The Imitation of Christ

CHAPTER XV

That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial The Voice of the Beloved

Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He hath long time denied; He sometimes giveth at the end what at the beginning of prayer He hath deferred to give.

2. If grace were always given immediately, and were at hand at the wish, it would be hardly bearable to weak man. Wherefore the grace of devotion is to be waited for with a good hope and with humble patience. Yet impute it to thyself and to thy sins when it is not given, or when it is mysteriously taken away. It is sometimes a small thing which hindereth and hideth grace; (if indeed that ought to be called small and not rather great, which hindereth so great a good); but if thou remove this, be it small or great, and perfectly overcome it, thou wilt have what thou hast asked.

3. For immediately that thou hast given thyself unto God with all thine heart, and hast sought neither this nor that according to thine own will and pleasure, but hast altogether settled thyself in Him, thou shalt find thyself united and at peace; because nothing shall give thee so sweet relish and delight, as the good pleasure of the Divine will. Whosoever therefore shall have lifted up his will unto God with singleness of heart, and shall have delivered himself from every inordinate love or dislike of any created thing, he will be the most fit for receiving grace, and worthy of the gift of devotion. For where the Lord findeth empty vessels,173 there giveth He His blessing. And the more perfectly a man forsaketh things which cannot profit, and the more he dieth to himself, the more quickly doth grace come, the more plentifully doth it enter in, and the higher doth it lift up the free heart.

4. Then shall he see, and flow together, and wonder, and his heart shall be enlarged within him,174 because the hand of the Lord is with him, and he hath put himself wholly in His hand, even for ever. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed, that seeketh God with all his heart, and receiveth not his soul in vain. This man in receiving the Holy Eucharist obtaineth the great grace of Divine Union; because he hath not regard to his own devotion and comfort, but, above all devotion and comfort, to the glory and honour of God.

CHAPTER XVI

That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require His Grace The Voice of the Disciple

O most sweet and loving Lord, whom now I devoutly desire to receive, Thou knowest my infirmity and the necessity which I suffer, in what evils and vices I lie; how often I am weighed down, tempted, disturbed, and defiled. I come unto Thee for remedy, I beseech of Thee consolation and support. I speak unto Thee who knowest all things, to whom all my secrets are open, and who alone art able perfectly to comfort and help me. Thou knowest what good thing I most stand in need of, and how poor I am in virtues.

2. Behold, I stand poor and naked before Thee, requiring grace, and imploring mercy. Refresh the hungry suppliant, kindle my coldness with the fire of Thy love, illuminate my blindness with the brightness of Thy presence. Turn thou all earthly things into bitterness for me, all grievous and contrary things into patience, all things worthless and created into contempt and oblivion. Lift up my heart unto Thee in Heaven, and suffer me not to wander over the earth. Be Thou alone sweet unto me from this day forward for ever, because Thou alone art my meat and drink, my love and joy, my sweetness and my whole good.

3. Oh that Thou wouldest altogether by Thy presence, kindle, consume, and transform me into Thyself; that I may be made one spirit with Thee, by the grace of inward union, and the melting of earnest love! Suffer me not to go away from Thee hungry and dry; but deal mercifully with me, as oftentimes Thou hast dealt wondrously with Thy saints. What marvel if I should be wholly kindled from Thee, and in myself should utterly fail, since Thou art fire always burning and never failing, love purifying the heart and enlightening the understanding.

CHAPTER XVII

Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ The Voice of the Disciple

With the deepest devotion and fervent love, with all affection and fervour of heart, I long to receive Thee, O Lord, even as many Saints and devout persons have desired Thee in communicating, who were altogether well pleasing to Thee by their sanctity of life, and dwelt in all ardent devotion. O my God, Eternal Love, my whole Good, Happiness without measure, I long to receive Thee with the most vehement desire and becoming reverence which any Saint ever had or could have.

2. And although I be unworthy to have all those feelings of devotion, yet do I offer Thee the whole affection of my heart, even as though I alone had all those most grateful inflamed desires. Yea, also, whatsoever things a pious mind is able to conceive and long for, all these with the deepest veneration and inward fervour do I offer and present unto Thee. I desire to reserve nothing unto myself, but freely and entirely to offer myself and all that I have unto Thee for a sacrifice. O Lord my God, my Creator and Redeemer! with such affection, reverence, praise, and honour, with such gratitude, worthiness, and love, with such faith, hope, and purity do I desire to receive Thee this day, as Thy most blessed Mother, the glorious Virgin Mary, received and desired Thee, when she humbly and devoutly answered the Angel who brought unto her the glad tidings of the mystery of the Incarnation. Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.175

3. And as Thy blessed forerunner, the most excellent of Saints, John Baptist, being full of joy in Thy presence, leapt while yet in the womb of his mother, for joy in the Holy Ghost; and afterwards discerning Jesus walking amongst men, humbled himself exceedingly, and said, with devout affection, The friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice;176 even so I wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires, and to present myself unto Thee with my whole heart. Whence also, on behalf of myself and of all commended to me in prayer, I offer and present unto Thee the jubilation of all devout hearts, their ardent affections, their mental ecstasies, and supernatural illuminations and heavenly visions, with all the virtues and praises celebrated and to be celebrated by every creature in heaven and earth; to the end that by all Thou mayest worthily be praised and glorified for ever.

