Morning Meditation: THE JOY OF JESUS’ COMING
Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice! The Lord is nigh. — (Epistle of Sunday, Philip. iv., 4, 7).
Take comfort, take comfort, O men, saith the Lord, by the mouth of Isaias: Be comforted; be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her; for her evil is come to an end; her iniquity is forgiven. — (Is. xl. 1). God hath discovered a way of saving man, while at the same time His Justice and His Mercy shall both be satisfied. Justice and Peace have kissed. — (Ps. lxxxiv., 11).
Meditation I:
Speaking of the coming of the Redeemer, Isaias made this prediction: The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice and shall flourish like the lily. — (Is. xxxv., 1). The Prophet had been speaking of the pagans (among whom were our own unfortunate ancestors) who were living in heathendom, as in a desert land void of a single man that knew or worshipped the true God, but peopled only with those who were slaves of the devil – a land desolate and impassable, because there was no path of salvation known to those wretched people. He foretold that the world, though so miserable then, would yet rejoice at the coming of the Messias, and would see itself filled with followers of the true God, strengthened by His grace against all the enemies of their salvation; and that the whole land would blossom as the lily by purity of morals and the sweet odour of all virtues. Wherefore Isaias proceeds to say: Say to the faint hearted: Take courage and fear not! God Himself will come and save you! — (Ibid. 4).
This very event, foretold by Isaias, has already happened. Let me, then, acclaim with gladness: Go on joyfully, O children of Adam! Go on joyfully! Be no more faint-hearted! Even though you perceive yourselves weak and unable to stand against so many enemies, Fear not! God Himself will come and save you! God Himself has come on earth, and has redeemed us, by imparting to us strength sufficient to combat and to vanquish every enemy of our salvation.
Oh, happy me, if from this day forward I shall be able always to say with the Sacred Spouse: My beloved to me and I to him! — (Cant. ii., 16). My God, my Beloved has given Himself all to me. It is but reasonable for me to give myself all to my God, and to say: What have I in heaven and besides thee what do I desire on earth! — (Ps. lxxii., 25). Oh, my beloved Infant, my dear Redeemer, since Thou hast come down from Heaven to give Thyself to me what else shall I care for or seek in Heaven or on earth besides Thee, Who art my Sovereign Good, my only Treasure, the Paradise of souls! Be Thou, then, the sole Lord of my heart and do Thou possess it wholly. May my heart obey Thee alone! May my soul love Thee alone and mayst Thou alone be its portion! Amen.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: “THE WAY OF THE LORD”
Evening Meditation: THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR US IN BECOMING MAN
Meditation I:
Meditation II:
Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – VI
Consider the peace that God gives to good Religious.
St. Teresa used to say that one drop of heavenly consolation is worth more than all the delights of the world. Oh, what contentment does he not find, who, having left all for God, is able to say with St. Francis: “Deus meus et omnia!” – My God and my All! – free from the world’s slavery, and enjoying the liberty of the Children of God.
Meditation I:
The promises of God cannot fail. God has said: Every one that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting. — (Matt. xix., 29). That is to say, a hundredfold on this earth, and life everlasting in Heaven.
Peace of the soul is of greater value than all the kingdoms of the world. And what avails it to have dominion over the whole world without interior peace? Better is it to be the poorest peasant in the land and content, than to be the lord of the whole world, and to live a discontented life. But who can give this peace? The world? Oh no, peace is a blessing that is obtained only from God. “O God!” the Church prays, “give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give.” He is called the God of all consolation. — (2 Cor. i., 3). But if God be the sole Giver of peace, to who, think you, will He give that peace if not to those who leave all, and detach themselves from all creatures, in order to give themselves entirely to their Creator? And therefore we see good Religious shut up in their cells, mortified, despised and poor, yet living a more contented life than the great ones of the world, with all the riches, the pomps, and diversions they enjoy.
St. Scholastica said that if men knew the peace good Religious enjoy, the whole world would become a monastery; and St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi said that if men knew it they would scale the walls in order to get into the monasteries. The human heart having been created for an infinite Good, finite creatures cannot content it. God alone, Who is an Infinite Good can content it: Delight in the Lord and he will give thee the request of thy heart. — (Ps. xxxvi., 4). Oh no; a good Religious united with God envies none of the princes of the world who possess kingdoms, riches and honours. “Let the rich,” he will say with St. Paulinus, “have their riches, the kings have their kingdoms, to me Christ is my kingdom and my glory.” He will see lovers of the world foolishly glory in pomp and vanity; but he, seeking to detach himself more from earthly things, and to unite himself more closely to God, will live contented in this life, and may well say: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we call upon the name of the Lord, our God. — (Ps. xix., 8).
