Works › Sermons on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist
Volume 13 · pp. 787–789
Sermon XXX. On the Effect of the Blood of Christ Sacramentally
A marker with ≈ is an approximate page boundary, placed by measure of the text; the page photographs remain the authority. In the paired views, clicking a page marker brings that page into view.
### Sermo XXX
### De effectu sanguinis Christi sacramentaliter
Venite, comedite panem meum, etc. Prov. ix, 5. Et alia ut supra.
Quae utilitas in sanguine Deo? Ps. xxix, 10. Qui bibit meum sanguinem, habet vitam aeternam. Joan. vi, 55.
I. Quaeritur de sanguine Christi, ut in Sacramento a fidelibus sumitur, quae sit utilitas ejus sive effectus? Ad hoc sciendum, quod sic sumptum possumus considerare tribus modis, scilicet,
I. Ut potum aquae vivae.
II. Ut vinum spirituale.
III. Ut sacrosanctum mysterium Ecclesiae.
De primo, Psal. lxxvii, 20: Percussit petram, et fluxerunt aquae. Sicut petra significat corpus Christi: ita aquae illae sanguinem ejus, quia est verus et vivus potus animae.
De secundo, Prov. ix, 3: Venite, bibite vinum quod miscui vobis, id est, sanguinem Christi multa dulcedine plenum et conditum.
De tertio, ad Hebr. xiii, 12: Jesus, ut sanctificaret per suum sanguinem populum, extra portam passus est. Ergo sanguinis Christi res sanctificans est et sacrosancta. Complenda orat: "Quaesumus Domine, ut sacrosancta mysteria praesens remedium nobis esse facias et futurum."
Juxta considerationem et similitudinem cujuslibet istorum trium habet sanguis Christi triplicem effectum.
I. Primo, potest considerari sanguis Christi potus, ut potus aquae vivae. Sed potus, ut dicunt Physici, est humectivus aridorum, exstinctivus incensorum, et delativus ad membra ciborum: similiter potus sanguinis, ut significatur per aquam, tres habet effectus in anima fideli: 1. Arida ejus humectat et conjungit, 2. Male incensa refrigerat et exstinguit, 3. Cibum verbi Dei ad membra vehit, ut bene operari possint.
1. De primo, Isa. xliv, 3: Effundam aquas super sitientem, et fluenta super aridam: ut scilicet anima quasi pulvis arida, et facile defluxa, et ad malum prona, potu sanguinis Christi perfusa, conjungatur, conglutinetur, et roboretur ad bona. Exod. v, 12: Dispersus est populus per universam terram Aegypti ad colligendas paleas, scilicet mundi vanitates. E contra Joan. xi, 51 et 52: Jesus moriturus erat, supple, et sanguinem suum daturus, non tantum pro Gente, sed ut filios Dei, erant, dispersi, congregaret in unum, scilicet per cordis unionem, linguae refraenationem, sensuum et membrorum disciplinam, vitae religionem, et supernam dilectionem. I ad Cor. v, 7: Sitis nova conspersio, sicut estis azymi. Quia sicut estis azymi, id est, per baptismum a vitiis sinceri facti, ita sitis aspersione sanguinis Christi quasi pasta in nova et bona vita compacti.
2. De secundo effectu, Psal. lxxvii, 20: Percussit petram, et fluxerunt aquae, ad refrigerandum scilicet pravae sitis ardorem. Eccli. iii, 33: Ignem ardentem exstinguit aqua. Quia sanguis Christi figuratur per aquam, destruit fervorem irae, avaritiae, et pravi amoris, et concupiscentiae. Augustinus: "Domine Jesu Christe, scribe in corde meo vulnera tua pretioso sanguine tuo, ut legam in eis tuum dolorem, et tuum amorem: tuum dolorem ad sustinendum pro te omnem dolorem, tuum amorem ad contemnendum pro te omnem pravum amorem." Et sic apparet, quod sanguis Domini ad instar aquae contra mala in nobis incensa valet.
### Sermon XXX
### On the Effect of the Blood of Christ Sacramentally
Come, eat my bread, etc. Proverbs 9:5. And the other texts as above.
What usefulness is there for God in blood? Psalm 29:10. He who drinks my blood has eternal life. John 6:55.
