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

The causes, that ought to induce vs to the frequent receyuing of this Sacrament. CHAP. XV.

IF materiall meate be often∣tymes necessary for our su∣stentation and nuriture of body; we must not make any doubt, but that the spirituall foode, which is the sacred flesh of our Sauiour, contayned in the holy sacrament of the Eucharist, is al∣so often as necessary for the en∣tertayning and nourishing of our soule. And if we regard not on∣ly the necessity, but the good al∣so, which our soule receyueth by this heauenly food, it is a thing truly very great; for as much as

by the often receyuing of this di∣uine meate:

First our soule is easily con∣serued, and intertayned in Gods grace, for that beeing often re∣freshed with this food, grace is increased more and more in it.

2. Euery tyme of receyuing, it getteth wonderfull strength for the exercising of good works, for the resisting of the tentations of our enemyes, for preseruing it from syn; and for patiently supporting and bearing al aduer∣sityes of this present life.

3. This food causeth a no∣table chaung of life in the per∣son, that was before subiect to many vices and imperfections.

4. It augmenteth and in∣creaseth in vs fayth, hope, chari∣ty, deuotion, & al other vertues.

5. It filleth and repleni∣sheth the soule with a spirituall ioy, and alacrity.

6. It raceth out of our soule veniall syns, and weakneth and lesseneth vicious inclinati∣ons, & concupiscence.

7. It vniteth our soule with Iesus Christ. For he, who ea∣teth my flesh (sayth our Sauiour in S. Iohn Cap. 6. (abideth in me, and I in him. If we with attention would ponder, and consider all these so soueraigne fruits, we should be much excited very of∣ten to refresh our soule with this so healthfull a meat.

If we giue euery day to our body to eate, nourishing, enter∣tayning and strengthning ther∣of; is it not reason, that our soule, that hath also exceeding great need of nuriture and new

strength, should be entertayned with this heauenly food, at least once a moneth?