The spiritual guide which disintangles the soul, and brings it by the inward way, to the getting of perfect contemplation, and the rich treasure of internal peace. / Written by Dr. Michael de Molinos, priest : with a short treatise concerning daily communion, by the same author. Translated from the Italian copy, printed at Venice, 1685.

CHAP. XIII. Frequent Communion is an effectual means of getting all Vertues, and in particular, Inter∣nal Peace.

96. THere are four things the most necessary to get Perfection and internal Peace: The first is, Prayer; the second, Obedience; the third, frequent Communion; the fourth, in∣ternal Mortification. And now since we have treated of Prayer and Obedience, it will be fit∣ting to treat also of Communion.

97. You ought to know that many Souls there are that deprive themselves of the infinite benefit of this precious Food, by judging that they are not sufficiently prepared, and that no less than an Angelical Purity is necessary for it. If thou hast a pure end, a true desire of doing the Will of God, without looking at sensible Devotion, or thine own Satisfaction, come with confidence, because thou art well disposed.

98. On this Rock of Desiring to do the Di∣vine Will, all difficulties must be broken, all scruples overcome, all temptations, doubts, fears, resistances and contradictions: and although the best Preparation for the Soul, be often Commu∣nicating, because one Communion disposes it for another; yet I will shew the two ways of Pre∣paration:

The first for the exteriour Souls which have good Desire and Will; and the se∣cond, for the spiritual Ones which live Internal∣ly, and have a greater Light and Knowledge of God, of his Mysteries, of his Operations and Sa∣craments.

99. The Preparation for the exteriour Souls, is to be Confessed and retire from the Creatures; before the Communion to stand still and consi∣der what is to be received, and who it is that receives it, and that he goes to do the greatest business in the World, which is to receive the great God. What a singular favour is that Purity it self condescends to be received by Filth! Majesty by Vileness! the Creatour by the Creature!

100. The second Preparation in order to the interiour and spiritual Souls, must be to endea∣vour to live with greater Purity and Self-denial, with an universal taking ones self off from the World, with inward Mortification and continual Retirement: and when they walk in this Way, they have no need of any actual Preparation, because their Life is a continual and perfect Pre∣paration.

101. If thou do'st not-know these Vertues in thy Soul, for the same reason thou must often draw near to this soveraign Table to get 'em. Never let it hinder thee, to see thy self dry, de∣fective and cold; because frequent Communi∣on is the Physick that cures those Diseases, and increases Vertue: for the same reason that thou art Sick, thou must go to the Physician; and that thou art Cold, to the Fire.

102. If thou drawest near with humility, with a desire of doing the Divine Will, and with the leave of thy Confessor, thou mayst receive it every day, and every day thou wilt grow bet∣ter and better. Never be afraid for seeing thy self without that affectionate and sensible love, which some men say is necessary: because this sensible affection is not perfect and ordinarily, it is given to weak and nice Souls.

103. Thou wilt say that thou feelest thy self indisposed, without devotion, without fervour, without the desire of this Divine Food, so as to ask how thou must frequent it? believe for cer∣tain, that none of these things doth hinder or hurt thee, whilst you preserve this purpose firm, not to sin, and your Will determined to avoid e∣very offence: and if thou hast confessed all those that thou couldst remember, doubt not but that thou art well prepared to come to this Heaven∣ly and Divine Table.