examination of the heart 456 FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST THE LORD Before Holy Communion 1. “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled” (Lk2:1). Consider that just as peace was thriving in the whole world at the time of Augustus, when Christ was going to be born, and thus the census of all its inhabitants was being made; in the same way, today you should calm all [f.146v] the powers of your soul and your senses and try to procure great peace in your heart, while recording all the defects, imperfections, and stains of your soul, so that on the Birthday of the true God-Man, you would be ready to receive Him. Therefore, examine your conscience; so that, having wiped away all its stains through the Sacrament of Penance, you may be reborn into a new man; so that with the newborn Jesus you may exercise the virtues and produce better fruits of perfection. 2. “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened” (Lk 2:15). If the shepherds had such a great desire to see the newborn Jesus that they urged each other to be on their way to Bethlehem, with what great eagerness then are you obliged to receive today the One Whom they encouraged each other to go greet? You should be ashamed of your great tepidness, with which you prepare yourself as if sleepy to approach the heavenly King. Is there anything under the sun that tastes sweeter than this bread, which you are about to receive? Is there anything more salutary, more sumptuous? Come now! Drive away spiritual laziness; rush forward, lest the shepherds, that is, the lay people whom greater devotion can move to receive Christ today, precede you to Jesus. Hasten your step, lift up your mind, animate your heart, and say to all your senses: “Let us see this thing that has happened.”
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