MEDITACIONES DIARIAS: SEMANA DE NAVIDAD

Meditación matutina:  JESÚS VIENE A ARROJAR FUEGO SOBRE LA TIERRA

       He venido a echar fuego en la tierra, ¿y qué quiero sino que se encienda? - (Lucas xii., 49).
     Antes de la venida del Mesías, ¿quién amaba a Dios sobre la tierra? Era conocido, ciertamente, en un rincón del mundo; esto es, en Judea; e incluso allí ¡cuán pocos le amaron cuando vino! Aún hoy son pocos los que piensan en preparar sus corazones para que Jesús nazca en ellos. ¿Qué dices tú? ¿Quieres figurar entre los ingratos?

Meditación I:
     Los judíos solemnizaron un día llamado por ellos Die ignis - el día del fuegoen recuerdo del fuego con que Nehemías consumió el sacrificio a su regreso del cautiverio de Babilonia. De la misma manera, y con mayor razón, el día de Navidad debería llamarse el Día del Fuego en la que un Dios viene como un Niño pequeño a arrojar el fuego del amor en el corazón de los hombres.
     He venido a arrojar fuego sobre la tierraAsí habló Jesucristo. Antes de la venida del Mesías, ¿quién amaba a Dios sobre la tierra? Unos adoraban al sol, otros a los brutos, otros a las mismas piedras, y otros a criaturas aún más viles. Pocos años después del nacimiento del Redentor, Dios era más amado por los hombres de lo que había sido antes desde la creación del hombre. Ah, verdaderamente todo hombre, al ver a un Dios vestido de carne, y eligiendo llevar una vida tan dura, y sufrir una muerte tan ignominiosa, debería encenderse de amor hacia un Dios tan amoroso.  Oh, que rasgaras los cielos y descendieras; los montes se derritieran ante tu presencia. . . las aguas ardieran en fuego.. - (Is. lxiv., 1). ¡Oh, ciertamente Tú encenderías tal horno en el corazón humano que hasta las almas más heladas prenderían la llama de Tu bendito amor! Y, en efecto, después de la Encarnación del Hijo de Dios, ¡cuán brillantemente ha ardido el fuego del amor divino en las almas amantes! ¡Cuántos jóvenes, cuántos nobles y cuántos monarcas han abandonado riquezas, honores y hasta reinos, para buscar el desierto o el claustro, para entregarse allí, en pobreza y oscura clausura, más sin reservas al amor de su Salvador! ¡Cuántos mártires han ido alegres y felices camino de los tormentos y de la muerte! ¡Cuántas tiernas jóvenes vírgenes han rechazado la mano de los grandes del mundo para ir a morir por Jesucristo y corresponder así en alguna medida al afecto de un Dios que se rebajó a tomar carne humana y a morir por amor a ellos!
     Oh Jesús, no has escatimado nada para inducir a los hombres a amarte. Oh Verbo encarnado, Te hiciste hombre para encender el amor divino en nuestros corazones. Te amo, Verbo encarnado. Te amo, soberano Bien. No permitas que me separe de Ti. No permitas que me separe de Ti.

Meditación II:
     It may, indeed, be asserted without fear of contradiction that God was more loved in one century after the coming of Jesus Christ than in the entire forty centuries preceding His appearance on earth.  Yes; all this is most true; but now comes a tale for tears.  Has this been the case with all men?  Have all men sought to correspond with the immense love of Jesus Christ?  Alas! my God, the greater number have combined to repay Him with nothing but ingratitude!  And you also, my brother, tell me what sort of return have you made up to this time for the love your God has borne you?  Have you always shown yourself thankful?  Have you ever seriously reflected what these words mean — a God to be made Man, a God to die for Thee?
     A certain man while hearing Mass one day without devotion, as too many do, at these concluding words of the last Gospel: Y el Verbo se hizo carne — (John i., 14), made no external act of reverence.  At the same moment a devil struck him a blow, saying: “Thankless wretch, thou hearest that a God was made Man for thee, and dost thou not even deign to bend the knee?  Oh, if God had done the like for me I should be eternally engaged in thanking Him!”
     Tell me, O Christian, what more could Jesus Christ have done to win thy love?  If the Son of God had engaged to rescue His own Father from death, to what lower depth of humiliation could He have stooped than to assume human flesh and lay down His life in sacrifice for His salvation?  Men appreciate the good graces of a prince, of a prelate, of a nobleman, of a man of letters, and even of a vile animal; and yet these same people set no store by the grace of God, but renounce it for mere smoke, for a brutal gratification, for a handful of earth, for a nothing!
     What sayest thou, dear brother?  Dost thou wish to be ranked among such ungrateful ones?  Go, find thyself a prince more courteous, a master, a brother, a friend more amiable, and one who has shown thee a deeper love.
     Ah, how comes it that we are so ungrateful towards God, the same God Who has bestowed His whole self upon us, Who has descended from Heaven to earth, has become an Infant to save us and to be loved by us?  Come, let us love the Babe of Bethlehem!  Let us love Jesus Christ Who, in the midst of such sufferings, has sought to attach our hearts to Him.
     O my sweet, amiable and holy Child, Thou art at a loss what more to do in order to make Thyself loved by men!  And how is it that Thou shouldst have encountered such ingratitude from the majority of men!  I see that few, indeed, know Thee, and fewer still love Thee!  Ah, my Jesus, I too desire to be reckoned among this small number.  But Thou knowest my weakness.  Thou knowest my past treasons.  For pity’s sake do not abandon me, or I shall fall away even worse than before.  O Mary, my Mother, thou art the Mother of fair love — (Ecclus. xxiv., 24), do thou obtain for me the grace to love my God.  I hope it of thee.

Lectura espiritual:  JESÚS VIENE A LLAMAR A LOS PECADORES

Meditación vespertina:  JOSÉ VA A BELÉN CON SU SANTA ESPOSA

Meditación I:

     And Joseph also went up … to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child. — (Luke ii., 4).
     God had decreed that His Son should be born, not in the house of Joseph, but in a cave and stable for animals, in the poorest and most painful way that a child can be born; and therefore He so disposed events that Caesar should publish an Edict that every one should go and enroll himself in the city whence he drew his origin.  When Joseph heard this order he was much agitated as to whether he should leave or take with him the Virgin Mother, as she was now near childbirth.  My spouse and my lady, said he to her, on the one hand I should not wish to leave you alone; on the other, if I take you, I am afflicted at the thought that you will have to suffer much during this long journey, and in such severe weather.  My poverty will not permit me to conduct you with that comfort which you require.  But Mary answers him, and encourages him with these words: My Joseph, do not fear; I shall go with you; the Lord will assist us.  She knew, by divine inspiration, and also because she was well versed in the prophecy of Micheas, that the Divine Infant was to be born in Bethlehem.  She therefore takes the swathing bands, and the other poor garments already prepared, and departs with Joseph.  And Joseph also went up . . . to be enrolled with Mary.
     My dear Redeemer, I know that in this journey Thou wert accompanied by hosts of Angels from Heaven; but here on earth, who was there to bear Thee company?  Thou hast only Joseph, and Mary who carries Thee within herself.  Disdain not, O my Jesus, to let me also accompany Thee, miserable and ungrateful as I have been.  I now see the wrong I have done Thee; Thou didst come down from Heaven to make Thyself my companion on earth, and I by my frequent offences have ungratefully left Thee!  When I remember, O my Saviour, that for the sake of my own wicked pleasures, I have so often separated myself from Thee and renounced Thy friendship, I could wish to die of sorrow.  But Thou didst come into the world to pardon me; pardon me then quickly, for I repent with all my soul of having so often turned my back upon Thee and forsaken Thee.  I purpose and I hope, through Thy grace, never more to leave Thee, or separate myself from Thee, O my only Love!

Meditación II:
     Let us consider the devout and holy discourses which these two saintly spouses must have held together during the journey, concerning the mercy, goodness, and love of the Divine Word, Who was shortly to be born, and to appear on earth for the salvation of men.  Let us also consider the praises, the blessings, the thanksgivings, the acts of humility and love, which these two illustrious pilgrims uttered on their way.  This holy Virgin, so soon to become a Mother, certainly suffered much in so long a journey, made in the midst of Winter, and over rough roads; but she suffered in peace and with love.  She offered to God all these her sufferings, uniting them to those of Jesus, Whom she carried in her womb.  Oh, let us also unite ourselves with Mary and Joseph, and accompany them in the journey of our life; and, with them, let us accompany the King of Heaven, Who is about to be born in a cave, and make His first appearance in the world as an Infant, but an Infant the poorest and most forsaken that was ever born amongst men.  And let us beseech Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that, through the merits of the sufferings which they endured in this journey, they would accompany us in the journey that we are making to eternity.  Oh, happy shall we be if in life and in death, we are always accompanied by these Three Great Personages!
     My soul has become enamoured of Thee, O my amiable Infant-God.  I love Thee, my sweet Saviour; and since Thou hast come upon earth to save me and to dispense to me Thy graces, this one grace only do I ask of Thee: never permit me to separate myself from Thee again.  Unite me, bind me to Thyself, enchain me with the sweet cords of Thy holy love.  O my Redeemer and my God, who will, then, have the heart to leave Thee, and to live without Thee, deprived of Thy grace?  Most holy Mary, I come to accompany thee on this journey; and thou, O my Mother, cease not to accompany me in the journey I am making to eternity.  Assist me always, but especially when I shall find myself at the end of my life, and near that moment on which will depend either my remaining always with thee to love Jesus in Paradise, or my being for ever separated from thee and hating Jesus in hell.  My Queen, save me by thy intercession; and let my salvation be in loving thee and Jesus for ever, in time and in eternity.  Thou art my hope; I hope for all from thee.

Meditación matutina:  "HOY OS HA NACIDO UN SALVADOR"

      He aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo para todo el pueblo, porque hoy os ha nacido un Salvador.. - (Lucas. ii., 10, 11).
     ¡Levantaos, nobles y campesinos! María invita a todos, ricos y pobres, justos y pecadores, a entrar en la Cueva de Belén para adorar y besar los pies de su Hijo recién nacido. Venid, pues, todas las almas devotas, entrad y ved al Creador del cielo y de la tierra sobre un poco de heno, bajo la forma de un pequeño Niño; el poder de Dios, por así decirlo, aniquilado, y la sabiduría de Dios enloquecida, por exceso de amor. Vengo, pues, querido Jesús, a besar Tus pies y a ofrecerte mi corazón.