I. It is asked concerning the blood of Christ, as it is received in the Sacrament by the faithful, what is its usefulness or effect? For knowing this, one must know that thus received we can consider it in three ways, namely,
I. As a drink of living water.
II. As spiritual wine.
III. As the sacrosanct mystery of the Church.
Concerning the first, Psalm 77:20: He struck the rock, and waters flowed. As the rock signifies the body of Christ, so those waters signify his blood, because it is the true and living drink of the soul.
Concerning the second, Proverbs 9:3: Come, drink the wine which I have mixed for you, that is, the blood of Christ, full and seasoned with much sweetness.
Concerning the third, Hebrews 13:12: Jesus, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore the thing of Christ's blood is sanctifying and sacrosanct. The collect prays: "We ask, O Lord, that you make the sacrosanct mysteries to be for us a present and future remedy."
According to the consideration and likeness of any one of those three things, the blood of Christ has a threefold effect.
I. First, the blood of Christ can be considered as drink, as the drink of living water. But drink, as the Physicians say, is moistening of dry things, extinguishing of burning things, and carrying of foods to the members; similarly the drink of blood, as it is signified through water, has three effects in the faithful soul: 1. it moistens and joins together its dry things, 2. it cools and extinguishes things badly kindled, 3. it carries the food of the word of God to the members, so that they can work well.
1. Concerning the first, Isaiah 44:3: I will pour waters upon the thirsty one, and streams upon the dry land, namely so that the soul, dry as dust, easily flowing away, and prone to evil, being poured over with the drink of Christ's blood, may be joined together, glued together, and strengthened for good things. Exodus 5:12: The people was dispersed through the whole land of Egypt to gather straw, namely the vanities of the world. On the contrary, John 11:51 and 52: Jesus was about to die, supply, and to give his blood, not only for the Nation, but that he might gather into one the children of God, were, dispersed, namely through union of heart, restraint of the tongue, discipline of the senses and members, religiousness of life, and heavenly love. 1 Corinthians 5:7: Be a new sprinkling, as you are unleavened. Because just as you are unleavened, that is, made sincere from vices through baptism, so may you be by the sprinkling of Christ's blood as dough compacted in new and good life.
2. Concerning the second effect, Psalm 77:20: He struck the rock, and waters flowed, namely for cooling the burning of depraved thirst. Ecclesiasticus 3:33: Water extinguishes a burning fire. Because the blood of Christ is figured through water, it destroys the heat of anger, avarice, depraved love, and concupiscence. Augustine says: "Lord Jesus Christ, write your wounds in my heart with your precious blood, so that in them I may read your pain and your love: your pain for sustaining every pain for you, your love for despising every depraved love for you." And thus it appears that the blood of the Lord, after the manner of water, has power against evils kindled in us.
3. De tertio effectu, III Reg. xix, 8: Elias comedit, et bibit aquam, et ambulavit in fortitudine cibi illius, quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus, usque ad montem Dei Horeb. Potus cibum ad membra detulit, et ad eundum sive operandum movit: sic potus Christi cibum verbi Dei sive praecepti ad corda defert, ut vires animae, et membra corporis secundum illud vivant, regantur, et bene operentur, secundum illud Proverb. ix, 5 et 6: Comedite et bibite: relinquite infantiam, et vivite, et ambulate per vias prudentiae. Comedite cibum verbi Dei, et bibite sanguinem Christi, qui scilicet praeceptum ad cor, ad sensus, et ad membra deferat: et prava relinquere, et bona perficere moneat.
II. Secundo, potest considerari sanguis Christi, ut vinum spirituale. Et secundum hoc tres habet effectus, quia, 1. Lavat, 2. Calefacit, 3. Laetificat. Lavat sordes culpae, calefacit corda charitate, laetificat spirituali dulcedine.
1. De primo, Gen. xlix, 10 et 11: Exspectatio Gentium... lavabit in vino stolam suam, et in sanguine uvae pallium suum, id est, fidelem animam. I Joan. i, 7: Si in luce ambulamus, societatem habemus ad invicem, et sanguis Jesu Christi, Filii Dei, emundat nos ab omni peccato. Ad Heb. ix, 13 et 14: Si sanguis hircorum, et taurorum, et cinis vitulae aspersus inquinatos sanctificat ad emundationem carnis: quanto magis sanguis Christi emundabit conscientiam nostram ab operibus mortuis, ad serviendum Deo viventi. Apoc. xxii, 14: Beati, qui lavant stolas suas in sanguine Agni: ut sit potestas eorum in ligno vitae.
