Meditación matutina: LA SANTA COMUNIÓN, MEDIO DE PERSEVERANCIA EN LA GRACIA DIVINA
San Denis dice que cuando Jesucristo viene a un alma en la Sagrada Comunión, trae consigo tesoros ilimitados de gracia; y por lo tanto después de la Comunión podemos decir verdaderamente: Ahora todas las cosas buenas vienen a mí junto con él.
Meditación I:
Cuando Jesús se acerca al alma en la Sagrada Comunión, trae consigo todo bien, toda gracia, y especialmente la gracia de la santa perseverancia. El efecto principal del Santo Sacramento del Altar es nutrir al alma que lo recibe con el Pan de Vida, impartiéndole una gran fuerza para avanzar hacia la perfección y para resistir a los enemigos que tratan de llevarla a la ruina eterna. Por eso Jesucristo se llama en este Sacramento Pan celestial: Yo soy el pan vivo bajado del cielo; si alguno comiere de este pan, vivirá para siempre.. — (John vi. 51, 52). As earthly bread maintains the life of the body, so this heavenly Bread maintains the life of the soul by enabling it to persevere in the state of God’s grace. Hence the Council of Trent teaches that the Holy Communion is “a medicine which frees us from daily faults and preserves us from mortal sins.”
¡Oh, qué miserable soy, oh Señor, lamentando mi debilidad mientras al mismo tiempo me alejo de Ti! ¿Cómo puedo resistir a mis enemigos internos sin Ti, que eres mi fuerza? Si me hubiera acercado a Ti con más frecuencia en la Santa Comunión, no habría sido tan frecuentemente vencido por mis enemigos. En el futuro no será así: En ti, Señor, he esperado; no me dejes confundido para siempre. — (Ps. xxx. 2). No, I will no more rely on my own strength, but will place my whole confidence in Thee, my Jesus, Who will give me strength to fall no more into sin.
Meditación II:
Innocent III says that Jesus delivers us by His Passion from sins committed, and by the Holy Eucharist from those which we might otherwise commit. Hence St. Bonaventure says that sinners should not stay away from Holy Communion because they have been sinners; but for this very reason should receive it more frequently, for “the more infirm a person is, the more does he stand in need of a physician.”
I am weak, O my Jesus, but Thou by the Holy Communion wilt make me strong against all temptations – I can do all things in him who strengtheneth me. — (Phil. iv. 13). Pardon me, O Jesus, all the injuries I have committed against Thee, for which I am sorry with my whole soul; I am resolved rather to die than wilfully offend Thee any more; and I trust in Thy Passion that Thou wilt help me to persevere in Thy grace to the end of my life. In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded. And with St. Bonaventure I will say the same to Thee, O Mary, my Mother: “In thee – that is, in thy holy intercession, O Blessed Lady, have I hoped; let me never be confounded for ever!”
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
CUARTA VISITA
Su conversación no es amarga, ni su compañía tediosa. — (Wisd. viii. 16). Friends on earth find such pleasure in being together, that they lose entire days in each other’s company; with Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament, those who love Him not, get weary. After her death, St. Teresa, who was already in Heaven, said to a nun: “Those who are in Heaven and those who are on earth should be one and the same in purity and in love; we enjoying, and you suffering; and that which we do in Heaven with the Divine Essence, you should do on earth with the Most Blessed Sacrament.” Behold, then, our Paradise on earth – the Most Blessed Sacrament!
Oh Cordero Inmaculado, sacrificado por nosotros en la Cruz, acuérdate de que soy una de esas almas que has redimido con tantos sufrimientos y con tu Muerte. Haz que Tú seas mío y que nunca te pierda, ya que Tú te has dado a mí, y te das cada día, sacrificándote por mi amor en el altar; y haz que yo sea todo tuyo. Me entrego a Ti sin reservas, para que dispongas de mí como te plazca. Te entrego mi voluntad; encadénala con los dulces lazos de tu amor, para que sea por siempre esclava de tu santísima voluntad. Ya no quiero vivir para satisfacer mis deseos, sino sólo para complacer tu bondad. Destruye en mí todo lo que no te complazca; concédeme la gracia de no tener jamás otro pensamiento que el de complacerte, otro deseo que el que Tú deseas. Te amo, oh mi querido Salvador, con todo mi corazón; Te amo porque Tú deseas que Te ame; Te amo porque Tú eres verdaderamente digno de mi amor. Me duele no amarte tanto como mereces. Deseo, Señor, morir por tu amor; acepta mi deseo y dame tu amor. Amén.
Eyac. ¡Oh buena voluntad de mi Dios, me sacrifico todo a Ti!
VISITA A MARÍA
Mary dice: Soy la madre del bello amor. — (Ecclus. xxiv. 24). That is to say, she is the Mother of that love which beautifies souls. St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi saw the Most Blessed Virgin Mary going about dispensing a sweet liquid, which was divine love. This gift is dispensed only by Mary; from Mary let us seek it.
Eyac. Madre mía, esperanza mía, haz que pertenezca enteramente a Jesús.
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
"La caridad no se envanece".
XVII. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO SE ENVANECE DE SU PROPIO VALOR, SINO QUE SE HUMILLA Y SE ALEGRA DE SER HUMILLADO
Meditación I:
Una persona orgullosa es como un globo lleno de aire, que parece, en verdad, grande; pero cuya grandeza, en realidad, no es más que un poco de aire; el cual, tan pronto como se abre el globo se dispersa rápidamente. El que ama a Dios es humilde, y no se regocija al ver ningún valor en sí mismo; porque sabe que todo lo que posee es don de Dios, y que su conocimiento de los favores divinos que le han sido concedidos, le hace más humilde, porque es consciente de ser tan indigno, y sin embargo tan favorecido por Dios.
St. Teresa says, in speaking of the especial favours she received from God: “God does with me as they do with a house, which, when about to fall, they prop up with supports.” When a soul receives a loving visit from God, and feels within herself an unwonted fervour of Divine love, accompanied with tears, or with a great tenderness of heart, let her beware of supposing that God so favours her in reward for some good action; but let her then humble herself the more, concluding that God caresses her in order that she may not forsake Him; otherwise, were she to make such favours the subject of vain complacency, imagining herself more privileged because she receives greater gifts from God than others, such a fault would induce God to deprive her of His favours. Two things are chiefly requisite for the stability of a house, the foundation and the roof: the foundation in us must be humility, in acknowledging ourselves good for nothing, and capable of nothing; and the roof is the Divine assistance, in which alone we ought to put all our trust.
Meditación II:
Whenever we behold ourselves unusually favoured by God, we must humble ourselves the more. When St. Teresa received any special favour, she used to strive to place before her eyes all the faults she had ever committed; and thus the Lord received her into closer union with Himself: the more a soul confesses herself undeserving of any favours, the more God enriches her with His graces, Thais, who was first a sinner and then a Saint, humbled herself so profoundly before God, that she dared not mention His Name; so that she did not dare to say, “My God,” but “My Creator, have mercy on me! Plasmator meus, miserere mei.” And St. Jerome writes that, in recompense for such humility, she saw a glorious throne prepared for her in Heaven. In the Life of St. Margaret of Cortona we read how, when our Lord visited her one day with greater tokens of tenderness and love, she exclaimed: “But, O Lord, have You, then, forgotten what I have been? Is it possible that You can repay all my outrages against You with such exquisite sweetness?” And God replied that when a soul loves Him and cordially repents of having offended Him, He forgets all her past infidelities; as, indeed, He formerly spoke by the mouth of Ezechiel: But if the wicked do penance. . . I will not remember all his iniquities. — (Ezech. xviii. 21-22). And in proof of this, He showed her a high throne which He had prepared for her in Heaven in the midst of the Seraphim. Oh, that we could only well comprehend the value of humility! A single act of humility is worth more than all the riches of the universe.
Meditación matutina: PREPARACIÓN Y ACCIÓN DE GRACIAS
Los santos sacaban gran provecho de la sagrada Comunión, porque tenían sumo cuidado en prepararse para ella. El fuego quema inmediatamente la madera seca, pero no la verde, porque no es apta para la combustión.
