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.

IN WHAT maner we ought to pre∣pare our selues before we come to re∣ceaue the blessed Sacrament.

¶ Cap. 14. (Book 14)

HAVING in some wise touched the importance and great profit which the often frequenting of this holye Sacrament is of; it remaineth nowe, to teach thee the maner how to prepare and make thy selfe fitt to receaue the same; sith, as the Apostle sayeth; It behoueth * 1.1 that a man proue him-selfe before he eate of this breade; sith otherwise, who so should vnwoorthely eate it, should not receaue any benefite ther∣by, but iudgement and condemnatiō for his soule. It is therefore to be no∣ted, that so farr is man vnable to pre∣sent him-selfe woorthely, and accor∣ding to the dignitie of this Sacramēt; that the Angels them-selues can-not doo the same. Neuerthelesse, to haue

that woorthines, which mans frailtie wil permit, it shal-be sufficient to prepare and proue thy selfe so wel as thou canst; and this maiest thou doo in maner folowing.

FIRST, the euening before thou * 1.2 purposest to receaue, indeuour thy selfe as much as possibly thou maiest, to refraine al temporal traficque and busying thy minde in seculer af∣faires; yea, from al superfluous and impertinent speeches. Likewise if thou hast a wife, it were very com∣mendable to forbeare that night the act of matrimonie; as also to leaue thy supper, or at least wise, to make it more moderate thē at other times; sith that, considering the high feast thou lookest for the next day, some smal abstinence should doo wel be∣fore it. In like maner shal it be good, to make a litle meditation before thou go to bed; calling to thy minde

that immeasurable loue, wherewith our Lorde and Sauiour vouchsated to leaue vs so inestimable a grace, as this most gratious sacrament is; and beginne then in heart to taste that sauourie foode, which on the morow thou hopest to receaue; beseeching God to preserue and prepare thee, that thou maiest doo the same to his glorye, and the wel-fare of thine owne soule. On the morowe; being got vp betimes; examine thy consci∣ence quietly; with sorowe for suche sinnes and faultes as thou shalt finde therein; and get thee afterwardes to thy ghostly father to confesse them, (if haply thou haddest not done so * 1.3 ouer night) And eyther whiles thou art in confession, or afterwardes, it shal-be verye good to renewe and confirme thy former good purposes to walke hence-forth more warilye in Gods wayes, and with greater

diligence to amend thine imperfec∣tions, especially, suche, as thou vsest most commonly to fal into; crauing thereto particuler ayde and grace of God, deuising also some newe means howe better to perfourme the same. When thou hast in this wise exami∣ned, and vnfolded thy conscience, ga∣ther thy selfe, a while to meditate some one or mo pomtes of the passi∣on of our Lorde and Sauiour (in me∣morie wherof was this venerable Sa∣crament instituted; that euery time we receaue the same, we should cal to mind that infinite loue, wher with he offered vp him-selfe to the crosse for vs) as also al other the pains and tor∣mentes he from the cribbe vntil the Crosse did willinglye suffer for our saluation. Doing thus, (and deuoutly meditating the roode, and other his most ruful panges) the fire of his fer∣uent loue shal by this meanes kindle and creepe into thy soule; being a

thing right necessary for the worthy receauing of this sacrament. For like as in the olde lawe a 1.4 God commaun∣ded the pascal Lambe to be eaten ro∣sted; * 1.5 euē so the most innocent Lambe (which is conteined in this sacramēt, and figured by the former of the old law) must be eaten rosted, to wit, with a heart inflamed in his loue, sithens he here geueth him-selfe to vs rosted with the fire of his most feruent cha∣ritie. * 1.6 And to thende that with this loue, thou maiest also haue due reue∣rence for receauing so high a sacra∣ment; consider wel the excellencie therof, and what that is thou mindest to receaue; howe in this sacrament is conteined the sacred and soueraine humanitie of Christe; that is to saye, his soule, his body, and his bloud; and not onely his humanitie, but eke his diuinitie, sith th'one can no waies be seperated from th'other; so that in this sacrament is conteined the sonne

of the eternal God, and of the bles∣sed virgin Mary. And forsomuch as, looke where the son of God is, there is the father and the holy ghoste; be∣ing al three persons one selfe same es∣sence; it foloweth, that al the most ho lye Trinitie is conteined in this high and mightie sacrament, in such wise, as the deuines declare and teache it; which thou art bound most firmelye to beleeue, albeit to knowe the maner thereof surpasseth thy capacitie and vnderstanding. See nowe (al this be∣ing wel considered) with howe great reuerēce thou oughtest to present thy selfe before so great a Monarche as is conteyned in this Sacrament; before whom al the powers of heauen doo tremble and quake againe; and thou∣sand thousandes of Angels waite and geuo attendance on him in the same, yeelding adoration, and al other most dut ful 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the to Hauing the 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 being astonished at so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an excellencie

and dreadful Maiestie, thou mayest say these wordes (My Lorde my God, what * 1.7 art thou, and what am I?) wherein pause and occupie thy selfe a while before thou receaue; weighing thine own in∣speakable vilenes, and his incompre∣hensible Maiestie and highnes; as al∣so that ineffable loue, and beyond al measure, wherwith he vouchsafeth to come to that Sacrament, thereby to communicate his graces and gifts vn∣to thee, if thou be thy self disposed to receaue them.