2. De secundo, Deut. xxxii, 13 et 14: Constituit eum, ut comederet medullam tritici, id est, dulce corpus Christi, et sanguinem uvae biberent meracissimum, id est, purum et calidum: purum a macula iniquitatis, calidum in effectu charitatis. Esther, i, 10: Assuerus, id est, beatus, post nimiam potationem incaluit mero, id est, accensus est charitate. Cant. ii, 4: Introduxit me rex in cellam vinariam, ordinavit in me charitatem. Cella vinaria est Ecclesia, ubi propinatur calidum vinum, sanguis Christi, ad accendendum corda dilectione Dei et proximi. Matth. xxvi, 27 et 28: Accipiens Jesus calicem, dixit: Bibite ex hoc omnes. Hic est enim sanguis meus. Calix est calida potio, quasi calidum vinum: calidus sanguis Domini calefaciens cor ad amorem Dei et proximi.
3. Concerning the third effect, 3 Kings 19:8: Elijah ate, and drank water, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, as far as the mountain of God, Horeb. The drink carried the food to the members and moved him for going or working; so the drink of Christ carries the food of the word of God or of the commandment to hearts, so that the powers of the soul and the members of the body may live, be ruled, and work well according to it, according to Proverbs 9:5 and 6: Eat and drink; leave childhood, and live, and walk through the ways of prudence. Eat the food of the word of God, and drink the blood of Christ, which namely carries the commandment to the heart, to the senses, and to the members, and warns one to leave depraved things and to accomplish good things.
II. Secondly, the blood of Christ can be considered as spiritual wine. And according to this it has three effects, because 1. it washes, 2. it warms, 3. it gladdens. It washes the filths of fault, warms hearts with charity, gladdens with spiritual sweetness.
1. Concerning the first, Genesis 49:10 and 11: The expectation of the Nations... he will wash his robe in wine, and his cloak in the blood of the grape, that is, the faithful soul. 1 John 1:7: If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses us from every sin. Hebrews 9:13 and 14: If the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify the defiled unto the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ cleanse our conscience from dead works for serving the living God. Apocalypse 22:14: Blessed are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, that their power may be in the tree of life.
2. Concerning the second, Deuteronomy 32:13 and 14: He established him, that he might eat the marrow of wheat, that is, the sweet body of Christ, and that they might drink the blood of the grape most pure, that is, pure and warm: pure from the stain of iniquity, warm in the effect of charity. Esther 1:10: Assuerus, that is, the blessed man, after excessive drinking grew warm with unmixed wine, that is, he was enkindled with charity. Song of Songs 2:4: The king brought me into the wine cellar; he ordered charity in me. The wine cellar is the Church, where warm wine is poured out, the blood of Christ, for enkindling hearts with love of God and neighbor. Matthew 26:27 and 28: Jesus, taking the chalice, said: Drink from this, all of you. For this is my blood. The chalice is a warm drink, as if warm wine; the warm blood of the Lord warms the heart to love of God and neighbor.
3. De tertio, Psal. ciii, 15: Vinum laetificat cor hominis. Eccli. xxxi, 36: Exsultatio animae et cordis vinum moderate potatum, id est, sanguis Christi sumptus cum mensura fidei. Cant. i, 13: Botrus Cypri dilectus meus mihi. Quia scilicet sumo cum suo sanguine dulcedinem spiritualis laetitiae, ad obliviscendum dolorem praesentem. Proverb. xxxi, 6 et 7: Date siceram maerentibus, et vinum his, qui amaro sunt animo: bibant, et obliviscantur egestatis suae.
III. Tertio, potest considerari sanguis Christi, ut sacrosanctum mysterium Ecclesiae, id est, ut res sacra et secreta, in qua magna virtus Dei est abscondita. Et secundum hoc tres habet effectus supernaturales: 1. Daemones enim triumphat, 2. Gratiam Dei impetrat, 3. In vita bona conservat, donec ad vitam aeternam perducat.
