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 athée_--I shall accept without understanding the enthusiasm of so many lovers of À Kempis, who cut out the mystical longings for the reception of that divine food which Christ gave out in the upper room. À 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, À 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], every way known to Thee. Have pity on me and draw me out of the mire [Ps. lxviii. 15], that I stick not fast therein, that I may not be utterly cast down forever. This it is which often drives me back and confounds me in Thy sight, to find that I am so subject to fall and have so little strength to resist my passions. And although I do not altogether consent, yet their assaults are troublesome and grievous to me, and it is exceedingly irksome to live thus always in a conflict. Hence my infirmity is made known to me, because wicked thoughts do always much more easily rush in upon me than they can be cast out again. Oh, that Thou, the most mighty God of Israel, the zealous lover of faithful souls, wouldst behold the labour and sorrow of Thy servant, and stand by me in all my undertakings. Strengthen me with heavenly fortitude, lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not fully subject to the spirit, prevail and get the upper hand, against which we must fight as long as we breathe in this most wretched life. Alas! what kind of life is this, where afflictions and miseries are never wanting; where all things are full of snares and enemies.