Ave Maria Meditations
All spiritual writers agree that the best sign you can have a solid devotion is amendment of life and perseverance in good. I began to amend my life by frequenting Holy Communion after having tried every other way and failed. When I went rarely to Holy Communion I had no end of bad habits and imperfections which appeared to me insurmountable. I improve on these by multiply my Communions. Every time I omitted frequent Communion, I felt my weakness more. When I received Communion again, I felt fervor rekindle in my heart…
No fervent soul has ever relaxed who did not first leave off receiving the Holy Eucharist. If I found that when going frequently to Communion, I became no better, was still just as weak, just as prone to evil, just as indifferent about sin, I should conclude not that I ought to leave off going, but that I ought to receive our Lord with better disposition. I should see if my confessions were wanting in sincerity, contrition, or purpose of amendment. If you are sinful, repent so that you can receive Communion often. If you are imperfect, go often to Communion that you may amend your faults.
My daily Mass and Communion are my only hope and resource. Jesus Christ will counsel me and give me new strength; He will instruct, console, and encourage me and give me all the graces for which I pray.
Saint Claude La Colombiere
(note that First Friday is November 5th: don’t miss the graces!)