De primo, Exod. xii, 23: Cum viderit Dominus sanguinem agni in superliminari, id est, in mente fideli, non sinet percussorem ingredi domos vestras et laedere. Chrysostomus: "Hic sanguis abigit daemones, et longe facit esse." I Mach. vi, 34: Elephantis ostenderunt sanguinem uvae et mori, ad acuendos eos in praelium. Multo magis igitur per sumptum sanguinem Christi vincuntur spirituales inimici. Apoc. xii, 7, 11: Factum est praelium magnum... cum dracone. Et ipsi vicerunt eum propter sanguinem Agni, et propter verbum testimonii.
2. De secundo, I Pet. i, 2: In aspersionem sanguinis Jesu Christi: gratia vobis. Ad Heb. xii, 22, 24: Accessistis ad Sion montem Dei,... et sanguinis aspersionem, melius loquentem quam Abel. Quia scilicet sanguis Abel clamat ad Deum vindictam: sanguis Christi postulat et impetrat gratiam. Bernardus: "O sanguinem Christi, summe reverendum in altari poculum, in caelo pro nobis ad Patrem advocatum."
3. De tertio, Joan. vi, 54: Nisi manducaveritis carnem Filii hominis, et biberitis ejus sanguinem, non habebitis vitam in vobis. Quasi diceret: Si biberitis, bonam habebitis. Levit. xvii, 14: Anima omnis carnis in sanguine est. Anima, id est, vita. Philosophus: "Corruptio et senectus non est nisi paucitas sanguinis: et postquam caruerit sanguine, corrumpitur corpus." Hinc multa moriuntur animalia propter vacuitatem sanguinis. Sicut itaque in sanguine nostro vita est corporalis, sic in sanguine Christi est spiritualis, et conservatio vitae spiritualis, et perductio ad statum vitae immortalis. Joan. vi, 55: Qui bibit meum sanguinem, habet vitam aeternam. Amen.
3. Concerning the third, Psalm 103:15: Wine gladdens the heart of man. Ecclesiasticus 31:36: Exultation of soul and heart is wine drunk moderately, that is, the blood of Christ received with the measure of faith. Song of Songs 1:13: A cluster of Cyprus is my beloved to me. Because namely, with his blood, I receive the sweetness of spiritual gladness, for forgetting present sorrow. Proverbs 31:6 and 7: Give strong drink to those who mourn, and wine to those who are bitter in soul; let them drink, and let them forget their poverty.
III. Thirdly, the blood of Christ can be considered as the sacrosanct mystery of the Church, that is, as a sacred and secret thing in which the great power of God is hidden. And according to this it has three supernatural effects: 1. for it triumphs over demons, 2. it obtains the grace of God, 3. it preserves in good life until it leads to eternal life.
Concerning the first, Exodus 12:23: When the Lord sees the blood of the lamb on the lintel, that is, in the faithful mind, he will not allow the striker to enter your houses and harm them. Chrysostom says: "This blood drives away demons, and makes them be far off." 1 Maccabees 6:34: They showed the elephants the blood of the grape and of the mulberry, to sharpen them for battle. Therefore much more are spiritual enemies conquered through the received blood of Christ. Apocalypse 12:7, 11: A great battle was made... with the dragon. And they conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of testimony.
2. Concerning the second, 1 Peter 1:2: Unto the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace to you. Hebrews 12:22, 24: You have come to Sion, the mountain of God, ... and to the sprinkling of blood speaking better than Abel. Because, namely, the blood of Abel cries to God for vengeance; the blood of Christ asks for and obtains grace. Bernard says: "O blood of Christ, cup most highly to be revered on the altar, in heaven our advocate before the Father."
3. Concerning the third, John 6:54: Unless you shall eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. As if he were saying: If you drink, you will have good life. Leviticus 17:14: The soul of all flesh is in the blood. Soul, that is, life. The Philosopher says: "Corruption and old age is nothing except paucity of blood; and after the body has lacked blood, it is corrupted." Hence many animals die because of emptiness of blood. Therefore, just as bodily life is in our blood, so in the blood of Christ there is spiritual life, and the preservation of spiritual life, and a leading through to the state of immortal life. John 6:55: He who drinks my blood has eternal life. Amen.
If a page does not appear, its photograph has not been uploaded yet.