O Lord and my God, my All! I know that Thou alone canst make me contented in this life and in the next. But I will not love Thee for my own contentment; I will love Thee to content Thy divine Heart. I wish this to be my peace, my only satisfaction during my whole life, to unite my will to Thy holy will, even should I have to suffer pain in order to do this. Thou art my God, I am Thy creature.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: COUNSELS CONCERNING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION: VII. – DETACHMENT
Evening Meditation: JESUS IS THE FOUNTAIN OF GRACE
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Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – VII
Consider the harm done to Religious by tepidity.
Negligent souls are commonly abandoned by God. St. Teresa saw the place prepared for her in hell had she not detached herself from a certain worldly affection which, however, was but slightly culpable. He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little. — (Ecclus. xix., 1).
Meditation I:
Consider the misery of the Religious who, after having left his home, his parents, and the world with all its pleasures, and after having given himself to Jesus Christ, consecrating to Him his will and his liberty, exposes himself to the danger of being damned by leading a lukewarm and negligent life. Alas! such a Religious is not far from perdition, who, called into the House of God to become a Saint, leads a lukewarm life. God threatens to reject and abandon such Religious if they do not amend: But because thou art lukewarm I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth. — (Apoc. iii., 16).
St. Ignatius of Loyola, seeing that a Lay-brother of the Society had become lukewarm in the service of God, called him one day and said to him: “Tell me, my brother, why did you come into Religion?” He answered “To serve God.” “O my brother!” replied the Saint, “what have you said? If you had answered that you had come to serve a Cardinal, or a prince of this earth, you would be more excusable; but you say that you came to serve God, and is it thus you serve Him?” Father Nieremberg says that some are called by God to be saved as Saints, and that if they do not take care to live as Saints, but thinking to be saved as imperfect Christians, they will not be saved at all. And St. Augustine says that such are, in most cases, abandoned by God: “God is accustomed to abandon negligent souls.” And how does He abandon them? By permitting them from lighter faults, which they see and do not amend, to fall into grievous ones, lose divine grace and their Vocation. St. Teresa of Jesus saw the place prepared for her in hell, had she not detached herself from an earthly, though not a grievously sinful affection. He than contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.
Many wish to follow Jesus Christ as St. Peter did, who when his Master was arrested in the garden, says St. Matthew, followed him afar off. — (Matt. xxvi., 58). But by doing so that will easily happen to them which happened to St. Peter, namely, when the occasion came, he denied Jesus Christ. A lukewarm Religious will be contented with the little he does for God; but God, Who called him to a perfect life, will not be contented, and, in punishment for his ingratitude, will not only deprive him of special favours, but will sometimes permit his fall. “When you say: ‘It is enough,’ you are lost,” says Augustine. The fig-tree of the Gospel was cast into the fire, only because it brought forth no fruit.
O my God! reject me not, as I deserve, for I will amend my life. I know full well that a life negligent as mine cannot satisfy Thee. I know that I have, by my lukewarmness, shut the door of my heart against the graces which Thou didst desire to bestow upon me. O Lord! do not abandon me yet awhile; I will rise from my miserable state. I will for the future be more careful to overcome my passions, to follow Thy inspirations, and I will never through slothfulness omit my duties; I will perform them with greater diligence. In short, I will, from this time forward, do all I can to please Thee, and I will neglect nothing which I know to be pleasing to Thee.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: COUNSELS CONCERNING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION: VIII. – DETACHMENT (continued)
Evening Meditation: JESUS THE CHARITABLE PHYSICIAN OF OUR SOULS
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Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – VIII
Consider how dear to God is a soul that gives itself entirely to Him.
The Son of God has already given Himself entirely to us. A Child is born to us, and a Son is given us. He has given Himself to us through the love He bears us. When St. Teresa gave herself to Jesus the Lord said to her: “Now because thou art all Mine, I am all thine.”
Meditation I:
One is my dove, my perfect one. — (Cant. vi., 8). God loves all who love Him. I love them that love me. — (Prov. viii., 17). Many indeed give themselves to God, but still keep in their hearts some attachment to creatures which prevents them from belonging entirely to Him. How then will God give Himself to a soul that divides its love between Him and creatures? It is just He should act with reserve towards those who act with reserve towards Him. On the other hand, He gives Himself entirely to those souls who drive from their hearts everything that is not for God, and who can truly say: My God and my All!
