STAND FAST IN THE FAITH

New Zealand Tablet, 28 August 1913, Page 3

STAND FAST IN THE FAITH

(A Weekly Instruction specially written for the N.Z. Tablet by ‘Ghimel’,) FREQUENT AND DAILY COMMUNION. V.—THE COMMUNION OF CHILDREN (Continued.) In confirmation of what has been already said on the subject of children’s Communions, we intend to quote this week some passages from a sermon preached by our Holy Father a couple of years ago to the First Communicant pilgrims from France. And great importance should be attached to the Pope’s wishes in this matter, for he speaks not only with the learning of a deep theologian and the wisdom born of vast experience with souls, but with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, for this is a matter that vitally concerns the interests of ♦men. To put it at the lowest, his views are a far safer guide than our own feelings. His Holiness said: ‘ We read in the Gospel that, one day, our Divine Lord called to Him a little child like you, - and, placing it in the midst of His Apostles, said to them; “See that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels always see the face of My Father, Who is in heaven” (Matt., xviii., 10). Alas! those heavenly guardians are but too often saddened and filled with horror at the corruption, and sinful stains which they behold in those committed to their charge. ‘The angels of children, on the contrary, though never distracted by their watchful care from the everblessed vision of God, Whom they see face to face in His eternal light, find Him afresh in the souls of children, reflected, as it were, in a mirror of innocence, purity, and candour. But if this be true of all children, as well as of your like, whom our Lord placed in the midst of His Apostles, what would He have said, dear little ones, of you, who have received His very Self, together with His Divinity and Sacred Humanity, in Holy Communion, wherein you have united your flesh to His Flesh and your blood to His Blood, and your heart has throbbed so close to His? What would He have said about your holy angels, since your partaking of the Holy Eucharist raises you above them? They have never had granted to them the privilege which you enjoy of feeding upon Jesus Christ, forming one same thing with Him, and being united to Him so far as, in a certain maimer, to make His divine nature and infinite perfections your own. By thus communicating Himself to you, this amiable Saviour imparts truth and justice to your minds, holiness to your wills, and good* ness to your hearts. And so the faithful Catholic, who receives Communion, can say in very truth, after St. Paul: Jesus Christ is my life. ... I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Phil, i., 21 Gal. ii., 20). ‘Thus, since God is unsullied purity, he who is united to Christ in Holy Communion, rising like a spotless dove above the muddy waters of this wretched world, wings its flight and seeks refuge in the bosom of God— bosom of Him Who is purer than the spotless snow that crowns the mountain tops. God being infinite beauty, the soul united to Christ, draws upon himself the admiring and tender gaze of the angels, who— they capable of any passion—would be filled with envy of his lot. ‘ Moreover, God being charity in his very essence, the faithful soul united to Jesus Christ is, as it were, rapt in a blissful ecstasy. For charity transforms him. It reveals itself in his whole bearing, and even in his very countenance, in the generous impulses of his heart and in the sweetness of his words, which distil like honey from his lips. Everything about him suggests and betokens love. 65 ‘ Last of all, God being goodness —and goodness, in the language of Scripture, is the same' as perfection the Christian, who is united to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, finds in the efficacy of this Sacrament all manner of perfection and holiness. From it he draws strength to rise above himself, to seek after

eternal joys, and to despise the deceitful goods of this world, as incapable'. quenching his desires. , . . ' And thus is fulfilled the promise of our Lord: He that; eateth this Bread hath eternal life (John vi., 55). He does not say that eternal life is reserved for him in the future, but that he has it already, and holds the sure pledge of it. . . . .’ ... • ‘ To these congratulations I will add some counsels which I beg you to bear well in mind. You have tasted of 'these Divine favors, of which I have been speaking, before obtaining a full and perfect understanding ■of them. For, at your age, the devout affection of the heart still waits for the full development of your minds. Hence, I recommend first of all, that, as the outcome of your visit to the Pope, you resolve and solemnly promise to continue attending. your catechism class for a long time to come. There, by perfecting yourselves with loving diligence in the knowledge of Christian doctrine, you will learn, along with the truths of our holy religion, that the Eucharist is the centre of faith, the final goal of all other devotion, the source of all good, the stream of all graces, the balm for all sorrows, the Bread of Life, the Viaticum sustaining us on our journey towards eternity, and at once the pledge and the foretaste of endless happiness. * My dear children and dear First Communicants, you have received our Lord for the first time. But that is not enough. Day by day we beg of God the bread that is to sustain the life of our bodies. We have equal need of the Heavenly Bread for supporting the life of the soul. My second piece of advice is that you receive Communion frequently, if you cannot do so daily, so as to unite yourselves to your Saviour. * In conclusion, I desire that the love of our Lord should obtain full possession of your hearts so that He may change you into zealous apostles of His glory. You. must be the treasure of your families, consoling them by your good conduct, and winning them to frequent Communion by your example. At school your piety must excite emulation among your young schoolmates. In your parish, let all see in you protecting angels. All around you, in fine, you will help, so far as in you lies, by your prayers, good conduct, and by the very charm of your modesty to convert sinners, and bring back the unbelieving and indifferent to Christ.’