Editorial note — Chapter VII · OF THE CONSECRATION OF AN ALTAR

[Footnote 485: Wisdom iii, 7.] [Footnote 486: Psalm li (Miserere mei Deus). 17.] [Footnote 487: The blessed Bernard saith, My brethren, let us in sacrificing add the sacrifice of praise unto our words, let us add sense to sense, affection unto affection, exaltation unto exaltation, maturity unto maturity, and humility unto humility. Wherefore, he that is about to celebrate must offer unto the Highest that sacrifice of which the Psalmist speaketh, 'The sacrifices of God are a troubled spirit.' And again, 'Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.' And the Apostle, 'Present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service, mortifying upon the altar of your heart your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry'; in order to sacrifice yourselves with a pure heart and chaste body unto God.—Proem, lib. iv, 17.] [Footnote 488: Quoted also in the Decretal De Consecrat. Distinct. I.]