Meditación I:
     He aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo . . . ¡Hoy os ha nacido un Salvador!  ¿Y qué noticia podría ser una mayor alegría para una raza de pobres exiliados condenados a muerte, que la de ser informados de que su Salvador había venido, no sólo para librarlos de la muerte, sino para obtener para ellos la libertad de regresar a su propio país? Y esto es lo que los Ángeles les anuncian: ¡Te ha nacido un Salvador!  Jesucristo os ha nacido para libraros de la muerte eterna y para abriros el Cielo, nuestra verdadera patria de la que fuimos desterrados a causa de nuestros pecados.
     Apenas entró María en la caverna, se puso a orar; y llegada la hora de su parto, he aquí que ve una gran luz, y siente en su corazón una alegría celestial. Baja los ojos y, oh Dios, ¿qué ve? Un niño tan tierno y hermoso que la llena de amor. Pero Él tiembla y llora, y extiende los brazos para mostrar que desea que ella lo acoja en su seno. "Extendí mis manos para buscar las caricias de mi Madre", como dijo Jesús a Santa Brígida. María llama a José. "Ven, José, ven a ver, porque ha nacido el Hijo de Dios". El anciano entró y, postrándose, lloró de alegría.
     María, estrechándolo contra su pecho, lo adora como a su Dios, besándole el rostro como a su Hijo. Luego se apresura a cubrirlo y lo envuelve en pañales. Pero, ¡oh Dios, qué duros y ásperos son! Son las ropas de los pobres, y están frías y húmedas, y en aquella cueva no hay fuego que las caliente.
     Levantémonos y entremos, la puerta está abierta. No hay satélites que digan que no es la hora. La Cueva está abierta y sin guardias ni puertas, para que todos puedan entrar cuando les plazca a buscarlo y a hablar con Él, e incluso a abrazar a su Rey Infante si lo aman y lo desean.
     Señor, no me hubiera atrevido a acercarme a Ti viéndome tan deformado por el pecado; pero ya que Tú, Jesús mío, me invitas tan cortésmente, y me llamas tan amorosamente, no me negaré. Después de haberte dado tantas veces la espalda, no añadiré un nuevo insulto rechazando, por desconfianza, esta afectuosa, esta cariñosa invitación. Es verdad que mi corazón te ofendió en otro tiempo, pero ahora está arrepentido. Confieso que he sido un traidor, cruel e ingrato, que soy yo quien Te ha hecho sufrir tanto y derramar tantas lágrimas en el establo de Belén, pero Tus lágrimas son mi esperanza. Soy un pecador, es verdad, y no merezco ser perdonado, pero vengo ante Ti, que siendo Dios te has hecho Niño para obtenerme el perdón. Padre Eterno, si merezco el infierno, mira las lágrimas de Tu Hijo inocente. Te pide que me perdones esta noche, noche de alegría, de perdón y de salvación.

Meditación II:
     Let every soul, then, enter the Cave of Bethlehem.  Behold and see that tender Infant, Who is weeping as He lies in the manger on that miserable straw.  See how beautiful He is: look at the light which He sends forth, and the love which He breathes; those eyes send out arrows which wound the hearts that desire Him; the very stable, the very straw cry out, says St. Bernard, and tell you to love Him Who loves you; to love God Who is infinite Love, and Who came down from Heaven, and made Himself a little Child, and became poor, to make you understand the love He bears you, and to gain your love by His sufferings.
     Come and say to Him: “ Ah, beautiful Infant! tell me whose Child art Thou?”  He replies: “My Mother is this pure and lovely Virgin who is standing by Me.”  “And Who is Thy Father?”  “My Father,” He says, “is God.”  How is this?  Thou art the Son of God, and art so poor; and why?  Who will acknowledge Thee in such a condition?  Who will respect Thee?”  “Ah,” replies Jesus, “holy Faith will make known Who I am, and will make Me loved by those whose souls I come to redeem and to inflame with My love.”  I am not come, says He, to make Myself feared, but to make Myself loved; and therefore I wished to show Myself to you for the first time as a poor and humble Infant, that, seeing to what My love for you has reduced Me, you might love Me the more.  But tell me, my sweet Infant, why dost Thou turn Thine eyes on every side?  What art Thou looking for?  I hear Thee sigh; tell me wherefore are these sighs?  O God! I see Thee weep; tell me wherefore dost Thou weep?  Yes, replies Jesus, I turn My eyes around; for I am seeking for some soul that desires Me.  I sigh out of desire to see Myself near to a heart that burns for Me, as I burn with love for it.  But I weep; and it is because I see but few souls who seek Me and wish to love Me.
     Come, then, O all ye devout souls.  Jesus invites you to come and kiss His feet this night.  The shepherds who came to visit Him in the stable of Bethlehem brought their gifts; you must also bring your gifts.  What will you bring Him?  The most acceptable present you can bring Him is that of a contrite and loving heart.
     O Jesus, Thou must know that I am poor and that I have nothing to give Thee.  I have nothing but my penitent heart.  This I now offer Thee.  Yes, O Infant, I repent of ever having offended Thee, and I hope for pardon from Thee.  But the forgiveness of my sins alone is not sufficient for me.  On this night Thou dost grant great spiritual graces; I also desire that Thou shouldst bestow a great grace on me – it is, the grace to love Thee.  Now that I am about to approach Thy feet, inflame me wholly with Thy holy love, and bind me to Thee; but bind me so effectually that I may never more be separated from Thee.  I love Thee, O my God, Who didst become a little Child for my sake; but I love Thee very little; I desire to love Thee very much, and Thou hast to enable me to do it.  I come, then, to kiss Thy feet, and I offer Thee my heart; I leave it in Thy hands; I will have it no longer; do Thou change it and keep it forever; do not give it back to me again; for if Thou dost, I fear lest it should betray Thee afresh.
     Most holy Mary, thou who art the Mother of this great Son, but who art also my Mother, it is to thee that I consecrate my poor heart; present it to Jesus and He will not refuse to receive it when presented by thee.  Do thou, then, present it, and beg Him to accept it.

Lectura espiritual:  LA PALABRA ETERNA, SIENDO GRANDE, SE HACE PEQUEÑA

Meditación vespertina: EL NACIMIENTO DE JESÚS EN BELÉN

Meditación I:
     The birth of Jesus Christ brought universal joy to the whole world.  He was the Redeemer Who had been desired and sighed after for so many years; and therefore He was called the Desired of the nations, and the Desire of the eternal hills.  Behold Him already come, and born in a little cave.  Let us consider that this day the Angel announces to us also the same great joy that he announced to the shepherds: Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people; for this day is born to you a Saviour. — (Luke ii., 10).
     What rejoicing there is in a country when the heir is born to a king!  But surely we ought to keep still greater festival when we see the Son of God born and come down from Heaven to visit us, urged to this by the tenderness of His mercy: Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us. —( Luke i., 78).  We were lost; and behold Him Who came to save us: He came down from Heaven for our salvation. — (Symb. Nic.).  Behold the Shepherd Who came to save His sheep from death by giving His life for their sake: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. — (John x., 11).  Behold the Lamb of God, Who came to sacrifice Himself, to obtain for us the divine favour, and to become our Deliverer, our Life, our Light, and even our Food in the most Holy Sacrament!
     I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; seek thy servant. — (Is. ix., 6).  O Lord I am that sheep which, by following after my own pleasures and caprices, have miserably lost myself; but Thou, Who art at once the Shepherd and divine Lamb, art He Who came down from Heaven to save me by sacrificing Thyself as a victim on the Cross in satisfaction for my sins.  Behold, the Lamb of God; behold him who taketh away the sins of the world. — (Ps. cxviii., 176).  If, therefore, I desire to amend my life, what need I fear?  Why should I not confide entirely in Thee, O my Saviour, Who wert born on purpose to save me?  Behold, God is my saviour; I will put my trust in him, and will not fear. — (Is. xii., 2).  What greater proof couldst Thou give me of Thy mercy, O my dearest Redeemer, to inspire me with confidence, than to give me Thyself?  O my dear Infant, how grieved I am that I have offended Thee!  I have made Thee weep in the stable of Bethlehem.  But since Thou are come to seek me, I throw myself at Thy feet; and although I behold Thee afflicted and humbled, lying upon straw in the manger, I acknowledge Thee for my supreme King and Sovereign.  I feel that Thy tender infant-cries invite me to love Thee, and demand my heart.  Behold, my Jesus, I present it to-day at Thy feet; change it and inflame it, O Thou Who didst come into the world to inflame the hearts of men with Thy holy love.

Meditación II:
     St. Maximus says that for this reason amongst others, Christ chose to be laid in the manger where the animals were fed, to make us understand that He had become Man also to make Himself our Food: “In the manger, where the food of animals is placed, He allowed His limbs to be laid, thereby showing that His own body would be the eternal Food of men.”  Besides this, He is born every day in the Blessed Sacrament in the hands of the Priest at holy Mass; the Altar is the Crib, and there we go to feed ourselves on His flesh.  Some one might desire to have the holy Infant in his arms, as the aged Simeon had; but Faith teaches us that, when we receive Communion, the same Jesus Who was in the manger of Bethlehem is not only in our arms, but in our breasts.  He was born for this purpose, to give Himself entirely to us: A child is born to us, a son is given to us. — (Is. ix., 6).
     I hear Thee, O my Jesus, say to me in Thy manger: Love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart. — (Is. xii., 2).  And I will answer: Ah, my Jesus, if I do not love Thee, Who art my Lord and my God, whom shall I love?  Thou callest Thyself mine, because Thou wert born in order to give Thyself entirely to me; and shall I refuse to be Thine?  No, my beloved Lord, I give myself entirely to Thee; and I love Thee with my whole heart.  I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, O sovereign Good, the one only Love of my soul. I beseech Thee accept me this day, and do not permit me evermore to cease to love Thee.  O Mary, my Queen, I pray thee, through that consolation which thou didst enjoy the first time thou didst behold thy new-born Son and didst give Him thy first kiss, beseech Him to accept me for His servant, and to enchain me forever to Himself by the gift of His holy love.

