Para mí es inconcebible que, teniendo ansias de ser feliz, no busques a Jesús. Después de comulgar lo tenemos todo, porque tenemos a Dios, que es nuestro cielo en el destierro. Me dirás que tú no sientes nada de esa felicidad. Pero yo te pregunto cómo te has preparado. Te penetraste de la grandeza de Dios y del amor infinito que te demuestra al reducirse a hostia? Cuando comulgues reflexiona sobre lo que vas a hacer: todo un Ser eterno, que no necesita de ti para nada, puesto que es todopoderoso, un Ser inmenso que está en todo lugar, un Ser infinito y majestuoso ante el cual los ángeles con su pureza tiemblan, viene lleno de infinito amor a ti, pobre criatura, llena de pecados y miserias. Entre tantas personas que existen en el mundo eres honrada tú con la visita de ese gran Rey. Más aún: para que te acerques a recibirlo deja su esplendor y, bajo la forma de pan, del más sencillo de los alimentos, se une a su pobre criatura, para hacerse una misma cosa con ella. Y El está ardiendo en infinito amor, y ella permanece fría e indiferente, sin agradecer tan señalado favor.
And in english...
To me, it's inconceivable that, yearning for happiness, you don't search for Jesus. After Communion we have everything. We have Him whole and entire, because we have God who is our heaven in this exile. You will tell me that you feel nothing of this happiness. But I ask you: how have you prepared for it? Have you delved into God's grandeur, into the infinite love He demonstrates by reducing Himself to a host? When you go to Communion, reflect on what you are about to do: receive a completely eternal Being who doesn't need you, since He is all powerful, an immense Being before whom the angels with their purity tremble. He comes, filled with infinite love for you, a poor creature full of sin and misery. Among the many people in the world, you are honored with a visit by that great King. Still more, that you may draw near to receive Him, He casts aside His splendor, and, under the form of bread, the simplest form of nourishment, He unites Himself to His poor creature and makes Himself one with her. And while He's afire with infinite love, she remains cold and indifferent and shows no gratitude for so signal a favor.
St. Teresa de los Andes. Letter 117 to cousin Herminia Valdes Ossa
And in english...
To me, it's inconceivable that, yearning for happiness, you don't search for Jesus. After Communion we have everything. We have Him whole and entire, because we have God who is our heaven in this exile. You will tell me that you feel nothing of this happiness. But I ask you: how have you prepared for it? Have you delved into God's grandeur, into the infinite love He demonstrates by reducing Himself to a host? When you go to Communion, reflect on what you are about to do: receive a completely eternal Being who doesn't need you, since He is all powerful, an immense Being before whom the angels with their purity tremble. He comes, filled with infinite love for you, a poor creature full of sin and misery. Among the many people in the world, you are honored with a visit by that great King. Still more, that you may draw near to receive Him, He casts aside His splendor, and, under the form of bread, the simplest form of nourishment, He unites Himself to His poor creature and makes Himself one with her. And while He's afire with infinite love, she remains cold and indifferent and shows no gratitude for so signal a favor.
St. Teresa de los Andes. Letter 117 to cousin Herminia Valdes Ossa