Greco-Christian stream·The Imitation of Christ·Book IV — Of the Sacrament of the Altar·Chapter VI. An Inquiry Concerning Preparation For Communion
VI. Inquiry concerning preparation for communion
The Disciple's question: what preparation should I make? Christ's answer in the chapters that follow. Recollection, cleansing of conscience, intention purified, fervour rekindled — the proximate preparation that should precede every reception of the Sacrament.
Source context
- Theme
- Worthy preparation of the soul before receiving the Eucharist
- Soul-faculty
- Consciousness Soul
Steiner
not engaged in the GA corpus
Cross-tradition
- Sacramental theology (Catholic scholastic tradition)The Thomistic distinction between worthy and unworthy reception of the Eucharist — hinging on interior disposition and purgation of conscience — maps structurally onto this chapter's insistence that self-examination precedes sacramental communion.
- Jewish liturgical preparation (Kavanah doctrine)The rabbinic principle of kavanah — directed, purified intentionality required before sacred rite — exhibits cross-tradition congruence with the chapter's treatment of interior readiness as a precondition for valid sacramental approach.
- Sufi ethical purification (tazkiyat al-nafs)The Sufi discipline of soul-purification before drawing near to the divine presence exhibits cross-tradition congruence with the chapter's demand that the communicant enter through moral and affective preparation rather than mere ritual performance.
Chapter VI. An Inquiry Concerning Preparation For Communion
AN INQUIRY CONCERNING PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION
The Voice of the Disciple
When I consider Thy dignity, O Lord, and mine own vileness, I tremble very exceedingly, and am confounded within myself. For if I approach not, I fly from life; and if I intrude myself unworthily, I run into Thy displeasure. What then shall I do, O my God, Thou helper and Counsellor in necessities.
2Teach Thou me the right way; propound unto me some short exercise befitting Holy Communion. For it is profitable to know how I ought to prepare my heart devoutly and reverently for Thee, to the intent that I may receive Thy Sacrament to my soul's health [or it may be also for the celebrating this so great and divine mystery].