Breife meditations of the Most Holy Sacrament and of preparation, for receuing the same. And of some other thinges apertaining to the greatnes and deuotion of so worthy a misterie. Composed in Italian by the rev. father Luca Pinelli of the Societie of Iesus.

THE XIX. MEDI∣TATION. (Book 19)

Vpon some defectes which hin∣der the fruit of the blessed Sacrament. CHAP. 19 (Book 19)

Pointes to meditate.

1 CONSIDER how that be∣sides mortall sinne, there are other impedimentes, which albeit they take not cleane away yet they abate very much the fruit of this diuine Sacrament, as for example, to be ouermuch imploied in busines, and to haue ouermuch conuersation before we goe to receaue, which al∣though they are not of thēselues euell, yet notwithstanding they take from vs that recollectiō of mind which is required for so

greate a misterie, wherefore by these meanes we remaine depri∣ued of the spirituall tast and fee∣ling which God is wont to giue vnto those which deuoutlie re∣ceaue him.

2 It is also an impediment to go to receaue with out making re∣flection ouer him selfe, by con∣sidiring whether he goeth, what he pretendeth, whome he hath to receaue, and what preparati∣on he hath made. And since that in all our small affaires we consi∣der before hand all the circum∣stances thereof, it is very conue∣nient that likewise we shoulde well consider all circumstances which appertaine to this diuine busines beelonginge vnto our soule.

3 Finally it is an impedimente when as one hauing scarce re∣ceaued

falleth to reasoninge or other busines, for by these things the spirituall heat and feruour which by receauing we haue ob¦tained easely vanisheth awaie: and we doe a certaine kinde of iniurie vnto the Blessed Sacra∣ment as it would be a greate in∣ciuilitie to receaue a great Lord into our house and shortly after to goe forth of the doares lea∣uing him in our house all a lone. In like maner doe they who af∣ter receauing goe to talkinge or reasoning, either for recreation or for other busines.

The Fruit

The fruit of this XIX. Meditatiō shalbe, to be sorie, and to lamēt these and such other defectes, with purpose of amendment.

A Colloquium.

Doest thou not plainely see, O

my soule, how verie little our Lord requireth of vs, for to giue vnto vs the great & most hole∣some fruit of the venerable Sa∣crament? it behooueth thee ther¦fore to go therunto with great deuotion & recollectiō of mind for this he requireth of thee. Re∣member whē God was to speak with Moises in the mountaine,* 1.1 he cōmaunded that nether man nor beast should approch neare vnto the mountaine, to the in∣tent that Moises should not be distracted by any kind of crea∣ture: yea to the end that Moises should remaine with greater at∣tention and recollection, the whole mountaine was couered, with a great and obscure cloud: Euen so my soule doe thou dili∣gently procure that (to the Al∣tar where God expecteth thee)

no kind of creature may accom∣panie thee, thereby to distracte thy deuotion and attention, for that thou hast not only to talke with, but also to receue thy God and thy Creator, and be tho•• surelye perswaded that he will neuer desire and loue thee, vnle•• thou cleane forgett all created thinges when as thou comest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to this sacred Table to receau•••• thy Creator, whom onely tho•••• oughtest then to remēber.* 1.2 Har∣ken what the kingly Prophete saieth vnto thee. O daughter af∣ter that thou shalte forget thy people and the house of thy fa∣ther, then Concupiscet Rex deco∣rem tuum: will the King desire thy comelines: And most wor∣thelie O Lord, for since that you•• are cheefe goodnes, and infinite lie to be beloued, it is not con∣uenient

that you should be ina∣mored of that soule which be∣ing intertained of creaturs by o∣uer much affection towards thē, commeth not freely vnto you, neither seeketh after you with whole affectiō of hart. But what shall I doe O Lord to obtaine this deuout attention. My minde by the greuoues wounde which she receaued in terrestiall Para∣dise remaineth disordered in such sort, that ordinarily against my wil she goeth forth of the dores like a vagabone? What shall I do since that the infernall enimie to with drawe me from you and from your holie table doth so ouerthwart my heade with such terrene thoughts, that I can not keepe my hart firmely setled vpon you? Now you see most mercifull IESVS in what

state I remaine weake by nature and in such sort wraped & ouer∣whelmed with earthly thinges, that vnles you help and succour me, I shall remaine depriued of the comfort of this most holie meate, helpe I praie you with your grace my weakenes, and remoue from me all impedi∣mentes that like a hungry Falcō, I may flie vnto your most sacred bodie, which it hath pleased you to giue me for meate,

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 19
• * 1.2

  Psa. 44.