4. Receive my prayers, O Lord my God, and my desires of giving Thee infinite praise and unbounded benediction, which, according to the multitude of Thine unspeakable greatness, are most justly due unto Thee. These do I give Thee, and desire to give every day and every moment; and with beseechings and affectionate desires I call upon all celestial spirits and all Thy faithful people to join with me in rendering Thee thanks and praises.

5. Let all peoples, nations, and tongues praise Thee, and magnify Thy holy and sweet-sounding Name, with highest jubilations and ardent devotion. And let all who reverently and devoutly celebrate Thy most high Sacrament, and receive it with full assurance of faith, be accounted worthy to find grace and mercy with Thee, and intercede with all supplication for me a sinner; and when they shall have attained unto their wished-for devotion and joyous union with Thee, and shall depart full of comfort and wondrously refreshed from Thy holy, heavenly table, let them vouchsafe to be mindful of me, for I am poor and needy.

CHAPTER XVIII

That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith The Voice of the Beloved

Thou must take heed of curious and useless searching into this most profound Sacrament, if thou wilt not be plunged into the abyss of doubt. He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be oppressed by the glory thereof.177 God is able to do more than man can understand. A pious and humble search after truth is to be allowed, when it is always ready to be taught, and striving to walk after the wholesome opinions of the fathers.

2. Blessed is the simplicity which leaveth alone the difficult paths of questionings, and followeth the plain and firm steps of God's commandments. Many have lost devotion whilst they sought to search into deeper things. Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God. If thou understandest not nor comprehendest the things which are beneath thee, how shalt thou comprehend those which are above thee? Submit thyself unto God, and humble thy sense to faith, and the light of knowledge shall be given thee, as shall be profitable and necessary unto thee.

3. There are some who are grievously tempted concerning faith and the Sacrament; but this is not to be imputed to themselves but rather to the enemy. Care not then for this, dispute not with thine own thoughts, nor make answer to the doubts which are cast into thee by the devil; but believe the words of God, believe His Saints and Prophets, and the wicked enemy shall flee from thee. Often it profiteth much, that the servant of God endureth such things. For the enemy tempteth not unbelievers and sinners, because he already hath secure possession of them; but he tempteth and harasseth the faithful and devout by various means.

4. Go forward therefore with simple and undoubting faith, and draw nigh unto the Sacrament with supplicating reverence. And whatsoever thou art not enabled to understand, that commit without anxiety to Almighty God. God deceiveth thee not; he is deceived who believeth too much in himself. God walketh with the simple, revealeth Himself to the humble, giveth understanding to babes, openeth the sense to pure minds, and hideth grace from the curious and proud. Human reason is weak and may be deceived; but true faith cannot be deceived.

5. All reason and natural investigation ought to follow faith, not to precede, nor to break it. For faith and love do here especially take the highest place, and work in hidden ways in this most holy and exceeding excellent Sacrament. God who is eternal and incomprehensible, and of infinite power, doth great and inscrutable things in heaven and in earth, and His wonderful works are past finding out. If the works of God were of such sort that they might easily be comprehended by human reason, they should no longer be called wonderful or unspeakable.

1

John viii. 12.

2

Revelations ii. 17.

3

Ecclesiastes i. 8.

4

Psalm xciv. 12; Numbers xii. 8.

5

John viii. 25 (Vulg.).

6

Job vii. 1 (Vulg.).

7

1 Corinthians x. 13.

8

Jeremiah x. 23.

9

Luke xii. 43, 44.

10

Psalm iv. 4.

11

Psalm lxxv. 5.

12

Psalm xxv. 17.

13

Matthew xxiv. 44.

14

Luke xvi. 9.

15

Hebrews xiii. 14.

16

Wisd. v. 1.

17

Psalm xxxvii. 3.

18

Luke xvii. 21.

19

John xiv. 23.

20

Hebrews xiii. 14.

21

Isaiah lvii. 21.

22

1 Samuel xvi. 7.

23

2 Corinthians x. 18.

24

Isaiah xl. 6.

25

John xi. 28.

26

Psalm xxx. 6.

27

Job vii. 18.

28

Revelation ii. 7.

29

Matthew xxii. 21.

30

Luke xiv. 10.

31

Luke xvii. 10.

32

Psalm xxv. 16.

33

Matthew xvi. 24.

34

Matthew xxv. 41.

35

Luke xxiv. 46.

36

Romans viii. 18.

37

2 Corinthians xii. 2.

38

Acts ix. 16.

