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Institution of the
Sacrament of the Eucharist
26.1
First Point
This sacred day is a
happy one for all the faithful. It is the day on which Jesus Christ
instituted the sacrament of his body and blood. He multiplies himself in it
in order to be always with the faithful, to make sharers in his divinity,[i]
and to change their hearts and bodies into living tabernacles.[ii]
There he can remain as in a place pleasing to him and honorable for those
who receive him and in a way that is most advantageous for them.
It was for
the sake of his disciples and for those who share their spirit that Jesus
Christ instituted this sacrament. It is to let them share in his spirit that
he gives them his body in this august sacrament.
Adore Jesus
Christ in this action. Unite yourselves with his intention and take your
full and proper part in this holy institution.
26.2 Second Point
In instituting this
divine sacrament Jesus Christ changed bread into his flesh and wine into his
blood. It was on this very day that he became the living Bread come down
from heaven,[iii]
in order to unite himself with us, in order to incorporate himself in us,
and in order to communicate himself to the lowliness of a vile creature.
This
heavenly Bread unites him to our soul in order to nourish it with God
himself and to make it grow strong, to use Tertullian's expression, with the
flesh of Jesus Christ.
He puts
aside all the splendor of his divinity to take on the appearance of ordinary
bread, an appearance which has no proportion to what it really contains.
What takes the place of the bread is his own true substance, the object of
veneration for angels and for all his people.
Admire this
holy institution, make yourselves worthy to profit from it by a holy life,
and today beg Jesus Christ coming to you to destroy entirely your own
inclinations and spirit, so that you may have no other inclinations except
his and may no longer be guided except by his spirit.[iv]
26.3 Third Point
The love of Jesus Christ
for us led him to institute this divine sacrament in order to give himself
entirely to us and to remain always with us. He knew that immediately
afterward he would suffer and die for us, that this offering he would
make of himself on the cross would occur only once,[v]
and that after his ascension into heaven he would no longer appear among us.
This was why, to give us a sign of his tender love and goodness before
dying, he left to his apostles and to the whole Church in their persons his
body and blood, to be for us in the ages to come a precious proof of the
tender love he feels for us.
Today,
receive this gift with respect and thanksgiving. Give Jesus love in return
for his love, considering what a great benefit you receive, and may this
love you have for him and the desire you have to unite yourselves with him
lead you to have a great love for frequent Communion.
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