{"id":5460,"date":"2024-12-17T03:28:44","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T03:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/?page_id=5460"},"modified":"2026-01-11T15:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T15:48:12","slug":"daily-meditations-first-week-of-advent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/daily-meditations-first-week-of-advent\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDITA\u00c7\u00d5ES DI\u00c1RIAS: PRIMEIRA SEMANA DO ADVENTO"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVOLUME ONE - PART I, pp. 1-53, 294-301<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPRIMEIRO DOMINGO DO ADVENTO<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 O DIA DO JU\u00cdZO FINAL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Esse dia \u00e9 um dia de ira... um dia de calamidade e mis\u00e9ria<\/em>. - (Soph. i., 15).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No \u00daltimo Dia ser\u00e1 verificada a previs\u00e3o de S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o: E dizem \u00e0s montanhas e \u00e0s rochas: Caiam sobre n\u00f3s e escondam-nos da face daquele que est\u00e1 assentado no trono e da ira do Cordeiro<\/em>. - (Apoc. vi., 16).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Enviai, Senhor, o Cordeiro, o Governador da Terra que, ao se sacrificar, satisfar\u00e1 Vossa justi\u00e7a por n\u00f3s e, assim, reinar\u00e1 no cora\u00e7\u00e3o dos homens. \u00d3 Cordeiro de Deus, perdoa-me antes da chegada do dia em que Tu me julgar\u00e1s.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O \u00daltimo Dia \u00e9 chamado nas Escrituras de um dia de ira e mis\u00e9ria<\/em>E assim ser\u00e1 para todos os seres infelizes que morreram em pecado mortal; pois nesse dia seus crimes mais secretos ser\u00e3o revelados ao mundo inteiro, e eles pr\u00f3prios ser\u00e3o separados da companhia dos santos e condenados \u00e0 pris\u00e3o eterna do inferno, onde sofrer\u00e3o todas as agonias de sempre morrer, mas sempre permanecer vivos. S\u00e3o Jer\u00f4nimo, na Caverna de Bel\u00e9m, dedicado \u00e0 ora\u00e7\u00e3o e penit\u00eancia cont\u00ednuas, tremia s\u00f3 de pensar no Julgamento Geral. O Vener\u00e1vel Padre Juvenal Ancina, ouvindo que Sequ\u00eancia para os mortos<\/em> cantado,\u00a0Dies ire, dies illa<\/em>Em sua vida, o Sr. Khaled, de 19 anos, ficou t\u00e3o impressionado com a expectativa do Ju\u00edzo Final que deixou o mundo e abra\u00e7ou a vida religiosa.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Jesus, o que ser\u00e1 de mim naquele dia? Serei colocado \u00e0 Sua direita com os eleitos ou \u00e0 Sua esquerda com os r\u00e9probos? Sei que mereci ser colocado \u00e0 Tua esquerda, mas sei tamb\u00e9m que Tu ainda me perdoar\u00e1s se eu me arrepender de meus pecados; portanto, arrependo-me deles de todo o cora\u00e7\u00e3o e estou decidido a preferir morrer a ofender-Te ainda mais.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:\u00a0<\/b><\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Assim como esse ser\u00e1 um dia de calamidade e terror para os r\u00e9probos, tamb\u00e9m ser\u00e1 um dia de alegria e triunfo para os Eleitos; pois ent\u00e3o, \u00e0 vista de toda a humanidade, as almas aben\u00e7oadas dos Eleitos ser\u00e3o proclamadas rainhas do Para\u00edso e esposas do Cordeiro Imaculado.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Jesus! Teu precioso sangue \u00e9 minha esperan\u00e7a. N\u00e3o se lembre das ofensas que cometi contra Ti e inflame toda a minha alma com Teu amor. Eu Te amo, meu soberano Bem, e confio que naquele dia estarei associado \u00e0s almas amorosas que Te louvar\u00e3o e amar\u00e3o por toda a eternidade.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Escolha, minha alma; escolha agora ou uma coroa eterna naquele reino aben\u00e7oado, onde Deus ser\u00e1 visto e amado face a face na companhia dos santos, dos anjos e de Maria, a M\u00e3e de Jesus; ou a pris\u00e3o do inferno, onde voc\u00ea deve chorar e lamentar para sempre, abandonado por Deus e por todos.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\u00d3 Cordeiro de Deus que tirais os pecados do mundo, tende piedade de n\u00f3s!