the mystical temple of god 618 And so, first of all, Touch, if it performs its function properly, is of great service in advancing the beauty and strength of our Temple: the hands with honest works provide all that is necessary for the body: by nourishing it, supporting it, and keeping it safe; they also benefit the mind: by exercises, by praiseworthy and devout occupations, or when we read approved books, or when we write what is useful and salutary, or when we distribute alms, or serve our neighbor out of love. For we include under touch whatever our hands perform. Yet we wish to be far from what can defile the body or soul, so that each of us can boast with the royal psalmist,115 singing: “I will wash my hands in innocence and walk round your altar, LORD” (Ps 26:6). For when our hands refrain from any deed that is not good, let alone from the shedding of innocent blood, (of which I would not wish even to hear among Christians, least of all to be done), then they conserve the cleanliness of the heart, which is the altar of the Mystical Temple, indeed thus defend it, as the defenders do with city walls. For the body is disciplined with these hands, lest, as Paul warns us, “it fights against the soul”;116 with these is formed the sign of the Cross that puts unholy thoughts to flight and shuts up entirely the access of the devil to us. Touch then is very beneficial and a most necessary minister for the Mystical Temple, provided it is on guard against what ought not to be touched. Taste is settled in the mouth: therefore we can attribute to it whatever is done by the mouth. You could call this the holiest minister if its only taste is for the praise of God alone. David aspired to this singing: “Let my mouth be filled with praise, that I may sing your glory, your greatness all the day long” (Ps 71:8). But if you also avoid food that is superfluously seasoned, and not only superfluous, and avoid luxurious drink, and not only too much of it, your taste will better serve reason. I do not insist that 115 King David. 116 In none of St. Paul’s writings can such a phrase be found. It would appear therefore that the author is erroneously ascribing such a warning to St. Paul, which is actually expressed by St. Peter in the following words: “[I urge you] to keep yourselves free from the desires of the flesh, which attack the soul” (1 Pet 2:11).
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==