39

Luke ix. 23.

40

Acts xiv. 21.

41

Psalm lxxxv. 8.

42

1 Samuel iii. 9.

43

Psalm cxix. 125.

44

Exodus xx. 19.

45

John vi. 68.

46

John vi. 63.

47

Psalm xciv. 13.

48

Isaiah xxiii. 4.

49

2 Corinthians i. 3.

50

Psalms xxvii. 1-3; xix. 14.

51

Jeremiah x. 23.

52

Psalm lxxiii. 22.

53

Luke xviii. 19.

54

Psalm xxxi. 21.

55

Ecclesiastes xviii. 30.

56

Psalm xxxvii. 4.

57

Job xv. 15.

58

Psalm xxix. 16.

59

Psalm cxvii. 2.

60

Psalm iv. 9.

61

Philippians iii. 20.

62

Psalm cii. 9.

63

Hebrews xii. 4.

64

Psalm xxxii. 5.

65

Psalm lix. 16.

66

Job xxx. 7.

67

Acts v. 41.

68

Psalm lxxi. 12.

69

Isaiah xlv. 2.

70

Psalm cxxii. 7.

71

Psalm xliii. 3.

72

1 Peter iv. 7.

73

John xiv. 27.

74

Ecclesiastes ii. 11.

75

John xii. 27.

76

Psalm xl. 16.

77

Nahum i. 7.

78

Matthew vi. 34.

79

John xiv. 27; Psalm xiii. 5.

80

James i. 17.

81

John xv. 9.

82

Revelation iii. 18.

83

John xii. 9.

84

1 John ii. 15.

85

Psalm lxviii. 30.

86

Revelation ii. 17.

87

Romans viii. 17.

88

Psalm xci. 15.

89

1 Corinthians ix. 22.

90

1 Corinthians iv. 3.

91

Joshua ix. 14.

92

Matthew xxvi. 41.

93

Psalm viii. 4.

94

2 Corinthians xii. 5.

95

John v. 44.

96

1 Corinthians iv. 20.

97

Psalm xciv. 10.

98

Zephaniah i. 12.

99

1 Corinthians iv. 5.

100

Psalm lx. 11.

101

St. Agatha.

102

Psalm cxvi. 11; Romans iii. 4.

103

Matthew x. 17, 36.

104

Matthew xxiv. 23.

105

Luke ii. 35.

106

Proverbs xii. 21.

107

Psalm vii. 9.

108

1 Corinthians iv. 4.

109

Psalm cxliii. 2.

110

Zechariah xiv. 7.

111

Romans vii. 24.

112

Psalm cxx.

113

Psalm lxxi. 12.

114

Matthew vi. 21.

115

Philippians i. 20.

116

Psalm lxxxviii. 15.

117

Job xxix. 3.

118

Psalm xvii. 8.

119

Psalm cxix. 71.

120

Job xiii. 2.

121

Romans viii. 18.

122

Job x. 20, 21.

123

Luke xv. 20.

124

Psalm li. 17.

125

1 Peter ii. 11.

126

Romans vii. 12, 22. 25.

127

Romans vii. 18.

128

Philippians iv. 13.

129

2 Corinthians xii. 9.

130

John xiv. 6.

131

John viii. 32.

132

Matthew xix. 17, 21.

133

Matthew x. 24.

134

John xiv. 21.

135

1 Mac. ix. 10.

136

Psalm cxix. 137.

137

Psalm xix. 9.

138

Corinthians xiv. 33.

139

Psalm xxi. 3.

140

John xv. 19.

141

Wisd. vi. 8.

142

Revelation iv. 10; v. 14.

143

Matthew xviii. 3.

144

Philippians ii. 21.

145

Luke vi.

146

Psalm cxli. 8.

147

Matthew xi. 28

148

John vi. 51.

149

Matthew xxi. 26; Luke xxii. 19.

150

John vi. 51, 63.

151

1 Corinthians i. 30.

152

John vi. 51.

153

The words in brackets are only suitable for a priest.

154

Psalm lxviii. 10.

155

Psalm lxxxvi. 4.

156

Matthew xv. 32.

157

Genesis viii. 21.

158

Psalm cxlvii. 5.

159

Ezekiel xviii. 22, 23.

160

Luke xiv. 33.

161

1 Chronicles xxix. 11.

162

1 Chronicles xxix. 17.

163

Cant. ii. 17.

164

2 Corinthians iii. 18.

165

Psalm cxix. 105.

166

Leviticus xix. 2.

167

Mark xiv. 14, 15.

168

1 Corinthians v. 7.

169

Psalm cii. 7.

170

Cant. v. 10.

171

Deuteronomy iv. 7.

172

Luke xxiv. 32.

173

2 Kings iv.

174

Isaiah lx. 5.

175

Luke i. 38.

176

John iii. 29.

177

Proverbs xxv. 27 (Vulg.).