\" \u00d3 Cordeiro divino, que, para nos livrar das dores do inferno, teve o prazer de sacrificar Tua vida divina por meio de uma morte amarga na cruz, tem compaix\u00e3o de n\u00f3s, mas mais particularmente de mim, que Te ofendi mais do que os outros. Sinto muito, acima de qualquer mal, por ter Te desonrado com meus pecados, mas espero naquele dia honrar-Te perante os homens e os anjos, proclamando Tua miseric\u00f3rdia para comigo. \u00d3 Jesus, ajuda-me a amar-Te, pois s\u00f3 a Ti desejo. \u00d3 Maria, Rainha sagrada, proteja-me nesse dia.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 AS NA\u00c7\u00d5ES NO VALE DE JOSAF\u00c1\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0S\u00e3o Jer\u00f4nimo passava seus dias na Caverna de Bel\u00e9m em ora\u00e7\u00e3o e penit\u00eancia, e tremia ao pensar na vinda de Jesus no \u00daltimo Dia para julgar o mundo.
<to be continued><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00f5es noturnas: A BONDADE DE DEUS NA OBRA DA REDEN\u00c7\u00c3O<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:<\/strong>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0E Ele se encarnou pelo Esp\u00edrito Santo... e se fez homem.<\/em> - Credo Niceno.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that God, having created the first man to serve Him and love Him in this life, and to be afterwards taken by Him to reign eternally with Him in Paradise, enriched him for this end with many lights and graces.\u00a0 But ungrateful man rebelled against God, refusing Him the obedience which he owed Him both in justice and gratitude; and thus he unhappily remained as a rebel, deprived, with all his posterity, of Divine grace, and for ever excluded from Paradise. \u00a0Behold then, in consequence of this ruin caused by sin, all mankind lost! \u00a0All were spiritually blind, living in the midst of darkness and the shadow of death.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But God, seeing men reduced to this so miserable a condition, was moved to pity and resolved to save them. \u00a0And how did He save them? \u00a0He did not send an Angel, or a Seraph; but to show to the world the immense love that He bore to these ungrateful worms, He sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. <\/em>\u2014 (Rom. viii., 3). \u00a0Yes, He sent His own Son to become Man, and to clothe Himself with the same flesh as that of sinful men, in order that He, by His sufferings and death, might satisfy Divine justice for their crimes, and thus deliver them from eternal death, and reconciling them to His Divine Father, obtain for them Divine grace, and render them worthy to enter the eternal kingdom of Heaven.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But how is it, my Jesus, that after Thou hadst repaired this ruin of sin by Thy death, I have so often wilfully renewed it again by the many offences I have committed against Thee? \u00a0Thou didst save me at so great a cost, and I have so often chosen to lose myself by losing Thee, O infinite Good! \u00a0But Thy words give me confidence, for Thou hast said that when the sinner who has turned his back upon Thee is afterwards converted to Thee, Thou dost not refuse to embrace him: Turn<\/em> ye to me and I will turn to you. \u2014 <\/em>(Zach, i., 3).\u00a0 And Thou hast likewise said: If any man . . . open to me the door, I will come in to him. \u2014 <\/em>(Apoc. iii., 20).\u00a0 Behold, O Lord, I am one of these rebels, an ungrateful traitor, who have often turned my back upon Thee, and driven Thee from my soul; but now I repent with all my heart for having thus ill-treated Thee and despised Thy grace; I repent of it, and I love Thee above every thing. \u00a0Behold, the door of my heart is now open, enter Thou in, but enter never to leave it again. \u00a0I well know that Thou wilt never leave me, if I do not again drive Thee away; but this is my fear, and this is the grace which I ask of Thee, and which I hope always to ask: let me die rather than be guilty of this fresh and greater ingratitude.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Here pause to consider, on the one hand, the immense ruin that sin brings upon souls, since it deprives them of the friendship of God, and of Paradise, and condemns them to an eternity of torments. \u00a0And consider, on the other hand, the infinite love which God showed in this great work of the Incarnation of the Word, causing this His only begotten Son to come and sacrifice His Divine life by the hands of executioners, in a sea of pain and infamy, to obtain for us pardon and eternal salvation.