I. Although I had already written about it while

explaining the prayer of recollection, yet because of its
great importance I have spoken here at length of the
need of our retiring into our own souls to be alone with
God. When you hear Mass, but do not go to Holy
Communion, you may make an act of Spiritual Com-
munion, which is exceedingly profitable. Recollect
yourselves in the same manner : this impresses a deep
love for our Lord on our minds, for if we prepare our
souls to receive Him, He never fails, in many ways

^ Valladolid edition, ch. xxxvii. ; Escorial, ch. Ixii.

CHAP. XXXV.] SPIRITUAL COMMUNION. 237

unknown to us, to give us His grace. It is as if we
approached a large fire — if we kept at a distance from
it and covered our hands, we should hardly feel its
heat ; although we should be warmer than without it.
But if we approach this fire (which is our Lord), with
the intention of expelling the cold, the case is quite dif-
ferent, for if the soul is thus well-disposed and perseveres
for some time, it retains the warmth for several hours, and
any small spark which flew out would at once ignite it.

2. It is of such immense advantage for us to cultivate
the habit of recollection, that you must not be sur-
prised at my mentioning it very frequently. Do not
be disturbed if you cannot succeed at first ; perhaps
the devil may be filling your heart with repugnance and
trouble because he sees what loss he would suffer by your
acquiring this habit. Though he may try to make you
believe that you could practise greater devotion in other
ways, do not be dissuaded from this : our Lord thus
tests your love for Him. Remember, there are few
souls that keep beside Him or follow Him in His trials.^
Let us suffer something for Him — He will repay us.
Only think ! there are people who not only do not like
to be with Him, but who drive Him from their houses,
with rudeness and insults ; therefore we ought to endure
some discomfort in order to show that we wish to see
Him. Although, in many places, men leave Him by Him-
2 Imitation, bk. ii. ch. xi. i.

238 THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. XXXV.

self, or treat Him badly, yet. He endures all this, and will
continue to endure it, for the sake of finding but one
single soul that will receive Him with affection and bear
Him loving company. Let this soul be yours, for if none
were to be found, the eternal Father would justly refuse to
allow Him to remain with us. Yet He loves Christ’s friends
so well, and is so kind a Master, that, knowing it is the
will of His holy Son, He will not dissuade Him from this
praiseworthy deed in which He so generously proves His
love for His Father, by finding this wonderful way of testify-
ing His affection for us and of aiding us to bear our trials.

3. Since, O our Father who art in heaven. Thou dost
will and ratify this act (for by no means wouldst Thou
deny us so great a boon), there must be some one to plead
the cause of Thy Son, as He will never defend Himself.
Let that part be ours : daring as the task may be for us
unworthy creatures, yet let us rely on our Lord’s com-
mand that we should pray. In obedience to this decree,
I beg of you, daughters, to join me in asking of our holy
Father, in the name of the good Jesus, that, seeing how
He has done all that could be done in granting this great
gift to sinners, He would mercifully prevent our Lord
from being so ill-treated. Since His blessed Son has
left us so powerful a means as the sacrifice of the Mass,
by which we can repeatedly offer Him up, let us implore
God that this precious oblation may prevent the spread
of the terrible wickedness and sacrileges committed

CHAP. XXXV.] LUTHERANS. 239

among the Lutherans against the most Blessed Sacra-
ment. It seems as if the end of the world must have
come, for they demolish the churches, massacre numbers
of priests, and abolish the sacraments. Even many
Christians behave so irreverently in church, that they
seem sometimes to have gone there more for the purpose
of offending our. Lord than of worshipping Him. Why
do such things happen, O Lord God ? Either let the
world come to an end, or stop these dreadful crimes, for,
wicked as we are, they are more than our hearts can
bear. I beseech Thee, O eternal Father, to extinguish
this conflagration, since it is in Thy power to do so.

4. Behold, Thy Son remains on earth with us : in
deference to Him, stop these foul and abominable out-
rages, for one so pure and beautiful as He is, ought not
to dwell amid such pollution. We do not ask this for
ourselves, O God — we do not deserve it — grant it for
the sake of Thy Son ! We dare not beg that He should
stay with us no longer, for Thou hast consented to His
prayer that for “ to-day,” that is, as long as the world
lasts. Thou wouldst leave Him with us. Without His
presence, what would become of us ? Everything would
go to wrack and ruin, for if aught can propitiate Thee
it is this Hostage which we hold. As some redress must
be found for these wrongs, may it please Thee to supply
it, for Thou canst do so if Thou wilt.

5. O my God ! would that my fervent importunity

240 The way of perfection, [chap, xxxvl.

and the signal services rendered Thee, gave me the right
to beg of Thee so great a favour in return, for never dost
Thou leave a just claim unrewarded. But I have done
nothing of the kind. Indeed, perchance it is I who have
provoked Thee and brought about these evils in punish-
ment for my sins. What, then, can I do, O my Creator,
but offer Thee this most holy Bread, thus rendering Thee
back Thine own gift, beseeching Thee, by the merits of
Thy Son, to grant this boon which, in so many ways.
He has earned from Thee ? Do Thou, O God, calm the
sea and no longer permit the ship of the Church to be
tossed in this tempest. Save us, O Lord, for we perish ! *