Meditación I:
Cardinal Bona asks how it happens that so many souls after so many Communions make such little advancement in the ways of God? And he answers: “The fault is not in the Food, but in the dispositions of those who receive it.” There is nothing wanting in the Holy Communion, but preparation is wanting on the part of those who receive it. The fire immediately burns dry wood, but not green wood, because it is not fit for burning. The Saints derived great advantage from Holy Communion because they were most careful in preparing themselves for it. There are two things which we should endeavour to acquire in preparing ourselves for Holy Communion. The first is detachment from creatures, by banishing from our hearts everything that is not of God and for God. Although the soul is in the state of grace, yet if the heart be taken up by any earthly affection, the less room will there be for Divine love. One day St. Gertrude asked our Lord what preparation He required of her for the Holy Communion; and Jesus answered: “I require no other of thee but that thou come to receive Me devoid of thyself.” The second thing we should endeavour to acquire, in order to be prepared to reap great fruit from the Holy Communion, is a desire to receive Jesus Christ with a view to love Him much more for the future. Gerson says that at this banquet only those are filled who feel great hunger. Hence St. Francis of Sales writes that the principal intention of the soul in communicating should be to advance in the love of God. “He,” says the Saint, “should be received for love, Who for love alone gives Himself to us.” And on this account our Lord once said to St. Mechtilde: “When thou art about to communicate, desire all the love that any soul ever had for Me, and I will receive thy love as though it were what thou wouldst have it to be.”
Oh Dios de amor, ¿tanto deseas dispensarnos tus gracias, y somos descuidados en buscarlas? ¡Cuán grande será nuestra aflicción cuando lleguemos a la muerte, al pensar en este descuido, tan pernicioso para nosotros! Olvida, Señor, lo pasado; para lo futuro, con tu santa asistencia, me prepararé de mejor manera, cuidando de desprender mis afectos de todo lo que pueda impedirme recibir todas aquellas gracias que deseas impartirme.
Meditación II:
Thanksgiving after Communion is also necessary. No prayers are so acceptable to God as those which we offer to Him after Communion. During this time we should employ ourselves in acts of love and petitions. The holy affections in which we then exercise ourselves have greater merit before God than those we offer to Him at other times, because they come before Him inflamed by the presence of Jesus Christ, Who has united Himself to our souls. And as to petitions, St. Teresa says that Jesus Christ after Communion remains in the soul as on a throne of grace, and says to her: What wilt thou that I should do for thee? — (Mark x. 51). I am come down from Heaven to bestow My graces upon thee: ask of Me what thou wilt, and as much as thou wilt, and thou shalt be heard. Oh! what treasures of grace are lost by those who offer but few prayers to God after Communion.
After Holy Communion, dear Jesus, I will endeavour, as far as I am able, to obtain Thy help to advance in Thy love. Do Thou give me grace to accomplish this. O my Jesus, how careless have I hitherto been in loving Thee! The time of life, which in Thy mercy Thou didst allot me, is the time to prepare myself for death, and to make amends for the offences I have committed against Thee. I desire to spend it all in bewailing my sins and in loving Thee. I love Thee, O Jesus, my Love; I love Thee, my only Good; have pity on me and do not abandon me. And, O Blessed Virgin Mary, never cease to succour me by thy holy intercession.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
QUINTA VISITA
El gorrión ha encontrado para sí una casa, y la tortuga un nido donde poner a sus crías: ¡tus altares, Señor de los ejércitos, Rey mío y Dios mío! — (Ps. lxxxiii. 4). The sparrow, says David, finds a dwelling in houses; turtle-doves in nests; but Thou, my King and my God, hast made Thyself a nest and found a dwelling on earth on our altars, that we might find Thee, and that thou mightest dwell amongst us.
Señor, no podemos menos de decir que estás demasiado enamorado de los hombres; ya no sabes qué hacer para ganarte su amor. Pero danos, mi amabilísimo Jesús, la gracia de que también nosotros te amemos apasionadamente. No sería razonable que fuéramos fríos en nuestro amor hacia un Dios que nos ama con tanto afecto. Atráenos a ti con los dulces atractivos de tu amor; haznos comprender las entrañables pretensiones que tienes de nuestro amor.
Oh Majestad infinita, oh Bondad infinita, que tanto amas a los hombres, que tanto has hecho para ser amado por los hombres, ¿cómo es que entre los hombres hay tan pocos que Te amen? Ya no seré como hasta ahora, del infeliz número de esas criaturas ingratas. Estoy resuelto a amarte tanto como pueda, y a no amar a nadie más que a Ti. Tú lo mereces, y Tú me lo ordenas con tanta insistencia, que estoy resuelto a satisfacerte. Concédeme, oh Dios de mi alma, que pueda satisfacerte plenamente. Te ruego que me concedas este favor por los méritos de tu Pasión, y lo espero confiadamente. Concede los bienes de la tierra a quien los desee; yo sólo deseo y busco el gran tesoro de tu amor. Te amo, Jesús mío; Te amo, Bondad infinita. Tú eres toda mi riqueza, toda mi satisfacción, todo mi amor.
Eyac. Jesús mío, tú me has dado todo tu ser; ¡yo te doy todo mi ser!
VISITA A MARÍA
My Lady, St. Bernard calls thee “the ravisher of hearts.” He says that thou goest about stealing hearts by the charms of thy beauty and goodness. Steal also my heart and will, I beseech thee: I give them wholly to thee: offer them to God with thine own.
Eyac. ¡Madre amabilísima, ruega por mí!
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
XVIII. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO SE ENVANECE DE SU PROPIO VALOR, SINO QUE SE HUMILLA Y SE ALEGRA DE SER HUMILLADO
Meditación I:
It was the saying of St. Teresa, “Think not that thou hast advanced far in perfection till thou considerest thyself the worst of all, and desirest to be placed below all.” And on this maxim the Saint acted, and so have done all the Saints; St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, and the rest, considered themselves the greatest sinners in the world, and were surprised that the earth sheltered them, and did not rather open under their feet to swallow them up alive; and they expressed themselves to this effect with the sincerest conviction. The Blessed John of Avila, who from his earliest infancy had led a holy life, was on his death-bed; and the priest who came to attend him said many sublime things to him, taking him for what indeed he was, a great servant of God and a learned man; but Father Avila thus spoke to him: “Father, I pray you to make the recommendation of my soul, as of a criminal condemned to death; for such I am.” This is the opinion which Saints entertain of themselves in life and death.
Meditación II:
We, too, must act in this manner, if we would save our souls, and keep ourselves in the grace of God till death, reposing all our confidence in God alone. The proud man relies on his own strength and falls on that account; but the humble man, by placing all his trust in God alone, stands firm and falls not, however violent and multiplied the temptations may be; for his watchword is: I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. — (Phil. iv. 13). The devil at one time tempts us to presumption, at another time to diffidence: whenever he suggests to us that we are in no danger of falling, then we should tremble the more; for were God but for an instant to withdraw His grace from us, we are lost. When, again, he tempts us to diffidence, then let us turn to God, and thus address Him with great confidence: In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, I shall never be confounded. — (Ps. xxx. 2). My God, in Thee I have put all my hopes; I hope never to meet with confusion, nor to be bereft of Thy grace. We ought to exercise ourselves continually, even to the very last moment of our life, in these acts of diffidence in ourselves and confidence in God, always beseeching God to grant us humility.
Meditación matutina: JESÚS SE COMPLACE EN ACERCARSE A NOSOTROS EN LA SANTA COMUNIÓN
Oh, ¡cuán encantado está Jesús de unirse a nuestras almas! Para excitar a las almas a recibirle, las exhorta a hacerlo con muchas invitaciones. Venid, comed mi pan y bebed el vino que he preparado para vosotros.. — (Prov. ix. 5). Comed, amigos, y bebedhablando de este Pan y Vino celestiales. Todas estas invitaciones proceden del ardiente deseo que Jesús tiene de venir a nosotros en este Sacramento.