Meditación matutina:  "LA REDENCIÓN DE SU PUEBLO"

       Bendito sea el Señor, Dios de Israel, porque ha visitado y redimido a su pueblo.. - (Lucas. i., 68).
     Hasta ahora todos éramos esclavos del infierno. Pero, ¿qué ha hecho el Verbo Eterno y Soberano Señor para liberarnos de esta esclavitud? Ah, ¿quién lo hubiera creído si la santa Fe no nos lo hubiera asegurado? ¿Quién podría haberlo concebido? Pero la santa Fe nos dice y nos asegura que este Supremo y Soberano Señor, siendo en forma de Dios, se despojó de sí mismo, tomando forma de siervo - para liberarnos de la esclavitud de nuestro enemigo mortal.

Meditación I:
     Dios todopoderoso es Señor de todo lo que hay o puede haber en este mundo, y sin embargo no gobernaba los corazones de la humanidad que gemía bajo la miserable tiranía del diablo. Antes de la venida de Jesucristo, este tirano era el señor, e incluso se hacía adorar por los hombres como un dios, con incienso y sacrificios, no sólo de animales, sino incluso de sus propios hijos y de sus propias vidas. Y él, su enemigo y tirano, ¿qué recompensa les daba? Torturó sus cuerpos con la crueldad más bárbara, cegó sus mentes, y por un camino de dolor y miseria los condujo a tormentos eternos. Fue a este tirano a quien el Verbo Divino vino a derrocar, y con ello a liberar a la humanidad de su miserable esclavitud, a fin de que las desafortunadas criaturas, liberadas de las tinieblas de la muerte, rescatadas de la esclavitud de este monstruo salvaje, e iluminadas en cuanto a cuál era el verdadero Camino de Salvación, pudieran servir a su verdadero y legítimo Maestro, Quien las amaba como a un Padre y, de ser esclavas de Satanás, deseaba hacerlas Sus propios hijos amados: Para que, librados de las manos de nuestros enemigos, podamos servirle sin temor. - (Lucas i., 74). Nuestro Salvador vino, pues, a liberarnos de la esclavitud de este enemigo mortal; pero ¿cómo? - ¿de qué manera nos liberó? Aprendamos de San Pablo lo que hizo: El cual, siendo en forma de Dios, no estimó el ser igual a Dios como cosa a que aferrarse, sino que se despojó a sí mismo, tomando forma de siervo, hecho semejante a los hombres. - (Fil. ii., 6).
     Oh Jesús mío, que te has complacido en hacerte siervo por amor a mí, y para librarme de las cadenas del infierno; y no sólo siervo de tu Padre, sino también de los hombres y de los verdugos, hasta dar la vida. Y yo, por amor de un placer miserable y venenoso, he abandonado tantas veces Tu servicio y me he convertido en esclavo del demonio. Mil veces maldigo aquellos momentos en que, por un malvado abuso de mi libre albedrío, desprecié Tu gracia, oh Majestad Infinita. Ten piedad de mí y átame a Ti con esas deliciosas cadenas de amor con las que mantienes a tus almas elegidas en estrecho contacto contigo. Te amo, oh Verbo Encarnado. Te amo, oh mi Soberano Bien. Oh, no permitas que me separe de Ti nunca más.

Meditación II:
     Our Saviour Jesus was, says the Apostle St. Paul, the only-begotten Son of God, equal to His Father, eternal as His Father, almighty as His Father, immense, most wise, most happy, and sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth, of Angels and of men, no less than His Father; but for love of man He stooped to the lowly form of a servant, clothing Himself in human flesh, and likening Himself to men; and since sin had made them vassals of the devil, He came in the form of man to redeem them, offering His sufferings and death in satisfaction to the divine justice for the punishment due to them.  Ah! who would have believed it, if holy Faith did not assure us of it?  Who could ever have hoped for it?  Who could ever have conceived it?  But Faith tells us that this supreme and sovereign Lord emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.
     From His tenderest childhood, the Redeemer, by becoming a servant, was eager to begin and wrench from the devil that dominion which he had over man, according to the prophecy of Isaias: Call his name – Hasten to take away the spoils: Make haste to take away the prey. — (Is. viii., 3).  “That is,” as St. Jerome explains it, “suffer the devil to reign no longer.”  Behold Jesus, scarcely born, says the Venerable Bede, before He is registered in the Census of Caesar, and for our liberation “is Himself inscribed in the list of servitude.”  Observe how, in token of His servitude, He begins to pay off our debts by His sufferings; how He allows Himself to be wrapped in swaddling clothes (a type of the cords which should bind Him at a later day, to be led to death by cruel executioners).  “God suffers Himself,” says a certain author,” to be bound up in swaddling-bands, because He had come to release the world from its debts.”
     I beseech Thee, O my Jesus, by all the sufferings of Thy life and death, do not suffer me ever more to leave Thee!  Suffer me not to be separated from Thee!  Suffer me not to be separated from Thee!
     O Mary, my refuge, thou hast hitherto been my sweet advocate, for it is thou who didst prevail on God still to wait for me and to pardon me with so much mercy.  Succour me now, and obtain for me the grace to die, and to die a thousand times, rather than ever again to lose the grace of God.  Amen.

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO

Meditación vespertina:  JESÚS NACE NIÑO

Meditación I:
     Consider that the first sign which the Angel gave to the shepherds, by which to discover the new-born Messias, was, that they would find Him in the form of an Infant: You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. — (Luke ii., 12).  The littleness of infants is a great attraction for love; but a still greater attraction must the littleness of the Infant Jesus be to us, Who, being the incomprehensible God, has made Himself small for the love of us.  For our sake He has become a little Child.
     Adam came into the world at a full age; but the Eternal Word chose to appear as an Infant – a child is born to us – that He might thus attract our hearts to Himself with greater force.  So would He be born Who willed to be loved.  He came into the world not to inspire terror, but to be loved; and for this reason He preferred to show Himself at His first appearance, as a tender, weak Infant.  “Our Lord is great, and greatly to be praised,” says St. Peter Chrysologus.  My Lord is great, and therefore He deserves highly to be praised on account of His Infinite Majesty.  But when the Saint considered Him as a little Child in the stable of Bethlehem, he exclaimed with tenderness: “My Lord is a little Child and greatly to be loved.”  My great and supreme God has made Himself little for me, and deserves my love.
     Ah, how is it possible that any one can reflect with faith on a God become a little Child, crying and weeping on the straw in a cave, and yet not love Him, and invite all men to love Him, as did St. Francis of Assisi, who said: “Let us love the Child of Bethlehem, let us love the Child of Bethlehem.”  He is an Infant; He does not speak, He only cries; but, O my God, are not these cries all voices of love, with which He invites us to love Him, and demands our hearts!
     Eternal Father, I, a miserable sinner, worthy of hell, have nothing of my own to offer Thee in satisfaction for my sins; I offer Thee the tears, the sufferings, the blood, the death of this Infant, Who is Thy Son; and through them I implore pity from Thee.  If I had not this Son to offer Thee, I should be lost; there would be no longer any hope for me; but Thou hast given Him to me for this purpose, in order that, in offering Thee His merits, I might have a good hope of my salvation.  My ingratitude, O Lord, is great; but Thy mercy is still greater.  And what greater mercy could I hope for from Thee, than that Thou shouldst give me Thy own Son for my Redeemer, and as the Victim for my sins.  For the love, therefore, of Jesus Christ, forgive me all the offences that I have committed against Thee, of which I repent with my whole heart, because by them I have offended Thee, O infinite Goodness.  And for the sake of Jesus Christ I ask of Thee holy perseverance.

Meditación II:
     Let us consider, moreover, that infants also gain our affection because we consider them innocent; but all other infants are born with the infection of original sin.  Jesus was born an Infant, but He was born holy – holy, innocent, undefiled. — (Heb. vii., 26).  My beloved, says the holy Spouse, is all ruddy with love, and all white with innocence, without a spot of any sin: Mi amada es blanca y rubicunda, elegida entre miles. — (Cant, v., 10).  In this Infant did the Eternal Father find His delight, because, as St. Gregory says, “in Him alone He found no fault.”
     Let us miserable sinners comfort ourselves, because this Divine Infant has come down from Heaven to communicate His Innocence to us by means of His Passion.  His merits, if we only knew how to apply them to ourselves, can change us from sinners into innocents and saints: in these merits let us place all our confidence; through them let us continually ask for graces from the Eternal Father, and we shall obtain everything.
     O my God, if I should again offend Thee, after Thou hast waited for me with so much patience, after Thou hast assisted me with so much light, and forgiven me with so much love – I should indeed deserve a special hell for myself.  O my Father, do not forsake me, I pray Thee.  I tremble when I think of the number of times I have betrayed Thee; how many times I have promised to love Thee, and then have again turned my back upon Thee?  O my Creator, let me not have to lament the misfortune of seeing myself again deprived of Thy favour.  Permit me not to be separated from Thee!  Permit me not to be separated from Thee!  I repeat it, and will repeat it to my very last breath; and do Thou always give me the grace to repeat to Thee this prayer: Permit me not to be separated from Thee!  My Jesus, my dearest Infant, enchain me with Thy love.  I love Thee and will always love Thee.  Permit me not to be ever again separated from Thy love.  I love thee, too, my Mother; oh, do thou also love me.  And if thou lovest me, this is the favour I beg thee to obtain for me – that I may never cease to love my God

Meditación matutina:  Y CON ÉL ES ABUNDANTE LA REDENCIÓN - (Sal. cxxix., 7).

     Grande había sido el pecado del hombre, pero mayor, dice el Apóstol, ha sido el don de la Redención.  No como la ofensa así también el don. - (Rom. v., 15). No era sólo suficientepero superabundante.  Y con él abundante redención. Te amo, oh bondad infinita. ¡Te amo, oh Dios amabilísimo!

