Instruction concerning penance and holy communion the second part fo the instruction of youth, containing the means how we may return to God by penance, and remain in his grace by the good and frequent use of the sacraments. By Charles Gobinet, Doctor of Divinity, of the house and Society of Sorbon, principal of the college of Plessis-Sorbon.

ARTICLE VI. The practice of the Acts of Charity before Communion.

WHen we expect a person whom we most dearly love, we do three things.

1. We earnestly desire his coming.

2. We take all possible care to have all things in readiness for his kind reception, as Lodging, Entertainment, Banquets, and Presents.

3. We set forth upon our way to meet him. And it is but just that you perform these things in respect of Jesus Christ, whom you expect.

1. Wish from your heart for his dear presence, making use of those words of David, Psal. 41. As the Hart, parched up with drought, longeth after the fountains of Waters, so doth my Soul after thee, O Lord. O my God, my Soul sighs after thee, and languisheth away with desires to enjoy thee.

Veni Domine & noli tardare relaxa facinora servo tuo. Come, O my Lord, make haste, release and

pardon me once more my Sins, and make me worthy of the favour which thou art about to bestow upon me.

2. Make all things ready to receive him; and altho' your Soul be already disposed by Confes∣sion, see however, and examen again whether there remain not yet something that may be dis∣pleasing in the Eyes of Jesus Christ, some secret Sin, some irregular affections, as a lye, an aver∣sion against your Neighbour, or any sinfull, or dangerous affection. Leave not the least of all these things in your heart, but root them out by Contrition, and by a fixt and steady resolu∣tion to amend your life. Make ready the enter∣tainments, which you intend to give him, as soon as you have received him. Those which are most gratefull to him, are the Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, these also are the most delicious viands you can possibly present him with.

Prepare your self to make him an offering of your heart, to love him, and of your self, with all fidelity to serve him.

3. Set forth upon your way to meet him, and to invite him into your house by good thoughts and Holy affections. Cant. 5. Veniat dilectus meus in hortum suum. O Jesus, come into my Soul, as into a Garden, which much delights thee. Make her, O make her fit and worthy to receive thee: cleanse her, and vouchsafe to take away from her whatsoever may be Offensive to thee; plant in her, and adorn her with the flowers which best please thee, that is with Purity and Humility. Veni Domine Jesu. Come, O Saviour of my Soul; Come and save me by thy Grace, and deliver me from those Enemies, who design my Eternal ruine.

After Communion.

PErform that towards Jesus Christ which we are wont to do, when a Person of Quality, whom we have long expected, is arrived. For after the first meeting and salutation, we con∣duct him to the apartment prepared for him, and there, we perform these four things.

1. We give him some great or signal testi∣monies of our respect, friendship, and acknow∣ledgment for the Honour which we receive by his presence. 2. We offer him the best things we have, & such as may be most pleasing to him. 3. If we have need of his assistance we beg such things as we want, & willingly would have. And in fine, 4. When he returns we give him thanks, acknowledging the honour of the visit, we renew and repeat to him the protestations of fidelity, friendship, and service. Behold, as in a pattern, how you are to behave your self towards Jesus Christ, immediately after Communion.

As soon therefore as you have receiv'd the Sa∣cred host with much Faith, and a profound Hu∣mility, adore our Lord who is within you. Then departing modestly from the holy Table, with∣draw your self into some convenient place; and employ your self in the following thoughts.

Conduct our Lord, not into your body, since he is there already, but into the place of your Soul, wherein he most delights, that is, into your heart, and your affection; That is to say,

six your thoughts upon him, and comply with the following duties.

Make acts of Adoration, of Love, and of Acknowledgment in this manner, and first

Of Adoration.

O my God and my Saviour Jesus Christ, I a∣dore thee from the bottom of my heart; I firm∣ly believe, that I now possess thy Body, thy Blood, thy Soul, and thy Divinity. I acknowledge that thou art in me all and every one of these ways. O Greatness of God! is it possible that thou shouldest humble thy self so low? O goodness! how immense art thou, and yet art pleased thus to remain with us!

Thou dost not only come and inhabit with us, but thou bestowest thy self upon us for our food and nourishment: and to whom? to a poor and wretched servant as I am: A Lord to his Slave: God to his creature: Jesus Christ to a Sinner. O res mirabilis manducat Dominum pauper, servus & humilis.

