The exercise of a christian life. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Father Gaspar Loarte D. of Diuinitie, of the Societie of Iesus. And newly translated into Englishe. by I.S.

OF THE vtilitie and profite that is reaped, by 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 the holye Sacrament.

¶ Cap. 13. (Book 13)

AS material breade is necessa∣ry for our bodily sustinance, without the which this cor∣poral

life of ours cannot long be in∣certained; * 1.1 euen so is spiritual breade necessary for the preseruation of our soules, and spiritual life, the whiche breade is geuen vs in the sacred and holye Sacrament of the aultar. And therfore is it called the a 1.2 bread of life, through the life it causeth in the souls of such, as worthely receaue it. The which breade if we should not eate, we should not haue b 1.3 life in vs, as our Sauiour Christ affirmeth in the Gos∣pel. This is the bread that geueth vs strength to ouercome tentations, to trauaile more lustily, and with grea∣ter courage to passe the course of this worldlye pilgrimage, and is called Viaticam, that is The bread of pilgrimes and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for like as pilgrimes haue neede of breade to last out to the re∣gion and countrey they go to; euen so we do stand need of this bread, to arriue at length happily to the celes∣tial Region we aspire to. And there∣fore

is this Sacrament figured by the breade baked vnder ashes, which the Angel gaue vnto a 1.4 Helias, wherwith he recouered so great strength; as he lasted out, til he came to the mount of God, Oreb; the effect which this Sacrament doth operate in like ma∣ner, * 1.5 being worthely receued; making vs recouer strength, to arriue out to the moūt of eternal happines; it cau∣seth vs also to fight manfully, and to vanquishe our enemies, which in this life doo what they can to let vs. Fi∣nally, in this sacrament (who so wor∣thely receaueth it) doth finde al suc∣cour, al comfort, al sweetnes, and su∣gred sauour. And therfore is it woor∣thely figured by that b 1.6 Manna which God sent downe from heauen to the people of Israel: for, like as in that the good found al fauour and good∣nes they could haply desire; euen so in this sacrament, such as doo dulye

taste it, doo finde al sauour and hap∣pines they maye wel require in this world. Sithens the effectes which the holy Doctours write to proceede out of this sacrament, be almoste innu∣merable; who graunt, that it forge∣ueth our former sins, and ministreth force to withstand future tentations; it causeth them likewise to be both fewer and famter; It weakneth our passions; increaseth deuotion; establi∣sheth vertue; illuminateth our faith; confirmeth hope; exciteth charitie; maketh vs partakers of the merits of Christe; and geueth vs an earnest-pe∣nye of euerlasting happines.

If therefore both these and o∣ther moste excellent and vnspeaka∣ble fruites be by this moste holy and sacred foode (the blessed sacrament of the Aultare) afforded and wrought in vs; what is he that eyther can or wil be so starke blinde, or so great

an enemy to his own welfare, as to be wilfully weined from them, and wil∣lingly to depriue him-selfe of so ma∣nye benefites? what delite canst thou desire, that is not here afforded thee: what gaine canst thou long for, that here is not geuen thee? yea, and that with much lesse cost and labour, then men vse to take for other thinges a great deale lesse important. Sith ther∣fore this moste sacred Sacrament is thus profitable and necessary for thy soule (yea, and much more then may by speeche or penne be specified) it behoueth, I saye, we receaue it ofte; that ofte we be made partakers of the fruits and innumerable benefits that proceede out of it. Neither are we to * 1.7 beleeue and credite such, as saye, it is not conuenient or commendable to receaue it very oft, sith the often re∣ceauing should impair the reuerence due to so soueraine a Sacrament. Be∣leeue them not, I say, that say thus, for

in very deede it is not so; but rather, as loue increaseth, by the frequenta∣tion thereof; so doo both deuotion and reuerence increase in like maner: For that, looke, by howe muche the more the soule approcheth nighe to this Sacrament, and by so muche the more is it illuminated; according as is figured by the honye that a 1.8 Ionathas tasted of in the wildernes, wherwith his eyes were forthwith opened and made bright; The soule then being better illuminated by this Sacramēt, then it was before, the worthines ther of must needes be better discerned; as also the greatnes and maiestie of our Lorde therin conteyned; and conse∣quently, the reuerence due thereto, bee muche augmented and increa∣sed. * 1.9 The truth whereof, experience and trial doo plainly teache vs; sith those that receaue but once by yere, or very seldome, we see to be most ir∣reuerent towardes this soueraine Sa∣crament;

and such moste reuerent, as * 1.10 receaue it oftest. The same is also mamfestly proued by the zeale, fer∣uencie, loue, and reuerence which was vsed in the primatiue Churche, when eche one receaued euery day, as was * 1.11 decreed by pope Anacletus; Since which time, looke howe much more rarely the people haue vsed to receue; and so much more is deuotion de∣cayed; as also the reuerence to this sacrament, and al other goodnes. See therefore, good brother, thou folowe the counsaile of Saintes and holye Doctours, both olde and new herein; and if thou feelest thy selfe a-colde, drawe nigh to the fire of this moste holye sacrament; If thou beest in po∣uertie, thinke howe this treasure was geuen for the poore; If feeble and weake, remember that such stande neede of a phisition; and howe for such was this medicine chiefly insti∣tuted; If thou beest hungry, and prest

with famine, here shalt thou find the true foode and fostring. For albeit this is the breade of holy Angels; yet is it not denied to penitent sinners. This is a banquet meete for kinges and princes; but withal it is bread fit for poore laborers and pilgrims. It is meate for great ones, and likewise milke for litle ones. Briefly, this mira∣culous sacrament may greatly profite euery one (being wel disposed there∣to) like as our Lorde and Sauiour, (who is therein conteined) descended from heauen for euery one; was born for euery one, and vouchsafed to dye for euery one. If therefore thy cares and busines be many, receaue manye times the remedye and redie dispatch of al, which is herein promised thee. Receaue (if thou canst not ofter) at least once euery week or fortninght, and al the highe festiual dayes that ar solemnized throughout the whole yeere: Neither doo thou regard the

sayinges of such as be indeuout, who vnder the colour of reuerence, doo cloke and shadowe their negligence, And no doubt, but by thus endeuou∣ring thy selfe to receaue as woorthely as thou canst, trial shal within fewe monethes teache thee, that the profit and consolation which thy soule shal thereby gaine, is farre greater, then a∣ny man may possibly set out and ex∣aggerate with words. For albeit there haue bene by so great a number of holy Doctours as haue written vpon this matter, many glorious thinges & meruailous excellencies reported, which this heauenlye misterie doth worke; yet much more shal suche by experience find and proue, as wil dis∣pose them-selues to taste ofte, and woorthely, this diuine foode, & grace aboue al graces.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As mate∣rial bread is necessa∣rye for our bodies, so is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 breade for our soules.
• a 1.2

  Ioh. 6. a
• b 1.3

  Ioh. 6. f.
• a 1.4

  3. Re. 19. b
• * 1.5

  Singuler effectes of the B. Sa∣crament. being wor∣thely 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• b 1.6

  Exo. 16. a
• * 1.7

  Against those that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of often 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• a 1.8

  1 Reg. 14. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.9

  They most reuerent that re∣ceaue of∣test.
• * 1.10

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Church in receauing.
• * 1.11

  Pope Ana cletus.