priests partake of them, although Jesus did not.

Here Sister Emmerich looked suddenly up, and appeared to be
listening. Some explanation was given her on this subject, but the
following words were all that she could repeat to us: 'If the office of
distributing it had been given to angels, they would not have partaken,
but if priests did not partake, the Blessed Eucharist would be lost--it is
through their participation that it is preserved.'

There was an indescribable solemnity and order in all the actions of
Jesus during the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and his every
movement was most majestic. I saw the Apostles noting things down in
the little rolls of parchment which they carried on their persons.
Several times during the ceremonies I remarked that they bowed to each
other, in the same way that our priests do.


MEDITATION IX.

Private Instruction and Consecrations.



Jesus gave his Apostles some private instructions; he told them how
they were to preserve the Blessed Sacrament in memory of him, even to
the end of the world; he taught them the necessary forms for making use
of and communicating it, and in what manner they were, by degrees, to
teach and publish this mystery; finally he told them when they were to
receive what remained of the consecrated Elements, when to give some to
the Blessed Virgin, and how to consecrate, themselves, after he should