, from all good in Heaven and on earth. No prayer can be offered for them; no hand can bring them help.
b. When it is said that blood is given for expiation, the part is put for the whole, that is, for the body and the blood together. For the blood is not on the Altar without the body, nor the body without the blood. Mass helps the souls in Purgatory. St. Augustin says, ‘By the prayers and alms of the Holy Church and by the Sacrifice of salvation it is certain that the souls of the dead are helped, and God deals more mercifully with them than their sins in this world have deserved.’ When Zacharias says that two parts shall be scattered and perish, and that the third part shall be left and be drawn through the fire, he means that unbelievers and bad Christians will be lost, and that the third part, that is, penitents, will be saved by penance and the fire of Purgatory. The faithful on earth will pray and give alms and offer sacrifice for those who are led through the fire, that is, for the souls in Purgatory; and God will listen to them, and will lessen and shorten the pain of those for whom they pray.
c. A hidden gift turns away the anger of God, that is, saves from Purgatory those innocent souls who have suffered enough here by sorrows and chastisements. The hatred of God burns in hell; His anger burns in Purgatory; in this world flies the arrow of His love. If, then, you bear patiently the arrows of our Lord’s correction, you will, God being your helper, escape unharmed from the rage of hell and from the fire of Purgatory. He, your Saviour, will always be with you, and He will save you, as He saved the Three Children from the fiery furnace. Then you will praise Him and walk before Him in joy.
3. The Sacrifice of the Altar, in a certain sense, increases the glory of the Blessed in Heaven. The breast of the Sacrifice, eaten in a most clean place, signifies the joy that Jesus gives to the souls in Heaven. They rejoice greatly and give thanks in the Mass, through their remembrance of our redemption, through the sight of our salvation, through wonder at the goodness of God. St. Gregory says, ‘In the same moment the Sacrifice is carried to Heaven by the ministry of Angels, to be joined to the Body of Christ, and is seen on the Altar before the eyes of the priest.’ To be joined to the Body of Jesus is to increase the joy of the Blessed.
(3) As the Sacrament of Love it has three effects, working in us chiefly three good things: 1, a true partaking of the Holy Ghost; 2, the sure indwelling of Jesus; 3, our transformation into the likeness of the image of God.
1. Some things that we have thought of before come in again here. From the Body of Jesus the faithful drink in the Holy Spirit. Very sweet in us is that Spirit of God. We live as members of our Lord’s Body, and feed on His Spirit.
2. St. Hilary says, ‘When we eat the Flesh of Christ and drink the chalice, it is brought about that we abide in Christ and Christ abides in us. For when we receive His Flesh He is in us by flesh and we are in Him, while He, with all that we are, is in God. The Word was made flesh.’ When the Word assumed our flesh He dwelt in it; and when we receive the Incarnate Word for food He dwells in us.
3. Jesus gives us power to become the sons of God, that is, to be deiform and like God. Now, no creature can be lifted higher than to be likened to its Maker. But man is made like God by the power of the Body of Christ in three ways: a, by inward goodness of heart; b, by outward fruitfulness in works; c, by the inheritance of the kingdom of God.
a. As St. Peter teaches us, God has given us very great and precious promises, that is, Himself, and we are made partakers of the Divine nature, that is, of the Divine goodness, for the nature of God is goodness. St. Ambrose says, ‘Because the Lord Jesus is both God and man, therefore thou who receivest His Flesh art a partaker of the Divine Substance in that food.’ Thus you will have true goodness in Him.
b. We have before seen what is signified by the high cedar. The shoot from the marrow and the top is the Body of Jesus, filled with His Godhead. This planted on a high mountain, that is, in the heart of the just, lifted up to Heaven, makes him like our Lord, and fruitful in good works.
N. Thus in both these ways Jesus dwells in us, and makes us like Himself by inward goodness and outward work. Hence it was said to St. Augustin, ‘I am the food of the great: grow, and thou shalt feed on Me; but thou wilt not change Me to thyself, but I will change thee to Myself.’
c. He gives us power to become the sons of God: He makes us heirs of Heaven and co-heirs with Himself. The heritage for which we wait is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away.
