The Imitation of Christ by Thomas À Kempis & Max von Habsburg & Robert Jeffery

Author:Thomas À Kempis & Max von Habsburg & Robert Jeffery
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Spirituality, Religion, Classics, Catholicism, Christianity
ISBN: 0141191767
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2013-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

On the great care needed to receive Christ in Communion

CHRIST: I am the lover of purity and the giver of all holiness. I look for a pure heart to be My resting place.1 Prepare and make ready for Me a large upper room, and there I will eat the Passover with you.2 If you want Me to come and live with you, dispose of the old leaven,3 and clean out the habitation of your heart.4 Shut out the whole world and its vicious uproar; and stay there alone, like a solitary sparrow on a rooftop.5 Acknowledge the digressions of your soul6 in bitterness. Every loving person reveals their affection by preparing the best and finest room for a close friend.

But you know that even your best preparations cannot be worthy of Me, even if you were to prepare for a whole year and do absolutely nothing else. Only by My mercy and grace are you permitted to approach My table. It is like a beggar who, being invited to a rich person’s table, is unable to offer anything in return except humble gratitude.7 Do whatever you can and do it diligently, not out of habit or necessity, but with awe and reverent love to receive the Body of your Lord and God, who kindly comes to you. It is My invitation and My command. I will supply whatever is lacking in you. So come and receive Me.8

When I grant you the grace of devotion, offer thanks to God, not because you deserve to enjoy it, but because I have had mercy on you. If you feel no devotion and suffer from a dry soul, persevere in prayer. Groan, knock9 and persist until you may be worthy to receive some crumb or drop of saving grace. You have need of Me; I have no need of you.10 You do not come to sanctify Me, but I come to sanctify you and lift you up. You come to be blessed and united to Me, so that you may receive new grace from God and be inspired afresh to amend your life. Do not neglect this grace.11 Always prepare yourself with great care, and invite the Beloved into your heart.

Not only must you prepare devoutly before Communion, but also continue your prayer after receiving the Sacrament. As much care is needed after Communion as the devout preparation before it. Great watchfulness is the best preparation for receiving richer graces. Those who return to outward pleasures will not be willing to do this. Beware of a lot of talk.12 Stay in a quiet place and enjoy the presence of God; for you hold Him, whom the whole world cannot remove from you. I am He to whom you need to offer your whole being so that, free from care, you may no longer live in yourself but in Me.13

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