CHRIST IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST AS HEAD OF ALL THE SAINTS.

"O God, my God! To Thee I watch from the morning light." (Ps. 62:2)

I.

Imagine yourself among the blessed Angels and Saints in heaven, contemplating the face of God, and consider: 1. How great are the glory, riches, beauty, and majesty of that infinite Being. "Thousands of thousands minister to Him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stand before Him." (Dan. 7:10) 2. Think how great is His power; for "whatsoever the Lord pleased He hath done in heaven, in earth, in the sea, and in all the depths." (Ps. 134:6) 3. How great is His wisdom. "Great is our Lord, and great is His power, and of His wisdom there is no number." (Ps. 146:5) 4. How great, too, is His immensity; "for He is higher than the heaven; deeper than hell; longer than the earth; and broader than the sea." (Job 11:8)

II.

This Majesty so great, this Head of all the Saints, whose memory you celebrate this day, does not disdain to enter the humble habitation of your soul. He even desires it Himself, for He says: "My delight is to be with the children of men." (Prov. 8:31) Not, indeed, that He stands in need of you, who are but dust and ashes; but because He wishes to enrich your poverty with the infinite treasures of His divinity. Reflect, therefore, who you are and who He is, and exclaim with the Royal Prophet: "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that Thou visitest him?" (Ps. 8:5)

III.

You must prepare your soul for the arrival of so great a guest. "Be prepared," says the prophet Amos, "to meet thy God, O Israel." (Amos 4:12) Wherefore, purify it first, as perfectly as you are able, not only from all mortal guilt, but also from all venial sin. "Blessed are the clean of heart," says Jesus Christ, "for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8) Kindle afterwards in your soul an ardent love, that you may long retain your heavenly Guest with you, for He says: "If any one love Me, we will come to him and make our abode with him." (John 14:23)