Welcome! Holy Communion - Before and After (Paperback)

MANY circumstances will determine the character of our preparation for the visit of a guest-his rank, his relations with us, the object of his visit, and perhaps Onr special needs at the time. But one disposition will ensure its fitness and its acceptableness in every caso. Let him but hear "Welcome" from our lips, or rather see "Welcome " in our face, and he will be satisfied. "Welcome" greets the sovereign in letters of light. It is seemly on the lips of the poorest peasant, of the casual acquaintance, of the intimate friend, of the parent, and of the child It never tires, it never grows monotonous or superfluous. For it takes a new meaning with every change of circumstance affecting our guest or ourselves. If either is joyous or sad, wronged, weary, anxious, burdened, disturbed-it suits itself to every need. Our Lord is one of us and like us in all things, sin excepted. His Heart responds like ours to the sound of "Welcome " It beat quicker as, tired at evening with His daily toil, He crossed the threshold of His house at Nazareth and read it in Mary's face. As He saw it stamped clear and bright all the house over at Bethany. As He heard Martha.'s greeting, reverent yet hearty, and her sister's whisper inaudible to all but Him. So sweet to His ear is its sound, that He condescends to invite it: "Zacheus, make haste and come down, for this day I must abide in thy house. And he came down and received Him with joy." "And they drew nigh to the town whither they were going, and He made as though He would go farther. But they constrained Him, saying: stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent. And He went in with them."