XXVI About three other effects of our Lord’s Body, taken from three other of its names
XXVI
About three other effects of our Lord’s Body, taken from three other of its names
Our Lord’s Body has three other names: (1) the medicine of the soul; (2) manna, that is, Heavenly Bread; (3) the Holy Eucharist, that is, good grace of the faithful soul.
(1) St. Augustin says, ‘Christ took earth of earth, and, assuming flesh from Mary’s flesh, gave it to us to be eaten for our salvation.’
(2) To all those who gain the victory over their sins Jesus gives the hidden manna, that is, the Bread of Heaven, that is, His own Body, in which is privily hidden manifold good.
(3) The Master of the sentences says, ‘Rightly indeed is the Sacrament of the Altar called the Eucharist, that is, good grace: for in it there is not only increase of virtues and grace, but He is received whole who is the fountain of all grace.’
(1) As the medicine of the soul, His Body has three effects. The crafty serpent, by the poison of the forbidden fruit, brought on the race of man, as we saw in the First Meditation, a threefold corruption: 1, the darkness of ignorance in the soul; 2, the disease of evil desire in the flesh; 3, death in both. Now to heal these the medicine of the Body of Jesus has power; for, 1, it enlightens the darkness of ignorance; 2, it heals the disease of evil desire; 3, it triumphs by destroying death.
1. It enlightens the darkness of the mind: The Word was made flesh. He is the true light in sinless flesh; the great light ever shining, by which all darkness of ignorance is driven away.
2. Isaias healed King Ezechias of a sore wound which represents fleshly desire. The sweetness of Jesus heals us of such wounds as that.
3. When you say to our Lady that the fruit of her womb is blessed, it is so because that fruit of life saves us from everlasting death.
This threefold corruption and threefold medicine have been dwelt on at the beginning of the Sixth Meditation.
(2) As manna, the Body of Jesus has three effects: for the manna had a taste of, 1, wheat; 2, honey; 3, oil. Thus our Lord’s Body works in us: 1, uprightness of life; 2, sweetness of heart; 3, love of our neighbour: the first being signified by the wheat, the next by the honey, and the last by the oil.
1. Wheaten bread is not only good and beautiful in itself, but also in its effects, for it makes our bodies comely; so the good and beautiful Body of Christ gives us uprightness of life.
2. Honey is sweet to the taste, but Jesus is far sweeter to the heart. As His brightness overflows and enlightens the mind, so His sweetness overflows and gladdens the heart. They who love Him are made like Him, that is, like Him who dwells in them.
3. Eliseus told the woman who was in debt to sell the oil which God had given her by a miracle. The oil signifies brotherly kindness, which refreshes our neighbour, pays our debts, and feeds ourselves. You see the first in this, that she poured the oil into the vessels of her neighbours; the second in this, that by the oil she paid what she owed; the third in this, that she and her children lived by the oil.
Job speaks of the rock pouring forth rivers of oil, that is, of our hearts pouring forth kindness and love for our neighbour.
(3) As the Eucharist, that is, good grace, our Lord’s Body has three effects; for grace, as the Doctors say, is the influx of the Divine goodness into the soul, by which it is made like God, pleasing to Him, and worthy of eternal life. So the Body of Jesus makes the soul: 1, like God; 2, dear to God; 3, gives it life with God for ever.
1. It makes us partakers of the Divine Nature: that is, like God by true goodness.
2. The soul, fed with the Body and Blood of Jesus, is made very beautiful, and therefore very dear to God.
3. By this Body of God, sacramentally or spiritually received, we are raised at the last day and brought safely to Heaven.
The Voice of the Holy Ghost
(1) About the medicine of the soul; The Most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them. Ecclus. 38:4.
1. It lightens our darkness; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed. Ps. 131:17.
My eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel. St. Luke 2:30–32.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; to them that dwelt in the valley of the shadow of death light is risen. Is. 9:2.
The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear? Ps. 26:1.
Come ye to Him and be enlightened. Ps. 33:6.
Rise, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten thee. Eph. 5:14.
2. It heals bad desires; Isaias had ordered that they should take a lump of figs and lay it as a plaster upon the wound, and that he (Ezechias) should be healed. Is. 38:21.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. Ps. 6:3.
3. It destroys death; Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost, and she cried with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. St. Luke 1:41, 42.
O death, I will be thy death. Osee 13:14.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her. Prov. 3:18.
(2) The Manna; To him that overcometh I will give the hidden manna. Apoc. 2:17.
This is the Bread which cometh down from Heaven. St. John 6:50.
The taste thereof was like to flour with honey. Ex. 16:31.
Thou didst eat fine flour and honey and oil. Ezech. 16:13.
By the fruit of their corn and wine and oil they are multiplied. Ps. 4:8.
1. Uprightness; What is the good thing of Him, and what is the beautiful thing, but the corn of the elect? Zach. 9:17.
2. Sweetness of heart; Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy taste. Prov. 24:13.
Bread from Heaven … having in it all that is delicious. Wisd. 16:20.
3. Love of our neighbour; Who will give me that I should be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me? As I was in the days of my youth, when God was secretly in my tabernacle … and the rock poured me out rivers of oil. Job 29:2, 4, 6.
There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwellings of the just. Prov. 21:20.
She said to Eliseus, Thy servant, my husband, is dead, and thou knowest that thy servant was one that feared God; and behold the creditor is come to take my two sons to serve him. And Eliseus said, What wilt thou have me do for thee? Tell me, what hast thou in thy house? And she answered, I thy handmaid have nothing in my house but a little oil to anoint me. And he said to her, Go borrow of all thy neighbours empty vessels not a few. And go in, and shut thy door when thou art within, and thy sons; and pour out thereof into all those vessels, and when they are full take them away. So the woman went and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; and they brought her the vessels, and she poured in. And when the vessels were full, she said to her son, Bring me yet a vessel; and he answered, I have no more: and the oil stood. She came and told the man of God; and he said, Go sell the oil and pay thy creditor; and thou and thy sons live of the rest. 4 Kings 4:1–7.
