examination of the heart 292 myself through sin from life, from God, from myself? Behold, by the grace of God I come back from hell itself! Then, remaining seated, that is gathering together again your thoughts, search for the causes, occasions and learn the manner of your death, so that henceforth you may be able to avoid it, fleeing from those evil deeds that had brought this death upon you. 3. “And [H]e gave him to his mother” (Lk 7:15). Consider that today’s dead young man signifies every sinner. For we were struck with the twofold death in Paradise itself: one — the death of the body, which no one can escape; the other — of the soul, which our most merciful Savior overcame by His death. Nevertheless, this death of the soul happens as many times as a mortal sin is committed. In addition to the act of the Redemption, our Savior instituted the salutary Sacrament of the Eucharist, connected with that of Penance. By this Sacrament Christ resurrected you from the dead today and gave you alive back to the Mother, that is, to the Church. Ask Him, who restored life to you, that He may preserve you in it forever. SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Before Holy Communion 1. “they were watching [H]im” (Lk 14:1). Just as the Pharisees carefully observed the Savior of the world while He dined at a Pharisee’s invitation, realize that many are watching you in the same way, as you go today to the Divine Banquet. The enemy of your soul, that infernal bandit, watches you and thwarts all [f.81v] opportunities for acquiring a good disposition. Achates,127 the most faithful guardian angel, watches over and prompts you to make the best preparation for the spiritual wedding. God ensures that He grants you at this sacred table all the graces that you need most for serving Him, just as a friend 127 The faithful companion of Aeneas. Cf. SLP, vol. I, Wydanie Adama Zawadzkiego, Vilnius 1841, p. 1040 (footnote 182).
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