Meditación I:
     Consuélate, consuélate, pueblo mío, dice tu Dios. Hablad al corazón de Jerusalén. . . porque su mal ha llegado a su fin. - (Is. xl., 1, 2). La razón es que Dios mismo ha descubierto un modo de salvar al hombre, y al mismo tiempo Su justicia y Su misericordia quedarán satisfechas.  La justicia y la paz se han besado. - (Sal. lxxxiv., 11). El Hijo de Dios se ha hecho Hombre, ha tomado la forma de un pecador.  Apareció para quitarnos nuestros pecadosdice San Juan. - (1 Jo. iii., 5). Se presentó ante su Padre celestial y se ofreció a sí mismo para pagar por la humanidad; y luego el Padre lo envió a la tierra para que tomara la apariencia del hombre pecador, y para que fuera hecho en todo semejante a los pecadores: Dios enviando a su propio Hijo en semejanza de carne de pecado. - (Rom. viii., 3). Y San Pablo añade: Y del pecado condenó el pecado en la carne. - (Ibid.).
     Dios, por lo tanto, con el fin de salvar a la humanidad, y al mismo tiempo para satisfacer las demandas de Su Justicia, se complació en condenar a Su propio Hijo a una vida dolorosa, y a una muerte vergonzosa. ¿Y puede ser esto verdad? Jesucristo mismo lo afirma: Tanto amó Dios al mundo que dio a su Hijo unigénito. - (Jo. iii., 16). Un Dios que condesciende a amar a los hombres, miserables gusanos, que han sido rebeldes e ingratos con Él; y a amarlos hasta el punto de dar a su Hijo unigénito, a quien amó tanto como a sí mismo. No dio a un siervo, ni a un ángel, ni a un arcángel, sino a su propio Hijo. Nos lo dio humilde, pobre, despreciado; lo entregó en manos de esclavos, para ser tratado como un bellaco, incluso para ser ejecutado, cubierto de vergüenza, en una horca infame. ¡Oh gracia! Oh fuerza del amor de Dios! exclama San Bernardo.
     ¡Oh Redentor mío y Dios mío, y quién soy yo para que Tú me hayas amado, y aún continúes amándome tanto! ¿Qué has recibido de mí que te haya obligado a amarme así? ¿Qué, sino desaires y provocaciones, que fueron motivo para que me abandonaras y me desterraras para siempre de tu rostro? Pero, Señor, acepto todas las penas menos ésta. Perdóname, oh mi amado Niño, porque lo siento de todo corazón. Oh María, Madre mía, tú eres mi esperanza y el refugio de los pecadores.

Meditación II:
     Say to the faint-hearted: Take courage and fear not . . . God Himself will come and will save you. - (Is. xxxv., 4).  Be no longer in despair, O poor sinners!  What fear can you have that you will not be pardoned when the Son of God comes down from Heaven to save you?  If you cannot by your own works appease an offended God, behold One Who can appease Him!  This very Infant Whom you now see reposing on straw, and weeping – He with His tears, propitiates Him.  You have no grounds for being sad any more, says St. Leo, on account of the sentence of death fulminated against you, now that Life Itself is born for you – “nor is there any lawful reason for sadness when it is the Birthday of Life.”  And St. Augustine: “O sweet day for penitents!  To-day sin is taken away, and shall the sinner despair?”  If you are unable to render due satisfaction to the divine justice, look on Jesus Who does penance for you.  Already does He commence to do it in this little Cave, and He will persevere in doing penance all His life and finally bring it to an end only on the Cross to which, according to St. Paul, He affixed the decree of your condemnation cancelling it in His own Blood: Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us.  And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross. - (Coloss, ii., 14).
     Pardon me, O my beloved Infant, for I am sorry with my whole heart for every single displeasure I have given Thee.  O Redeemer, and Redeemer again and again of my soul! my soul is now enamoured of Thee and loves Thee.  Thou hast loved me above measure, so that, overcome by Thy love, I could no longer resist its winning appeals.  I love Thee, then, O Infinite Goodness!  I love Thee, O most lovable God!  Do Thou never cease to enkindle more and more in my heart the flames and fiery darts of love.  For Thy own glory cause Thyself to be greatly loved by one who has greatly offended Thee.  O Mary, assist a poor sinner who desires to prove faithful to God.  Help me to love Him and to love Him exceedingly.

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO (continuación)

Meditación vespertina:  JESÚS EN BANDAS HILERADORAS

Meditación I:
     Imagine that you see Mary, having now brought forth her Son, take Him reverently in her arms, adore Him as her God, and then wrap Him up in swathing-bands: she wrapped him up in swaddling-clothes. - (Luke ii., 7).  The Holy Church says the same: “His tender limbs in swathing-bands the Virgin Mother binds.”  Behold the Infant Jesus, Who obediently offers His little hands and feet, and allows Himself to be swathed.  Consider how every time the Holy Infant allowed Himself to be swathed He thought of the cords with which He would one day be led captive in the Garden, and of those also which would bind Him to the pillar, and of the nails which would fasten Him to the Cross; and, thinking of these things, He willingly allowed Himself to be bound, in order to deliver our souls from the chains of hell.  Bound, then, in these swaddling-clothes, and turning to us, Jesus invites us to unite ourselves closely to Him with the sweet bonds of love.  And turning to His Eternal Father, He says: My Father, men have abused their liberty, and, rebelling against Thee, have made themselves the slaves of sin; but I, to make satisfaction for their disobedience, am willing to be bound and confined in swathing bands.  Bound with these, I offer Thee my liberty, in order that man may be delivered from the slavery of the devil.  I accept these bands; they are dear to Me, because they represent the cords with which, from this moment, I offer Myself to be one day bound and led to death for the salvation of men.
     And what fear can I have of Thy chastisements, O my beloved Infant, now that I see Thee in these swathing-bands, depriving Thyself, so to say, of the power of raising Thy hand to punish me?  Thou dost give me to understand by these bands that Thou wilt not chastise me, if I will loose myself from the chains of my vices, and bind myself to Thee.  Yes, my Jesus, I resolve to free myself.  I repent with all my heart of having separated myself from Thee, by abusing that liberty which Thou hast given me.  Thou dost offer me another and a nobler liberty; a liberty which delivers me from the chains of the devil, and places me among the children of God.

Meditación II:
     His bands are a healthful binding. - (Ecclus. vi., 31).  The bands of Jesus were the healthful binding to heal the wounds of our souls.  Therefore, O my Jesus, Thou didst will to be wrapped in swathing-bands for the love of me.  “O Love, how great is thy bond, which could bind a God!” O Divine Love, Thou alone couldst make my God Thy Prisoner.  And shall I then, O Lord, refuse to have myself bound by Thy holy love?  Shall I for the future, be so unfaithful as to loose myself from Thy sweet and amiable chains?  And for what?  To make myself a slave of hell?  O my Lord, Thou remainest bound in this manger for the love of me; I desire always to remain bound to Thee.  St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi used to say that the bands which we ought to take are a firm resolution of uniting ourselves closely to God by means of love; detaching ourselves at the same time from all affection for any thing that is not God.  For this reason also it seems that our loving Jesus has allowed Himself to be, as it were, bound and a Prisoner in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, under the sacramental species, that He might see His beloved souls made also prisoners of His love.
     Thou hast given Thyself up to be imprisoned in these bands for the love of me; I will be a prisoner of Thy immense love.  O blessed chains, O beautiful emblems of salvation, which unite souls to God, bind also my poor heart!  But bind it so fast, that it may never in future be able to disengage itself from the love of this sovereign Good.  My Jesus, I love Thee; I bind myself to Thee; I give Thee my whole heart, my whole will.  No, I will never leave Thee again, my beloved Lord.  O my Saviour, Who, to pay my debts, didst will not only to be wrapped by Mary in swathing-bands, but even to be bound as a criminal by the executioners, and thus bound, go through the streets of Jerusalem, to be led to death as an innocent lamb to slaughter; O Thou Who didst will to be nailed to the Cross, and didst not come down from it until Thou hadst given up Thy life upon it – permit me not, I beseech Thee, ever to separate myself again from Thee, so as to see myself once more deprived of Thy grace and of Thy love.  O Mary, who didst bind in swathing-bands this Thy innocent Son, bind me also, a miserable sinner, I pray thee; bind me to Jesus, so that I may never again leave His feet; that bound to Him I may always live and die thus bound, in order that I may have the happiness to enter into that blessed country, where I shall no longer have the power, and no longer the fear, of separating myself from His holy love.

Meditación matutina:  DIOS SE HA HECHO NUESTRO

     Dime, cruel Herodes, ¿por qué mandas asesinar y sacrificar a tantos niños inocentes por tu ambición de reinar? ¿Acaso temes que el Mesías que acaba de nacer te arrebate tu reino? Este Rey que ahora nace ha venido, no a vencer luchando, sino a someter los corazones de los hombres sufriendo y muriendo por su amor.

Meditación I:
     El cruel Herodes mandó asesinar a los inocentes niños, sacrificados a su ambición, temeroso, tal vez, de que el Mesías recién nacido le arrebatara su reino. "¿Por qué te turbas tanto, Herodes?", pregunta San Fulgencio. "Este Rey que ha nacido no ha venido a vencer a los reyes luchando, sino a someterlos muriendo". Este Rey ha venido a reinar en el corazón de los hombres sufriendo y muriendo por su amor". "Ha venido", continúa el Santo, "no, pues, para combatir vivo, sino para triunfar muerto". Dejad a Herodes a un lado, oh almas devotas, y volvamos a nosotros mismos. ¿Por qué, pues, vino el Hijo de Dios a la tierra? ¿Fue para entregarse a nosotros? Sí. Isaías nos lo asegura: Nos ha nacido un niño y se nos ha dado un hijo. El amor que nos profesa este amoroso Salvador y el deseo que tiene de ser amado por nosotros le han inducido a hacer esto. Siendo Suyo, se ha hecho nuestro. Este Dios sobre el que nadie puede reinar se ha entregado, por así decirlo, cautivo al amor. El amor ha obtenido la victoria sobre Él, y, de ser Suyo, lo ha puesto en nuestra posesión. "Ha nacido Aquel que se pertenecía a Sí mismo", dice San Bernardo. Aquel que le pertenecía enteramente eligió nacer por nosotros y hacerse nuestro; ¡el amor triunfa sobre Dios! Dios amó tanto al mundo que dio a su Hijo unigénito. Y he aquí que ya ha llegado del Cielo en un establo, como un Niño: nacido por nosotros y entregado a nosotros.  Nos ha nacido un niño y se nos ha dado un hijo. - (Is. xi., 6). Esto es precisamente lo que significó el Ángel al dirigirse a los pastores: Hoy te ha nacido un Salvador. - (Lucas ii., 11). Tanto como decir: Vosotros, hombres, id a la cueva de Belén; adorad allí al Niño que encontraréis acostado en la paja de un pesebre y temblando de frío. Sabed que Él es vuestro Dios, que no consentiría en enviar a nadie más para salvaros, sino que vendría Él mismo para ganar para Sí todo vuestro amor.
     Oh, mi amado Niño, mi querido Redentor, puesto que has bajado del Cielo para entregarte a mí, ¿qué otra cosa he de buscar en el Cielo o en la tierra fuera de Ti? Sé Tú el único Señor de mi corazón; que Tú lo poseas por entero. Que mi alma te ame sólo a Ti y busque complacerte sólo a Ti.