\u00a0 Oh, when we contemplate this great mystery and this excess of Divine love, each one of us should do nothing but exclaim: O infinite Goodness! \u00a0O infinite Mercy!\u00a0 O infinite love! \u00a0That a God should become Man and die for me!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My dearest Redeemer, I do not deserve to love Thee, after all the offences I have committed against Thee; but I ask of Thee through Thy merits, the gift of Thy holy love. \u00a0Therefore, make me know the great good Thou art, the love Thou hast borne me, and how much Thou hast done to oblige me to love Thee. \u00a0Ah, my God and my Saviour, let me no longer live ungrateful to Thy great goodness. \u00a0My Jesus, I will never leave Thee again; I have offended Thee enough already. \u00a0It is but right that I should spend the remaining years of my life in loving Thee and pleasing Thee. \u00a0My Jesus, my Jesus, help me; help a sinner who desires to love Thee. \u00a0O Mary my Mother, thou hast all power with Jesus, for thou art His Mother. \u00a0Tell Him to pardon me; tell Him to enchain me with His holy love. \u00a0Thou art my hope, in thee do I trust.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal: DEUS DESONRADO PELO PECADO<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Antes da vinda de nosso Redentor, toda a infeliz ra\u00e7a da humanidade gemia em mis\u00e9ria nesta terra: todos eram filhos da ira, e n\u00e3o havia ningu\u00e9m que pudesse apaziguar Deus, justamente indignado com seus pecados. \u00d3 Deus de Miseric\u00f3rdia, para que Tua Divina Sabedoria n\u00e3o nos censurasse por nossas ofensas contra Ti, Tu a escondeste sob a forma de uma crian\u00e7a! Escondeste Tua Justi\u00e7a sob a mais profunda humilha\u00e7\u00e3o para que ela n\u00e3o nos condenasse!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:<\/strong>\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere como o pecado desonra a Deus.\u00a0 Pela transgress\u00e3o da lei voc\u00ea desonra a Deus<\/em> - (Rom. ii., 23), diz S\u00e3o Paulo. Quando o pecador delibera se deve dar ou recusar seu consentimento ao pecado, ele toma a balan\u00e7a em suas m\u00e3os para decidir o que \u00e9 de maior valor - o favor de Deus ou alguma paix\u00e3o, algum interesse ou prazer mundano. Quando ele cede \u00e0 tenta\u00e7\u00e3o, o que faz? Ele decide que alguma gratifica\u00e7\u00e3o miser\u00e1vel \u00e9 mais desej\u00e1vel do que o favor de Deus. \u00c9 assim que ele desonra a Deus, declarando, com seu consentimento, que um prazer miser\u00e1vel \u00e9 prefer\u00edvel \u00e0 amizade divina. Assim, ent\u00e3o, \u00f3 Deus, tantas vezes eu Te desonrei, por estimar-Te menos do que minhas miser\u00e1veis paix\u00f5es!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O Todo-Poderoso se queixa disso por meio do profeta Ezequiel, quando diz: Eles me violaram entre o meu povo por um punhado de cevada e um peda\u00e7o de p\u00e3o<\/em>. - (Ezech. xiii., 19). Se o pecador trocasse Deus por um tesouro de joias ou por um reino, estaria de fato fazendo um grande mal, porque Deus \u00e9 infinitamente mais valioso do que todos os tesouros e reinos da Terra. Mas por que muitos O trocam? Por um vapor, por um pouco de sujeira, por um prazer envenenado, que logo ap\u00f3s ser provado, \u00e9 abandonado. \u00d3 Deus, como poderia eu ter tido a coragem, por coisas t\u00e3o vis, de tantas vezes desprezar-Te, que demonstraste tanto amor por mim? Mas eis, meu Redentor, como agora eu Te amo acima de todas as coisas; e porque Te amo, sinto mais pesar por ter Te perdido, meu Deus, do que se tivesse perdido todos os meus outros bens, e at\u00e9 mesmo minha vida. Tenha piedade de mim e me perdoe, nunca mais incorrerei em Seu desagrado. Conceda-me que eu prefira morrer a ofend\u00ea-Lo ainda mais.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lord, who is like to thee? \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxxiv., 10).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And what good things, O God, can be comparable to Thee, O infinite Goodness? \u00a0And how could I have turned my back upon Thee, to give myself to those vile things which sin held out to me? \u00a0Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, thou hast gone backward. \u2014 <\/em>(Jer. xv., 6). \u00a0God complains and says: Ungrateful soul, thou hast forsaken Me! \u00a0I would never have forsaken thee hadst not thou first turned thy back upon Me! \u00a0Thou hast gone backward.