With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union With Christ in the Sacrament
The devout soul desires to be completely united with Christ, to be fed by Him, and to respond to His love and kindness with a heart completely united to His.
Thomas a Kempis preaches about the deep desire to be completely united with Christ, to withdraw the heart from all created things, and to relish the celestial and eternal through Holy Communion. He expresses the longing to be absorbed by Christ, with self forgotten, and to experience true peace and rest in Him. Kempis highlights the unique privilege of having God near through the Eucharist, feeding His children with heavenly bread and offering His glorious Flesh to devout souls, showcasing God's unparalleled love and grace towards humanity.
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THE DISCIPLE
LET it be granted me to find You alone, O Christ, to open to You my whole heart, to enjoy You as my soul desires, to be disturbed by no one, to be moved and troubled by no creature, that You may speak to me and I to You alone, as a lover speaks to his loved one, and friend converses with friend.
I pray for this, I desire this, that I may be completely united to You and may withdraw my heart from all created things, learning to relish the celestial and the eternal through Holy Communion and the frequent celebration of Mass.
Ah Lord God, when shall I be completely united to You and absorbed by You, with self utterly forgotten? You in me and I in You? Grant that we may remain so together. You in truth are my Beloved, chosen from thousands, in Whom my soul is happy to dwell all the days of her life. You are in truth my pledge of peace, in Whom is the greatest peace and true rest, without Whom there is toil and sorrow and infinite misery.
You truly are the hidden God. Your counsel is not with the wicked, and Your conversation is rather with the humble and the simple.
O how kind is Your spirit, Lord, Who in order to show Your sweetness toward Your children, deign to feed them with the sweetest of bread, bread come down from heaven! Surely there is no other people so fortunate as to have their god near them, as You, our God, are present everywhere to the faithful, to whom You give Yourself to be eaten and enjoyed for their daily solace and the raising of their hearts to heaven.
Indeed, what other nation is so renowned as the Christian peoples? What creature under heaven is so favored as the devout soul to whom God comes, to feed her with His glorious Flesh? O unspeakable grace! O wonderful condescension! O love beyond measure, singularly bestowed upon man!
What return shall I make to the Lord for this love, this grace so boundless? There is nothing I can give more pleasing than to offer my heart completely to my God, uniting it closely with His. Then shall all my inner self be glad when my soul is perfectly united with God. Then will He say to me: "If you will be with Me, I will be with you." And I will answer Him: "Deign, O Lord, to remain with me. I will gladly be with You. This is my one desire, that my heart may be united with You."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Devout Soul's Desire for Union with Christ
- A. The longing for complete union with Christ
- B. The importance of Holy Communion and Mass
- C. The promise of peace and rest in Christ
- II. The Kindness of God's Spirit
- A. God's condescension in feeding His children with the Bread of Life
- B. The unique blessing of the Christian people
- C. The unspeakable grace of God's presence
- III. The Return of Love and Gratitude
- A. The desire to offer one's heart completely to God
- B. The promise of union with God
- C. The response of the soul to God's presence
Key Quotes
“You in truth are my Beloved, chosen from thousands, in Whom my soul is happy to dwell all the days of her life.” — Thomas a Kempis
“O how kind is Your spirit, Lord, Who in order to show Your sweetness toward Your children, deign to feed them with the sweetest of bread, bread come down from heaven!” — Thomas a Kempis
“O unspeakable grace! O wonderful condescension! O love beyond measure, singularly bestowed upon man!” — Thomas a Kempis
Application Points
- We should desire to be completely united with Christ and to be fed by Him through Holy Communion and Mass.
- We should respond to God's love and kindness by offering our heart completely to Him and uniting it closely with His.
- We should seek to relish the celestial and the eternal through the Bread of Life.