The mind of the Holy See once more plainly declared itself by the mouth of Leo XIII. In his splendid encyclical on the Holy Eucharist, issued on the Feast of Corpus Christi, 1902, the late Pontiff left -us-almost as his last will and testament-some golden words concerning our Saviour's dying legacy of love: "It was towards the close of His mortal life that Christ our Lord left this memorial of His measureless love for men-this powerful means of support ' for the life of the world.' And precisely for this reason We, being so ...
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The mind of the Holy See once more plainly declared itself by the mouth of Leo XIII. In his splendid encyclical on the Holy Eucharist, issued on the Feast of Corpus Christi, 1902, the late Pontiff left -us-almost as his last will and testament-some golden words concerning our Saviour's dying legacy of love: "It was towards the close of His mortal life that Christ our Lord left this memorial of His measureless love for men-this powerful means of support ' for the life of the world.' And precisely for this reason We, being so soon to depart this life, can wish for nothing better than that it may be granted to Us to stir up and foster in the hearts of all men the disposition of mindful gratitude and due devotion towards this wonderful Sacrament." Again "But the chief aim of our efforts must be that the frequent reception of the Eucharist 'may be everywhere revived among Catholic people. For this is the lesson which is taught us by the example of the primitive Church, by the decrees of Councils, by the authority of the Fathers and holy men in all ages. Accordingly, all prejudices to the contrary, all those vain fears to which so many yield, and their specious excuses for abstaining from the Holy Eucharist, must be wholly put aside" In the above forcible words of our late Holy Father we have the answer to a possible difficulty: "How is it that the Church has only awoke at this eleventh hour to the ilnportance of frequent Communion? This advocacy of frequent Conlmunion is a new thing." Clearly it is no new thing. The Church has" by decrees of Councils, by the authority of the Fathers and holy men in all ages," taught the immense importance of the practice. But those "prejudices," those "vain fears," those "specious excuses," have to a large extent hindered the faithful from learning the lesson as they should. A contrary practice-as the decree of December, 1905, tells us-has " survived the declarations of the Holy See." In 1900, Leo XIII. had already expressed his mind in similar terms in a Brief addressed to Pere Coube, S.J., a zealous champion of Frequent Communion. " Those who are labouring to strengthen the faith and to reform morals are well advised when they make it their endeavour to exhort the faithful to approach the Holy Table as often as possible; for the more frequently one receives this Holy Sacrament, the more abundant are the fruits of holiness derived therefrom." In February, 1905, our Holy Father, Pope Pius X., caused to be issued an indulgenced prayer" For the spread of the practice of daily Communion." In this devout petition the suppliant is made to entreat our Divine Lord in these terms: "Pour out Thy Divine Spirit in order that those who, through Thy gift, are already living the divine life of grace may, when able, devoutly approach Thy Holy Table daily. So that, receiving through daily Communion the remedy for their daily venial sins, and nourishing in themselves day by day the life of Thy grace, and thus ever purifying their souls more and more, they may at length be united in securing the life of the blessed with Thee." The fact that this prayer has been sanctioned by the Holy Father wonld of itself suffice to prove his own ardent desire to see daily Communion propagated amongst his children. But the grant of an indulgence (300 days) once a day for the devout use of the prayer made it still more plain that the Holy See purported to lead Catholics back as far as possible to primitive Eucharistic practice. The decided step taken by our Holy Father in that direction is but one more application of the motto which he pu blic1y adopted upon ascending the pontifical throne Instaurardc omnia in Christo-" To renew all things in Christ."
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