(3) The Holy Eucharist; Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee. Ecclus. 32:9.
1. Likeness to God; Very great and precious promises, that by these you may be made partakers of the Divine Nature. 2 St. Pet. 1:4.
2. Being dear to God; The vows of the just are acceptable.… He that followeth justice is beloved by Him. Prov. 15:8, 9.
Thou shalt be called, My pleasure is in her. Is. 62:4.
A book of remembrance was written before Him for them that fear the Lord and think on His name. Mal. 3:16.
The bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride, and thy God shall rejoice over thee. Is. 62:5.
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, He will save; He will rejoice over thee with gladness; He will be silent in His love; He will be joyful over thee in praise. Soph. 3:17.
How beautiful art thou, My love, how beautiful art thou.… Thou art all fair, O My love.… Thou hast wounded My Heart, My sister, My spouse.… A garden enclosed is My sister, My spouse, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed. Cantic. 4:1, 7, 9, 12.
How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince’s daughter.… How beautiful art thou, and how comely my dearest in delights.… I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.… In our gates are all fruits: the new and the old, my Beloved, I have kept for Thee. Cantic. 7:1, 6, 10, 13.
3. Eternal life; If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. St. Matt. 19:17.
They shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. St. John 10:16.
I will raise him up in the last day. St. John 6:55.
Prayer
O Blessed Trinity, Three Persons and One God, I am seeking now for the Living Bread that came down from Heaven. O the depths of the riches of Thy knowledge; O Thy incomprehensible judgments; O Thy unsearchable ways! I bless Thee, O Father, and Thee, O Son, and Thee, O Holy Ghost. I praise Thee, O Blessed Trinity, and magnify Thee for ever and ever. In the confession of a true faith I acknowledge Thy glory, Eternal Trinity; and in the power of Thy majesty I adore Thy unity. In this faith I draw near to Thee and kneel before Thy Altar, that Jesus may come to me in His most Holy Sacrament and dwell in me, and give me the fulness of His grace. Thou art the One God, Unity in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Be present with me now, Thou Almighty One, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; be present with me and help me; for Thou art the Lord, the God of Israel, my God, who alone doest great wonders, and alone dwellest in the inaccessible light. O, let all the earth be filled with Thy majesty, and let all souls be satisfied with Thy goodness. Have mercy on me, O my God, and bless me and feed me. Thou art my hope and my salvation, O Blessed Trinity. Free me and save me, and give me life, O Blessed Trinity. O most Blessed God, fill my soul with love and light as I draw near to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. His throne is high and lifted up, and His glory fills the Temple. Before Him are the Seraphim. O Blessed Trinity, give me love, confidence, holy fear, faith, humility, cleanness of heart, forgivingness of spirit, that now I may receive Jesus with great joy. O Blessed Trinity: O Blessed Trinity.
Thanksgiving
Thou art one in substance, O God, and three in Persons. O Almighty Father, with Thine Only-begotten Son and with Thy Holy Spirit, Thou art one God and one Lord. What I believe of Thee, that without difference of separation I believe of Thy Son and of Thy Holy Spirit. I adore Thee, Eternal God, in Trinity of Persons, in oneness of Essence, in sameness of Majesty. I bless Thee for all Thy glory, and I thank Thee for all Thy gifts. I thank Thee and bless Thee now for giving me Jesus in this most Holy Sacrament of Love.
Glory be to Thee, O Blessed Trinity, one God, for ever and ever. Praise and blessing and honour be to Thee, O Father, and to Thee, O Son, and to Thee, O Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Praise and blessing be given to Thee by the mouths of all and by the hearts of all for ever and ever. Praise and adoration be given by all to Thee, O Father; to Thee, O Word; to Thee, O Paraclete. O Incarnate Word, with one supplication and with one act of worship I adore Thy Godhead, and the Human Nature which Thou hast assumed; for Thou art Emmanuel, God with us, the Word made flesh. With one adoration I adore Thee in Thy two natures and oneness of Person. Without confusion of Thy Godhead and Thy Humanity, I adore Thee, God, the Word Incarnate, with Thy Body and Soul, as Thy Holy Church has taught us from the beginning. Thou, Jesus, God and man, art Lord of all, the Second Person of the Ever-blessed Trinity. My Lord and my God and my Saviour, Thou hast come to me as the food of my soul, and I bless Thee and praise Thee. Thou art the Bread of Heaven, my Jesus, and I find Thee at this Table of God. Thou art the medicine of the soul, and I find Thee the true Manna in the Holy Eucharist. Enlighten me, my Jesus, and purify me, and save me from the second death. Make me upright, truthful, and just. Fill my heart with the sweetness of Thy presence. Give me brotherly love, and make me patient, meek, gentle, forgiving, kind, unsuspicious, and forbearing. Fill my heart with the charity which thinketh no evil. Make me like Thyself and dear to Thy Heart; make me like God and dear to God; and give me life for ever in Thy kingdom.
O Blessed Trinity, every good gift comes from Thee. From Thee and by Thee and in Thee are all things. Thy great gift is the living Body of Jesus. He has come to me. He is the Bread which stays my hunger. He is the Bread which strengthens and enlightens my soul. He is the Bread by which I live. O Blessed Trinity, evermore give me this Bread. O Blessed Trinity: O Blessed Trinity: O Blessed Trinity.