THE REWARD OF ENDURANCE IN THE BATTLE OF FAITH.

war, and fight the spiritual combat of the faith; he must not suffer himself to be enticed by false friends or to be terrified by open enemies, or let his heart be seduced by seeming treasures, or open his mind to diabolical suggestions and doctrines; but, like David, he must say: "The Lord is my defence, of whom shall I be afraid?" And thus, like David, through the strength given to him by the unction of the Holy Ghost, in this most merciful sacrament, he will come to his throne.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL THE SACRAMENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST,

OR,

The third Pillar of the House of Wisdom.

1. THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. II. THE DIVINE PRESENCE ABIDING WITH THE CHURCH. III. THE HOLY SACRIFICE PROPITIATORY FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD.

THE Catechism of the Council of Trent, in treating of this most holy sacrament, observes, that "since its fruits and benefits are so immense that they cannot be sufficiently explained in any single discourse, pastors must content themselves to take this or that point by itself, in order to show, by degrees, the unlimited affluence and abundance of all good things that are contained in these most holy mysteries."

In the spirit of this wise advice we may now approach this most holy mystery, which is justly styled "THE FOUNTAIN OF ALL THE SACRAMENTS," inasmuch, to use the words of the same

THE THREEFOLD BLESSING CONTAINED IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

Catechism, as it contains in a wonderful manner, within itself, CHRIST THE LORD, the author of all the sacraments and the source of every heavenly gift. Without presuming to undertake fully to explain so inexhaustible a treasure of grace, we may proceed to the following brief statement of the threefold blessing, which it has pleased the Lord of Life to confer upon his church in this most holy mystery.

The most Holy Eucharist has above all other sacraments this, which is proper to itself, that it contains in itself an image of the Blessed Trinity, inasmuch as it fulfils a threefold office or mission in the church, the nature and reasons of which will be explained in treating of them separately. The Holy Eucharist is,

I.—The blessed sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord, in which He gives Himself for the life of the world, to be taken and eaten by his faithful people, as formerly the manna which fell in the wilderness was the actual food of Israel.

II. The perpetual Divine Presence, which the faithful people can at all times seek, and in which the familiar friendship of God with man, that was the especial glory of paradise, is again restored.

III. The Adorable Sacrifice which is offered upon the altars of the church in the holy mass, and which is ever