Altho' there were nothing else but my mean, and base condition, it would make me unworthy to receive thee; but I am become more unde∣serving by my sins, and yet thou hast the good∣ness, not only to say to me as David did to Mi∣phiboseth, that I shall Eat at thy Table. 2. Reg. 9.7. Et tu comedes panem in mensa mea semper. But also thou thy self offerest thy self unto me for my food and nourishment. O Divine Goodness! how have I deserved such and so great favours? Ibid. Quis sum ego quoniam respexisti super canem mortuum?

Ponder well upon these words, and consider what you were before by sin: less in the sight

of God, then a dead Dog in respect of his Ma∣ster: and that you are now by his grace and fa∣vour restored to the number of the Children of God, and seated at his Table, nourished with his Body and Blood. Next pass on to the Acts of Love and Acknowledgment.

Acts of Love towards Jesus Christ.

O My God, what return shall I make for this so signal favour, and what shall I do to ac∣knowledge it? Is it possible that I should not con∣tinually love thee, after this excess of love which thou hast shew'd me? Thou hast loved me to that degree as to lay down thy Life for my sake, and shall I not make this return as only to live for thee? Thou at present hast communicated thy self wholly to me, and shall not I be from hence∣forward wholly thine! O my God permit me not to be so ungratefull and so insensible of thy Love and my own Salvation: I protest here be∣fore thee, that I will be faithfull to thee for the future, that I will never part from thee by any disobedience to thy Commandments. Ps. 118.93. In aeternum non obliviscar justificationes tuas, quia in ipsis vivificasti me. I will never forget thy boun∣ty, nor the favour which thou hast done me in admitting me to thy mercy. I will love thee with all my heart, O my Saviour. Ps. 17. Diligam te Domine fortitudo mea firmamentum meum, refugium meum, & liberator meus. I will love thee, and I do love thee, O my God, my strength, my support, my refuge, and my deliverer. Thou art my God and

my All. Deus meus & omnia. What is there either in Heaven or upon Earth, that I should love besides thee? Ps. 72.25. Quid mihi est in Coelo, & a te quid volui super terram? Deus cordis mei, & pars mea Deus in aeternum. O my God, I will not love either in Heaven or Earth any thing but thee; Thou art the God of my heart, the inheritance and only happyness I pretend to, I have made choice of thee, and I will never change.

An Offering to Jesus Christ.

WHat shall I give thee, O my Saviour, in acknowledgment of thy favours, and as an earnest of the love which now I promise thee? I have not any thing worthy of thee; and if I had, I have nothing but what is from thee, and what is thine, and due to thee upon all ac∣counts; but thou art pleased to accept what is thy own upon several heads. Hence it is that I offer my self unto thee, that is, my Body and my Soul, which are now sanctified by the Honour of thy Divine presence: I consecrate them both unto thee, since at present thou hast vouchsafed they should serve thee as a Temple: My Body never more to be employ'd as an Instrument of Sin: My Soul to know thee, to love thee, and evermore to be faithfull to thee. O Lord, bless, I beseech thee, the Present, which I make thee: Sanctify them both, since they have served thee for a Temple. Benedic Domine domum istam. Per∣mit

not that my Body be any more defiled with impure delights, nor my Soul by a will to com∣mit any Mortal Sin. This resolution I here make in thy presence to be faithfull to thee, and to be all thine: to serve thee with Body and Soul; to correct the evil inclinations of them both: to fight against my self, and deny my self my won∣ted pleasures, my Delights, my Passions, my Concupiscence, my Anger, my Ambition, my own will; and lastly, all whatsoever may offend thee, O my God.

A Prayer to Jesus Christ.

DOmine Deus, 1. Par. 29.18. Custodi in aeter∣num hanc voluntatem. O my Saviour con∣serve in my Soul this holy resolution which thou hast given me, and grant me grace to put it faithfully in execution: I can do nothing of my self and without thy assistance: I beg it of thee with all my heart that I may conquer all, tho' almost innumerable difficulties, which occurr in the way of my Salvation. Regard me with the eyes of thy Mercy, strengthen me daily with thy Grace. Psal. 24.16. Respice in me, & miserere mei, quia unicus & pauper sum ego. Tribulationes cordis mei multiplicatae sunt: de necessitatibus meis erue me.

When you have finished all these acts, you may proceed and make use of the Prayers in your Ma∣nuall after Communion, or other vooal Prayers, according as your Devotion shall dictate to you: And I say the same also of the Prayers which the

same Manuals have as a preparation to Commu∣nion. But all this is to be understood, provided still that you apply your chief endeavours to the practise of the acts of some one or more of the precedent Virtues.