Meditación matutina: JESÚS NUESTRO SALVADOR
Considera que el Niño Jesús, ocho días después de Su Nacimiento, se mostró ya entonces como nuestro Salvadorderramando Su Sangre divina por nosotros en la Circuncisión, y tomando el Nombre de Salvador. Oh misericordiosísimo Niño Dios, Te doy gracias, y Te suplico por el dolor que sentiste, y por la Sangre que derramaste en Tu Circuncisión, que me concedas la gracia y el poder de arrancar de mi corazón todos los afectos terrenales.
Meditación I:
He aquí cómo el Padre Eterno, habiendo enviado a Su Hijo a sufrir y morir por nosotros, quiere que en este día sea circuncidado, y comience a derramar Su Sangre Divina, que ha de derramar por última vez el día de Su muerte en la Cruz en un mar de contumacia y dolor. ¿Y por qué? Para que este Hijo inocente pague así las penas que nosotros hemos merecido. La Santa Iglesia exclama: "¡Oh admirable condescendencia de la piedad divina para con nosotros! ¡Oh inestimable amor de caridad! Para redimir al esclavo has entregado a tu Hijo a la muerte".
Oh Dios eterno, ¿quién podría habernos concedido este don infinito sino Tú, que eres bondad infinita y amor infinito? Oh Dios mío, si al darme a tu Hijo me has dado el tesoro más querido que tienes, es justo que me entregue enteramente a Ti. Sí, Dios mío, te doy todo mi ser; acéptame y no permitas que vuelva a abandonarte.
Meditación II:
Behold, on the other hand, the Divine Son, Who, all humble, and full of love towards us, embraces the bitter death destined for Him in order to save us sinners from eternal death, and willingly begins on this day to make satisfaction for us to the divine justice with the price of His Blood. He humbled himself, says the Apostle, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. — (Phil, ii., 8). Thou, therefore, O my Jesus, hast accepted death for my love; what, then, shall I do? Shall I continue to offend Thee by my sins? No, my Redeemer, I will no longer be ungrateful to Thee. I am sorry from my heart that I have caused Thee so much bitterness in times past. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, and for the future I will never cease to love Thee.
Our Redeemer has said: Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. — (John xv., 13). Thou, O my Jesus, as St. Paul tells us, hast shown greater love than this towards us, by giving Thy life for us who were Thy enemies. Behold one of them, O Lord, at Thy feet. How many times have I, a miserable sinner, renounced Thy friendship because I would not obey Thee! I now see the evil I have done; pardon me, my Jesus, for I could wish to die of sorrow. I now love Thee with my whole soul, and I desire nothing else but to love Thee and to please Thee. O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, pray to Jesus for me.
Lectura espiritual: EL NOMBRE DE JESÚS CONSUELA
Meditación vespertina: SE LLAMABA JESÚS - (Evangelio, Lucas ii., 21)
Meditación I:
The Name of Jesus is a divine Name, announced to Mary on the part of God by St. Gabriel: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. — (Luke, i., 31). For that reason it was called a name above all names. — (Phil, ii., 9). And it was also called a Name in which alone salvation is found: whereby we must be saved. — (Acts iv., 12).
This great Name is likened by the Holy Spirit unto oil: Thy name is as oil poured out. — (Cant., i., 2). For this reason, says St. Bernard, that as oil is light, food, y medicine, so the Name of Jesus is light to the mind, food to the heart, y medicine to the soul.
It is light to the mind. By this Name the world was converted from the darkness of idolatry to the light of Faith. We who have been born in these regions, where before the coming of Christ our ancestors were Gentiles, should all have been in the same condition had not the Messias come to enlighten us. How thankful ought we not, then, to be to Jesus Christ for the gift of Faith! And what would have become of us if we had been born in Asia, in Africa, in America, or in the midst of heretics and schismatics? He who believes not is lost: He that believeth not shall be condemned. — (Mark xvi., 16). And thus probably we also should have been lost.
O Jesus, Thou Who didst make the power of Thy Name to shine forth to deliver us from the servitude of sin, and the slavery of the devil, deign now and always to preserve our souls from all unworthy subjection. O Jesus all powerful, if the eyes of our souls had not been opened and enlightened by the light of Faith which Thou hast taught us by Thy own mouth, how should we ever have been able to know Thy divine mysteries! Without Thy aid we should always have been buried in the darkness of ignorance and the shadow of death. May thanks be ever given to our sweet Jesus Who has had compassion on us, and, in opening the gates of Heaven to us, has made us heirs of His Eternal Kingdom.
Meditación II:
The Name of Jesus is also food that nourishes our hearts; yes, because this Name reminds us of what Jesus has done to save us. Hence this Name consoles us in tribulation, gives us strength to walk along the way of salvation, supplies us with courage in difficulties, and inflames us with love for our Redeemer, when we remember what He has suffered for our salvation.
Lastly, this Name is medicine to the soul, because it renders it strong against the temptations of our enemies. The devils tremble and fly at the invocations of this Holy Name, according to the words of the Apostle: That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. — (Phil, ii., 10). He who in temptation calls upon Jesus shall not fall, and shall be saved: Praising, I will call upon the Lord; and I will be saved from my enemies. — (Ps. xvii., 4). And who was even lost who when he was tempted invoked Jesus? He alone is lost who does not invoke His aid, or who, whilst the temptation continues, ceases to invoke Him. Oh, that I had always called upon Thee, my Jesus; for then I should never have been conquered by the devil! I have miserably lost Thy grace, because in temptation I have neglected to call Thee to my assistance. But now I hope for all things through Thy Holy Name. Write, therefore, O my Saviour, write upon my poor heart Thy most powerful Name of Jesus, so that, by having it always in my heart by loving Thee, I may have it always on my lips by invoking Thee, in all the temptations that hell prepares for me to induce me to again become its slave, and to separate myself from Thee. In Thy Name I shall find every good. If I am afflicted, it will console me when I think how much more afflicted Thou hast been than I am, and all for the love of me. If I am disheartened on account of my sins, it will give me courage when I remember that Thou camest into the world to save sinners. If I am tempted, Thy Holy Name will give me strength, when I consider that Thou canst help me more than hell can cast me down; finally, if I feel cold in Thy love, Thy Name will give me fervour, by reminding me of the love that Thou bearest me. I love Thee, my Jesus! To Thee do I give all my heart, O my Jesus! Thee alone will I love! Thee will I invoke as often as I possibly can. I will die with Thy Name upon my lips; a Name of hope, a Name of salvation, a Name of love. O Mary, if thou lovest me, this is the grace I beg of thee to obtain for me – the grace constantly to invoke thy name and that of thy Son; obtain for me that these most sweet Names may be the breath of my soul, and that I may repeat them constantly during life, in order to repeat them with my last breath. Jesus and Mary, help me; Jesus and Mary, I love You; Jesus and Mary, I recommend my soul to You.