Being in this maner by these low∣lye considerations prouoked to hu∣militie; and thy heart already infla∣med in feruent loue and charitie; thou maiest then receaue thy maker with great reuerēce; & see thou in no wise chowe the hoste with thy teeth; but let it moisten a while in thy mouth, thereby to swalowe it downe more easilye without any cleauing to thy palate; & humbly beseech that Lorde

thou receauest, that it may please him to receaue thee, and through his loue & graces to transform thee into him, & to make thee partaker of such gra ces, as he ordinarily bestoweth by the means of this most sacred sacrament. * 1.8 And thus hauing receaued, see thou pause a while to yeelde that Lorde moste hartie and humble thankes for hauing thus louingly vouchsafed to visite thee, comforting thy selfe, and keeping company with him, whiles he yet remaineth in thy brest; being otherwise a very indecent thing, that so great a Lorde vouchsafing thus to visite thee, & to enter into thy poore cotage, thou shouldest bye and bye fling out of dores, and occupie thy selfe in forraine thoughtes and com∣munications. See therefore thou at∣tende onely of this most worthy gest which thou haste receaued, and solace thy selfe with his moste sweete and comfortable conuersation; doing so,

assure thy self thou shalt be wel paid and contented for his lodging; and receaue mercy, as a 1.9 Mathew and b 1.10 Za∣cheus did, at such time, as they harbo∣red him in their houses. Craue also particulerly his ayde, for the vanqui∣shing of that vice that moste mole∣steth thee; & which thou hast chiefly determined to withstande and fight against. And if thou be so disposed, thou maiest with this minde saye some vocal prayer, yeelding him thā∣kes, and begging necessary graces for thy needes. For this cause haue I an∣nexed at the ende of this litle Trea∣tise certaine praiers or meditations, whereof thou maiest reade eyther al, or part, as-wel before as after the bles∣sed sacrament; foreseing alwaies, that the wordes proceede rather from thy heart, then from thy mouth. Hauing thus occupied thy selfe some time, so long as thy deuotion shal continue, thou maiest then get thee home; and

beware that (without very vrgent oc∣casion) thou spitt not of some pretie space after thou hast receaued; and when thou doest, let it be in some cleane and decent place; pause like∣wise a while eare thou eate any meat, least thou mixe corruptible foode with that deuine and heauenly food, which thou so lately receauedst. It were very commendable also for him that had the commoditie and means, to inuite some poore body to dinner with him; that he might so receaue that Lord in his members, whom he receaued euen nowe in the blessed Sacrament: but who so had not the commoditie to performe this in acte, maye in wil and wishe execute the same, which our Lord wil repute and take for deede. And note howe on that day thou receuest, thou art boūd * 1.11 to take greater heede then on other daies, of distraction in seculer causes; of profane conuersation; of playe; of

immodest laughter; of superfluous wordes; but much more of dishonest wordes; of murmuringes and detrac∣tions; being a very vnfit thing, that forth of that mouth, wherin the word incarnat hath so lately entred; (which thou receauest in this blessed Sacra∣ment) shoulde so dissonant wordes proceed, and so offensiue to this eter∣nal worde of God. Finally, take heed of eating and drinking to much, and of eche other thing that may let thy deuotion; which on this daye thou must indeuour to keepe as diligently as may be; by reading of some good booke; or making longer praiers, hea∣ring of sermons or lessons, if there be any; or otherwise occupying thy selfe in doing some spiritual or corporal worke of mercy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. Cor. 11. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.2

  The ma∣ner of pre∣paring our selues to receauc.
• * 1.3

  Note wel, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 eft∣sons.
• a 1.4

  Exo. 12. b.
• * 1.5

  The paseal Lambe fi∣gure of the B. Saera∣ment.
• * 1.6

  Loue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with due reue∣rence and humilitie.
• * 1.7

  Note;
• * 1.8

  How we ought to behaue our selues af∣ter hauing receaued.
• a 1.9

  Mat. 9. a.
• b 1.10

  Luc 19. b
• * 1.11

  Note.