[Meditationes seu Contemplationes devotissimae]

In this, faithful soul, attend to the inestimable sacrament of divine piety. For the eternal wisdom, which manifests itself visibly, willed that just as bread is the refreshment of the angels through the immediate taste of divinity, so too is it for men, pilgrims in this valley of mortality, through the sacrament of the assumed humanity. Therefore, he placed the assumed flesh into the marrow of the faithful, so that through the food of the flesh one might enter into the taste of the divinity. O grace of ineffable piety! Behold, so that man might eat the bread of angels, the Creator of angels became man, feeding both and remaining whole. That bread, which gives itself to the angels for the joy of stability, gives itself to men as a remedy for weakness. And that which was the food of angels became our medicine. Furthermore, recognize, faithful soul, how prudently divine wisdom acted so that human infirmity would not shudder at the assumption of flesh. It veiled it under the species of the usual and primary food, and set it to be received in such a way that the senses are nurtured in the one, and faith is built up in the other. For the senses are nurtured in the one while they receive the familiar and accustomed food; but faith is built up in the other while, in that which is seen, it recognizes what is not seen. The species of bread and wine is set forth so that it may be taught that there is full and perfect refreshment in

the assumption of the body and blood of Christ, just as he himself testifies, saying, "My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." O precious and admirable food! For what feast can this be, or what is greater, in which not the flesh of calves or goats is offered to us, as once in the law, but the true God is offered to be consumed? What, therefore, is more miraculous than the sacrament, in which the bread is substantially converted into the body and the wine into the blood of Christ? For what is more wholesome than this sacrament, in which vices are purged, virtues are increased, and the mind is enriched with the abundance of all charisms? Rejoice, faithful soul, and in the reception of this sacrament, exult, singing sweetly: O sacred banquet, in which Christ is received, the memory of his passion is recalled, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

Concerning the captivity of Christ

A woodcut depicts a decorative initial Q with red penwork flourishes.
Who would not marvel and be stupefied, good Jesus, at how, when they came together with the betrayer, with bloody men, with swords and clubs, and seeking your soul, you offered yourself voluntarily and knocked them to the ground with your omnipotent arm? Not indeed for the sake of defense, but so that human presumption might be known to have no power against you except what you allowed, demanding it by its own guilt. You do not turn away from the kiss of the most holy mouth of your blood-stained beast, Judas.