Meditación matutina: EL NOMBRE DE JESÚS UN NOMBRE DE ALEGRÍA
El Nombre de Jesús fue dado al Verbo Encarnado, no por los hombres, sino por Dios mismo. Y llamarás su nombre Jesús. Es el Nombre de nuestro Salvador, un Nombre de Alegría, un Nombre de Esperanza, un Nombre de Amor. Tu Nombre, pues, oh Jesús, será siempre mi defensa, mi consuelo, un fuego que me mantenga siempre ardiendo con Tu amor.
Meditación I:
Considera que el Santo Nombre de Jesús no es un Nombre inventado por el hombre, sino que procede de Dios, Quien quiso que fuera dado a conocer por el Arcángel Gabriel, como atestigua San Lucas: Su nombre fue llamado Jesús... por el ángel. - (Lucas ii., 21). San Bernardo dice también que este Nombre no es una simple figura de las cosas, o una sombra sin realidad. Jesús es un Nombre que expresa perfectamente la unión hipostática de la naturaleza divina y la naturaleza humana. El mundo no habría podido ser salvado por Dios, porque Dios no podía sufrir, ni por un simple hombre, porque el hombre es limitado y finito. Esta es la razón por la que el Santo Nombre Jesús, que significa lo mismo que Salvador, como declara el Ángel, ha sido dado al Hijo de Dios, hecho Hombre por María, para mostrar que fue a la vez como Dios y como Hombre como Él llevó a cabo la redención de la humanidad liberando a los hombres de la esclavitud del pecado. En resumen, Jesús es un Nombre que comprende el Infinito, la Eternidad, la Inmensidad, la Sabiduría, la Justicia, la Misericordia y todas las Perfecciones adorables de Dios. ¡Qué felicidad para nosotros ser reconciliados con el Padre Eterno por los méritos de este Mediador divino que de Su infinita bondad pagó nuestra deuda con Su preciosa Sangre! Adorable Jesús, si Te sacrificaste para liberar a Tu pueblo de las manos de sus enemigos, a fin de adquirir un Nombre eterno, sería justo que este Nombre superara y eclipsara cualquier otro nombre, incluso el de los Serafines, como dice San Pablo: Siendo hecho tanto mejor que los ángeles, cuanto que heredó un nombre más excelente que ellos. - (Heb. i., 4). Y si el Padre Eterno ha querido que este Nombre sea el de Su Hijo, concédenos que, habiendo experimentado en la tierra sus felices efectos, lleguemos a la completa felicidad del Cielo para alabarte y bendecirte por toda la eternidad.
Meditación II:
The Name of Jesus is a Name of Gladness, a Name of Hope, a Name of Love. It is a Name of Gladness, because if the remembrance of past transgressions afflicts us, this Name comforts us in the remembrance that the Son of God became Man for this purpose – to make Himself our Saviour. In fact, as soon as the Name of Jesus passes from the heart to the tongue, by the light of this divine Name darkness is dispersed, the mind is calmed, the heart is strengthened, the faculties brighten up, and everything returns to life. There is no name in the world equal to the Name of Jesus in sweetness. “Nothing is sweeter to chant,” says St. Bernard, nothing more agreeable to hear, nothing more charming to think of, than the Name of Jesus, the Son of God.”
Oh, how happy shall we be if in all our trials, in all occasions of sorrow, we take care to invoke the glorious Name of Jesus, and while invoking it with our lips to consecrate our hearts to Jesus!
It is a Name of Hope, because he that prays to the Eternal Father in the Name of Jesus may hope for every good he asks for. If you ask the Father anything in my name he will give it to you. — (John xvi., 23).
It is a Name of Love. It is a sign that represents to us how much God has done for the love of us. The Name of Jesus brings to our remembrance all the sufferings which Jesus endured for us in life and in death. Therefore a devout writer exclaims: “O Jesus, how much it cost Thee to be Jesus – that is, my Saviour!”
O sweet Jesus, our Love and our Hope! Do Thou write Thy Name on my poor heart and on my tongue, in order that when I am tempted to sin, I may resist by invoking Thee; so that if I am tempted to despair I may trust in Thy merits; and that if I feel myself tepid in loving Thee, Thy Name may inflame my heart at the recollection of how much Thou hast loved me. Thy Name, then, will always be my defence, my comfort, and the fire that shall always keep me inflamed with Thy love. Make me, therefore, always to call Thee my Jesus, and to live and die with Thy Holy Name on my lips, saying even with my last breath: I love Thee, my Jesus; my Jesus, I love Thee.” O Mary, my Queen, make me when I am dying invoke thee continually, together with thy Son Jesus.
