“To the degrading drunkenness of the pleasures of the flesh and the blood have been opposed to the delicious banquet of the body and blood in the Most Holy Sacrament that brings us to the source of divine life.”

(Carta ascética… al presidente de uno de los coros de la Academia de San Miguel. Barcelona 1862, p. 26).

IN THE INNER STOREROOM

What are the ideals of a large part of our society today, of men and women and especially of young people?  It is usual reckoned as three: health, money, pleasure.  The wheel that keeps turning around is egotism. Looking not for what is good, true or beautiful but rather whatever pampers the senses now or provokes physical well-being even though it later leaves behind remorse and unease. Sadly, there are people and groups that throw into the air all kind of morality (natural and supernatural); people who dominate, who lie in order to prosper, who take advantage of the weak, who stand on others to get to the top.

This is not the path to a Christian conscience, or one that leads to true happiness.  The right direction is completely the opposite.  The trilogy of the honest and true believer is: spiritual health, evangelical poverty, unreserved love of God and brother

If instead of the drunkenness of irrational and passing enjoyment you choose the path of self-denial and the cross you will come, filled with joy, to the banquet of the body and blood of the Eucharistic Jesus, ‘that brings us to the source of divine life’ as Claret tells you.

If you are a convinced, practicing, and faithful Christian perhaps you still lack the complement of the ‘fervour’ of the flame or the embers that can make you burn with love and spread the flame wherever you go.  Search for this divine fire that burns in you with renewed ardour, in frequent communion and in the support of the Lord of glory before the Blessed Sacrament, in an intimate communion with Him who, ‘came to bring fire to the earth’ (Lk. 12:49), who loves us and is served by his friends to continue his redemptive and sanctifying mission in this world.