II. When you have received our Lord, since He

really dwells within you, try to shut the eyes of your
body and to open those of your soul ; look into your
hearts. I have told you, and shall tell you, again and
again, if you do this whenever you go to Holy Com-
munion— I do not mean once or twice, but every time

® One of the reasons why St. Teresa was so fond of images
was her ardent desire of seeing God and His saints. It was
delightful to hear the loving, tender words with which she would
address a picture of our Lord or His holy Mother while holding
it in her hands : her soul seemed melted with devotion. {Ribera,
bk, iv. eh. x.)

10 Rel. V. 5.

11 Mother Mary of St. Joseph says : “ Our holy Mother told

her nuns to show great reverence to images, not by means of rich
decorations and embellishments, but consistently with poverty
by keeping them in good order, for they are great aids to charity
and the love of God. I saw an account in her handwriting of a
revelation our Lord made to her, ordering that her daughters
should frequently pay reverence to images. He said : ‘ My

Christian people, daughter, must now, more than ever, run
counter to the heretics, who in these days have specially set
themselves to pull down churches and to destroy images
{Fuente, vol. vi. 259). See also St. John of the Cross, Ascent
of Mount Carmel, bk. iii. chaps, xiv., xxxvi.

CHAP. XXXIV.] HOLY COMMUNION. 235

you communicate — and if you strive to keep your con-
science clear, so that you may frequently enjoy this
grace, His coming will not be so hidden but that, in many
a way. He will reveal Himself to you in proportion to
the desire you have of seeing Him. Indeed, if your long-
ing for Him is very vehement, He may disclose Himself
entirely to you.’'® But if we care nothing for Him Whom
we have received in such intimate union, but either go
to seek Him elsewhere or busy ourselves about other,
and lower matters, what would we have Him do ? Must
He drag us by force to look at Him, and to stay with Him
because He wishes to manifest Himself to us ? No !
for men did not treat Him too well when He showed
Himself visibly among them and told them Who He was
— few indeed of them believed Him. He has done us
a great grace in teaching us that He is present in the
Blessed Sacrament. But He will not show Himself
openly or reveal His glories or bestow His treasures,
save on souls which prove that they ardently desire Him,
for these are His real friends. But let not the soul which
is not of their number, which offends Him and approaches
to receive Him without having prepared itself to the
best of its ability — let not that soul importune Him to
reveal Himself to it. Scarcely is the hour over which

Life, ch. xxxix. 31, 32.

Life, ch. xvi. 3 ; xviii. 10, 18 ; ch. xxxviii. 24. Rel. iii.

7, 19 ; iv. 4, 5 ; ix, 12, 13, 20, 2^.

236 THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. XXXV.

has been spent in fulfilling the precepts of the Church,
when such a person leaves her own home and tries to
drive Christ out of it, or if she does enter into herself,
it is only to engage in worldly thoughts in the very
presence of Jesus. Indeed, what with other interests,
business, and the cares of this life, she seems to make
all possible haste to prevent our Lord from taking
possession of her house !