Lectura espiritual: EL NOMBRE DE JESÚS NUESTRA DEFENSA
The Name of Jesus defends us. Yes, it defends us against all the deceits and assaults of our enemies. For this reason the Messias was called God the Mighty — (Is. ix., 6); and His Name was called by the Wise Man a strong tower: The name of the Lord is a strong tower — (Prov. xviii., 10); that we may know that he who avails himself of this powerful Name will not fear all the assaults of hell. St. Paul writes thus: Christ humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. — (Phil, ii., 8). Jesus Christ during His life humbled Himself in obeying His Father, even to die on the Cross; which is as much as to say, as St. Anselm remarks, He humbled Himself so much that He could humble Himself no more; and therefore His divine Father, as a reward for the humility and obedience of His Son, raised Him to such a sublime dignity that there could be no higher: God hath given him a name which is above all names; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth. — (Phil, ii., 9, 10). God gave Him a Name which is so great and powerful that it is venerated in Heaven, on earth, and in hell. A Name powerful in Heaven, because it can obtain all graces for us; powerful on earth, because it can save all who invoke it with devotion; powerful in hell, because this Name makes all the devils tremble. These rebel angels tremble at the sound of this most Sacred Name, because they remember that Jesus Christ was the Mighty One Who destroyed the dominion and power they formerly had over man. They tremble, says St. Peter Chrysologus, because at this Name they have to adore the whole majesty of God: “In this Name the whole majesty of God is adored.” Our Saviour Himself said that through this powerful Name His disciples should cast out devils. In my name they Shall cast out devils. — (Mark xvi., 17). And, in fact, the Church in her Exorcisms always makes use of this Name in driving out the infernal spirits from those who are possessed. And priests who are assisting persons dying call to their aid the Name of Jesus, to deliver them from the assaults of hell, which at that last moment are so terrible.
In the Life of St. Bernardine of Sienna, we see how many sinners the Saint converted, how many abuses he put an end to, and how many cities he sanctified, by trying, when he preached, to induce the people to invoke the Name of Jesus. St. Peter says that there is no other Name given to us by which we can find salvation but this ever-blessed Name of Jesus: For there is no other name under heaven given to men whereby we must be saved. – (Acts iv., 12). Jesus is He Who has not only saved us, but continually preserves us from the danger of sin by His merits, each time we invoke Him with confidence: Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do. — (John xiv., 13).
In temptations, then, I repeat with St. Laurence Justinian, “whether you are tempted by the devil, or are attacked by men, invoke the Name of Jesus.” If the devils and men torment you and urge you to sin, call on Jesus, and you will be delivered; and if temptations do not cease to persecute you, continue to invoke Jesus, and you will never fall. Those who practise this devotion have experienced that they keep themselves safe, and that they always come off victorious.
Let us always add the holy Name of Mary, which is likewise terrible to hell, and we shall always be secure. “This short prayer — Jesus and Mary — is easy to remember,” says Thomas a Kempis, “and powerful to protect; is strong enough to deliver us from all the assaults of our enemies.”
Meditación vespertina: EL NOMBRE DE NUESTRO SALVADOR UN NOMBRE DE GRAN PODER
Meditación I:
Consider that the Name Jesús signifies Saviour; and St. Peter – (Acts iv., 12) – assures us that the Eternal Father has not given to men any other Name by which they may be saved amidst the snares of this deceitful world, than the adorable Name of Jesus. It is this Name that makes the truth of Faith shine everywhere, and that calls all men from the abyss of darkness, to the adorable light of the Gospel. It is by virtue of this adorable Name that the Apostle gave light to the blind, made the lame walk, healed the sick, raised the dead to life, and filled the whole world with wonder. And if the Angel at first announced that Jesus would bring life into the world by delivering it from the cruel slavery into which Adam had plunged it, this good Saviour confirmed this promise Himself when He declared that He had come so that His sheep might have life, and might have it more abundantly. — (John x., 10). By virtue of His Name we see idolatry overthrown, to the great confusion of pagan princes and priests, who did all in their power to uphold it.
O amiable and Holy Name of Jesus, may the Seraphim of Heaven give Thee suitable thanks for me, and never cease to praise Thee by ever repeating that Thou dost merit all glory, all honour, and all power. My sweet Saviour, I hope to obtain, by virtue of Thy Name, the salvation of my body and soul; I hope that with this glorious Name in my heart and on my lips, victorious over the world and the flesh, I shall have the happiness to sing Thy praises and to bless the august Trinity for ever and ever.
Meditación II:
Consider also the efficacy of the adorable Name of Jesus in making our prayers pleasing to God, and in obtaining all that we ask of Him. This Name opens for us the way to arrive promptly at the feet of the Most High, and to have our prayers heard at once. The Gospel attests that the prayers of Jesus Himself have always been heard by virtue of His great Name, and that He authorizes us to say, when speaking to God: “Our Father, Who art in Heaven.” In consideration of the Name of Jesus, God looks with a favourable eye upon our petition. For this reason Jesus exhorted the Apostles, and exhorts us all, that we should ask of His Father in His Name, in order to be sure that we shall obtain what we seek: If you ask the Father anything in my name, he will give it to you. — (John xvi., 23). It is enough for Him to hear the petition, and He will bestow upon us the favours that have been asked of Him in the Name of His Beloved Son, with Whom He is well pleased, and Who, in order to satisfy His offended justice, has shown Himself obedient even unto death. We should, then, know how to profit by the efficacious power of the Holy Name of Jesus; being sure that our prayers will be heard, we should often, every hour of the day, repeat our prayers to the Eternal Father, and we shall advance in perfection on the road of the divine precepts, until we attain the happiness of seeing and possessing Him for all eternity in Heaven.
O Sweet Jesus, our Love and our Hope, since Thou hast deigned to assume mortal flesh, in order to open to us the gate of mercy, and to render our prayers efficacious by virtue of Thy glorious Name, grant that our prayers for the grace of perseverance may be heard, so that, faithful to the Divine law to the end of our lives, we may, with Thy Holy Name on our lips, pass from this valley of tears to the glory of Paradise.