St. Teresa, as long as she entertained an inordinate affection, though not an impure one, towards a certain person, could not hear from Jesus Christ what she afterwards heard, when, freeing herself entirely to Divine Love, and God said to her: “Since now thou art all Mine, I am all thine!”
My beloved to me and I to him! — (Cant. ii., 16). Since then, O my God, Thou has given Thyself entirely to me. I should be ungrateful, indeed, were I not to give myself entirely to Thee; since Thou wouldst have me belong wholly to Thee, behold, O my Lord, I give myself entirely to Thee. Accept me through Thy mercy and disdain me not. Grant, O Lord, that my heart, which once loved creatures, may turn now wholly to Thy infinite goodness. “Let me at last die,” said St. Teresa, “and let another live in me. Let God live in me and give me life. Let Him reign, and let me be His slave, for my soul wishes no other liberty.” My heart is too small, O God most worthy of love, and it is too little able to love Thee, Who art deserving of an infinite love. I should then be guilty of too great an injustice were I to divide it by loving anything besides Thee. I love Thee; I renounce all creatures, and give myself entirely to Thee, my Jesus, my Saviour, my Love, my All.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: COUNSELS CONCERNING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION: IX. – DETACHMENT (continued)
Evening Meditation: GOD HAS GIVEN HIS ONLY SON TO SAVE US
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Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – IX
Consider that in order to become a Saint it is necessary to have a great desire of holiness.
No Saint has ever become a Saint without having a great desire for sanctity. As wings are necessary to fly so holy desires are necessary to the soul in order to advance in the way of perfection. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready! Tell me what Thou desirest of me. I will obey Thee in all things.
Meditation I:
Holy desires are necessary to the soul in order to advance in the way of perfection. To become a Saint we must detach ourselves from creatures, conquer our passions, overcome ourselves, and love crosses. But to do all this much strength is required and we must suffer much.
But what is the effect of this holy desire? St. Laurence Justinian answers: “It supplies strength, and makes the pain easier to be borne.” Hence the same Saint adds that he has already vanquished who has a great desire to vanquish. “A great part of the victory is the desire of vanquishing.” He who wishes to reach the top of a high mountain will never reach it if he has not a desire to do so. This will give him courage and strength to undergo the fatigue of ascending; otherwise he will halt at the foot, wearied and discouraged.
St. Bernard asserts that we acquire perfection in proportion to the desire for it which we preserve in our hearts. St. Teresa said that God loves generous souls that have great desires; for which reason the Saint exhorted all, saying: “Let our thoughts be high, for thence will come our good. We must not have weak desires, but have confidence in God by which we shall, little by little, attain that perfection to which, by God’s grace, the Saints attained.” It was thus the Saints gained, in a short time, a great degree of perfection, and were able to do great things for God: Being made perfect in a short space, he fulfilled a long time. — (Wis. iv., 13). St. Aloysius Gonzaga attained in a few years (he was only twenty-three when he died) such a degree of sanctity that St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, beholding him in spirit in Heaven, said it seemed to her, in a certain way, that there was no Saint in Heaven who enjoyed greater glory than Aloysius. She understood at the same time that he had arrived at so high a degree by the great desire he had to love God as much as He deserved, and that, seeing this beyond his power, the holy youth had suffered on earth a martyrdom of love.
Behold, O my God! Here I am. My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. — (Ps. lvi., 8). See, I am prepared to do all that Thou shalt require of me. O Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? — (Acts ix., 6). Tell me what Thou desirest of me. I will obey Thee in all things. I am sorry for having lost so much time in which I might have pleased Thee, and have not done so. I thank Thee that still Thou givest me time to do it. Oh no, I will not lose any more time. I will and I desire to become a Saint, not to obtain from Thee greater glory and more delights. I desire it that I may love Thee more, and that I may please Thee in this life and in the next.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: COUNSELS CONCERNING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION: X. – THE TRIALS WHICH WE MUST EXPECT TO HAVE IN THE RELIGIOUS LIFE
Evening Meditation: GOD HAS MADE HIMSELF A CHILD TO GAIN OUR CONFIDENCE AND OUR LOVE
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Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – X
Consider the love we owe to Jesus Christ in return for the love He has shown us.
In order to understand the love the Son of God has borne us it is enough to consider what St. Paul says of Jesus Christ: He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant . . . he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. O my Jesus, only too much, indeed, hast Thou obliged me to love Thee.
