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The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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<strong>St</strong>. Philogonio, t. 1, p. 498, besides <strong>the</strong> passages quoted in this<br />

abstract. In <strong>the</strong> same comments on <strong>St</strong>. Mat<strong>the</strong>w, t. 7, Hom. 82, p. 788, he<br />

vehemently exhorts <strong>the</strong> faithful to approach <strong>the</strong> holy table with a<br />

burning thirst and earnest desire to suck in <strong>the</strong> spiritual milk, as it<br />

were, from <strong>the</strong> divine breasts. As children throw <strong>the</strong>mselves into <strong>the</strong><br />

bosom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir nurse or mo<strong>the</strong>r, and eagerly suck <strong>the</strong>ir breast, so ought<br />

we with far greater ardor to run to <strong>the</strong> sacred mysteries, to draw into<br />

our hearts, as <strong>the</strong> children <strong>of</strong> God, <strong>the</strong> grace <strong>of</strong> his Holy Spirit. To be<br />

deprived <strong>of</strong> this heavenly food ought to be to us <strong>the</strong> most sensible, nay,<br />

our only grief, (ib p. 788.) Nothing can be more tender than his<br />

exhortations to frequent communion; he even recommends it daily, (Hom.<br />

de <strong>St</strong>. Philogonio, t. 1, pp. 499, 500,) provided persons lead Christian<br />

lives, and bring suitable dispositions. But no solemnity can be a reason<br />

for those who are under <strong>the</strong> guilt <strong>of</strong> sin ever to approach in that state.<br />

(Ib,) No terms can be stronger than those in which he speaks in many<br />

places <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> enormity <strong>of</strong> a sacrilegious communion, which he compares to<br />

<strong>the</strong> crime <strong>of</strong> Judas who betrayed Christ, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jews who crucified him,<br />

sud <strong>of</strong> Herod who sought to murder him in his cradle, (Hom. 7, in Matt.<br />

p. 112, &c.,) and frequently explains <strong>the</strong> dispositions requisite to<br />

approach worthily <strong>the</strong> holy table, insisting chiefly on great purity <strong>of</strong><br />

soul, fervent devotion, and a vehement hunger and thirst after this<br />

divine banquet. (Hom. 17, in Heb. t. 12, p. 169. Hom. 24, in 1 Cor t.<br />

10, p. 218, &c.) He denounces <strong>the</strong> most dreadful threats <strong>of</strong> divine<br />

vengeance against unfaithful ministers who admit to it notorious<br />

sinners. (Hom. 72, in Matt. t. 7, pp. 789, 790.) "Christ," says he,<br />

"will demand <strong>of</strong> you an account <strong>of</strong> his blood, if you give it to those who<br />

are unworthy. If any such person presents himself, though he were<br />

general <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> army, or emperor, drive him from <strong>the</strong> holy table. <strong>The</strong><br />

power with which you are invested is above that <strong>of</strong> an emperor. If you<br />

dare not refuse to admit <strong>the</strong> unworthy, inform me. I will ra<strong>the</strong>r suffer<br />

my blood to be spilt than <strong>of</strong>fer this sacred blood to one who is<br />

unworthy," &c. (Ib.) In this work <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Chrysostom upon <strong>St</strong>. Mat<strong>the</strong>w, we<br />

meet with beautiful instructions on almost every Christian virtue. Read<br />

Hom. 38, on humility, which he styles <strong>the</strong> queen <strong>of</strong> all virtues; Hom. 58,<br />

where he calls it <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> a virtuous life; and Hom. 65, where<br />

he shows that it exalts a man above <strong>the</strong> highest dignities. On <strong>the</strong> entire<br />

contempt <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world as a nothing, Hom. 12, 33, &c. On <strong>the</strong> happiness <strong>of</strong><br />

him who serves God, whom <strong>the</strong> whole world cannot hurt, Hom. 24, 56, 90.<br />

Against avarice, Hom. 28, 74, 63. Against drunkenness, Hom. 70. On<br />

compunction, Hom. 41, where he proves it indispensable from <strong>the</strong><br />

continual necessity <strong>of</strong> penance for hidden sins, and for detraction,<br />

vain-glory, avarice, &c. We ought also to weep continually for our<br />

dangers. Speaking on <strong>the</strong> same virtue, Hom. 6, p. 94, he, teaches that<br />

compunction is <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> divine love, which consumes in <strong>the</strong> heart<br />

all affections for temporal things, so that a man is disposed with<br />

pleasure to part with <strong>the</strong> whole world and life itself. A soul is by it

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