Meditación matutina: EL VALOR DEL TIEMPO
Hijo, observa la hora. - (Ecclus. iv., 23).
El tiempo es un tesoro de inestimable valor, porque en cada instante de tiempo podemos ganar un aumento de gracia y de gloria eterna. Si los bienaventurados del Cielo pudieran afligirse, lo harían por haber perdido tanto tiempo; y en el infierno las almas perdidas se atormentan con el pensamiento de que ya no hay tiempo para ellas. Hijo, observa la hora.
Meditación I:
Hijo, dice el Espíritu Santo, ten cuidado de observar el tiempo, el mayor y más precioso don que Dios puede concederte en esta vida. Los mismos paganos conocían el valor del tiempo. Séneca dijo que "ningún precio es equivalente para él". Pero los Santos han comprendido aún mejor su valor.* Según San Bernardino de Siena, un momento de tiempo tiene tanto valor como Dios; porque en cada momento un hombre puede, por actos de contrición o de amor, adquirir la gracia de Dios y la gloria eterna.
El tiempo es un tesoro que sólo se encuentra en esta vida: no se encuentra en la otra, ni en el infierno ni en el cielo. En el infierno los condenados exclaman con lágrimas: ¡Oh, si nos dieran una hora! Pagarían cualquier precio por una hora de tiempo en la que pudieran reparar su ruina, pero esta hora nunca la tendrán. En el Cielo no hay llanto; pero si los santos fueran capaces de llorar, todas sus lágrimas surgirían del pensamiento de haber perdido el tiempo en el que podrían haber adquirido mayor gloria, y de la convicción de que este tiempo nunca más les será concedido. Una monja benedictina se apareció después de la muerte en la gloria a cierta persona y le dijo que era perfectamente feliz, pero que si pudiera desear algo sería volver a la vida y sufrir dolores y privaciones para merecer un aumento de gloria. Añadió que por la gloria que corresponde a una sola Ave Maríase contentaría con soportar hasta el Día del Juicio la dolorosa enfermedad que le causó la muerte.
Oh Dios mío, te doy gracias por el tiempo que me concedes para reparar los desórdenes de mi vida pasada. Si muriera en este momento, el recuerdo del tiempo que he perdido sería uno de mis mayores tormentos. ¡Ah, Señor mío, me has dado tiempo para amarte y lo he gastado en ofenderte! Merecí ser enviado al infierno desde el primer momento en que te di la espalda, pero Tú me has llamado al arrepentimiento y me has perdonado. Prometí no ofenderte más y ¡cuántas veces he vuelto a pecar! ¡Cuántas veces me perdonaste mis ingratas recaídas! Bendita sea por siempre tu misericordia. ¡Ah, cuánto siento haber ofendido a un Dios tan bueno!
* El propio santo escritor, San Alfonso, hizo voto de "no perder nunca un instante de tiempo".
Meditación II:
Camina mientras tengas luz. - (John xii., 35).
How are you spending your time? Why do you always defer till to-morrow what you can do to-day? Remember that the time past is no longer yours: the future is not under your control: you have only the present for the performance of good works. Why, O miserable man, says St. Bernard, do you presume on the future as if God had placed time in your power! How can you who are not sure of an hour, promise yourself to-morrow? asks St. Augustine. If, then, says St. Teresa, you are not prepared for death to-day, tremble lest you die an unhappy death. Camina mientras tengas luz.
We must walk in the way of the Lord during life, now that we have the light; for at the hour of death His light is taken away. Death is not a time for preparing, but for finding ourselves prepared. Be ye ready — (Luke xii., 40). At the hour of death we can do nothing: what is then done is done. Behold now is the acceptable time. — (2 Cor. vi., 2). In the lives of the Saints there is no to-morrow. To-morrow is found in the lives of sinners who are ever saying: Hereafter! Hereafter! And in this state they continue till death.
My Saviour, the patience alone with which Thou hast waited for me ought to enamour me of Thee. Ah! do not suffer me to live any longer ungrateful for the love Thou hast shown me. Detach me from every creature and draw me entirely to Thyself. O my God, I will no longer waste the time Thou givest me to repair the evil which I have done. I will spend it all in serving and loving Thee. Give me holy perseverance. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, and hope to love Thee for ever. I thank thee, O Mary. By thy advocacy thou hast obtained for me the time which is given me. Assist me now, and obtain for me the grace to spend it all in loving thy Son, my Redeemer, and in loving thee, my Queen and Mother.
Lectura espiritual: EL NOMBRE DE JESÚS INFLAMA CON SANTO AMOR
Meditación vespertina: LAS OCUPACIONES DEL NIÑO JESÚS EN EL ESTABLO DE BELÉN
Meditación I:
There are two principal occupations of a solitary – to pray, and to do penance. Behold the Infant Jesus in the little Grotto of Bethlehem giving us the example. He, in the Crib which He chose for His oratory upon earth, never ceases to pray, and to pray continually, to the Eternal Father. There He constantly makes acts of adoration, of love, and of prayer.
Before the coming of Jesus, the God made Man, the Divine Majesty had been, it is true, adored by men and by Angels; but God had not received from all these creatures that honour which the Infant Jesus gave Him by adoring Him in the stable where He was born. Let us, therefore, constantly unite our adoration to that of Jesus Christ, when He was upon this earth.
Oh, how beautiful and perfect were the acts of love which the Incarnate Word made to His Father in His prayer! God had given to man the commandment to love Him with all his heart and all his strength, but this precept had never been perfectly fulfilled by any man. The first to accomplish it amongst women was Mary, and amongst men the first was Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled it in a degree infinitely superior to Mary. The love of the Seraphim may be said to be cold in comparison with the love of this Holy Infant. Let us learn from Him to love the Lord our God as He ought to be loved; and let us beseech Him to communicate to us a spark of that pure love with which He loved the Divine Father in the stable of Bethlehem.