Meditación II:
     In divers ways had God already striven to win the hearts of men: at one time with benefits, at another, with threats, and again with promises; but He had still fallen short of His aim.  His infinite love, says St. Augustine, made Him devise the plan of giving Himself entirely to us by the Incarnation of the Word, in order thus to oblige us to love Him with our whole hearts.  “Then Love found out the plan of delivering up Itself!”  He could have sent an Angel, a Seraph, to redeem man.  But aware that man, had he been redeemed by a Seraph, would have to divide his heart by partly loving his Creator, and partly loving this redeemer, God, Who wished to possess the entire heart and the entire love of man, “wished therefore to be,” as says a pious author, “both our Creator and Redeemer Himself.”
     And not only has Jesus Christ given Himself to all men in general, but He has wished, moreover, to give Himself to each one in particular.  This it was caused St. Paul to say: He loved me and delivered Himself for me. — (Gal. ii., 20).  So that, dear child of God, if there had been no others in the world beside yourself, the Redeemer would have come for the sake of you alone and would have given His Blood and His life for you.
     My God, my Beloved, has given Himself all to me; it is but reasonable for me to give myself all to my God.  Let others strive after and enjoy, if enjoyment can ever be found apart from Thee, the goods and fortunes of this world.  Thee alone do I desire, Who art my fortune, my riches, my peace, my hope in this life and in eternity.  Behold, then, my heart, I give it wholly to Thee.  It is no longer mine own, but Thine.
     O happy thou, most holy Virgin Mary; thou wert wholly and always God’s own – all fair, all pure and without spot.  I have not belonged to God in the past, but now I wish to be His, and to be His entirely.  O my hope, obtain me strength to be grateful and faithful to Him till death!  Amen.  This is my hope.  So may it be.

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO (continuación)

Meditación vespertina:  JESUS TOMANDO LECHE

Meditación I:
     As soon as Jesus was swathed, He looked for and took milk from the breast of Mary.  The Spouse in the Canticles desired to see her little brother taking milk from his mother: Who shall give thee to me for my brother, sucking the breasts of my mother. - (Cant, vii., 1).  This Spouse desired, but did not see Him; but we are they who have had the happiness of seeing the Son of God made Man, and become our Brother, taking milk at the breast of Mary.  Oh, what a spectacle must it not have been to Paradise to see the Divine Word become an Infant, sucking milk from a Virgin who was His own creature!  He, then, Who feeds all men and all animals upon the earth, is become so weak and so poor, that He requires a little milk to sustain His life!  Sister Paula, the Camaldolese, in contemplating a little image of Jesus taking milk, felt herself at once inflamed with a tender love for God.  Jesus took but little of this milk, and took it but seldom in the day.  It was revealed to Sister Mary Anne, a Franciscan, that Mary only gave Him milk three times in the day.  O milk most precious to us, to be changed into blood in the veins of Jesus Christ, and afterwards to be made by Him a bath of salvation in which to cleanse our souls!
     O my sweet and most amiable Infant, Thou art the Bread of Heaven which sustains the Angels; Thou dost provide all creatures with food; and yet how art Thou reduced to the necessity of begging a little milk to preserve Thy life!  O Divine Love, how hast Thou been able to make a God so poor as to be in want of a little food?  But I now understand Thee, O my Jesus; Thou didst take milk from Mary in this Cave, to offer it afterwards to God changed into blood, as a sacrifice on the Cross, and in satisfaction for our sins.  Give, O Mary, give all the milk thou canst to this Son, because every drop has to serve to wash away the sins from my soul, and to nourish it afterwards in Holy Communion.

Meditación II:
     Let us consider also that Jesus took milk in order to nourish the Body which He wished to leave us as food in the Holy Communion.  Therefore, my little Redeemer, whilst Thou dost take milk, Thou art thinking of me; Thou art thinking of changing this milk into blood, to be shed afterwards at Thy death, and with that price ransom my soul, and feed it in the Most Holy Sacrament which is the saving milk with which Thou preservest our souls in the life of grace: “Christ is your milk,” says St. Augustine.  O beloved Infant, O my Jesus, let me also exclaim with the woman in the Gospel: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. — (Luke xi., 27).  Blessed art thou, O Mother of God, who hadst the happiness to give milk to the Incarnate Word!  Oh, permit me, in company with thy divine Son, to take from thee the milk of a tender and loving devotion to the infancy of Jesus and to thyself, my dearest Mother.  And I thank Thee, O Divine Infant, Who didst allow Thyself to be in need of milk, in order to prove to me the great love Thou bearest me.  It is precisely this that our Lord gave St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi to understand – that He had reduced Himself to the necessity of taking milk, in order to make us comprehend the love that He has for redeemed souls.
     O my Redeemer, how can any one who believes what Thou hast done and suffered to save us, refuse to love Thee?  And I, how could I know this, and yet be so ungrateful to Thee?  But Thy goodness is my hope; and this makes me know that if I wish for Thy grace, it is mine.  I repent, O sovereign Good, of having offended Thee, and I love Thee above everything.  Or rather, I love nothing; I love and will love Thee alone; Thou art, and shalt always be, my only Good, my only Love.  My dear Redeemer, give me, I pray Thee, a tender devotion to Thy holy Infancy, such as Thou hast given to so many souls, who, meditating on Thee as an Infant, and forgetting all else, seem unable to think of anything but of loving Thee.  It is true that they are innocent, and I am a sinner; but Thou didst become a Child to make Thyself loved even by sinners.  I have been such; but now I love Thee with my whole heart, and I desire nothing but Thy love.  O Mary, give me a little of that tender love with which thou didst give milk to the Infant Jesus.

Meditación matutina: "LA FLECHA ELEGIDA"

     Me ha hecho flecha escogida; en su aljaba me ha escondido. - (Is. xlix., 2).
    El cardenal Hugo observa que, como el cazador reserva la mejor flecha para el último disparo, a fin de asegurarse la presa, "así Jesucristo fue reservado en el seno de su Padre hasta que llegara la plenitud de los tiempos, y fue enviado para herir el corazón de los fieles."

Meditación I:
     San Agustín dice que Dios, para cautivar el amor de los hombres, ha lanzado varios dardos de amor a sus corazones. "Dios sabe descargar sus flechas en el amor: Él envía la flecha que puede hacer un amante". ¿Cuáles son estas flechas? Son todas las criaturas que vemos a nuestro alrededor; porque Dios las ha creado todas para el hombre, para que el hombre le ame; por eso dice el mismo Santo: "El cielo y la tierra y todas las cosas me dicen que te ame." Le parecía al Santo que el sol, la luna, las estrellas, las montañas, las llanuras, los mares y los ríos, le hablaban y le decían: Agustín, ama a Dios, porque Dios nos ha creado para ti, para que tú le ames.. Cuando Santa María Magdalena de Pazzi sostenía en su mano una hermosa fruta o flor, declaraba que la fruta o flor era un dardo a su corazón que la hería con el amor de Dios. Santa Teresa decía que todas las cosas bellas que vemos, los lagos, los ríos, las flores, las frutas, los pájaros, todas nos afrentan con nuestra ingratitud a Dios, porque todas son muestras del amor que Él nos tiene. Se cuenta de un piadoso ermitaño que, paseando por el campo, le pareció que las hierbas y las flores le reprochaban su ingratitud, por lo que, mientras caminaba, las golpeaba suavemente con su bastón, diciéndoles: "¡Silencio! ¡Os comprendo! ¡Ya no más! Me reprocháis mi ingratitud, pues Dios os ha creado con tanta belleza por mí, para que yo le ame, ¡y yo no le amo! ¡Oh, calla, que te comprendo! ¡Basta ya! ¡Basta!"
     Así pues, todas estas criaturas eran otros tantos dardos de amor al corazón de los hombres. Pero Dios no se contentaba sólo con estos dardos; no bastaban para ganarse el amor de los hombres.  Me ha hecho flecha escogida; en su aljaba me ha escondido.  Así, entre todos sus dones, Dios reservó a Jesús hasta que llegara la plenitud de los tiempos, y entonces lo envió como última Flecha para herir de amor los corazones de los hombres.  Tus flechas son afiladas; bajo ti caerán los pueblos. - (Sal. xliv., 6). ¡Ah, cuántos corazones heridos veo arder de amor ante el pesebre de Belén! ¡Cuántos al pie de la Cruz del Calvario! ¡Cuántos ante la Sagrada Presencia del Santísimo Sacramento en nuestros altares!
     Ah, Señor mío, dime, ¿te queda algo más que idear para hacerte amar? Haz que Sus invenciones sean conocidas entre la gente, como clamó Isaías. ¡Oh almas redimidas, id y publicad por todas partes los amorosos designios de este Dios amoroso que ha ideado y ejecutado para hacerse amar de los hombres!

Meditación II:
     St. Peter Chrysologus says our Redeemer took many various forms to attract the love of men.  “For our sake He showed Himself under different forms Who remains in the form of His majesty.”  The unchangeable God would appear now as a Child in a stable, now as a Boy in the workshop, now as Criminal on a scaffold, and now as Bread on the Altar!  In these varying figures Jesus chose to exhibit Himself to us; but whatever the character He assumed, it was always the character of a Lover.
     Oh, how God longs to see, and how dearly He loves, a heart that is wholly His!  Ah, what delicate and loving caresses does He not bestow; what good things, what delights, what glory does God not prepare in Paradise for a heart that is wholly His!  The Venerable Father John Leonard de Lettera, a Dominican, one day beheld Jesus Christ under the appearance of a hunter traversing the forest of this earth with an arrow in His hand.  The servant of God asked Him wherefore He was thus engaged.  Jesus answered that He was seeking after hearts.  Who knows whether now in these days the Infant Redeemer will have the success to hit and make a prize of some hearts after which He has been pursuing for a long time, and hitherto has been unable to wound and capture!
     Devout souls, if Jesus gains us, we shall also gain Jesus.  The advantage of such an exchange is all on our side.  “Teresa!” said the Lord one day to this Saint, “up to this time, you have not been all Mine.  Now that you are all Mine, be assured that I am all yours.”  Love is the bond which binds the Lover with the loved one, says St. Augustine.  God has every wish to embrace us and unite us to Himself, but it is also necessary for us to strive and unite ourselves to God.
     My dear Jesus, inflame me with Thy holy love, since for this end Thou didst come upon the earth.  Lord, I have hitherto been ungrateful and blind.  Now that I see Thee trembling with cold on the straw, crying and weeping for me – O my Infant God, how can I live without loving Thee!  O Mary, great Mother of this great Son, and most beloved by Him, pray to Him for me.