<\/em> \u00a0O God, with what consternation will these words fill the soul of the sinner when he shall stand to be judged before the divine tribunal! \u00a0O Jesus, Thy precious Blood is my hope. \u00a0Thou hast promised to hear him who prays to Thee. \u00a0I ask Thee not for the goods of this world; I ask Thee for the pardon of the sins I have committed against Thee, and for which I am sorry above every other evil. \u00a0I ask Thee for perseverance in Thy grace until the end of my life. \u00a0I ask Thee for the gift of Thy holy love; my soul is enamoured of Thy goodness: hear me, O Lord. \u00a0Only grant that I may love Thee both here and hereafter, and as to all things else, do with me as Thou pleasest. \u00a0My Lord and my only Good, suffer me not to be any more separated from Thee! \u00a0Mary, Mother of God, do thou also listen to me, and obtain for me that I may ever belong to God, and that God may be my inheritance for ever.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 O JULGAMENTO E A SENTEN\u00c7A<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna: JESUS FOI ACUSADO PELOS PECADOS DO MUNDO INTEIRO<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He shall bear their iniquities. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. liii., 11).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that the Divine Word, in becoming Man, chose not only to take the form of a sinner, but also to bear all the sins of men, and to satisfy for them as if they were His own: Ele levar\u00e1 as iniquidades deles.<\/em> \u00a0Cornelius \u00e0 Lapide adds: \u201cas if He had committed them Himself.\u201d\u00a0 Let us here reflect what an oppression and anguish the Heart of the Infant Jesus must have felt, Who had already charged Himself with the sins of the whole world, in finding that Divine Justice insisted on His making a full satisfaction for them.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well did Our Lord know the malice of every sin, for, through the divine light which accompanied Him, He knew immeasurably more than all men and Angels the infinite goodness of His Father, and how infinitely deserving He is of being revered and loved. \u00a0And then He saw drawn up in array before Him a countless number of transgressions which would be committed by men and for which He was to suffer and die.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My beloved Jesus, I, who have offended Thee, am not worthy of Thy favours, but through the merit of that pain which Thou didst suffer, and which Thou didst offer up to God at the sight of my sins, and to satisfy divine justice for them, give me a share in that light by which Thou didst see their malice, and in that hatred with which Thou didst then abominate them. \u00a0O Lord! \u00a0Thou hast indeed died to save me; but Thy death will not save me if I do not, on my part, detest every evil, and have true sorrow for the sins I have committed against Thee.\u00a0 But even this sorrow must be given me by Thee. \u00a0Thou givest it to him that asks it of Thee. \u00a0I ask it of Thee through the merits of all the sufferings Thou didst endure on this earth; give me sorrow for my sins, but a sorrow that will correspond to my transgressions.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our Lord once showed St. Catherine of Sienna the hideousness of one single venial sin; and such was the dread and sorrow of the Saint that she fell senseless to the ground. \u00a0What, then, must have been the sufferings of the Infant Jesus when, on His entrance into the world, He saw before Him the immense array of all the crimes of men for which He was to make satisfaction!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And then He knew in particular every sin of each one of us: \u201cHe had regard to every particular sin,\u201d says St. Bernardine of Sienna. \u00a0And Cardinal Hugo says that the executioners \u201ccaused Him exterior pain by crucifying Him, but we interior pain by sinning against Him.\u201d \u00a0He means that each one of our sins afflicted the soul of Jesus Christ more than crucifixion and death afflicted His body. \u00a0Such is the beautiful recompense which has been rendered to our Divine Saviour for His love by everyone who remembers to have offended Him by mortal sin!