My dear Redeemer, how much do I owe Thee! If Thou hadst not prayed for me, in what state of ruin should I not find myself! I thank Thee, O my Jesus; Thy prayers have obtained for me the pardon of my sins, and I hope that they will also obtain for me perseverance unto death. Thou hast prayed for me, and I bless Thee with my whole heart for it; but I beseech Thee not to leave off praying for me. I know that Thou dost continue even in Heaven to be our advocate: We have an advocate, Jesus Christ; Who also maketh intercession for us. — (1 John ii., 1; Rom. viii., 34). Continue therefore to be my Advocate who am in so much need of Thy intercession. I hope God has already pardoned me through Thy merits; but as I have already so often fallen, I may therefore fall again. Hell does not cease, and will not cease, to tempt me, in order to make me again lose Thy friendship.
Meditación II:
Oh, how beautiful, perfect, and dear to God were the prayers of the Infant Jesus! At every moment He prayed to His Father, and His prayers were all for us and for each one of us in particular. All the graces that each of us has received from the Lord, our being called to the true Faith, our having had time given us for repentance, the lights, the sorrow for sins, the pardon of them, the holy desires, the victory over temptations, and all the other good acts that we have made, or shall make, of confidence, of humility, of love, of thanksgiving, of offering, of resignation – all these Jesus has obtained for us, and all have been the effect of the prayers of Jesus. Oh, how much do we owe Him! And how much ought we not to thank Him and to love Him!
Ah, my Jesus, Thou art my hope; it is Thou Who must give me fortitude to resist; from Thee I seek it, and of Thee I hope for it. But I will not content myself with the grace not to fall again; I desire also the grace to love Thee exceedingly. My death approaches. If I were to die now, I should indeed hope to be saved; but I should love Thee little in Paradise because I have loved Thee but little hitherto. I will love Thee much in the days that remain to me that I may love Thee still more in eternity. O Mary, my Mother, do thou also pray and beseech Jesus for me. Thy prayers are all-powerful with thy Son Who loves thee much. Beseech Jesus to give me a great love for Him, and let this be constant and for ever.
Meditación matutina: EL CORAZÓN DE JESÚS LLENO DE SUFRIMIENTOS DESDE SU INFANCIA
Mi dolor está continuamente ante mí. - (Sal. xxvii., 18).
Estamos acostumbrados a oír hablar de la Creación, de la Encarnación, de la Redención; de Jesús nacido en un establo, de Jesús muerto en la Cruz. Oh Dios mío, si supiéramos que otro hombre nos ha conferido alguno de estos beneficios no podríamos dejar de amarlo. Oh Corazón adorable de mi Jesús, Corazón inflamado en el amor de los hombres, Corazón creado a propósito para amarlos, ¡cómo es posible que seas despreciado, y Tu amor tan mal correspondido!
Meditación I:
Considerad que en el momento en que el alma de Jesucristo fue creada y unida a su cuerpecito en el seno de María, el Padre Eterno dio a entender a su Hijo su voluntad de que muriese por la redención del mundo; y en ese mismo instante presentó a su vista toda la espantosa escena de los sufrimientos que habría de soportar, hasta la muerte, para redimir a la humanidad. Nuestro Divino Redentor vio en aquel momento todos los trabajos, desprecios y pobreza que habría de padecer durante toda su vida, tanto en Belén como en Egipto y en Nazaret; todos los sufrimientos e ignominias de su Pasión, los azotes, las espinas, los clavos y la Cruz; todos los cansancios, tristezas, agonías y abandonos en que había de terminar su vida en el Calvario.
Cuando Abraham conducía a su hijo a la muerte, no quiso informarle de ello a su aflicción de antemano, ni siquiera durante el corto tiempo que fue necesario para que llegaran al Monte. Pero el Padre Eterno eligió que Su Hijo Encarnado, a Quien había destinado para ser la Víctima de Su justicia en expiación por nuestros pecados, sufriera desde el principio todos los dolores a los que iba a ser sometido durante Su vida y en Su muerte.
Dulce, amable y amoroso Corazón de Jesús, desde tu infancia estuviste lleno de amargura y sufriste agonías en el seno de María sin consuelo y sin nadie que te mirara y consolara. Todo esto sufriste, oh Jesús mío, para satisfacer el dolor y la agonía eternos que yo merecía sufrir en el infierno por mis pecados. Sufriste privado de todo alivio, para salvarme a mí que he tenido la osadía de abandonar a Dios, y de volverle la espalda, para satisfacer mis miserables inclinaciones. Te doy gracias, ¡oh afligido y amante Corazón de mi Señor! Te doy gracias y me compadezco de Ti, sobre todo cuando veo que mientras Tú sufres tanto por los hombres, estos mismos hombres ni siquiera se compadecen de Ti. ¡Oh amor de Dios, oh ingratitud del hombre! Oh hombres, oh hombres, contemplad a este pequeño Cordero inocente que agoniza por vosotros, para satisfacer a la justicia divina por las injurias que habéis cometido contra Él. Ved cómo ora e intercede por vosotros ante Su Padre Eterno; contempladlo y amadlo.
Meditación II:
Wherefore, from the first moment that He was in His Mother’s womb, Jesus suffered continually that sorrow which He endured in the Garden, and which was sufficient to have taken away His life as He said: My soul is sorrowful even unto death. — (Matt, xxvi., 38). From that time forth He felt most vividly all the sorrows and contumely that awaited Him.
The whole life of our Blessed Redeemer was a life of pains and tears: My, life is wasted with grief, and my years in sighs. — (Ps. xxx., 11). His divine Heart was never for one moment free from suffering. Whether He watched or slept, whether He laboured or rested, whether He prayed or spoke, He had continually before His eyes that bitter representation which tormented His holy Soul more than their sufferings tormented the holy Martyrs. The Martyrs suffered, but, assisted by grace, they suffered with joy and fervour. Jesus Christ suffered, but He suffered with a Heart full of weariness and sorrow; and He accepted all for love of us.