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO (continuación)

Meditación vespertina:  JESUS TUMBADO SOBRE PAJA 

Meditación I:
     Jesus is born in the stable of Bethlehem.  His poor Mother has neither wool nor down to make a bed for the tender Infant.  What does she do, then?  She gathers together a handful of straw into the manger, and puts Him to lie upon it: And she laid him in the manger. — (Luke ii., 7).  But, O my God, how hard and painful is this bed for an infant just born; the limbs of a babe are so delicate, and especially the limbs of Jesus, which were formed by the Holy Spirit with a special delicacy, in order that they might be the more sensible to suffering.  A body thou hast fitted to me. — (Heb. x., 5).
     Wherefore the hardness of such a bed must have caused Him excessive pain – pain and shame; for what child, even of the lowest of the people, is ever laid on straw as soon as he is born?  Straw is a bed fit only for beasts; and yet the Son of God had none other on earth than a bed of miserable straw!  St. Francis of Assisi, one day, as he sat at table, heard these words of the Gospel: And laid him in a manger; and he exclaimed: “What? My Lord was laid on the straw, and shall I continue to sit?”  And so he arose from his seat, threw himself on the ground, and there finished his scanty meal, mingling with it tears of tenderness as he contemplated the sufferings that the Infant Jesus endured whilst He lay on the straw.
     O Lover of souls, O my loving Redeemer! is not, then, the sorrowful Passion that awaits Thee, and the bitter death that is prepared for Thee on the Cross, sufficient, but that Thou must, even from the commencement of Thy life, even from Thy Infancy, begin to suffer?  Yes, because even as an Infant Thou wouldst begin to be my Redeemer, and to satisfy the divine justice for my sins.  Thou didst chose a bed of straw to deliver me from the fire of hell, into which I have so many times deserved to be cast.  Thou didst cry and mourn on this bed of straw to obtain for me pardon from Thy Father.  Oh, how these Thy tears afflict me, and yet console me!  They afflict me from compassion at seeing Thee, an innocent Babe, suffering so much for sins not Thy own; they console me, because Thy sufferings assure me of my salvation, and of Thy immense love for me.

Meditación II:
     But why did Mary, who had so earnestly desired the birth of this Son – why did she, who loved Him so much, allow Him to lie and suffer on this hard bed, instead of keeping Him in her arms?  This is a mystery, says St. Thomas of Villanova: “Nor would she have laid Him in such a place, unless there had been some great mystery in it.”  This great mystery has been explained by many in different ways, but the explanation most pleasing to me is that of St. Peter Damian: Jesus wished as soon as He was born to be placed on the straw, in order to teach us the mortification of our senses: “He laid down the law of martyrdom.”  The world had been lost by sensual pleasures.  From the time of Adam multitudes of his descendants had thus been lost.  The Eternal Word came from Heaven to teach us the love of suffering; and He began as a Child to teach it by choosing for Himself the most acute sufferings that an infant could endure.  It was, therefore, He Himself Who inspired His Mother to cease from holding Him in her tender arms, and to place Him on the hard bed, that He might the more feel the cold of the cave and the pricking of the rough straw.
     But, my Jesus, I will not leave Thee alone to cry and to suffer.  I also will weep; for I alone deserve to shed tears on account of the offences I have committed against Thee.  I, who have deserved hell, will not refuse any suffering whatever, so that I may regain Thy favour, O my Saviour.  Forgive me, I beseech Thee; receive me once more into Thy friendship, make me love Thee, and then chastise me as Thou wilt.  Deliver me from eternal punishment, and then treat me as it shall please Thee.  I do not seek the pleasures of this life; he does not deserve pleasure who has had the temerity to offend Thee, O infinite Goodness.  I am content to suffer all the crosses Thou shalt send me; but, my Jesus, I will love Thee still.  O Mary, who didst sympathise by thy sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus, obtain for me the grace to suffer all my trials with patience.  Woe to me, if, after so many sins, I do not suffer something in this life!  And blessed shall I be if I have the happiness to accompany thee in thy sufferings, O my sorrowful Mother, and Thee, O my Jesus, always afflicted and crucified for love of me.

Meditación matutina: LA BREVEDAD DE LA VIDA

     Toda carne es hierba. La vida del hombre es como la vida de una brizna de hierba. Llega la muerte, la hierba se seca. He aquí que la vida termina, y se cae la flor de toda grandeza y de todos los bienes mundanos.  La hierba está marchita y la flor caída.    

Meditación I:
     ¿Qué es tu vida? Es un vapor que aparece por poco tiempo. - (Santiago, iv., 15).
     ¿Qué es tu vida? Es un vapor que se disipa con una ráfaga de viento y ya no se ve más. Todos saben que han de morir; pero el engaño de muchos es que se imaginan que la muerte está tan lejos como si no fuera a llegar nunca. Pero Job nos dice que la vida del hombre es corta.  Hombre nacido de mujer, que vive poco tiempo, . . . que nace como una flor, y se destruye. - (Job xiv., 12). El Señor ordenó a Isaías que predicara esta verdad al pueblo.  Llora... Toda carne es hierba . . . En efecto, el pueblo es hierba. la hierba se marchita y la flor se cae. - (Is. xl. 6 sqq.). La vida del hombre puede compararse a la de una brizna de hierba; llega la muerte, la hierba se seca: he aquí que la vida se acaba, y cae la flor de toda grandeza y de todos los bienes mundanos.
    Mis días, dice Job, han sido más rápidos que un poste. - (Job ix., 25). La muerte corre a nuestro encuentro con la mayor rapidez, y nosotros corremos en todo momento con la misma rapidez hacia la muerte. Cada paso, cada respiración nos acerca más a nuestro fin. "Lo que escribo", dice San Jerónimo, "se lo quito a la vida". Durante el tiempo que escribo, me acerco más a la muerte.  Todos morimos, y, como las aguas que ya no vuelven, caemos en la tierra. - (2 Reyes xiv., 14). Contempla cómo el arroyo fluye hacia el mar, y las aguas que pasan nunca vuelven. Así, hermano mío, pasan tus días, y te acercas a la muerte. Pasan los placeres, las diversiones, las pompas, las alabanzas y las aclamaciones; y sólo me queda la tumba. - (Job xvii., 1). A la hora de la muerte, el recuerdo de las delicias disfrutadas y de todos los honores adquiridos en esta vida, sólo servirá para aumentar nuestro dolor y nuestra desconfianza de obtener la salvación eterna. Entonces el miserable mundano dirá: "Mi casa, mis jardines, mis muebles de moda, mis cuadros, mis vestidos, dentro de poco ya no serán míos, y sólo me queda la tumba.”
     ¡Ah, Dios mío y Señor de infinita majestad! Me avergüenzo de comparecer ante Ti. ¿Cuántas veces te he deshonrado prefiriendo un sórdido placer, la complacencia de la ira, el capricho o la vanidad, a tu gracia? Oh Redentor mío, adoro y beso Tus santas Llagas, que he infligido con mis pecados, pero por las que espero el perdón y la salvación. Oh Jesús mío, hazme comprender la gran injuria que Te he hecho al dejarte, Fuente de todo bien, para beber aguas pútridas y envenenadas. Ya no me queda más que dolor, remordimiento de conciencia y frutos para el infierno.  Padre, no soy digno de ser llamado hijo tuyo. - (Lucas xv., 21). Padre mío, no me deseches. Es verdad que ya no merezco la gracia que me haría hijo tuyo; pero Tú has dicho: Volveos a mí, . . . y yo me volveré a usted. - (Zac. i., 3). Deseo amarte durante el resto de mi vida, y no deseo amar nada más que a Ti. Ayúdame, dame santa perseverancia y tu santo amor. María, mi refugio, suplica por mí a Jesucristo.

Meditación II:
     How great is the folly of those who, for the miserable and transitory delights of this short life, expose themselves to the danger of an unhappy death, and afterwards of an unhappy eternity.  Oh! how important is that last moment, that last gasp, that last closing scene!  On it depends an eternity either of all delights or of all torments — a life of eternal happiness or of everlasting woe.  Let us consider that Jesus Christ submitted to a cruel and ignominious death in order to obtain for us the grace of a good death.  That we may at that last moment die in the grace of God is the reason why He gives us so many calls, so many lights, and admonishes us by so many threats.
     If there were two tickets in a lottery, on one of which was written Infierno and on the other Heaven, what care would you not take to draw that which would give you a right to Paradise, and to avoid the other, by which you would be condemned to a place in hell!  O God! how the hands of those unhappy men tremble who are condemned to throw the die on which life or death depends!  How great will be your terror at the approach of that last hour, when you will say: On this moment depends my life or death for eternity; on this depends whether I shall be forever happy or forever in despair!  St. Bernardine of Sienna relates, that at death a certain prince exclaimed, with trembling and dismay: Behold, I have so many kingdoms and palaces in this world; but if I die this night I know not what apartment shall be assigned to me in the next.
     Brother, if you believe that you must die, that there is an eternity, that you can die only once, and that if you then err, your error will be forever irreparable, why do you not resolve to begin at this moment to do all in your power to secure a good death?  St. Andrew Avellino said with trembling: “Who knows what will be my lot in the next life?  Shall I be saved or damned?”  Oh! hasten to apply a remedy in time; resolve to give yourself sincerely to God, and begin from this moment a life which, at the hour of death, will be to you a source, not of affliction, but of consolation.  Give yourself up to prayer, frequent the Sacraments, avoid all dangerous occasions, and, if necessary, leave the world, secure to yourself eternal salvation, and be persuaded that to secure eternal life no precaution can be too great.
     O my dear Saviour, how great are my obligations to Thee!  How hast Thou been able to bestow so many graces on so ungrateful a traitor as I have been?  Thou didst create me; and in creating me Thou didst see the injuries which I would commit against Thee.  Thou didst redeem me by dying for me: and then, too, Thou didst see the ingratitude which I would be guilty of towards Thee.  Being placed in the world I turned my back upon Thee by my sins.  My soul was dead and Thou didst restore me to life.  I was blind, and Thou didst enlighten me.  I had lost Thee, and Thou didst enable me to find Thee.  I was Thy enemy, and Thou didst make me Thy friend.  O God of mercy, make me feel the obligations which I owe Thee, and make me weep over the offences which I have committed against Thee.  O Eternal Father, I abhor and detest, above all evils, the injuries I have done Thee.  Have mercy on me for the sake of Jesus Christ.  Look at Thy Son dead on the Cross.  Sanguis ejus super me.  May His Blood flow upon me and wash my soul!  Mary, my Queen and Mother, assist me by thy intercession.  Mother of God, pray for me.