Meditación I:
Comed, amigos, bebed y embriagaos, amados míos.. — (Cant. v. 1). The “friends,” that is, beginners, who scarcely enjoy the Divine friendship, when they receive the Holy Communion, feed indeed on the Flesh of Jesus Christ, but they eat with labour; while those who are on the way to perfection eat with less difficulty. But by the “dearly beloved” are meant the perfect, who, inebriated with holy love, live almost out of the world, forgetting all things, even themselves, and think only how they may love and please their God.
Mi amado Jesús, aún no soy perfecta, pero Tú puedes hacerme perfecta. No soy querido para Ti, y es mi propia culpa, porque he sido ingrato e infiel; pero Tú puedes hacerme querido para Ti embriagándome esta mañana con Tu amor. Venga a nosotros tu reino. — (Matt. vi. 10). Come, my beloved Lord, and take possession of my whole soul. Establish Thy kingdom in me; so that Thou alone mayest reign in me, that Thy love alone may command me, and that Thy love alone may I obey. Inebriate me, inebriate me entirely; make me forget all creatures, myself, my interests, and all, that I may love nothing but Thee, my God, my Treasure, all my Good, my All! May I sigh for Thee alone, seek Thee alone, think of Thee alone, and please Thee alone. Do this by the merits of Thy Passion. This only do I ask of Thee; for this I hope.
Meditación II:
I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him, and I will not let him go. — (Cant. iii. 4). So ought every soul to say who is united with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament: Creatures, depart from me! Go out altogether from my heart! I loved you once because I was blind; now I love you not, nor can I ever love you again. I have found another Good, infinitely more delightful than you. I have found in myself my Jesus, Who has enamoured me of His beauty. To this Love I have given myself entirely. He has already accepted me, so that I am no longer my own. Creatures, farewell! I am not, nor shall I ever again be yours; but I am and shall always be Christ’s. He, too, is mine, and will always be mine: I held him and I will not let him go. Now I have pressed Him to my heart, receiving Him in the Holy Communion; for the future I will hold Him with my love, and will not let Him leave me again.
Permit me, sweet Saviour, to embrace Thee so closely that I may never more be separated from Thee. Behold, I press Thee to myself, my Jesus! I love Thee! I love Thee! Oh, that I could love Thee worthily! I wish that my only happiness and repose should be to love Thee and please Thee. Do Thou command all creatures to leave me, and not to disturb me. Say to them: I adjure you, do not arouse or waken my love. — (Cant. viii. 4). Ah, if I do not wish it, creatures cannot enter in to disturb and divide me from Thee. Strengthen, then, my will; unite my miserable heart to Thy Divine Heart that it may always will what Thou willest. Do this, Lord, by Thy merits.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
SEXTA VISITA
Donde esté tu tesoro, allí estará también tu corazón. — (Luke xii. 34). Jesus Christ says that where a person esteems his treasure to be, there also he keeps his affections. Therefore the Saints, who neither esteem nor love any other treasure than Jesus Christ, centre their hearts and their love in the Most blessed Sacrament.
Mi amabilísimo Jesús, escondido bajo los velos sacramentales, que por el amor que me tienes, permaneces noche y día prisionero en este Sagrario, atrae, te lo suplico, todo mi corazón hacia Ti, para que no piense en nadie más que en Ti, para que te ame y busque y espere sólo en Ti. Hazlo por los méritos de Tu Pasión, por la que te busco y espero.
Ah, mi sacramental Señor y divino Amante, ¡cuán amables y tiernas son las invenciones de Tu amor para ganar el amor de las almas! Oh Verbo Eterno, Tú, al hacerte Hombre, no te contentaste con morir por nosotros; también nos has dado este Sacramento como Compañero, como Alimento y como prenda del Cielo. Te redujiste a Ti mismo para aparecer entre nosotros, una vez como un Niño en un establo, otra como un pobre hombre en un taller, luego como un criminal en una horca, y ahora como Pan en un altar. Dime, ¿podrías inventar otros medios para ganar nuestro amor?
Oh Bondad infinita, ¿cuándo comenzaré realmente a corresponder a tales refinamientos de amor? Señor, sólo viviré para amarte a Ti. ¿Y de qué me sirve la vida, si no la empleo enteramente en amarte y agradarte a Ti, mi amado Redentor, que has derramado toda tu vida por mí? ¿Y qué tengo que amar si no es a Ti, que eres toda belleza, toda condescendencia, toda bondad, todo amor, todo digno de amor? Que sólo viva para amarte a Ti. ¡Que el solo recuerdo de Tu amor disuelva mi alma de amor! Que los nombres de Cuna y Cruz y Sacramento Enciéndelo con el deseo de hacer grandes cosas por Ti, oh Jesús mío, que has hecho y sufrido por mí.
Eyac. Haz, Señor mío, que antes de morir pueda hacer algo por Ti.
VISITA A MARÍA
Como un hermoso olivo en la llanura. — (Ecclus. xxiv. 19). I am, says Mary, the beautiful olive-tree from which the oil of mercy always flows. And I stand in the plain that all may see me. “Remember,” let us say in the words of the prayer of St. Bernard, “O most compassionate Mary, that it has never been heard of in any age, that any one having recourse to thy protection was abandoned by thee.” Most merciful Queen, such a thing was never heard of, that any one having recourse to thy aid was abandoned; I will not be the first unfortunate creature who, having recourse to thee, was abandoned.
Eyac. Oh María, concédeme la gracia de recurrir siempre a ti.
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
XIX. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO ES VANIDOSO, SINO QUE SE HUMILLA Y SE ALEGRA DE SER HUMILLADO
Meditación I:
Pero no basta, para ser humildes, tener una opinión baja de nosotros mismos, y considerarnos los seres miserables que realmente somos; el hombre verdaderamente humilde, dice Tomás de Kempis, se desprecia a sí mismo, y desea también ser despreciado por los demás. Esto es lo que Jesucristo nos recomienda tan encarecidamente que practiquemos, siguiendo su ejemplo: Aprended de mí, que soy manso y humilde de corazón. — (Matt. xi. 29). Whoever styles himself the greatest sinner in the world, and then is angry when others despise him, plainly shows humility of tongue, but not of heart. St. Thomas Aquinas says that a person who resents being slighted may be certain that he is far distant from perfection, even though he should work miracles. The Divine Mother sent St. Ignatius Loyola from Heaven to instruct St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi in humility; and behold the lesson which the Saint gave her: “Humility is a gladness at whatever leads us to despise ourselves.” Mark well, una alegría; si los sentimientos se agitan hasta el resentimiento por el desprecio que recibimos, alegrémonos, al menos, en espíritu.
Meditación II:
And how is it possible for a soul not to love contempt if she loves Jesus Christ, and beholds how her God was buffeted and spit upon, and how He suffered in His Passion! Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others struck his face with the palms of their hands. — (Matt. xxvi. 67). For this purpose our Redeemer wishes us to keep His image exposed on our altars, not indeed representing Him in glory, but nailed to the Cross, that we might have His ignominies constantly before our eyes; a sight which made the Saints rejoice at being vilified in this world. And such was the prayer which St. John of the Cross addressed to Jesus Christ, when He appeared to him with the Cross upon His shoulders: “O Lord, let me suffer, and be despised for Thee!” My Lord, on beholding Thee so reviled for my love, I only ask of Thee to let me suffer and be despised for Thy love.
Meditación matutina: LA SAGRADA COMUNIÓN EL GRAN DON DE JESUCRISTO AL HOMBRE
Tomad y comed: esto es mi cuerpo. — (Matt. xxvi. 26). Let us consider how great a Gift Jesus Christ has bestowed upon us in giving us His entire Self to be our Food in Holy Communion.
