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 SPIRITVAL receauing.

¶ Cap. 15. (Book 15)

THIS moste holy sacrament of the Aultar (wherin is con∣teined the very real body & bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christe, and by the same his passion and dol∣ful death represented vnto vs) is of such vertue and excellencie, that it not onely profiteth such, as with due preparation doo really receaue the same; but extendeth also the vertue thereof to those, that with fayth and inward zeale desire to receaue, albeit sacramentally they doo it not. And therfore besides this sacramental re∣ceauing (whereof I haue intreated in the former Chapter) the holy Doc∣tours exhort vs to vse a spiritual re∣ceauing * 1.1 of the same. For like as there be three kindes of Baptisme defined; the first of bloud; which is that, wher by a Martir is baptised in his owne * 1.2

bloud, or rather in the bloud of Christe; sith by dying for his sake he maketh it his: the second of water, * 1.3 which is the first sacrament that ech one receaueth; and are al therby made the members of Christe, and become Christians: The third, of the holye * 1.4 Ghoste; which is that kinde of Bap∣tisme that such receaue, as haue a de∣sire, and yet can-not sacramentally be baptised; to whom the holye ghoste * 1.5 imparteth the grace of Baptisme, al∣beit he geue them not the sacrament of Baptisme. Euen so like-wise be * 1.6 there three kindes of receauing. The first is that, whereby we are incorpo∣rated and vnited to Christe by favth * 1.7 and charitie; and hereof is that saying of S. Austins to be vnderstoode; Be∣leeue, * 1.8 and thou haste eaten. The seconde kinde is the sacramental receauing; which is, when Christians doo really receaue the consecrated hoste at the priestes handes; whereby (being wel

disposed and prepared) they receaue those meruailous graces, whereof I haue alreadye spoken. The thirde is this spiritual maner which is done through a longing and zealous desire to receaue this Sacrament; whereto is in effect the firste kinde of receauing presupposed, that a Christian be lin∣ked to Christe by faith and charitie; and the second in affect; to wit, that he hartilye desireth to receaue this blessed sacrament. The which spiri∣tual kinde of receauing thou maiest frequent by preparing thy selfe ther∣to in maner folowing.

WHEN thou goest to Masse on * 1.9 such dayes as thou art not sacramen∣tally to receaue; vnbethinke thee of the fruites of this sacrament, and the meruailous a 1.10 effects it worketh in the soules of suche as woorthely receaue it; wherof doo thou with al thy hart desire to be made partaker. And thus shalt thou with this desire and pur∣pose

come to hear Masse, and at such time as the priest beginneth the ge∣neral confession, or a litle before, exa∣mine briefly thy conscience, reducing to minde such sinnes and faultes, at least the principal, wherin thou haste offended since thy last confession or examination; and being penitent therefore, beseeche God humblye to forgeue thee; purposing to confesse them to thy ghostly father, as soone as thou maiest conueniently, and to amende thy life hereafter. Thus mai∣est thou herein occupie thy selfe, whiles the priest is making him rea∣dye to saye Masse, and reciteth the general confession; litle time more or lesse, according as thy neede shal re∣quire. Afterwardes heare Masse, be∣hauing thee therein, as I tolde thee in the fourth Chapter; and at such time, as the priest is about to receaue, pre∣pare thou thy self in like maner, as if

thou wert then really to receaue; lif∣ting vp thy heart a-new to thy Lord God conteined in that sacrament; & inflaming thy soul with fresh desires to receue him; & hauing so done, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him humbly, rather with sute of heart, then sound of wordes) that fithens thou maiest not then sacra∣mentally receaue him; yet that of his goodnes it may please him to impart the vertue and fruites of this meruai∣lous sacrament vnto thee; in graun∣ting them spiritually, as he best can and knoweth howe to doo it. Thus hauing made thy sute and humble prayer (according as the holy Ghoste may vouchsafe to inspire thee) beleue assuredly, how that moste bountiful and benigne Lord, (who desireth no∣thing more then to comfort vs, and geue him-selfe vnto our soules) wil satisfie thy longing, and gratiouslye graunt thee the giftes and vertues of this sacrament, albeit thou sacramen∣tally

receaue it not, doing therein ac∣cording to his a 1.11 promise, that such as hun∣ger and thirst after righteousnes (for suche is this sacrament) shul-be satiated: His ho∣ly mother hath likewise b 1.12 prophecied how he shal fil the hungrye with good thinges: for so oughtest thou in hungry wise to be affected towards this sacrament, which is the true satietie. And beleue assuredly, that if thou haue this fer∣uent desire, and want not fayth, thou shalt gain great consolatiō & profite by this spiritual receauing; whiche may likewise be vsed, not onely once * 1.13 euery day (as is the sacramental) but many times, if in one day thou happ to hear many Masses; yea, thou ough test euery time thou seest the hoste consecrated, to accustome thee forth∣with to haue an eleuation of minde thereto, longing to eate thereof, and to participate of those pretious fruits that proceede out of it; Sithens if by the fight of any straunge and deli∣cate

fruites or conserues; thou art forthwith prouoked with a longing desire to feede and taste theron: how great a shame and confusion shoulde it be to thee, if seing this fruit of the virginal wombe conteined in the cō∣secrated hoste (a much more pretious fruit then that of the tree of life) thou shouldest not forthwith feele a longing and great desire to enjoye and receaue it. By thus accustoming thy selfe to couet this heauenly fruit and diuine foode, with farre greater desire then anye corruptible foode, thou maiest with great ease gaine much spiritual treasure, and eftsons reape this diuine cōsolatiō, by eftsons receauing spiritually, as is aforesaide. * 1.14 Hauing nowe in this wise receaued, yeeld thankes to thy Lorde for this his singuler benefite, and in al other thinges behaue thy selfe according to that I haue tolde thee in the former Chapter; euē as though thou haddest then receaued sacramentallye. And

thus maiest thou passe on the time, til thou come to receaue sacramen∣tally in deede, which thou oughtest not for al this spiritual exercise to omitt; but rather at the ordinarye times with great zeale to frequent and vse it; for thus must thou needes doo to make thy spiritual receauing so fruitful as I tel thee, one of these helping greatly to th'other; and as wel th'one as th'other shal turne to great good, and comfort of thy soul, and to no smal increase of spiritual strength,

Notes

• * 1.1

  3. Kindes of Bap∣tisine.
• * 1.2

  1. Of bloud
• * 1.3

  2. Of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.4

  3. Of the holy ghost.
• * 1.5

  3. Kindes. of recea∣uing.
• * 1.6

  1.
• * 1.7

  S. Austime.
• * 1.8

  2.
• * 1.9

  The ma∣ner of pre∣paring our selues to re ceaue spi∣ritually.
• a 1.10

  See the 13. Chapter aboue.
• a 1.11

  Mat. 5. a
• b 1.12

  Luc. 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.13

  Spiritual receauing may be eft sons fre∣quented in one day.
• * 1.14

  Gouern∣ment after spiritual receauing.