When the faithful considers his numerous weaknesses and the grievous temptations which assail him, and recalls that Jesus invites and commands him to receive Holy Communion, he is filled with a holy confidence because he knows that he will receive the necessary help from this Celestial Food.
The frequent and daily reception of Holy Communion withdraws one from evil and comforts one in good, lt is food not only for the strong, but also the weak. It is food necessary to recuperate, conserve, increase and fortify the sanctity of our soul.
Knowing the necessity of preparing ourselves well to receive Holy Communion, let us ask Jesus to give us a lively faith, simplicity of heart, peace, zeal, fervor, confidence and especially humility and love of God. If we receive Holy Communion with these dispositions, our mind will be refreshed and illuminated, and our souls will be enriched with many graces and celestial favors.
Every day Jesus descends upon the altar at the words of the priest. All the faithful are, in a certain sense, priest, because they are members of the mystical Body of Christ and they are participators in offering, in union with the priest, with Jesus Christ and the Church,
the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. Let us unite ourselves to this offering and meditate on the necessity to bear our cross as Christ did.The best preparation for Holy Communion is to elect Jesus as King of our heart. That is, make Him absolute ruler of us and make ourselves obedient to Him in all and never refuse Him anything.
Love is an excellent thing, a very great blessing,
It makes every difficulty easy,
and bears all wrongs with equanimity.Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger,
Nothing is higher or wider; nothing is more pleasant,
Nothing is fuller, and nothing is better in heaven or on earth,for love is born of God and cannot
rest except in God, Who is above all created things.Love is an excellent thing, a very great blessing,
It makes every difficulty easy,
and bears all wrongs with equanimity.
Translation by Aloysius Croft
Magna res est amor, magnum omnino bonum,
Quod solum leve facit omne onerosum,
Et fert aequaliter omne in aequale.Nihil dulcius est amore, nihil fortius,
Nihil altius, nihil latius, nihil jocundius,
Nihil plenius nec melius in coelo et in terra.Quia amor ex Deo natus est, nec potest,
Nisi in Deo, super omnia creata quiescere.Magna res est amor, magnum omnio bonum,
Quod solum leve facit omne onerosum,
Et fert aequaliter omne in aequale.