TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF MONSEIGNEUR DE LA BOUILLERIE, Archbishop of Perga, Coadjutor of Bordeaux.
He tells us. "The labourer is worthy of his hire:" measure the dignity of thy work by the price of thy hire. It is I Who will be thy reward. Do not ask of the vanities of the world a reward, which would be vain. I am of more value than all the riches of the world, I Will be thy Reward.
Oh, how can we help being moved by this offer? How not respond to this divine appeal? How, with this crown before us, not accept the combat! Jacob laboured seven years and again seven years in order to possess Rachel. Every morning, if we will, the Eucharist offers us Its divine embrace, and can we remain idle?
The Eucharist is a reward; It is also repose. See how calm it is around the tabernacle, how peace dwells there, what an atmosphere of rest one breathes there. Well, then, this calm, this peace, this rest, the Eucharist communicates to every faithful soul. And, in truth, where is the pious soul which, after the fatigues of the day, does not love to come to the feet of the tabernacle and repeat there the words of the Psalmist, — "Here is my rest," It adds with the same prophet, — "My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. For the sparrow hath found herself an house, and the turtle a nest for herself, where she may lay her young ones. Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God." Yes, my house—it is the tabernacle, a house enclosed and sheltered, where I am sure to find a refuge. Yes, my nest—it is the tabernacle, a soft nest where doves sleep, and where my soul sleeps in Thee. On this point, O Christian soul, I appeal to you. Recall to yourself such and such a circumstance when your strength seemed to fail. You came to seek at the feet of the holy altar the repose that you needed, and, according to the expression of the Psalmist, "After having tasted the sleep which God gives to His beloved," you arose more zealous for the hard cares of labour. The Eucharist is repose.
He tells us. "The labourer is worthy of his hire:" measure the dignity of thy work by the price of thy hire. It is I Who will be thy reward. Do not ask of the vanities of the world a reward, which would be vain. I am of more value than all the riches of the world, I Will be thy Reward.
Oh, how can we help being moved by this offer? How not respond to this divine appeal? How, with this crown before us, not accept the combat! Jacob laboured seven years and again seven years in order to possess Rachel. Every morning, if we will, the Eucharist offers us Its divine embrace, and can we remain idle?
The Eucharist is a reward; It is also repose. See how calm it is around the tabernacle, how peace dwells there, what an atmosphere of rest one breathes there. Well, then, this calm, this peace, this rest, the Eucharist communicates to every faithful soul. And, in truth, where is the pious soul which, after the fatigues of the day, does not love to come to the feet of the tabernacle and repeat there the words of the Psalmist, — "Here is my rest," It adds with the same prophet, — "My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. For the sparrow hath found herself an house, and the turtle a nest for herself, where she may lay her young ones. Thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God." Yes, my house—it is the tabernacle, a house enclosed and sheltered, where I am sure to find a refuge. Yes, my nest—it is the tabernacle, a soft nest where doves sleep, and where my soul sleeps in Thee. On this point, O Christian soul, I appeal to you. Recall to yourself such and such a circumstance when your strength seemed to fail. You came to seek at the feet of the holy altar the repose that you needed, and, according to the expression of the Psalmist, "After having tasted the sleep which God gives to His beloved," you arose more zealous for the hard cares of labour. The Eucharist is repose.
