Untitled - Saints' Books

2 1 6 Material for Instructions. [PART n
here: let me go freely to my God, with all my intelli
gence and with all my heart, and when we have adored
we shall return to you; we shall return, alas! and we
shall return too soon."
In a letter to St. Jane Chantal,
St. Francis de Sales said: When I turn to the altar to
begin Mass, I lose sight of everything on this earth.
Hence, during the celebration of Mass, the priest should
take leave of all worldly thoughts, and should think
only of the great action that he is going to perform,
and of the heavenly bread he is going to eat at the
divine table. When thou shalt sit to eat with a prince,
says Solomon, consider diligently what is set before thy
to call from
face. 2 Let him consider that he is
going
heaven to earth the Incarnate Word; to treat with
him familiarly on the altar; to offer him again to
the eternal Father; and finally to partake of his
sacred flesh. In preparing to celebrate, Father John
d Avila would endeavor to excite his fervor by say
ing: am now "I going to. consecrate the Son of God,
to hold him in my hands, to converse and treat with
him, and to receive him into my heart."
The priest should also consider that he ascends the
altar to perform the office of intercessor for all sinners,
says St. Laurence Justinian. 3 Thus the priest on the
altar stands between God and men, presents their peti
tions, and obtains for them the divine graces, says St.
Chrysostom. 4 It is for this reason, says St. Thomas,
"Curse, sollicitudines, servitutes, exspectate me hie, donee ego
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cum puero, ratio cum intelligentia, usque illuc properantes, postquam
adoraverimus, revertamur ad vos; revertemur enim, et, heu ! revertemur
quam citissime."
"2 De Antore Dei, c. i.
Quando sederis ut comedas cum principe, diligenter attende
quae apposita sunt ante faciem tuam." Prov. xxiii. i.
Mediatoris gerit officium; propterea delinquentium omnium debet
esse precator." Serm. dc Euchar.
Medius stat Sacerdos inter Deum et naturam humanam, illinc
"
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venientia beneficia ad nos deferens," In fsaiatn, horn. 5.