Meditación I:
Consider how great a Gift Jesus Christ has bestowed upon us in giving us His entire Self to be our Food in the Holy Communion. St. Augustine says that Jesus, though He is the Almighty God, yet could give us no more: “Omnipotent though He is, He could give no more.” And St. Bernardine of Sienna adds that no greater treasure can be in the heart of man than the Body of Christ: “What greater treasure can a soul desire or achieve than the most holy Body of Jesus Christ?” The Prophet Isaias exclaims: Dar a conocer sus obras entre la gente. — (Is. xii. 4). Publish, O men, the loving invitations of our good God! If our Redeemer had not given us this Gift, who could ever have asked It of Him? Who could ever have dared to say to Him: Lord, if Thou wilt make us know Thy love, conceal Thyself under the species of bread, and allow us to feed on Thee? This very idea would have been reckoned folly. “Would it not have been thought madness,” says St. Augustine, “to say: Eat My Flesh, drink My Blood?” When Christ announced to His disciples this gift of the Most Holy Sacrament, which He intended to leave them, they could not bring themselves to believe, and many left Him saying, ¿Cómo puede éste darnos a comer su carne...? Este dicho es duro, ¿y quién puede oírlo? — (John vi. 53-61). But what men could never have imagined, the great love of Jesus Christ has thought of and accomplished.
San Bernardino dice que nuestro Señor nos ha dejado este Sacramento como un Recuerdo of the love He showed us in His Passion: “This Sacrament is a memorial of His love.” And this agrees with what St. Luke records of the words of Jesus Christ Himself: Haz esto para conmemorarme. — (Luke xxii. 19). St. Bernardine adds that the love of Our Lord was not satisfied in sacrificing His life for us: before He died, He was constrained by this very love to give us the very greatest of all His gifts, by giving us Himself to be our Food: “In that excess of fervour, when He was ready to die for us, He was forced by exceeding love to do a greater work than He had ever yet accomplished, to give us Himself to be our Food.”
Oh Jesús mío, ¿qué Te ha llevado a entregarte por entero para ser nuestro Alimento? Después de este Don, ¿qué nos has dejado para obligarnos a amarte? Oh Señor, danos luz, y haznos conocer cuán excesivo es el amor que Te ha hecho reducirte a Ti mismo en Alimento para unirte a nosotros, pobres pecadores. Que así Te entregues enteramente a nosotros, es razón para que nosotros nos entreguemos enteramente a Ti. Redentor mío, ¿cómo he podido ofenderte a Ti, que me has amado y no has dejado nada sin hacer para ganarte mi amor? Te hiciste hombre por mí, moriste por mí y te hiciste mi alimento; dime lo que te queda por hacer. Te amo, oh bondad infinita, amor infinito.
Meditación II:
The Abbot Guerric says that Jesus has shown in this Sacrament the last effort of His love: “He poured forth upon His friends all the power of His love.” The Council of Trent expresses it still better in saying that in the Blessed Eucharist Jesus, “as it were poured forth the riches of His love towards man.”
What a proof of love it would be considered, says St. Francis de Sales, if a prince, being at table, should send a poor man a portion of his own dish; and how much more if he should send him his whole dinner! But what would be thought if he should send him a portion of his own flesh? Jesus, in the Holy Communion, gives us not only part of His table, not only part of His Body, but His whole Body; Take ye and eat: this is my body. And with His Body He gives us also His Soul and His Divinity. “In short,” says St. John Chrysostom, “He has given Himself wholly, and for Himself He has reserved nothing.” And the angelical Doctor says: “God has given us in the Holy Eucharist all that He is, and all that He has.” Behold this great God, Whom the whole world cannot contain, exclaims St. Bonaventure in admiration, makes Himself our Prisoner in the Holy Sacrament: “He Whom the whole world cannot contain is our Captive!” And if our Lord gives us His whole Self in the Blessed Eucharist, how can we fear that He will ever deny us any grace we ask of Him? How hath he not also, with him, given us all things? — (Rom. viii. 32).
Lord, come often into my soul, inflame me wholly with Thy holy love, and make me forget all else, to think of and love none but Thee. Most holy Mary, pray for me, and by thy intercession make me worthy frequently to receive Thy Son in His ever-blessed Sacrament.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
SÉPTIMA VISITA
He aquí que yo estoy con vosotros todos los días hasta la consumación del mundo. — (Matt. xxviii. 20). Thus our loving Shepherd, Who has given His life for us who are His sheep, would not separate Himself from us by death. Behold me, He says, beloved sheep, I am always with you; for you I have remained on earth in this Sacrament; here you find me whenever you please, to help and console you by My presence. I will never leave you until the end of the world; as long as you are on earth. The Bridegroom, says St. Peter of Alcantara, wished to leave His bride company, that she might not remain alone during so long an absence; and therefore He left this Sacrament in which He Himself, the best companion He could leave her, remains.
Mi dulcísimo Señor, mi amabilísimo Salvador, ahora te visito en este altar; pero me devuelves la visita con mucho más amor cuando entras en mi alma en la Sagrada Comunión. Entonces no sólo estás presente para mí, sino que te conviertes en mi alimento; te unes y me das todo tu ser, de modo que puedo decir con verdad: Jesús mío, ahora eres todo mío. Puesto que Tú te entregas todo a mí, es razonable que yo me entregue todo a Ti. Yo soy un gusano y Tú eres Dios. ¡Oh Dios de amor! Oh amor de mi alma! ¿Cuándo me encontraré todo Tuyo, en obras, y no sólo en palabras? Tú puedes hacerlo; por los méritos de tu Sangre aumenta mi confianza, para que pueda obtener en seguida esta gracia Tuya, para que pueda encontrarme todo Tuyo, y en nada mío. Escucha, Señor, las oraciones de todos: escucha ahora las oraciones de un alma que desea amarte de verdad. Deseo amarte con todas mis fuerzas, deseo obedecerte en todo lo que Tú quieras, sin interés propio, sin consuelos, sin recompensa. Deseo servirte por amor, sólo para complacerte, sólo para contentar a Tu Corazón, que está tan apasionadamente enamorado de mí. Mi recompensa será amarte a Ti. Oh amado Hijo del Padre Eterno, toma posesión de mi libertad, de mi voluntad, de todo lo que poseo y de todo mi ser, y entrégame a Ti mismo. Te amo, Te busco, suspiro por Ti; ¡Te deseo, Te deseo, Te deseo!
Eyac. Jesús mío, hazme toda tuya.
VISITA A MARÍA
Our own most amiable Lady, the whole Church proclaims and salutes thee as, “Our hope!” Thou, then, who art the hope of all, be also my hope. St. Bernard called thee “the whole ground of his hope,” and said: “Let him who despairs hope in thee.” Thus also will I address thee: My own Mary, thou savest even those who are in despair; in thee I place all my hope.
Eyac. María, Madre de Dios, ruega a Jesús por mí.
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
XX. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO ES VANIDOSO, SINO QUE SE HUMILLA Y SE ALEGRA DE SER HUMILLADO
Meditación I:
St. Francis de Sales said, “to support injury is the touchstone of humility and of true virtue.” If a person aspiring to spirituality practises prayer, frequent Communion, fasts, and mortifies himself, and yet cannot put up with an affront, or a biting word, what is it a sign of? It is a sign that he is a hollow reed, without humility and without virtue. And what indeed can a soul do that loves Jesus Christ, if she is unable to endure a slight for the love of Jesus Christ, Who has endured so much for her. Thomas à Kempis, in his golden little book of the Imitación de Cristo, writes as follows: “Since you have such an abhorrence of being humbled, it is a sign that you are not dead to the world, have no humility, and that you do not keep God before your eyes. He that has not God before his eyes is disturbed at every syllable of censure that he hears.” Thou canst not endure cuffs and blows for God – endure at least a passing word.