Meditation I:
He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. He emptied himself! O God! what astonishment to the Angels, through all eternity, to see a God become Man for the love of man, and submit to all man’s weaknesses and sufferings. And the Word was made flesh! What a marvel would it not be to see a king become a worm for the sake of worms! But it is an infinitely greater wonder to see a God become Man, and then humbled unto such a painful and ignominious death on the Cross upon which He ended His most sacred life.
Moses and Elias, on Mount Thabor, speaking of His death, as it is related in the Gospel, called it an “excess”: They spoke of his decease (the Latin word is “excessus,” which also means “excess”) that he should accomplish in Jerusalem. — (Luke ix., 31). Yes, says St. Bonaventure, it is with reason the death of Jesus Christ was called an “excess,” for it was an excess of suffering and of love – Excessus doloris, excessus amoris. So much so that it would be impossible to believe it, if it had not already happened. It was truly an excess of love, adds St. Augustine, for to this end the Son of God wished to come on earth, to live a life so laborious and to die a death so bitter, namely, that He might make known to man how much He loved him. “Therefore Christ came, that man should know how much God loved him.”
The Lord revealed to His servant Armella Nicolas that the love He bore to man was the cause of all His sufferings and of His death. If Jesus Christ had not been God, but only man and our Friend, what greater love could He have shown us than to die for us? Greater love than this, no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. — (Jo. xv., 13). At the thought of the love shown us by Jesus Christ, how little the Saints esteemed it to give their lives and their all for so loving a God! How many youths, how many noblemen, have left their house, their country, their riches, their parents, and all things to retire into cloisters, to live only for the love of Jesus Christ! How many young virgins, renouncing nuptials with princes and the great ones of the world, have gone joyfully to death, thus to render some return for the love of a God Who had been executed on an infamous gibbet and died for their sake.
Indeed, O my Jesus, my Lord, and my Redeemer! only too much hast Thou obliged me to love Thee; too much has my love cost Thee. I should be too ungrateful if I should content myself to love with reserve a God Who has given me His Blood, His life, and His entire self. Oh, Thou Who hast died for me, Thy poor servant, it is but just that I should die for Thee, my God, and my All. Yes, O my Jesus! I detach myself from all, to give myself to Thee. I put away from me the love of all creatures in order to consecrate myself entirely to Thy love.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: COUNSELS CONCERNING A RELIGIOUS VOCATION: XI. – CONCLUSION
Evening Meditation: JESUS OFFERED HIMSELF FOR OUR SALVATION FROM THE BEGINNING
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Morning Meditation: CONSIDERATIONS ON THE RELIGIOUS STATE – XI
Consider how much Religious ought to confide in the patronage of Mary.
The divine Mother loves all men. How much, then, does not this great Queen love Religious who have consecrated their liberty, their life, and their all to the love of Jesus Christ, her Son? My happiness on this earth, O Mary, shall be to serve, bless and to love thee.
Meditation I:
If it be true, and most true, indeed, it is, that, as St. Peter Damian teaches, the divine Mother, most holy Mary, loves all men with such an affection that, after God, there is not, nor can there be, anyone who surpasses or equals her in her love: “She loves us with an invincible love”: how much must we think this great Queen loves Religious, who have consecrated their liberty, their life, and their all to the love of Jesus Christ? She well sees that the life of Religious is more conformable to her own life, and to that of her divine Son; she sees them often occupied in praising her, and continually attentive to honour her by their Novenas, Visits, Rosaries, Fasts, etc. She beholds them often at her feet, intent on invoking her aid, asking graces of her, and graces all conformed to her holy desires; that is, the grace of perseverance in the divine service, of strength in their temptations, of detachment from this world, and of love of God. Ah, how can we doubt that she employs all her power and mercy for the benefit of Religious, and especially of those who belong to this holy Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, in which as it is well known, we make a special profession of honouring the Virgin Mother by Visits, by mortifications on Saturdays and during her Novenas, etc., and by everywhere promoting devotion to her by sermons and Novenas!
I thank thee, O Mary, my advocate, for to thee do I owe this great mercy that I am consecrated to Jesus Christ in Religion. Help me that I may not be ungrateful to that God Who has loved me so much. Let me die rather than prove myself unfaithful to His holy grace. O Mary, I consign my soul to thee; thou hast to save it. I love thee, O my Queen, and I hope always to love thee. Behold, I place all my confidence in thy clemency; do not cease to assist me in all my wants. Thou art my hope, O Mary; I look for all things through thy powerful intercession.
Meditation II:
Spiritual Reading: ON DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Evening Meditation: JESUS A PRISONER IN THE WOMB OF MARY
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Meditation II:
