The practise of Christian workes. Written in Spanish by the R. Father Francis Borgia, sometymes Duke of Gandia, and the third generall of the Society of Iesus. Togeather with a short rule, how to live well. Englished by a father of the same society. VVhereunto are adioyned certaine pious meditations vpon the beades: translated also out of the Spanish

How to communicate with fruit. CHAP. XIIII.

HE, that desireth to receyue the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar with fruite, and spiri∣tuall profit, must haue.

1. A firme fayth, belieuing

vndoubtedly, that Iesus Christ is really, and truly in the holy Sacrament, and that in the Com∣munion he receyueth the true body of our Sauiour, who is true man, the same, who was borne of the most sacred Virgin Mary, who endured death for vs, and is one day to iudge both the lyuing and the dead.

2: He must haue Purity of hart, without hauing his con∣science defiled with any mortall syn, that maketh a man vtterly vnworthy of the participation of this Sacrament: and also in presuming to come thereunto in such bad state, he should commit a syn of sacriledge.

3. He must haue a right intention, intending to receyue the Sacrament for the attayning of increase of Gods grace; to

obtaine some particular vertue, whereof he most standeth in neede; to arme and strengthen himselfe the more against the tentations of his enemyes; to v∣nite himselfe more inwardly with God by that band of loue: For the receyuing of this Blessed Sacrament serueth vs for the ob∣tayning of all these heauenly graces, and many more the like.

4. He must receyue with great deuotion. And that he may so do, he must endeauour to come to the Sacrament. 1. With great humility & reuerence, con∣sidering his owne vnworthines misery, and necessity, and the supreme Maiesty of him, whome he is to receyue into his soule.

2. To consider the causes,

for which this holy Sacrament was instituted, and the great charity of our Sauiour, where∣with he vouchsafed to commu∣nicate himselfe to his creatures, and to giue himselfe in foode & nutryment to our soules. To con∣sider also the great fruits, that ar•• receyued in this holy banquet: because this spirituall food pro∣duceth the same effects in our soule, that doth materiall meate in our bodyes, though after a manner much more excellent.

3. To communicate with a spirituall hunger, and feruent desire to feede, and fill his soule with this heauēly meate, & with prayers and petitions full of a∣ffection, and of loue, to craue grace of God to communicate deuoutely, and to receyue all the fruits of this holesome refection.

After receyuing, he must giue thanks to God for pleasing to en∣ter into the chamber of his soule: there to make his aboade, and to fill it with his grace, and gifts of the holy Ghost.

2. He must offer himselfe wholy to his Creatour, who hath giuen, and communicated himselfe so liberally vnto his Creatour.

3. By short, and as it were inculatory prayers, he must treate familiarly with his Spouse, & represent vnto him his infirmi∣tyes, and necessityes, crauing what he standeth most in need of, & beseeching him to vouch∣safe to make his continuall a∣boad with him, & to keep him in his grace.