Meditación II:
Oh, what surprise and scandal does that person occasion, who communicates often, and then is ready to resent every little word of contempt! On the contrary, what edification does a soul give that answers contempt with words of mildness, spoken in order to conciliate the offender; or perhaps makes no reply at all, nor complains of it to others, but continues with placid looks and without showing the least sign of indignation! St. John Chrysostom says that a meek person is not only serviceable to himself but likewise to others, by the good example he sets them of meekness in bearing contempt: “The meek man is useful to himself and to others.” Thomas à Kempis mentions, with regard to this subject, several things in which we should practise humility. He writes as follows: “What others say shall command an attentive hearing, and what you say shall be taken no notice of. Others shall make a request and obtain it; you shall ask for something and meet with a refusal. Others shall be magnified in the mouths of men, and on you no one shall bestow a word. Such and such an office shall be conferred on others, but you shall be passed by as unfit for anything. With such like trials the Lord is wont to prove His faithful servant, and to see how far he has learnt to overcome himself and to hold his peace. Nature, indeed, will at times not like it; but you will derive immense profit thereby, if you support all in silence.”
Meditación matutina: EL AMOR DE JESÚS AL DARSE A SÍ MISMO EN LA SANTA COMUNIÓN
The Most Holy Sacrament is the Gift of God’s pure love. Jesus had already given Himself to us in many ways; as our Companion, our Master, our Father, our Light, our Example, our Victim. “It was the last effort of love when He gave Himself to be our Food.” — (St. Bernardine).
Meditación I:
Consideremos el gran amor que Jesús nos ha manifestado dándose a Sí mismo en la Sagrada Eucaristía. El Santísimo Sacramento es el don del amor puro. Según el decreto divino, era necesario que nuestro Redentor muriera para salvarnos y que, con el sacrificio de su vida, satisficiera la justicia divina por nuestros pecados; pero ¿qué necesidad había de que Jesucristo, después de morir por nosotros, nos dejara a sí mismo para ser nuestro alimento? Sin embargo, así lo quiso Su amor. San Lorenzo Justiniano dice que sólo Su excesiva caridad le llevó a instituir el Santísimo Sacramento, sólo para hacernos comprender el inmenso amor que nos tiene; y esto es precisamente lo que escribe San Juan: Jesús, sabiendo que había llegado su hora de pasar de este mundo al Padre, habiendo amado a los suyos que estaban en el mundo, los amó hasta el fin.... — (John xiii. 1). Knowing that the time had come for Him to quit this world, Jesus would leave us the greatest possible proof of His love, which was this Gift of the Most Blessed Sacrament, as we are taught in these words, Los amó hasta el fin; that is, “with extreme love He loved them to the utmost,” as Theophylact and St. Chrysostom explain it.
Y debemos observar lo que menciona el Apóstol, que el tiempo en que Jesucristo se complació en dejarnos este Don fue el mismo tiempo de Su Muerte: El Señor Jesús, la misma noche en que fue entregado, tomó pan y, dando gracias, lo partió y dijo: Tomad y comed; esto es mi cuerpo. — (1 Cor. xi. 23, 24). While men were preparing scourges and thorns, and a Cross to put Him to death, our loving Saviour wished to leave us this last proof of His love. And why did He institute this Sacrament when He was going to die, and not before? St. Bernardine says that He did so because “the last marks of love given by dying friends remain more easily in our memory, and are more dearly cherished.” The Saint adds that Jesus Christ had already given Himself to us in many ways; He had made Himself our Companion, our Master, our Father, our Light, our Example, and our Victim: “It was the last effort of love when He gave Himself to be our Food; for He gave Himself to be united completely to us, as food and he who eats it are united; so that our Redeemer was not satisfied with merely uniting Himself to our human nature, but He was pleased to find in this Sacrament the means of uniting Himself to each of us in particular.”
¡Oh amor infinito de Jesús, digno de amor infinito! Jesús mío, ¿cuándo te amaré como Tú me has amado? No podías hacer nada más para que te amara, y te he abandonado, oh Bien infinito, por bienes viles y miserables. Ilumíname, Dios mío, y descúbreme siempre más y más la grandeza de tu bondad, para que toda mi alma se enamore de Ti y me esfuerce por agradarte.
Meditación II:
St. Francis de Sales says: “There is no action in which we may more perfectly see the tenderness and love of our Saviour than in this, in which He, as it were, annihilates Himself, and reduces Himself into Food, to penetrate our souls, and unite Himself to the hearts of His faithful.” “So that,” says St. John Chrysostom, “we unite ourselves, and are made one body and one flesh with that of the Lord, on Whom the Angels dare not fix their eyes.” The same Saint adds, “What shepherd ever fed his sheep with his own blood? But why do I speak of shepherds? There are many mothers who give their children to others to be nursed; but He acts not thus, He feeds us with His Own Blood.” But why did He make Himself our Food? Because, says the Saint, He loved us ardently, and so desired to unite Himself to us and to become one and the same thing with us: “He mingled Himself with us that we might be one thing with Him: for this is the property of those who ardently love.” Thus, then, did Jesus Christ will to perform the greatest of all miracles – He hath made a remembrance of his wonderful works, he hath given food to them that fear him (Ps. cx. 4, 5) – in order to satisfy the desire He had of remaining with us and of uniting our hearts to His own Most Sacred Heart. “Oh, how wonderful is Thy love, Lord Jesus!” exclaims St. Laurence Justinian; “Thy desire is to incorporate us so entirely with Thy own Body, that our heart and soul may be inseparably united to Thine own.”
The great servant of God, Father de la Colombiere, used to say: If anything could shake my faith in the mystery of the Eucharist, I should not doubt the power, but the love which God shows us in His Sacrament. If you ask me how bread becomes the Body of Jesus – how Jesus is to be found in many places – I reply, God can do all things. But if you ask me how God can love man to such an excess as to become his Food, – I can only answer that I do not understand it, and that the love of Jesus cannot be comprehended.
But, O Lord, it seems that such an excessive affection as to reduce Thyself to Food is not becoming Thy majesty. St. Bernard answers that love makes the lover forget his own dignity; and St. Chrysostom answers similarly, that love does not seek what is suitable when it wishes to make itself known to the beloved: “Love neglects reason; and goes where it is led, not where it ought.” The angelical St. Thomas was, then, right in calling this the Sacrament of Love, and the Pledge of Love; and St. Bernard, in calling it “the Love of loves.” So was St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi in calling Maundy Thursday, on which day this Sacrament was instituted, “the day of love.”
I love Thee and I thank Thee, O my Jesus, my Love, my All; and I wish to unite myself frequently to Thee in this Sacrament, in order to detach myself from all things, and to love Thee alone, Who art my Life. Through the merits of Thy Passion, assist me, O my Redeemer! O Mother of Jesus, and my Mother, do thou, too, assist me; beg of Jesus to inflame my whole heart with His holy love.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
OCTAVA VISITA
A cada alma que visita a Jesús Sacramentado, Él dirige las palabras que dijo a la Sagrada Esposa: Levántate, date prisa, amor mío, paloma mía, hermosa mía, y ven. — (Cant. ii. 10). Thou, O soul, that visitest Me, surgen de tus miserias; estoy aquí para enriquecerte con gracias. Date prisaAcércate, acércate a Mí; no temas Mi majestad, que se ha humillado en este Sacramento para quitarte el miedo y darte confianza. Mi amadaYa no eres Mi enemigo, sino Mi amigo, puesto que Me amas y Yo te amo. Mi preciosa, Mi gracia te ha hecho bella. Y venAcércate y échate en Mis brazos, y pídeme con la mayor confianza lo que quieras.
Santa Teresa dice que este gran Rey de la Gloria se ha disfrazado en este Sacramento bajo la especie de pan, y que ha ocultado su majestad para animarnos a acercarnos a su divino Corazón con mayor confianza y afecto; unámonos a Él, y pidámosle gracias.