O my Redeemer, how few there are who think of Thy sorrows and Thy love! O God, how few there are who love Thee! Unhappy me, I also have lived so many years forgetful of Thee! Thou hast suffered so much in order to be loved by me, and I have not loved Thee. Forgive me, my Jesus, forgive me, for I will amend my life and I will love Thee. Ah, wretched me if I still resist Thy grace, and in resisting damn myself! All the mercies Thou hast shown me, and above all, Thy sweet voice now calling me to love Thee – all these great graces will be, if I resist them, my greatest punishment in hell. O my beloved Jesus, have pity on me, and let me live no longer ungrateful to Thy love. Give me light; give me strength to conquer everything in order to accomplish Thy will. My dearest Mother Mary, help me. It is thou who hast obtained for me all the favours I have received from God.
Lectura espiritual: "HA APARECIDO LA GRACIA DE DIOS NUESTRO SALVADOR".
Meditación vespertina: LA BONDAD DE JESÚS NUESTRO DIOS
Meditación I:
Forget not the kindness of thy surety. — (Ecclus. xxix., 19).
St. Francis of Sales called Mount Calvary the mountain of lovers. It is impossible to remember that Mount and not love Jesus Christ, Who died there for love of us.
O God! how is it that men do not love this God Who has done so much to be loved by men! Before the Incarnation of the Word, man might have doubted whether God loved him with a true love; but after the coming of the Son of God, and after His dying for the love of men, how can we possibly doubt His love? “O man,” says St. Thomas of Villanova, “look on that Cross, on those torments, and that cruel death, which Jesus has suffered for thee: after so great and so many tokens of His love, thou canst no longer entertain a doubt that He loves thee, and loves thee exceedingly.” And St. Bernard says that “the Cross and every Wound of our Blessed Redeemer cry aloud to make us understand the love He bears us.”
In this grand Mystery of man’s Redemption, we must consider how Jesus employed all His thoughts and zeal to discover every means of making Himself loved by us. Had He merely wished to die for our salvation, it would have been sufficient had He been slain by Herod with the other children; but no, He chose before dying to lead for thirty-three years a life of hardship and suffering; and during that time, in order to win our love, He appeared in several different guises. First of all, as a poor child, born in a stable; then as a little boy helping in the workshop; and finally, as a criminal, executed on a Cross. But before dying on the Cross, we see Him in many different states, one and all calculated to excite our compassion, and to make Himself loved: in agony in the Garden, bathed from head to foot in a sweat of blood; afterwards, in the court of Pilate, torn with scourges; then treated as a mock king, with a reed in His hand, a ragged garment of purple on His shoulders, and a crown of thorns on His head; dragged publicly through the streets to death with the Cross upon His shoulders; and at length, on the hill of Calvary, suspended on the Cross by three iron nails. Tell me, does He merit our love or not, this God Who has vouchsafed to endure all these torments, and to use so many means in order to captivate our love? Father John Rigouleux used to say: “I would spend my life in weeping for the love of a God Whose love induced Him to die for the salvation of men.”
O most beautiful and most loving Heart of Jesus, miserable is the heart which does not love Thee! O God, for the love of men Thou didst die on the Cross, helpless and forsaken, and how then can men live so forgetful of Thee? O love of God! O ingratitude of man!
Meditación II:
Forget not the kindness of thy surety; for he hath given his life for thee. — (Ecclus. xxix., 19). Be not unmindful of Him Who has stood surety for thee; Who, to satisfy for thy sins, was willing to pay off, by His death, the debt of punishment due by thee. Oh, how desirous is Jesus Christ that we should continually remember His Passion! And how it saddens Him to see that we are so unmindful of it! Were a person to endure for one of his friends, affronts, blows, and imprisonment, how afflicting would it be for him to know that that friend afterwards never gave it a thought, and cared not even to hear it spoken of! On the contrary, how gratified would he be to know that his friend constantly spoke of it with the warmest gratitude, and often thanked him for it. So it is pleasing to Jesus Christ when we preserve in our minds a grateful and loving recollection of the sorrows and death which He suffered for us. Jesus Christ was the Desired of all the ancient Fathers; He was the Desired of all nations before He was yet come upon earth. Now, how much more ought He to be our only desire and our only Love, now that we know that He is really come, and are aware how much He has done and suffered for us – so that He even died upon the Cross for love of us!
O men, O men! do but cast one look on the innocent Son of God, agonising on the Cross and dying for you, in order to satisfy the divine justice for your sins, and by this means to allure you to love Him. Observe how, at the same time, He prays His Eternal Father to forgive you. Behold Him, and love Him. Ah, my Jesus, how small is the number of those who love Thee! Wretched, too, am I, for I also have lived so many years unmindful of Thee, and have grievously offended Thee, my beloved Redeemer! It is not so much the punishment I have deserved that makes me weep, as the love which Thou hast borne me. O sorrows of Jesus! O ignominies of Jesus! O wounds of Jesus! O death of Jesus! O love of Jesus! rest deeply engraved in my heart, and may your sweet recollection be forever fixed there, to wound me and inflame me continually with love. I love Thee, my Jesus; I love Thee, my Sovereign Good; I love Thee, my Love and my All; I love Thee and I will love Thee for ever. Oh, suffer me never more to forsake Thee, never more to lose Thee! By the merits of Thy death make me entirely Thine. In this I firmly trust. And I have great confidence in thy intercession, O Mary, my Queen; make me love Jesus Christ, and make me also love thee, my Mother and my hope!
Meditación matutina: LAS ORACIONES DE MARÍA POR NOSOTROS SIEMPRE SON ESCUCHADAS
San Bernardo nos exhorta a buscar la gracia y a buscarla a través de María, pues, dice, es una Madre a la que nada se le puede negar. Si, pues, queremos salvarnos, encomendémonos a María, pues sus oraciones serán siempre escuchadas.
