Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/176

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what humility, reverence, and devotion each one communicates. Do you imitate them when you approach the same table, and avoid following the example of Judas, who "ate and drank unworthily, eating and drinking judgment to himself, and not discerning the body of the Lord." (1 Cor. xi. 29.)

III. " Do this for a commemoration of Me."' (Luke xxii. 19.) Ponder the infinite liberality and charity of Christ, who, intending that this divine benefit should be continued through all ages, by these words gave power to the Apostles and their successors to consecrate His precious body and blood. This power was never granted even to angels. Reflect what a dignity it is; respect those whom Christ has honored so highly, and listen with obedience to those to whose voice Christ Himself is so obedient at the altar. Be ever grateful for this divine mystery, and always prepare yourself well to receive it.

TUESDAY.

Institution of the Holy Eucharist.— II.

I. Christ instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist immediately before His passion, to show His excess of love towards mankind by preparing for them a heavenly banquet, even at the very time when they were plotting His death. By this institution He also manifested the desire which He had of always remaining with us, even corporeally. The time was at hand when He was to leave this world: but He would not leave it without leaving us Himself in a peculiar manner. He wished, also, by this institution to leave us a memorial of His passion and death, as well as a living sacrifice (for the virtue of the ancient sacrifices ceased at His death), by which the fruit