Oh Verbo eterno hecho hombre, y presente por mí en este Sacramento, ¡qué alegría debería ser la mía ahora que estoy en tu presencia, que eres mi Dios, Majestad infinita y Bondad infinita, y que tienes un afecto tan tierno por mi alma! Almas que amáis a Dios, dondequiera que estéis, ya sea en el Cielo o en la tierra, amadle también por mí. María, Madre mía, ayúdame a amarle. Y Tú, amantísimo Señor, hazte objeto de todo mi amor. Hazte Señor de toda mi voluntad; posee todo mi ser. Te consagro toda mi mente, para que esté siempre ocupada con el pensamiento de tu bondad; te consagro también mi cuerpo, para que me ayude a agradarte; te consagro toda mi alma, para que sea toda tuya. Quisiera, oh Amado de mi alma, que todos los hombres conocieran la ternura del amor que Tú les tienes, que todos vivieran para honrarte y agradarte, como Tú deseas y mereces. Haz que, al menos yo, viva siempre enamorado de tu infinita belleza. Desde hoy mi deseo es hacer todo lo posible para agradarte. Resuelvo abandonarlo todo, sea lo que sea, tan pronto como perciba que te desagrada, por mucho que me cueste, incluso si fuera necesario para este propósito perderlo todo, o incluso dar mi vida. Afortunado seré si lo pierdo todo para ganarte a Ti, mi Dios, mi Tesoro, mi Amor, mi Todo.
Eyac. Jesús, amor mío, toma todo lo que tengo; toma plena posesión de mí.
VISITA A MARÍA
El que sea pequeño, que venga a mí. — (Prov. ix. 4). Mary invites all children who need a mother to have recourse to her, as to the most loving of all mothers. The devout Nieremberg says that the love of all mothers is but a shadow in comparison with the love which Mary bears to each one of us. My Mother, Mother of my soul, thou who lovest me and desirest my salvation more than any other after God – O Mother, show thyself a Mother!
Eyac. Madre mía, haz que siempre te recuerde.
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
XXI. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO ES VANIDOSO, SINO QUE SE HUMILLA Y SE ALEGRA DE SER HUMILLADO
Meditación I:
It was a saying of St. Jane Frances de Chantal that “a person who is truly humble takes occasion from receiving some humiliation to humble himself the more.” Yes, for he who is truly humble never supposes himself humbled as much as he deserves. Those who behave in this manner are styled bendito por Jesucristo. No se llaman bienaventurados los que son estimados por el mundo, los que son honrados y alabados como nobles, como doctos, como poderosos; sino los que son mal hablados por el mundo, los que son perseguidos y calumniados; porque para éstos está preparada una gloriosa recompensa en el cielo, si soportan todo con paciencia: Bienaventurados seréis cuando por mi causa os vituperen y os persigan, y digan todo lo malo contra vosotros sin verdad; alegraos y regocijaos, porque vuestra recompensa es muy grande en los cielos.. — (Matt. v. 11, 12).
Oh Verbo encarnado, te suplico que, por los méritos de tu santa humildad, que te llevó a abrazar tantas ignominias e injurias por nuestro amor, me libres de todo orgullo y me concedas una parte de tu humildad. ¿Y qué derecho tengo, oh Jesús, de quejarme de cualquier afrenta que se me ofrezca, después de haber merecido tantas veces el infierno? Oh Jesús mío, por el mérito de todos los desprecios y afrentas soportados por mí en tu Pasión, concédeme la gracia de vivir y morir humillado en esta tierra, como Tú viviste y moriste humillado por mí. Por tu amor, de buena gana sería despreciado y abandonado por todo el mundo; pero sin Ti no puedo hacer nada. Te amo, oh soberano Bien mío; Te amo, oh Amado de mi alma.
Meditación II:
The grand occasion for practising humility is when we receive correction for some fault from superiors or from others. Some people resemble the hedgehog; they seem all calmness and meekness as long as they are not touched; but no sooner does a superior or a friend touch them, by an observation on something which they have done imperfectly, than they forthwith become all thorns and answer warmly, that so and so is not true, or that they were right in doing so, or that such a correction is quite uncalled for: in a word, to rebuke them is to become their enemy; they behave like persons who rave at the surgeon for paining them in the cure of their wounds. “Medicanti irascitur – they are angry with their physician,” writes St. Bernard. “When the virtuous and humble man is corrected for a fault,” says St. John Chrysostom, “he grieves for having committed it; the proud man on the other hand, on receiving correction, grieves also; but he grieves that his fault is detected; and on this account he is troubled, gives answers, and is angry at the person who corrects him.” This is the golden rule given by St. Philip Neri, to be observed with regard to receiving correction: “Whoever would really become a saint must never excuse himself, although what is laid to his charge be not true.” And there is only one case to be excepted from this rule, and that is when self-defence may appear necessary to prevent scandal. Oh, what merit with God has that soul which is wrongfully reprehended, and yet keeps silence, and refrains from defending herself! St. Teresa said: “There are occasions when a soul makes more progress and acquires a greater degree of perfection by refraining from excusing herself than by listening to ten sermons; because, by not excusing herself she begins to obtain freedom of spirit, and to be heedless of whether the world speaks well or ill of her.”
I love Thee, O my Jesus, and I hope, through Thee, to fulfil my promise of suffering all for Thee – affronts, betrayals, persecutions, afflictions, dryness, and desolation. Enough it is for me if Thou dost not forsake me, O sole object of the love of my soul. Suffer me never more to estrange myself from Thee. Enkindle in me the desire to please Thee. Grant me fervour in loving Thee. Give me peace of mind in suffering for Thee. Give me resignation in all contradictions. Have mercy on me. I deserve nothing; but I fix all my hopes in Thee, Who hast purchased me with Thine own Blood. And I hope all from thee, too, O my Queen and my Mother Mary, who art the refuge of sinners!
Meditación matutina: EL CORAZÓN AMABLE DE JESÚS
El Corazón de Jesús es todo puro, todo hoy, todo lleno de amor hacia Dios y hacia nosotros. Toda perfección, toda virtud reina en este Corazón. Este es el Corazón en el que Dios mismo encuentra todo su deleite. Oh amable Corazón de Jesús, bien mereces el amor de todos los corazones.
Meditación I:
Quien se muestra amable en todo, necesariamente debe hacerse amar. Oh, si nos aplicáramos a descubrir todas las buenas cualidades por las que Jesucristo se hace digno de nuestro amor, todos estaríamos en la feliz necesidad de amarle. ¿Y qué corazón entre todos los corazones se puede encontrar más digno de amor que el Corazón de Jesús? Un Corazón todo puro, todo santo, todo lleno de amor hacia Dios y hacia nosotros; porque todos sus deseos son sólo para la gloria divina y nuestro bien. Este es el Corazón en el que Dios encuentra todas sus delicias. En este Corazón reinan todas las perfecciones, todas las virtudes: un amor ardentísimo a Dios, su Padre, unido a la mayor humildad y respeto que pueda existir; una soberana confusión por nuestros pecados, que Él ha tomado sobre sí, unida a la extrema confianza de un Hijo afectuosísimo; un soberano aborrecimiento de nuestros pecados, unido a una viva compasión por nuestras miserias; un dolor extremo, unido a una perfecta conformidad con la voluntad de Dios; de modo que en Jesús se encuentra todo lo más amable.
Oh mi amable Redentor, ¿qué objeto más digno de amor podría el Padre Eterno mandarme amar que a Ti? Tú eres la Belleza del Paraíso, Tú eres el Amor de Tu Padre, Tu Corazón es el trono de todas las virtudes. Oh amable Corazón de mi Jesús, bien mereces el amor de todos los corazones; ¡pobre y desdichado es aquel corazón que no Te ama! Así de miserable, oh Dios mío, ha sido mi corazón durante todo el tiempo en que no Te ha amado. Pero no seguiré siendo tan desdichado; Te amo, Te seguiré amando siempre, oh Jesús mío. Oh Señor mío, hasta ahora te he olvidado, y ahora ¿qué puedo esperar? ¿Que mi ingratitud te obligue a olvidarme por completo y a abandonarme para siempre? No, Salvador mío, no lo permitas. Tú eres el objeto del amor de Dios; ¿y no serás amado por un miserable pecador como yo, que he sido tan favorecido y amado por Ti? Oh hermosas llamas que arden en el amable Corazón de mi Jesús, enciende en mi pobre corazón ese fuego santo que Jesús bajó del Cielo para encender en la tierra. Consume y destruye todos los afectos impuros que habitan en mi corazón y le impiden ser enteramente Suyo.