Meditación I:
Jesús es el Mediador de la Justicia; María, la Mediadora de la Gracia. Pues, como dicen San Bernardo, San Buenaventura, San Bernardino de Siena, San Germán, San Antonino y otros, es voluntad de Dios dispensar por manos de María las gracias que le plazca concedernos. Para Dios, las oraciones de los santos son las oraciones de sus amigos, pero las oraciones de María son las oraciones de su Madre. La devoción más agradable a la Santísima Virgen es recurrir siempre a Ella y decir: Oh María, intercede por mí ante tu Hijo Jesús.
Jesús es omnipotente por naturaleza; María es omnipotente por gracia; obtiene todo lo que pide. Es imposible, dice San Antonino, que esta Madre pida algún favor a su Hijo para los que le son devotos y el Hijo no le conceda su petición. Jesús se complace en honrar a su Madre concediéndole todo lo que le pide. De ahí que San Bernardo nos exhorte a buscar la gracia y a buscarla a través de María, porque es una Madre a la que nada se le puede negar. Si, pues, queremos salvarnos, encomendémonos a María, para que interceda por nosotros, porque sus oraciones son siempre escuchadas. Oh Madre de misericordia, ten piedad de mí. Tú, que eres llamada abogada de los pecadores, ayúdame a mí, pecador, que confío en ti.
Meditación II:
Let us not doubt that Mary will hear us when we address our prayers to her. It is her delight to exercise her powerful influence with God in obtaining for us whatever graces we stand in need of. It is sufficient to ask favours of Mary to obtain them. If we are unworthy of them, she renders us worthy by her powerful intercession; and she is very desirous that we should have recourse to her, that she may save us. What sinner ever perished, who, with confidence and perseverance, had recourse to Mary, the refuge of sinners? He is lost who has not recourse to Mary.
O Mary, my Mother and my hope! I take refuge under thy protection; reject me not, as I have deserved. Protect me and have pity on me, a miserable sinner. Obtain for me the forgiveness of my sins; obtain for me holy perseverance, the love of God, a good death, and a happy eternity. I hope all things of thee, because thou art most powerful with God. Make me holy, since, by thy holy intercession, thou hast it in thy power to do so. O Mary, in thee, next to thy divine Son Jesus, do I confide; in thee do I place all my hope.
Lectura espiritual: NUESTRA SALVACIÓN ETERNA ESTÁ EN LA ORACIÓN
Meditación vespertina: LA SOLEDAD DE JESÚS EN EL ESTABLO
Meditación I:
Jesus chose at His birth the stable of Bethlehem for His hermitage and oratory; and for this purpose He so disposed events as to be born outside the city in a solitary cave, in order to commend to us the love of solitude and silence. Jesus remains in silence in the manger; Mary and Joseph adore and contemplate Him in silence. It was revealed to Sister Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament, a Discalced Carmelite, who was called the “Spouse of the Infant Jesus,” that all that passed in the Cave of Bethlehem, even the visit of the shepherds and the adoration of the holy Magi, took place in silence, and without a word.
Silence in other infants is due to helplessness; but in Jesus Christ it was virtue. The Infant Jesus does not speak, but oh! how eloquent is His silence! Oh, blessed is he that converses with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in this holy solitude of the manger! The shepherds, though admitted there but for a very short time, came out from the stable all inflamed with the love of God; for they did nothing but praise and bless Him: They returned glorifying and praising God. — (Luke ii., 20). Oh, happy is the soul that shuts itself up in the solitude of Bethlehem to contemplate the divine mercy, and the love that God has borne, and still bears, to men! I will lead her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her heart. — (Os. ii., 14). There the divine Infant will speak, not to the ear, but to the heart, inviting the soul to love a God Who has loved her so much. When we see there the poverty of this wandering little Hermit, Who remains in that cold cave, without fire, with a manger for a cradle, and a little straw for a bed; when we hear the cries, and behold the tears of this innocent Child, and consider that He is our God – how is it possible to think of anything but of loving Him! Oh, what a sweet hermitage for a soul that has Faith is the stable of Bethlehem!
My dearest Saviour, Thou art the King of Heaven, the King of kings, the Son of God; and how is it that I see Thee in this cave, forsaken by all? I see no one assisting Thee but Joseph and Thy holy Mother. I desire to unite myself to them in keeping Thee company. Do not reject me. I do not deserve it, but I feel that Thou dost invite me, by Thy sweet voice speaking to my heart. Yes, I come, O my beloved Infant! I will leave all things to pass my whole life alone with Thee, my dear little Hermit, the only Love of my soul. Fool that I was, to have hitherto forsaken Thee and left Thee alone, O my Jesus, whilst I was seeking miserable and empoisoned pleasures from creatures; but now, enlightened by Thy grace, I desire nothing but to live in solitude with Thee, Who didst Thyself will to live in solitude on this earth: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest? — (Ps. liv., 7).
Meditación II:
Let us also imitate Mary and Joseph, who, burning with love, remain contemplating the great Son of God clothed in flesh, and made subject to earthly miseries – Wisdom become an Infant that cannot speak – the Great One become little – the Supreme One become so abased – the rich One become so poor – the Omnipotent so weak. In short, let us meditate on the Divine Majesty shrouded beneath the form of a little Infant, despised and forsaken by the world, Who does and suffers everything in order to make Himself loved by men; and let us beseech Him to admit us into this sacred retreat – there to stop, there to remain, and never to leave it again. “O solitude,” says St. Jerome, “in which God speaks and converses familiarly with His servants.” O beautiful solitude, in which God speaks and converses with His chosen souls, not as a sovereign, but as a friend, as a brother, as a spouse! Oh, what a paradise it is to converse alone with the Infant Jesus in the little grotto of Bethlehem!