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
(1) About the true Bread; My Father giveth you the true Bread from Heaven. St. John 6:32.
1. It satisfies; I will satisfy her poor with bread. Ps. 131:15.
A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb. Prov. 27:7.
2. It strengthens; The earth shall be filled with the fruit of Thy works.… that bread may strengthen man’s heart. Ps. 103:13, 15.
Nabuchodonosor, King of Babylon, came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem; and they surrounded it and raised works round about it.… A famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.… All the men of war fled in the night between the two walls of the king’s garden; … and Sedecias fled by the way that leadeth to the plains of the wilderness.… The army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho.… So they took the king and brought him to the King of Babylon; … and he put out his eyes and bound him with chains. 4 Kings 25:1–7.
3. It preserves life; The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. Ecclus. 34:25.
I am the Living Bread which came down from Heaven.… As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me shall live by Me. St. John 6:51, 58.
Praise the Lord, O my soul; in my life I will praise the Lord; as long as I shall be I will sing to my God. Ps. 145:1.
(2) The Sacrament of the Altar; The Sacrifice of Juda and of Jerusalem shall please the Lord. Mal. 3:4.
1. The forgiveness of sin here; If any one shall sin through ignorance, transgressing the ceremonies in those things that are sacrificed to the Lord, he shall offer for his offence a ram without blemish out of the flocks. Lev. 5:15.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Him who taketh away the sin of the world. St. John 1:29.
2. The pain of Purgatory; The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you that you may make atonement with it on the Altar for your souls, and that the blood may be for an expiation of the soul. Lev. 17:11.
a. Hardened sinners; I have sworn to the house of Heli that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever. 1 Kings 3:14.
Now, because you have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking, and you have not heard; and I have called you, and you have not answered; I will do to this house in which My name is called upon and in which you trust, and to the place which I have given you and your fathers, as I did to Silo: and I will cast you away from before My face, as I have cast away all your brethren, the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore do not thou pray for this people, nor take to thee praise and supplication for them: and do not withstand Me, for I will not hear thee. Jerem. 7:13–16.
He that is an adulterer for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul. He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out: because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge; nor will he yield to any man’s prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts. Prov. 6:32–35.
b. Penitents; Him that cometh to Me I will not cast out. St. John 6:37.
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit; a contrite and humbled heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Ps. 51:10.
It shall come to pass that in all the earth two parts, saith the Lord, shall be scattered, and shall perish; but the third part shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined; and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on My name, and I will hear them. I will say, Thou art My people; and they shall say, The Lord is my God. Zach. 13:8, 9.
c. The innocent; A secret present quencheth anger. Prov. 21:14.
Rebuke me not, O Lord, in Thy indignation; nor chasten me in Thy wrath. For Thy arrows are fastened in me; and Thy hand hath been strong upon me. Ps. 37:2, 3.
Now, saith the Lord that made thee, O Jacob, and formed thee, O Israel: fear not, for I have redeemed thee, and called thee by thy name: thou art Mine. When thou shalt pass through the waters I will be with thee, and the rivers shall not cover thee: when thou shalt walk in the fire thou shalt not be burnt, and the flames shall not kindle in thee; for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. Isa. 43:1–3.
The flame mounted up above the furnace nine- and-forty cubits; and it broke forth and burnt such of the Chaldæans as were near the furnace. But the Angel of the Lord went down with Azarias and his companions into the furnace; and he drove the flame of the fire out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace like the blowing of a wind bringing dew. And the fire touched them not at all, nor troubled them, nor did them any harm. Then these three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace. Dan. 3:47–51.
You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you, and all the trees of the country shall clap their hands. Isa. 55:12.
3. Increase of glory; The breast also that is offered … you shall eat in a most clean place, thou and thy sons and thy daughters with thee. Lev. 10:14.
(3) The Sacrament of Love; Great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, appeared unto Angels, hath been preached to the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory. 1 St. Tim. 3:16.
