ssary: still, it would be better to
have them ready in case the priest should require them, so as not to
keep him waiting. Every good Catholic family should have all these
things put away carefully in the house. It would be well, though it is
not necessary, to keep a special spoon, napkin, etc., for that purpose
alone. Sometimes persons are taken ill very suddenly in the night, and
when the priest comes they have none of the things they should have; and
if their neighbors are as careless as themselves, they will not have
them either: so the priest is delayed in giving the Sacraments, or is
obliged to administer them in a way that is always disrespectful to Our
Lord. If we would make such preparations for the coming of a friend to
our house, why should we be so careless when Our Lord comes? If a friend
comes when we are not prepared to receive him, we feel very much
ashamed, and make a thousand excuses for our want of thought. Therefore
provide the things necessary for the administration of these Sacraments
in your house, and keep them though they may be seldom if ever required
in your family.

When Our Lord comes to visit your house receive Him with all possible
respect and reverence. Some good Catholics have the very praiseworthy
practice of meeting the priest at the door with a lighted candle when he
carries the Blessed Sacrament, and of going before him to the sickroom.
This can be done where there is only one family living in the house, or
at least in the apartment. All who can do this should do it, because it
is in keeping with the wish of the Church. In olden times, and even now
in Catholic countries, the priest brings the Blessed Sacrament in
procession to the sick. He goes vested as for Benediction, accompanied
by altar boys with lighted candles and bells. The people kneel by the
way as Our Lord passes. Our Lord is carried in procession always in the
church and on the feast of Corpus Christi, on Holy Thursday, and during
the Devotion of Forty Hours. The Church would like to have this solemn
procession in honor of Our Lord every time the Blessed Sacrament is
brought from one place to another. But this cannot always be done in the
streets, because there are many persons not Catholics who would insult
Our Lord while passing along; and in order to prevent this, the priest
brings the Blessed Sacrament to the dying without any outward display.
But we should always remember the very great respect due to Our Lord,
and d