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO (continuación)

Meditación vespertina: JESÚS DUERME

Meditación I:
     Very short and painful were the slumbers of the Infant Jesus.  A manger was His cradle, straw was His bed, and straw His pillow; so that the sleep of Jesus was often interrupted by the hardness of this rough and painful little bed, and by the severe cold of the cave.  Notwithstanding this, overcome by nature, the sweet Babe from time to time slept amidst His sufferings.  But the sleep of Jesus differed much from that of other children; the slumbers of other children are useful for the preservation of life, but not for the operations of the soul, because the soul being buried with the senses in sleep, does not then work; but such was not the sleep of Jesus Christ: I sleep, and my heart watcheth. — (Cant, v., 2).  His body was asleep, but His soul was watching, because it was united to the Person of the Word, Who could not slumber, nor be lulled to sleep by the senses.  The Holy Infant, therefore, slept; but while He slept He thought of all the sufferings He was to endure for our love during His life and at His death.  He thought of the fatigues He was to undergo in Egypt and in Nazareth during His poor and despised life.  He thought then, in particular, of the scourges, of the thorns, of the ignominies, of the agonies, and of that desolate death that He was at last to suffer upon the Cross; and whilst He was sleeping He offered all this to His Eternal Father to obtain for us pardon and salvation.  So that our Saviour, even while sleeping, was meriting for us and appeasing His Father, and obtaining graces for us.
     My beloved and holy Infant, Thou sleepest, and oh, how much do not Thy slumbers enamour me!  With others, sleep is the emblem of death; but in Thee it is the sign of eternal life, because whilst Thou art reposing, Thou are meriting for me eternal salvation.  Thou sleepest; but Thy Heart sleeps not, it is thinking of Thy suffering and dying for me.  Whilst Thou art sleeping Thou art praying for me, and obtaining for me from God the eternal rest of Paradise.  But before Thou dost take me to repose with Thee, as I hope, in Heaven, I desire that Thou shouldst repose for ever in my soul.

Meditación II:
     Let us now beseech the Divine Child, by the merit of His blessed slumbers, to deliver us from the deadly slumber of sinners who unhappily sleep in the death of sin, forgetful of God and of His love; and to give us the blessed sleep of the Sacred Spouse, of which He said: Stir not up, nor make the beloved to awake, till she please. — (Cant, ii., 7).  This is the sleep that God gives to His beloved souls, which is none other, as St. Basil says, “but the most profound oblivion of all things;” and this is when the soul forgets all earthly things, to attend only to God and to the things that concern His glory.
     There was a time, O my God, when I drove Thee away from me; but I trust that, by knocking so often at the door of my heart – at one time by making it afraid, at another by enlightening it, then by words of love – Thou hast already obtained an entrance there.  This, I say, is my hope; because I feel a great confidence that I have already been forgiven by Thee; I feel a great hatred and repentance for the offences I have committed against Thee – a repentance that gives me a great sorrow; but a sorrow that brings peace, a sorrow that comforts me and makes me hope assuredly for pardon from Thy goodness.  I thank Thee, my Jesus, and I pray Thee never again to depart from my soul.  I know indeed that Thou wilt not leave me, if I do not drive Thee away; and this is the grace I ask of Thee (and I pray Thee to give me Thy assistance that I may always seek it of Thee), that Thou wouldst not permit me ever to drive Thee from me.  Make me forget everything, to think only of Thee Who hast always thought of me and of my welfare.  Make me always love Thee in this life, so that, breathing forth my soul in Thy arms, united to Thee, it may repose eternally in Thee without fear of losing Thee again.  O Mary, assist me in life and assist me in death, so that Jesus may always repose in me, and that I may always repose in Jesus.

Meditación matutina:   LA PALABRA ETERNA SE HACE SIERVA

     Jesús fue envuelto en pañales, dice San Ambrosio, para que yo pudiera ser liberado de las cadenas; su pobreza es mi patrimonio; la debilidad del Señor es mi fuerza; sus lágrimas han lavado mi culpa. Oh Jesús mío, que has querido hacerte siervo por amor a mí y para liberarme de las cadenas del infierno. Ata mi corazón a Tus pies para que no se aleje más de Ti.    

Meditación I:
     Muy grande sería tu ingratitud para con tu Dios, oh alma cristiana, si no amaras a Jesús después de haberse complacido en envolverse en pañales, para liberarte de las cadenas del infierno; después de haberse hecho pobre, para hacerte partícipe de sus riquezas; después de haberse hecho débil, para darte poder sobre tus enemigos; después de haber elegido sufrir y llorar, para que con sus lágrimas fueran lavados tus pecados.
     Pero, ¡oh Dios, cuán pocos son los que se muestran agradecidos por tan inmenso amor amando fielmente a este su Redentor! Ay! la mayor parte de los hombres, después de tan incomparable beneficio, después de tantas grandes misericordias y de tanto amor, siguen diciendo a Dios: Señor, no queremos servirte; preferimos ser esclavos del diablo y condenados al infierno, antes que ser tus siervos. Escucha cómo reprende Dios a tan ingratos infelices: Has roto mis ligaduras, y has dicho: No serviré. - (Jer. ii., 20). ¿Qué dices tú? ¿Has sido tú también uno de ellos? Pero dime, mientras vivías lejos de Dios y esclavo del diablo, dime, ¿te has sentido feliz? ¿Has estado en paz? Ah, no, las palabras divinas nunca pueden fallar: Por cuanto no serviste al Señor tu Dios con alegría y gozo de corazón, servirás a tu enemigo con hambre y sed y desnudez, y con falta de todas las cosas.. - (Deut. xxviii., 47). Puesto que has preferido servir a tu enemigo antes que servir a tu Dios, mira cómo te ha tratado ese tirano. Te ha hecho gemir como un esclavo encadenado, pobre, afligido y privado de todo consuelo interior. Pero ven, levántate; Dios te habla mientras aún puedes liberarte de los grilletes de la muerte que te atan: Suelta las cadenas de tu cuello, cautiva hija de Sión.. - (Is. lii., 2).
     Oh Jesús, en otro tiempo fui esclavo del infierno; pero ahora que estoy libre de esas infelices cadenas, me consagro enteramente a Ti; Te doy mi cuerpo, mis bienes, mi vida, mi alma, mi voluntad y toda mi libertad. Ya no deseo pertenecerme a mí mismo, sino sólo a Ti, mi único Bien. Ah, ata mi corazón a Tus pies, para que no se aleje más de Ti. Oh santísima María, alcánzame la gracia de vivir siempre unido a tu Hijo por las benditas cadenas del amor. Dile que me acepte como esclavo de su amor. Él te concederá todo lo que le pidas. Ruégale, ruégale, por mí. Esta es mi esperanza.

Meditación II:
     Make haste while time is left, unbind thyself, poor soul, who hast become the voluntary slave of hell.  Strike off these cursed chains that hold thee fast as a prey for hell, and bind thyself to God instead with chains of gold, chains of love, chains of peace, chains of salvation: sus bandas son una unión saludable. — (Ecclus. vi., 31).  But in what maimer are souls bound to God?  By love: Tened caridad, que es el vínculo de la perfección. — (Col. iii., 4).  A soul that always walks by the single way of the fear of punishment, and from this single motive avoids sin, is always in great danger of quickly relapsing into sin; but he that attaches himself to God by love is sure not to lose Him as long as he loves Him; and for this reason we must continually beg God to grant us the gift of His holy love, always praying and saying: O Lord, keep me united with Thee, never suffer me to be separated from Thee and from Thy love.  The fear which we ought rather to desire and beg of God is a filial fear, the fear of ever displeasing this our good Lord and Father.  Let us, too, always have recourse to most holy Mary, our Mother, that she may obtain for us the grace to love nothing but our God, and unite us so closely by love to her Blessed Son, that we may never again see ourselves separated from Him by sin.
     Ah, my God, after all the favours Thou hast shown me, after pardoning me so repeatedly, and when now Thou dost enlighten me with so clear a knowledge, and invitest me to love Thee with so tender an affection, if I should ever be so wretched as again to turn my back upon Thee, how could I presume ever to receive pardon afresh!  Should I not fear that in the same instant Thou wouldst cast me headlong into hell?  Ah, never permit it; let me say again: “Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.”
     O Mary, my refuge, thou hast hitherto been my sweet advocate; for it was thou who didst prevail on God still to wait for me and to pardon me with so much mercy; help me at present, obtain for me the grace to die, and to die a thousand times, rather than ever again to lose the grace of my God.

Lectura espiritual:  LA CAÍDA Y LA RESURRECCIÓN DE MUCHOS

Meditación vespertina:   "NO SE DIFERENCIA EN NADA DE UN SIERVO" - (Epístola para el domingo. Gal. iv., 1-5)

Meditación I:
     He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, says St. Paul.  On considering the immense mercy in the work of human redemption, St. Zachary had good reason to exclaim: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people. — (Luke i., 68).  Blessed forever be God Who hath vouchsafed to come down upon the earth and be made Man in order to redeem mankind: That being delivered from the hands of our enemies, we may serve him without fear. — (Ib. 74).  In order that, loosened from the shackles of sin and death, wherein our enemies held us fast bound and enthralled, we may fearlessly, and with the freedom of the children of God, love Him and serve Him during this life, and afterwards go to possess and enjoy Him face to face in the kingdom of the Blessed that had been closed against us heretofore, but now thrown open to us by our divine Saviour.
     We were, in fact, all the slaves of hell; but what has the Eternal Word, our Sovereign Lord, done to free us from that slavery?  From being Lord He became a servant.  And why?
     Almighty God is Lord of all that is, or that can be in the world: In thy power are all things; for thou hast created all. — (Esther xiii., 9).
     Now, though this Sovereign King bore sway over the Angels in Heaven, and ruled all creation, He did not rule over the hearts of men.  Mankind was groaning under the miserable tyranny of the devil.  But the Prophet Isaias long ago foretold that our Redeemer would destroy the empire which Satan held over mankind: And the sceptre of their oppression thou hast overcome. — (Is. ix., 4).  Why does the Prophet call Satan an oppressor?  Because, says St. Cyril, this heartless master exacts from the poor sinners who become his slaves heavy tribute, in the shape of passions, hatreds, disorderly affections by means of which he binds them in a still greater servitude and at the same time scourges them.  Behold, Jesus is scarcely born, says the Venerable Bede, before He assumes Himself the form and office of a servant, in order to win us freedom from this slavery of Satan.  In token of His servitude He begins to pay off our debts by His sufferings.  God suffers Himself to be bound in swaddling-bands because He had come to free the world.
     My Sovereign Lord and Redeemer, I was lost!  Thou hast ransomed me from hell.  But unhappy me!  I have often since ruined myself again, and Thou hast as often released me again from eternal death.  I am Thine, save me.  Since, as I hope, I am Thine, suffer me never more to cast myself away by rebelling against Thee.  I am resolved to suffer death, and a thousand deaths, rather than ever again become Thy enemy and the slave of hell.  I entreat Thee to grant me Thy grace that I may always ask Thee for help to overcome the devil.  O Mary, obtain this grace for me, by the love which thou bearest to thy Son.