1. Partaking of the Spirit; He filled them with honey out of the rock. Ps. 80:17.
O, how good and sweet is Thy Spirit, O Lord, in all things. Wisd. 12:1.
By Him we have access in one Spirit to the Father, … in whom you also are built together into a habitation of God in the Spirit. Eph. 2:18, 22.
2. The indwelling of Jesus; He that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him. St. John 6:56.
Abide in Me, and I in you. St. John 15:4.
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. St. John 1:14.
(3) The likeness of God; To as many as received Him He gave power to be made the sons of God. St. John 1:12.
a. Goodness of heart; Grace to you and peace be increased in the knowledge of God, and of Christ Jesus our Lord; according as His divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who hath called us by His own proper glory and virtue; by whom He has given us most great and precious promises, that by these you may be made partakers of the Divine Nature. 2 St. Pet. 1:2–4.
The oath that He sware to Abraham our Father, that He would grant to us: that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, may serve Him without fear, in holiness and justice before Him all our days. St. Luke 1:73–75.
b. Works; Thus saith the Lord God, I myself will take of the marrow of the high cedar, and will set it. Ezech. 17:22.
N. Both; I live: now not I, but Christ liveth in me. Gal. 2:20.
c. Our inheritance; The Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God; and if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Rom. 8:16, 17.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His great mercy, hath regenerated us to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that cannot fade, reserved in Heaven for you. 1 St. Pet. 1:3, 4.
Prayer
O Holy Ghost, give me a great hunger for the Bread of Life. Do Thou, by that Bread which is Jesus, satisfy my soul, and strengthen it, and make it full of life. I am needy with a great need: but this Bread of Heaven is the life of the poor; let it be my life. I am very poor and needy; but Thou, my own Lord, dost always care for me. Without Thee, Blessed Spirit, I cannot say, Jesus: without Thee, Helper of the needy, I cannot feed on Him who is the Bread from Heaven.
O Spirit of peace, give me a great love for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
O Spirit of reconciliation, help all darkened souls, and bring them back to life.
O Spirit of mercy, help the souls that are now suffering in the fire of Purgatory. I ask Thee, by Thine own goodness, to give them refreshment and joy and white robes of consoling love.
O most pitiful Spirit, give me a great joy in this Sacrament of Love. Thou dwellest in me, and by Thee I live to God. Thou makest me a temple of Thyself and of the Father and the Son. Thou makest me an heir of God. Bring me now, dear Spirit, in light to the Altar; bring me in light to my grave; bring me in light to the city of the King and the song of the morning stars.
Thanksgiving
Glory be to Thee, O loving Spirit of God, for this food of life and light and joy. Blessed be God. Blessed be Jesus. Blessed be Thou, O Love of Father and of Son. Blessed be the Holy and Undivided and Adorable Trinity for ever. I have received Jesus, and my heart is sprinkled with dew. O Jesus: O life: O light: O love!
Glory be to Thee, O Holy Ghost: Thou art the fire kindled on Sion, and the furnace burning in Jerusalem. Thou art the river of God, that flows with a stream like crystal, and makes glad the city of the King. Thou art far brighter than the sunlit gardens of Heaven, and far more glorious than the waves of a sapphire sea. The swaying flames of the furnace of the Three Children is a dim type of Thee; and those waving arms of fire tell us of the cleansing of Thy love. In flames of piercing sweetness Thou art a dew-bringing wind. Thy breath of uncreated light is the sweetness of God. The soul that loves Thee with a great love is like a pomegranate branch with scarlet blossoms, dew-sprinkled, in the midst of flame. O Holy Ghost: O life: O light: O love!
I bless and praise Thee, O Lord, my loved One, Thou all-creating Spirit, for this Bread of Heaven, with which Jesus has filled my soul; for this wine of God, with which He has made glad my heart; for His presence here, and His delight in us; for the fadeless lilies of Paradise; for the undefiled inheritance; for the incorruptible Home; for the vision of peace. O Holy Ghost: O life: O light: O love!