Imitation 4 233 verses
1The Voice of the Disciple.
2Trusting in Thy goodness and great mercy, O Lord, I draw near, the sick to the Healer, the hungering and thirsting to the Fountain of life, the poverty-stricken to the King of heaven, the servant to , the creature to the Creator, the desolate to my own gentle Comforter.
3But whence is this unto me, that Thou comest unto me?
4Who am I that Thou shouldest offer me Thyself?
5How doth a sinner dare to appear before Thee?
6And how dost thou vouchsafe to come to the sinner?
7Thou knowest Thy servant, and Thou knowest that he hath in him no good thing for which Thou shouldest grant him this grace.
8I confess therefore mine own vileness, I acknowledge Thy goodness, I praise Thy tenderness, and I give Thee thanks for Thine exceeding great love.
9For Thou doest this for Thine own sake, not for my merits, that Thy goodness may be more manifest unto me, Thy charity more abundantly poured out upon me, and Thy humility more perfectly commended unto me.
10Therefore because this pleaseth Thee and Thou hast commanded that thus it shall be, Thy condescension pleaseth me also; and oh that mine iniquity hinder it not.
11O most sweet and tender , what reverence, what giving of thanks is due to Thee with perpetual praise for the receiving of Thy sacred Body and Blood, the dignity whereof no man is found able to express.
12But what shall I think upon in this Communion in approaching my Lord, whom I am not able worthily to honour, and nevertheless whom I long devoutly to receive?
13What shall be better and more healthful meditation for me, than utter humiliation of myself before Thee, and exaltation of Thine infinite goodness towards me?
14I praise Thee, O my God, and exalt Thee forevermore.
15I despise myself, and cast myself down before Thee into the deep of my vileness.
16Behold, Thou art the Saint of saints and I the refuse of sinners; behold, Thou stoopest unto me who am not worthy to look upon Thee; behold, Thou comest unto me, Thou willest to be with me, Thou invitest me to Thy feast.
17Thou willest to give me the heavenly food and bread of angels to eat; none other, in truth, than Thyself, “The living bread, which didst descend from heaven; and givest life to the world.”
18Behold, whence this love proceedeth!
19what manner of condescension shineth forth herein.
20What great giving of thanks and praise is due unto Thee for these benefits!
21Oh how salutary and profitable Thy purpose when Thou didst ordain this!
22How sweet and pleasant the feast when Thou didst give Thyself for food!
23Oh how admirable is thy working, O Lord, how mighty Thy power, how unspeakable Thy truth!
24For Thou didst speak the word, and all things were made; and this is done which Thou hast commanded.
25A thing wonderful, and worthy of faith, and surpassing all the understanding of man, that Thou, O Lord my God, very God and very man, givest Thyself altogether to us in a little bread and wine, and art so our inexhaustible food.
26Thou, O Lord of all, who hast need of nothing, hast willed to dwell in us through Thy Sacrament.
27Preserve my heart and my body undefiled, that with a joyful and pure conscience I may be able very often to [celebrate, and] receive to my perpetual health.
28Thy mysteries, which Thou hast consecrated and instituted both for Thine own honour, and for a perpetual memorial.
29Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks unto God for so great a gift and precious consolation, left unto thee in this vale of tears.
30For so oft as thou callest this mystery to mind and receivest the body of , so often dost thou celebrate the work of thy redemption, and art made partaker of all the merits of .
31For the charity of never groweth less, and the greatness of His propitiation is never exhausted.
32Therefore, by continual renewal of thy spirit, thou oughtest to dispose thyself hereunto and to weigh the great mystery of salvation with attentive consideration.
33So great, new, and joyful ought it to appear to thee when thou comest to communion, as if on this selfsame day for the first time were descending into the Virgin’s womb and becoming man, or hanging on the cross, suffering and dying for the salvation of mankind.