Meditación II:
Some are attracted to love others by their beauty, others by their innocence, others by living with them, others by devotion. But if there were a person in whom all these and other virtues were united, who could help loving him? If we heard that there was in a distant foreign country a prince who was handsome, humble, courteous, devout, full of charity, affable to all, who rendered good to those who did him evil; then, although we knew not who he was, and though he knew not us, and though we were not acquainted with him, nor was there any possibility of our ever being so, yet we should be enamoured of him, and should be constrained to love him. How is it then, possible, that Jesus Christ, Who possesses in Himself all these virtues, and in the most perfect degree, and Who loves us so tenderly, how is it possible that He should be so little loved by men, and should not be the only object of our love? O my God, how is it that Jesus, Who alone is worthy of love, and Who has given us so many proofs of the love that He bears us, should be alone, as it were, the unlucky One with us, Who cannot arrive at making us love Him; as if He were not sufficiently worthy of our love! This is what caused floods of tears to St. Rose of Lima, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Teresa, St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi, who, on considering the ingratitude of men, exclaimed, weeping: “Love is not loved! Love is not loved!”
O my God, grant that I may only exist to love Thee, and Thee alone, my dearest Saviour. If at one time I despised Thee, Thou art now the only object of my love. I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, and I will never love any but Thee! My beloved Lord, do not disdain to accept the love of a heart which has once afflicted Thee by my sins. Let it be Thy glory to exhibit to the Angels a heart now burning with the love of Thee, which hitherto shunned and despised Thee. Most holy Virgin Mary, my hope, do thou assist me, and beseech Jesus to make me, by His grace, all that He wishes me to be.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
NOVENA VISITA
San Juan dice que vio a nuestro Señor ceñido con un cinturón de oro, que sostenía sus pechos: Vi al Hijo del Hombre ceñido por los pechos con un cinturón de oro. — (Apoc. i. 13). Thus also is Jesus in the Sacrament of the Altar, with His breasts all filled with milk; that is to say, with the graces which, in His mercy, He desires to bestow upon us. And as a mother whose breasts are overcharged with milk goes about seeking children who may draw it off, and relieve her of its weight, so also does He call out to us, Te llevarán a pechos. — (Is. lxvi. 12).
El Venerable Padre Álvarez vio a Jesús Sacramentado con las manos llenas de gracias y buscando a quién dispensárselas. De Santa Catalina de Siena se cuenta que cuando se acercaba al Santísimo Sacramento lo hacía precisamente con la misma amorosa avidez con que un niño vuela al pecho de su madre.
O most beloved and only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, I know that Thou art the object most worthy of being loved. I desire to love Thee as much as Thou deservest to be loved, or at least as much as a soul can ever desire to love Thee. I fully understand that I, who am a traitor and so great a rebel to Thy love, deserve not to love Thee, neither do I deserve to approach so near to Thee as I now an in this church. But I feel that Thou, for all this, seekest my love. I hear Thee say: Hijo mío, dame tu corazón. — (Prov. xxiii. 26). Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón. — (Matt. xxii. 37). I understand that it is for this end Thou hast spared my life, and not sent me to hell, that I might be converted and turn all my affections to Thee. Since, then, Thou art pleased that even I should love Thee, oh, yes, my God, I will do so. Behold, here I am! To Thee I yield myself up: I give myself to Thee: I love Thee. O God! all goodness, all love, I choose Thee for the only King and Lord of my poor heart. Thou desirest it, and my will is to give it to Thee: it is cold, it is loathsome; but if Thou acceptest it, Thou wilt change it. Change me, my Lord, change me; I will no longer dare to live as I have hitherto lived, ungrateful, and with so little love towards Thine infinite Goodness, which loves me so much and deserves an infinite love. Enable me to supply form this day forward all the love I have hitherto failed to bear Thee.
Eyac. Dios mío, Dios mío, ¡Te amaré! ¡Te amaré! ¡Te amaré!
VISITA A MARÍA
In all things like to her Son Jesus, is His Mother Mary; and as she is the Mother of Mercy, she is thrice happy when she succours and consoles the miserable. So great is the desire of this Mother to bestow graces on all that Bernardine de Bustis says “she desires more to do us good and to impart to us graces than we can desire to receive them.”
Eyac. Hail, our hope!
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
"La caridad no es ambiciosa".
XXII. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO DESEA OTRA COSA QUE A JESUCRISTO
Meditación I:
El que ama a Dios no desea ser estimado y amado por sus semejantes: el único deseo de su corazón es gozar del favor de Dios Todopoderoso, que es el único objeto de su amor. San Hilario escribe que todos los honores que rinde el mundo son cosa del demonio. Y así es; porque el enemigo trafica para el infierno cuando infecta el alma con el deseo de estimación; porque, dejando así de lado la humildad, corre grandes riesgos de hundirse en todos los vicios. Santiago escribe que, así como Dios confiere sus gracias con las manos abiertas a los humildes, así las cierra contra los soberbios, a quienes resiste. Dios resiste a los soberbios y da su gracia a los humildes. — (James iv. 6). He says, He resiste los soberbios, significando que ni siquiera escucha sus oraciones. Y ciertamente, entre los actos de orgullo podemos contar el deseo de ser honrado por los hombres, y la exaltación propia al recibir honores de ellos.
Meditación II:
We have a frightful example of this in the history of Brother Justin the Franciscan, who had even risen to a lofty state of contemplation; but because, perhaps – and indeed without a perhaps – he nourished within himself a desire of human esteem, behold what befell him. One day Pope Eugenius IV sent for him; and on account of the great opinion he had of his sanctity, showed him peculiar marks of honour, embraced him, and made him sit by his side. Such high honours filled Brother Justin with self-conceit; on which St. John Capistran said to him, “Alas, Brother Justin, thou didst leave us an angel, and thou returnest a devil!” And, in fact, the hapless Brother becoming daily more and more puffed up with arrogance, and insisting on being treated according to his own estimate of himself, he at last committed murder. Afterwards, becoming apostate, he fled into the kingdom of Naples, where he perpetrated other atrocities, and there he died in prison, an apostate to the last. Hence it is that a certain great servant of God wisely said that when we hear or read of the fall of some towering cedars of Libanus, of a Solomon, a Tertullian, an Osius, who had all the reputation of saints, it is a sign that they were not wholly given to God, but nourished inwardly some spirit of pride, and so fell away. Let us therefore tremble when we feel arise within us an ambition to appear in public, and to be esteemed by the world; and when the world pays us some tribute of honour, let us beware of taking complacency in it, which might prove the cause of our utter ruin.
Meditación matutina: EL CORAZÓN GENEROSO DE JESÚS
Es una característica de las personas de buen corazón desear hacer felices a todos, y especialmente a los más angustiados y afligidos. Pero, ¿quién puede encontrar a alguien que tenga mejor corazón que Jesucristo? Él es la Bondad infinita y, por tanto, desea soberanamente comunicarnos sus riquezas: Conmigo están las riquezas. . . para enriquecer a los que me aman. — (Prov. viii. 18, 21).
Meditación I:
¿Quién puede encontrar a alguien que tenga mejor corazón que Jesucristo? Él es la Bondad infinita misma, y por eso tiene el deseo soberano de comunicarnos sus riquezas. Conmigo están las riquezas. . . para enriquecer a los que me aman. Por eso Jesús se hizo pobre, como dice el Apóstol, para enriquecernos: Por vosotros se hizo pobre, para que vosotros os enriquecierais con su pobreza.. — (2 Cor. viii. 9). For this purpose also He chose to remain with us in the Most Holy Sacrament, where He remains constantly with His hands full of graces, as was seen by Father Balthazar Alvarez, to dispense them to those who come to visit Him. For this reason also He gives Himself wholly to us in Communion, giving us to understand from this that He cannot refuse us any good gifts, since He even gives Himself entirely to us: ¿Cómo no nos ha dado también con él todas las cosas? — (Rom. viii. 32).
