to Montaigne. It was not
until I had become more familiar with the New Testament that I began to
see that [`A] Kempis spoke as one soul to another. In this world for him
there were only three Facts--God, his own soul, and the soul to whom he
spoke.

It was a puzzle to me to observe that so many of my friends who looked
on the Last Supper as a mere symbol of love and hospitality, should
cling to "The Following of Christ" with such devotion. Even the example
of an intellectual friend of mine, a Bostonian who had lived much in
Italy, could not make it clear. He often asserted that he did not
believe in God; and yet he was desolate if on a certain day in the year
he did not pay some kind of tribute at the shrine of St. Antony of
Padua!

I have known him to break up a party in the Adirondacks in order to
reach the nearest church where it was possible for him to burn a candle
in honour of his favourite saint on this mysterious anniversary! As long
as he exists, as long as he continues to burn candles--_les chandelles
d'un ath['e]e_--I shall accept without understanding the enthusiasm of so
many lovers of [`A] Kempis, who cut out the mystical longings for the
reception of that divine food which Christ gave out in the upper room.
[`A] Kempis says:

My soul longs to be nourished with Thy body; my heart desires to be
united with Thee.

Give Thyself to me and it is enough; for without Thee no comfort is
available.

Without Thee I cannot subsist; and without Thy visitation I cannot
live.

And, therefore, I must come often to Thee, and receive Thee for the
remedy, and for the health and strength of my soul; lest perhaps I
faint in the way, if I be deprived of this heavenly food.

For so, O most merciful Jesus, Thou wast pleased once to say, when
Thou hadst been preaching to the people, and curing sundry
diseases: "I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in
the way."

Deal now in like manner with me, who has left Thyself in the
sacrament for the comfort of Thy faithful.

For Thou art the most sweet reflection of the soul; and he that
shall eat Thee worthily shall be partaker and heir of everlasting
glory.

To every soul, oppressed and humble, [`A] Kempis speaks more poignantly
than even David, in that great cry of the heart and soul, the De
Profundis:

Behold, then, O Lord, my abjection and frailty [Ps. xxiv. 18],