The Bread of the Strong

Stories & Legends

The Bread of the Strong

Gregory Johnson

In the life of St. Philip Neri we read that one day a young man who was leading a very impure life came to the Saint for Confession. Knowing that there was no better remedy against concupiscence than the most sacred Body of Jesus Christ, St. Philip counseled him to frequent the Sacraments. By this means he was in a short time entirely freed from his vicious habits and became pure like an Angel.

The great power of the Eucharist

When Ramirus, King of Spain, had been figthing a long time against the Saracens, he retired with his soldiers to a mountain to implore the assistance of Almighty God. While he was at prayer, St. James the Apostle appeared to him and commanded him to make all his soldiers go to Confession and Communion the next day and then to lead them out against the enemies. After all had been done that the Saint commanded, they again had an engagement with the Saracens and gained a complete and brilliant victory.

In our conflict with the Devil, how much more shall we not be enabled, by means of Holy Communion, to put him to flight and cover him with shame and confusion! St. Thomas says: "Hell was subdued by the death of our Savior, and since the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar is a mystical renewal of the death of Jesus Christ, the devils no sooner behold His Body and Blood in us, than they immediately take to flight, giving place to the Angels, who draw nigh and assist us."

St. John Chrysostom says: "As the Angel of destruction passed by all the Israelites without doing them any harm because he found the blood of the lamb, so the Devil passes by us when he beholds within us the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God."

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Selected from Michael Muller, The Blessed Eucharist,
Rockford: TAN, 1994, pp. 120-121
Posted October 30, 2010

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