Ah, Jesús mío, Tú no te has negado a darme Tu Sangre y Tu vida, ¿y yo me negaré a darte mi miserable corazón? No, mi amadísimo Redentor, te lo ofrezco enteramente. Te doy toda mi voluntad; acéptala y dispone de ella a tu gusto. No puedo hacer nada, ni tengo nada propio, pero tengo este corazón que Tú me has dado, y del cual nadie puede privarme. Podrán privarme de mis bienes, de mi sangre, de mi vida, pero no de mi corazón. Con este corazón puedo amarte; con este corazón te amaré. Te suplico, oh Dios mío, que me enseñes un perfecto olvido de mí mismo. Enséñame lo que debo hacer para llegar a Tu amor puro, del que Tú, en Tu bondad, me has inspirado el deseo. Siento en mí la determinación de complacerte; pero para poner en práctica mi resolución, espero e imploro tu ayuda. Depende de Ti, oh amoroso Corazón de Jesús, hacer enteramente Tuyo mi pobre corazón, que hasta ahora ha sido tan ingrato, y por mi propia culpa privado de Tu amor.
Meditación II:
In the Heart of Jesus we receive every good, every grace that we desire: In all things you are made rich in him . . . so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace. — (1 Cor. i. 5, 7). And we must understand that we are debtors to the Heart of Jesus for all the graces we have received – graces of Redemption, of vocation, of light, of pardon; the grace to resist temptations, and to bear patiently with contradictions; for without His assistance we could not do anything good: Without me you can do nothing. — (John xv. 5).
And if hitherto, says our Saviour, you have not received more graces, do not complain of Me, but blame yourself, who have neglected to seek them of Me: Hitherto you have not asked anything; . . . ask, and you shall receive. — (John xvi. 24). Oh, how rich and liberal is the Heart of Jesus towards every one that has recourse to Him! Rich unto all that call upon him. — (Rom. x. 12). Oh, what great mercies do those souls receive who are earnest in asking help of Jesus Christ. David said, For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild, and plenteous to all who call upon thee. — (Ps. lxxxv. 5). Let us therefore always go to this Heart, and ask with confidence, and we shall obtain all we want.
Oh, grant that my heart may be all on fire with the love of Thee, dear Jesus, even as Thine is on fire with the love of me. Grant that my will may be entirely united to Thine, so that I may will nothing but what Thou willest, and that from this day forth Thy holy will may be the rule of all my actions, of all my thoughts, and of all my desires. I trust, O my Saviour, that Thou wilt not refuse me Thy grace to fulfil this resolution which I now make prostrate at Thy feet, to receive with submission whatever Thou mayest ordain for me and my affairs, as well in life as in death. Blessed art thou, O Immaculate Mary, who hadst thy heart always and entirely united to the Heart of Jesus. Obtain for me, O my Mother, that in future I may wish and desire only what Jesus wills and what thou willest.
Lectura espiritual: CORAM SANCTISSIMO
DÉCIMA VISITA
O foolish ones of the world, says St. Augustine, miserable creatures, whither are you going to satisfy your hearts? Come to Jesus, for by Him alone can that pleasure which you seek be bestowed. “Unhappy creatures, whither are you going? The good you seek for comes from Him.” My soul, be not of the number of these foolish ones; seek God alone: “seek for that one Good in which are all good things.” And if thou desirest soon to find Him, behold, He is close to thee; tell Him what thou desirest, since for this end it is He in in the ciborium, to console thee, and to grant thy prayer. St. Teresa says that all are not allowed to speak to their king; the most that can be hoped for is to communicate with him through a third person. To converse with Thee, O King of glory, no third person is needed; Thou art always ready in the Sacrament of the Altar to give audience to all. Whoever desires Thee, always finds Thee there, and converses with Thee face to face. And even if anyone at length succeeds in speaking with a king, how many difficulties has he had to overcome before he can do so! Kings grant audiences only a few times in the year; but Thou, in this Sacrament, grantest audience to all night and day, and whenever we please.
Oh Sacramento de amor, Tú que, ya te des en la Comunión, ya habites en el altar, sabes, por los tiernos atractivos de tu amor, atraer hacia Ti tantos corazones que, enamorados de Ti, y llenos de asombro a la vista de tanto amor, arden de gozo y piensan siempre en Ti, atrae también hacia Ti mi miserable corazón, que desea amarte y vivir esclavizado por tu amor. Por mi parte, pongo ahora y en adelante todos mis intereses, todas mis esperanzas y todos mis afectos, mi alma, mi cuerpo, todo lo pongo en manos de tu bondad. Acéptame, Señor, y dispón de mí como te plazca. Nunca más me quejaré, oh Amor mío, de tus santas dispensaciones; sé que, como todas tienen su fuente en tu amoroso Corazón, estarán llenas de amor y serán para mi bien. Me basta saber que Tú las quieres; yo también las quiero en el tiempo y en la eternidad. Haz todo lo que quieras en mí y conmigo; yo uno todo mi ser a tu voluntad, que es toda santa, toda buena, toda bella, toda perfecta, toda amorosa. Oh voluntad de mi Dios, ¡cuán querido eres para mí! Mi voluntad es vivir y morir siempre unido y ligado a Ti. Tu complacencia es mi complacencia. Quiero que tus deseos sean también los míos. Oh Dios mío, Dios mío, ayúdame; haz que en adelante viva sólo para Ti; haz que quiera sólo lo que Tú quieras, y haz que viva sólo para amar tu amable voluntad. Haz que muera por Tu amor, ya que Tú has muerto y te has hecho Alimento por mí. Maldigo aquellos días en que hice mi propia voluntad, tanto a Tu desagrado. Te amo, oh Voluntad de Dios, tanto como amo a Dios, puesto que Tú eres uno con Él. Te amo, pues, con todo mi corazón, y me entrego todo a Ti.
Eyac. Oh voluntad de Dios, Tú eres mi amor.
VISITA A MARÍA
La gran Reina dice, Conmigo están las riquezas. . . para enriquecer a los que me aman. — (Prov. viii. 18, 21). Let us love Mary if we would be rich in graces. The writer who signs himself “Idiota” styles her “the treasurer of graces.” Blessed is he who has recourse to Mary with love and confidence. My Mother, my hope, thou canst make me a saint; from thee I hope for this favour.
Eyac. ¡Madre amabilísima, ruega por mí!
Meditación vespertina: LA PRÁCTICA DEL AMOR DE JESUCRISTO
XXIII. EL QUE AMA A JESUCRISTO NO DESEA OTRA COSA QUE A JESUCRISTO
Meditación I:
Let us be especially on our guard against all ambitious seeking of preference, and sensibility in points of honour. St. Teresa said, “Where points of honour prevail, there spirituality will never prevail.” Many persons make profession of a spiritual life, but they are worshippers of self. They have the semblance of certain virtues, but they are ambitious of being praised in all their undertakings; and if nobody else praises them they praise themselves. In short, they strive to appear better than others; and if their honour be touched, they lose their peace, they leave off Holy Communion, they omit all their devotions, and find no rest till they imagine they have got back their former standing. The true lovers of God do not so behave. They not only carefully shun every word of self-complacency, but, further, they are sorry at hearing themselves commended by others, and it is their joy to see themselves held in small repute by the rest of men.
Meditación II:
That saying of St. Francis of Assisi is most true: “What I am before God, that I am.” Of what use is it to pass for great in the eyes of the world, if before God we be vile and worthless? And on the contrary, what matters it to be despised by the world, provided we be dear and acceptable in the eyes of God? St. Augustine thus writes: “The approbation of him who praises, neither heals a bad conscience, nor does the reproach of him who blames wound a good conscience.” As the man who praises us cannot deliver us from the chastisement of our evil doings, so neither can he who blames us rob us of the merit of our good actions. “What does it matter,” says St. Teresa, “though we be condemned and reviled by creatures, if before Thee, O God, we are great and without blame?” The Saints had no other desire but to live unknown, and to pass for contemptible in the estimation of all. Thus writes St. Francis de Sales: “But what wrong do we suffer when people have a bad opinion of us, since we ought to have such of ourselves? Perhaps we know that we are bad, and yet wish to pass off for good in the estimation of others.”
