order that we may offer to Him, so to speak, an inner victim which should be agreeable in His sight.

The Eucharist is the fire which purifies the soul from the stains which disfigure it, and which makes it less unworthy of the kindly watchful looks of the Spouse, and which places in the crucible the gold of our love, and the purity of our intentions. "What is that fire," says a holy doctor, "by means of which JESUS has prepared for us a table loaded with viands so savoury and nourishing, if it be not the fire of love?"

When we receive the Eucharist we should never forget the cost of those sacrifices at which it has been given

to us.

In fact, whether it be by His presence in the midst of men, or whether, above all, it be by His union with them, the Divine Victim burns up all the tares, or the stubble which our evil passions have heaped up in our hearts.

We read in the Revelation of S. John one sentence which may well make those

tremble who approach with lukewarmness to the Holy Table; it is written, "Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth."

Let us picture to ourselves at the tribunal of GOD, the soul to whom these words will be said as a punishment for its lukewarmness towards the Eucharist. What will the soul say to such overwhelming reproaches as these: "I was in the midst of you, within your reach, as the fire which purifies, and warms, and burns, and prepares the food for your children. You knew it, and a thousand times have My flames burst forth from the Altar. This Divine Fire I sent towards you, it spread about upon the very ground where you were, and yet it could not keep itself alive, it burnt up nothing there, it did not purify you, it went out. O! unhappy one! not to have known the gift of GOD! Is it really possible that you can have brought your hands near to these flames without feeling the intensity of their heat, without having the icyness

of your affections and of warmed and melted?

your works

In order to avoid so great an evil, let us say with the pious soul in the “Imitation," "O how great is the abundance of Thy sweetness, O LORD, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee! When I call to mind some devout persons who approach to Thy Sacrament, O LORD, with the greatest devotion and affection, I am oftentimes confounded and blush within myself that I come with such lukewarmness, yea, coldness to Thy Altar. I grieve to think that I remain so dry and so heartless in my affection to Thee; that I am not wholly inflamed in Thy Presence, O my GOD; to feel that I am not so earnestly drawn and moved as many devout persons have been, who out of a vehement desire of the Holy Communion, and a feeling affection of heart, could not restrain themselves from tears."

"O how truly burning is the faith of those persons! amounting to a real evidence of Thy Presence! For they truly know

their LORD in the 'breaking of bread,' whose heart within them so vehemently burneth, whilst Thou, O Blessed JESU, dost walk and converse with them. Such desire and devotion as this, love and fervency so vehement, are too often far from me. Be Thou favourable unto me, merciful JESUS, sweet and gracious LORD, grant to me, Thy poor needy creature, sometimes at least in this Holy Communion to feel, if it be but a small portion of Thy touching, affectionate love. Grant that my faith may become more strong, my hope in Thy goodness may be increased, and that charity, once perfectly inflamed, after the tasting of heavenly manna, may never decay. .. O that with Thy Presence Thou wouldest wholly inflame, burn, and conform me unto Thyself, that I might be made one spirit with Thee by the grace of an inward union, and by the uniting of an ardent love. Suffer me not to go away from Thee hungry and dry, but deal mercifully with me, as Thou hast often dealt wonderfully with Thy Saints.

What marvel is it if I should be wholly inflamed by Thee, and fail and come to nothing by myself, since Thou art Fire always burning and never decaying, Love ever purifying the heart, and enlightening the understanding, and never growing cold!"

SIXTEENTH FRIDAY AFTER TRINITY. CXVIII. On the deadly sin of Pride.

ECCLUS. X. 13.-"Pride is the beginning of Sin." AND the beginning of pride is when one departeth from GOD, and his heart is turned away from his Maker. The LORD hath cast down the throne of proud princes and set up the meek in their stead. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalteth the humble and meek. GOD resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

Pride is in itself, and has been the beginning of, the very worst of sins. It has met with the most terrible, and the most lasting of punishments. Nay, per