Meditación II:
     The world stood in admiration of that grand act of Charity which St. Paulinus performed in consenting to become a slave for the ransom of the son of a poor widow.  But what comparison does this bear with the Charity of our Redeemer, Who, in order to rescue us from the slavery of the devil and from death, our just due, being God chose to become a servant, to be fast bound with cords, to be nailed to the Cross, and thereon in the end to lay down His life in a sea of sorrow and ignominy?  In order, says St. Augustine, that the servant might become lord, God chose to become a servant.
     “O amazing condescension of Thy bounty towards us!  O inestimable tenderness of Thy charity!” exclaims the Holy Church, “that Thou mightest redeem the servant Thou hast delivered up the Son.”  Thou, then, O God of boundless Majesty, hast been so fascinated with love for men, that to redeem these Thy rebellious servants Thou hast consented to condemn Thy only Son to death.  But, O Lord, replies the holy man, Job: What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him, or why dost thou set thy heart upon him? — (Job vii., 17).  What is man, who is so vile and has proved so ungrateful to Thee, that Thou shouldst make him so great, by honouring and loving him to such an excess?  Tell me, why are the salvation and happiness of man of so much importance to Thee?  Tell me why Thou lovest him so much, that it would seem as if Thy Heart were set on nothing else but to love man and to make him happy?
     Since Thou, O my Jesus, hast paid the price of my ransom, I beseech Thee let not that Blood which Thou hast shed for me be lost to me.  I am sorry that I have despised Thee, O my Love – but grant me more sorrow.  Make me know the evil I have committed in offending Thee.  Most holy Mary, pray to Jesus for me and for all sinners.  Obtain for me light and grace to love thy Son Who has loved me so much.

Meditación matutina:  DESCUIDO DEL TIEMPO

     Ha llamado contra mí el tiempo. - (Lament. i., 15).
    Todo el tiempo que no se dedica a Dios es tiempo perdido. A la hora de la muerte los mundanos desearán otro año, otro mes, otro día - pero no lo obtendrán. Entonces se les dirá que para ellos el tiempo no será más. Ah, Jesús mío, he estado tantos años en el mundo, ¿y cuántos he gastado por Ti?

Meditación I:
     No hay nada más precioso que el tiempo, pero no hay nada menos estimado y más despreciado por los hombres del mundo. Esto es lo que deplora San Bernardo cuando dice: "Nada es más precioso que el tiempo, pero nada es considerado más barato". El Santo añade: "Los días de la salvación pasan, y nadie reflexiona que el día que se le ha ido no puede volver jamás". Verás a un jugador pasar noches y días en el juego. Si le preguntas qué está haciendo, su respuesta será: "Estoy pasando el tiempo". Verás a otros parados varias horas en la calle, mirando a los que pasan, y hablando de temas obscenos o inútiles. Si les preguntas qué hacen, te dirán: "Estamos pasando el tiempo". ¡Pobres pecadores ciegos que pierden tantos días! ¡Días que nunca vuelven!
     Oh tiempo despreciado durante la vida! serás ardientemente deseado por los mundanos a la hora de la muerte. Entonces desearán otro año, otro mes, otro día; pero no lo obtendrán: entonces se les dirá que el tiempo no será más. ¿Cuánto pagarían entonces por otra semana, u otro día, para saldar las cuentas de su conciencia? Para obtener una sola hora, darían, dice San Lorenzo Justiniano, todas sus riquezas y posesiones mundanas, pero esta hora no les será dada.
     Ah, Jesús mío, Tú has gastado toda Tu vida por la salvación de mi alma. No ha habido un solo momento de Tu vida en que no Te hayas ofrecido al Padre Eterno para obtenerme el perdón y la gloria eterna. He estado tantos años en el mundo, y ¿cuántos de ellos he pasado por Ti? Ah! todo lo que recuerdo haber hecho me produce remordimientos de conciencia. El mal ha sido grande, el bien muy poco, y todo lleno de imperfecciones y tibiezas, de amor propio y distracciones. Ah, Redentor mío! todo esto ha surgido de mi olvido de lo que Tú has hecho por mí. Yo te he olvidado, pero Tú no me has olvidado; cuando yo huía de Ti, Tú me seguías y me llamabas tantas veces a tu amor.

Meditación II:
     The Prophet exhorts us to remember God and to procure His friendship, before the light fails.  Remember thy Creator . . . before the sun and the light be darkened. - (Eccles, xii., 1).  How great the distress and misery of a traveller who, when the night has come, perceives that he has missed his way, and that there is no time to correct his mistake.  Such at death will be the anguish of the sinner who has lived many years in the world, and has not spent them for God.  The night cometh, when no man can work. - (John ix., 4).  For him death shall be the night in which he will be able to do nothing.  He hath called against me the time.  Conscience will then remind the worldling of all the time that God has given him, which he has spent in the destruction of his soul; of all the calls and graces that he has received from God for his sanctification, and these he has voluntarily abused.  The sinner will then see that the way of salvation is forever closed.  Hence he will weep and say: O fool that I have been!  O time lost!  O life misspent!  O lost years, in which I could have become a Saint, but have not!  And now the time of salvation is gone forever.  But of what use are these sighs and lamentations, when the scene is about close – the lamp on the point of being extinguished – and when the dying sinner has reached that awful moment on which eternity depends?
     Behold me, O Jesus!  I will resist no longer.  Shall I wait till Thou abandon me?  I am sorry, O Sovereign Good! for having separated myself front Thee by sin.  I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, worthy of infinite love.  Ah! do not permit me ever again to lose the time which Thou in Thy mercy givest me.  Ah! remind me always, O my beloved Saviour, of the love Thou hast borne me and of the pains Thou hast endured for me.  Make me forget all things, that, during the remainder of my life, I may think only of loving and pleasing Thee.  I love Thee, my Jesus, my Love, my All!  I promise to make acts of love whenever Thou remindest me.  Give me holy perseverance.  I place all my confidence in the merits of Thy Blood.  I also trust in thy intercession, O my dear Mother Mary!

Lectura espiritual:  SOBRE LAS VENTAJAS DEL ESTADO RELIGIOSO (continuación)

Meditación vespertina:  JESÚS LLORA

Meditación I:
     The tears of the Infant Jesus were very different from those of other new-born babes: these weep through pain; Jesus did not weep from pain, but through compassion for us and through love: “They weep on account of suffering, Christ out of compassion,” says St. Bernard.  Tears are a great sign of love.  Therefore did the Jews say when they saw the Saviour weeping for the death of Lazarus: Behold how he loved him. - (John xi., 36).  Thus also might the Angels have said on beholding the tears of the Infant Jesus: “Behold how He loves them.”  Behold how our God loves men; since for the love of them we see Him made Man, become an Infant, and weeping.  Jesus wept, and offered to His Father His tears to obtain for us the pardon of our sins.  “These tears,” says St. Ambrose, “washed away my sins.”  By His cries and tears He implored mercy for us who were condemned to eternal death, and thus He appeased the indignation of His Father.
     My beloved Infant, whilst Thou wert weeping in the stable of Bethlehem, Thou wert thinking of me, beholding even my sins, which were the cause of Thy tears.  And have I, O my Jesus, instead of consoling Thee by my love and gratitude at the thought of what Thou hast suffered to save me – have I increased Thy grief and the cause of Thy tears?  If I had sinned less Thou wouldst have wept less.  Weep, yes, weep, for Thou hast cause to weep in seeing such great ingratitude of men for Thy so great love.  But since Thou weepest, weep also for me; Thy tears are my hope.  I also weep for the offences I have offered Thee, O my Redeemer; I hate them, I detest them, I repent of them with my whole heart.  I weep for all those wretched days and nights of mine in which I lived Thy enemy and deprived of Thy beautiful grace; but what would my tears avail, O my Jesus, without Thine?

Meditación II:
     Oh, how eloquently did the tears of this Divine little One plead in our behalf!  Oh, how dear they were to God!  It was then that the Father caused the Angels to proclaim that He made peace with men, and received them into His favour: And on earth peace to men of good will. - (Luke ii., 14).  Jesus wept through love, but He also wept through grief in seeing that so many sinners, even after all His tears and so much blood shed for their salvation, would yet continue to despise His grace.  But who would be so hard-hearted, on seeing an Infant God weeping for our sins, as not to weep also, and detest those sins that have made this loving Saviour shed so many tears?  Oh, let us not increase the sorrows of this Innocent Babe; but let us console Him by uniting our tears to His!  Let us offer to God the tears of His, Son, and let us beseech Him for their sake to forgive us!
     Eternal Father, I offer Thee the tears of the Infant Jesus; for their sake forgive me.  And Thou, my dear Saviour, offer to Him all the tears which Thou didst shed for me during Thy life, and with them appease Him for me.  I beseech Thee also, O my Love, to soften my heart by these tears, and to inflame it with Thy holy love.  Oh, that I could from this day forth console Thee by my love as much as I have pained Thee by offending Thee.  Grant therefore, O Lord, that the days which remain to me of life may no more be spent in offending Thee, but only in weeping for the offences I have offered Thee, and in loving Thee with all the affections of my soul.  O Mary, I beseech thee by that tender compassion which thou didst so often feel at seeing the Infant Jesus in tears, obtain for me a constant sorrow for the offences which I have ungratefully committed against Him.