Ah, who will enable me to fly from this world, where I have so often found my ruin – to fly, and to come and remain always with Thee, Who art the joy of Paradise and the true Lover of my soul? Oh, bind me, I pray Thee, to Thy feet, so that I may no longer be separated from Thee, but may find my happiness in continually remaining in Thy company! Ah, by the merits of Thy solitude in the Cave of Bethlehem, give me a constant interior recollection, so that my soul may become a solitary little cell, where I may attend to nothing but to conversing with Thee; where I may take counsel with Thee in all my thoughts and actions; where I may dedicate to Thee all my affections; where I may always love Thee, and sigh to leave the prison of this body to come and love Thee face to face in Heaven. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, and I hope always to love Thee, in time and in eternity. O Mary, thou who canst do all things, pray to Jesus to enchain me with His love, and not to permit me ever again to lose His grace.
Meditación matutina: THEY FOUND THE CHILD WITH MARY, HIS MOTHER
Encontraron al niño con María, su madre. — (Matt. ii., 11). The kings find a poor Maiden, and her poor Infant wrapped in poor swaddling-clothes, and not one to attend on Him or assist Him. They adore, they acknowledge Him for their God, and, kissing His feet, they offer Him their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Let us adore our little King, and offer Him all our hearts.
Meditación I:
The Son of God is born humble and poor in a stable. There indeed the Angels of Heaven acknowledge Him, singing: Gloria a Dios en las alturas — (Luke ii., 14); but men on earth, for whose salvation Jesus is born, leave Him neglected: only a few shepherds come and acknowledge Him, and confess Him to be their Saviour. But our loving Redeemer desires from the very beginning to communicate to us the grace of Redemption, and therefore He begins to make Himself known even to the Gentiles, who neither knew Him nor looked for His coming. For this purpose He sends the star to give notice to the holy Magi, enlightening them at the same time with interior light, in order that they may come to acknowledge and adore their Redeemer. This was the first and sovereign grace bestowed upon us; our call to the true Faith.
O Savior of the world, what would have happened [to] us if Thou hadst not come to enlighten us? We should be like our forefathers, who worshipped as gods, animals, stones, and wood, and consequently we should have all been damned. I give Thee thanks today on behalf of all men.
Meditación II:
Behold, the Magi without delay set out on their journey; and led by the star they arrive at the place where the Holy Infant is lying: They found the child with Mary his mother. — (Matt., ii., 11). They find there only a poor Maiden, and a poor Infant wrapped in poor swaddling-clothes. But on entering into that abode, a stable for beasts, they feel an interior joy, and their hearts are drawn towards this sweet Infant. The straw, the poverty, those cries of the Infant Saviour, are all darts of love and fire to their enlightened hearts.
The Infant looks upon these holy pilgrims with a joyful countenance, and thus shows that He accepts these first-fruits of His Redemption. The divine Mother is also silent, but welcomes them with her smiling looks, and thanks them for the homage done to her Son. They adore Him also in silence, and acknowledge Him for their Saviour and their God, offering Him gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
Yes, my Infant Jesus, the more humbled and poor I behold Thee, the more dost Thou inflame me with Thy love.
O Jesus, my Infant King! I also adore Thee, and offer Thee my miserable heart. Accept it and change it. Make it wholly Thine own, so that it may love nothing but Thee. My sweet Saviour, save me, and let my eternal happiness be to love Thee always and without reserve; O Mary, most holy Virgin, I hope for this grace from thee.
Lectura espiritual: “LO, HERE AM I, SEND ME!”
Meditación vespertina: HAPPINESS OF HAVING BEEN BORN AFTER THE REDEMPTION AND IN THE TRUE CHURCH
Meditación I:
When the fulness of time had come, God sent his son . . . that he might redeem them who were under the law. — (Gal. iv., 4).
How thankful should we not be to Almighty, God for having caused us to be born after the great work of man’s redemption was accomplished! This is what is meant by the fulness of time, a time blessed by the fulness of grace, which Jesus Christ obtained for us by coming into the world. Miserable should we have been if, guilty as we are of manifold sins, we had lived on this earth before the coming of Jesus Christ.
Oh, in what a miserable state were all men before the coming of the Messias; the true God was hardly known even in Judea, and in every other part of the world idolatry reigned, so that our forefathers worshipped stones, and wood, and devils; they worshipped innumerable false gods, but the true God was neither loved nor known by them. Even now, how many countries are there in which there are scarcely any Catholics, and all the rest of the inhabitants are either infidels or heretics, and all these are certainly in the way to be lost! What obligation do we not owe God for causing us to be born, not only after the coming of Jesus Christ, but also in countries where the true Faith reigns!
I thank Thee, O Lord, for this. Woe to me if, after so many transgressions, it had been my lot to live in the midst of infidels and heretics! I know, O my God, that Thou wiliest that I should be saved; and I, miserable wretch, have willed so many times to damn myself by losing Thy favour. Have pity, my Blessed Redeemer, on my soul, which has cost Thee so much.
Meditación II:
God sent his son that he might redeem them that were under the law. — (Gal. iv., 4). The slave therefore sins, and by sinning gives himself over to the power of the devil, and his own Lord comes and ransoms him by His death.
O immense love, O infinite love of God towards man! O my Saviour, if Thou hadst not redeemed me by Thy death, what would have become of me? Of me, who so many times have deserved hell by my sins. Oh, if Thou, my Jesus, hadst not died for me, I should have lost Thee forever, and there would have been no hope for me of recovering Thy grace, or of seeing Thy beautiful face in Paradise. My dearest Saviour, I thank Thee; and I hope to come to Heaven, there to thank Thee for all eternity. I regret above every evil that of having despised Thee in times past. In future, I purpose to choose every suffering, every kind of death, rather than offend Thee. I beseech Thee, my Jesus, let me never do so again. Never let me be separated from Thee, never let me be separated from Thee. I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, and I will always love Thee in this life, and for all eternity. O my Queen and advocate Mary, keep me always under thy protection, and deliver me from sin.
