This reminds me of the wise words that are to be found in the Third Sermon of St. Maximus of Turin, a Church Father of the late 4th and early 5th centuries. These words do not directly deal with Holy Communion but are nevertheless appropriate to it, and also make for fine Lenten reading.
"...It is a strong and far-reaching punishment at the disposal of the priests not to entrust to whoever is unworthy the sacraments of the heavenly scriptures nor, as the Lord says, to give what is holy to dogs or to cast pearls before the feet of swine so that they are trampled upon (Mt. 7:6). For whoever tries to set the grace of the heavenly pearl upon a vile sinner squanders it. A jewel, as you yourselves know, demands a setting of gold, and a pearl should only be placed in precious necklaces. Be then, the finest sort of gold! Be a precious necklace, so that the spiritual pearl can be set in you! For Christ the Lord is the pearl which that rich merchant in the Gospel hastened to buy after having sold all his property; he chose to get rid of all the worldly jewels that he had just so that he might buy the one pearl of Christ.
Hence, brethren, on account of the enormity of the transgression that you have committed, I have been unwilling to open to you the words of Gospel refreshment. Instead I indignantly press upon you your wrongdoing, first correcting you with spiritual blows and then enriching you with gifts of the pearl. I have chosen, I say, to lay blame on your sin with bitter accusation rather than to foster it with kindly dissimulation. For whoever does not reprove his brother when he sins is encouraging him, in a certain way, to sin. But I do not wish you to think that in striking you frequently I have no love for you; for the son who is worthy of chastisement is loved the more, as Scripture says: Whom the Lord loves He corrects; He chastises every son whom He accepts. (Heb 12:6)