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Eternal God, supreme and infinite Good! \u00a0I, a miserable worm, have dared to lose respect for Thee, and to despise Thy grace; I detest above every evil and abhor the injustice I have committed against Thee; I repent of all with my whole heart, not so much on account of hell, which I have deserved, as because I have offended Thy infinite Goodness. \u00a0I hope for pardon from Thee through the merits of Jesus Christ; and I hope also to obtain, together with Thy pardon, the grace of loving Thee. \u00a0I love Thee, O God, Who art worthy of infinite love, and I will always repeat to Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee! \u00a0And as Thy beloved St. Catherine of Genoa said to Thee, while she stood in spirit at the foot of Thy crucified Image, so will I also say to Thee now that I am standing at Thy feet: \u201cMy Lord, no more sins, no more sins!\u201d \u00a0No, for Thou indeed dost not deserve to be offended, O my Jesus, but Thou only deservest to be loved. \u00a0My Blessed Redeemer, help me. \u00a0My Mother Mary, assist me, I pray thee; I only ask of thee to obtain for me that I may love God during the time that is left me in this life.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 O GRANDE CASO DA SALVA\u00c7\u00c3O<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere que nosso assunto mais importante \u00e9 a nossa salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna. De nossa eternidade depende nossa felicidade ou mis\u00e9ria para sempre. Se viveremos para sempre felizes ou para sempre infelizes.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Diante do homem est\u00e1 a vida e a morte... o que ele escolher lhe ser\u00e1 dado<\/em>. - (Ecclus. xv., 18).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Oh, fa\u00e7amos agora uma escolha da qual n\u00e3o tenhamos que nos arrepender na eternidade.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O assunto de nossa salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna \u00e9, de todos os assuntos, o mais importante. Mas como \u00e9 poss\u00edvel que os homens usem toda a dilig\u00eancia para serem bem-sucedidos nos neg\u00f3cios deste mundo, n\u00e3o deixem nenhum meio sem tentar obter uma situa\u00e7\u00e3o desej\u00e1vel, ganhar uma a\u00e7\u00e3o judicial ou realizar um casamento; n\u00e3o rejeitem nenhum conselho; n\u00e3o negligenciem nenhuma medida para garantir seu objetivo; n\u00e3o comam nem durmam, e ainda assim n\u00e3o fa\u00e7am nada para obter a salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna - nada para ganh\u00e1-la, mas tudo para perd\u00ea-la, como se Inferno<\/em>, C\u00e9u<\/em>e Eternidade<\/em> n\u00e3o eram Artigos de F\u00e9, mas apenas f\u00e1bulas e mentiras?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Deus! Ajude-me com sua luz divina; n\u00e3o permita que eu fique mais cego, como tenho estado at\u00e9 agora.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Se ocorrer um acidente em uma casa, o que n\u00e3o \u00e9 feito imediatamente para consert\u00e1-la? Se uma joia se perde, o que n\u00e3o se faz para recuper\u00e1-la? A alma est\u00e1 perdida, a gra\u00e7a de Deus est\u00e1 perdida, e os homens dormem e riem! Cuidamos com muito cuidado de nosso bem-estar temporal e negligenciamos quase totalmente nossa salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna! Chamamos de felizes aqueles que renunciaram a todas as coisas por Deus; por que, ent\u00e3o, somos t\u00e3o apegados \u00e0s coisas terrenas?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Jesus! O Senhor desejou tanto a minha salva\u00e7\u00e3o a ponto de derramar o Seu Sangue e dar a Sua vida para garanti-la; e eu fui t\u00e3o indiferente \u00e0 preserva\u00e7\u00e3o da Sua gra\u00e7a a ponto de renunciar e perd\u00ea-la por um mero nada! Sinto muito, Senhor, por ter Te desonrado dessa forma. Renunciarei a todas as coisas para atender somente ao Teu amor, meu Deus, que \u00e9 o mais digno de todo amor<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Son of God gives His life to save our souls; the devil is most diligent in his endeavours to bring them to eternal ruin: and what care do we take of them? \u00a0St. Philip Neri convicts that man of the height of folly who is inattentive to the salvation of his soul. \u00a0Let us rouse our Faith: it is certain that, after this short life, another life awaits us, which will be either eternally happy or eternally miserable. \u00a0God has given us to choose which we will. \u00a0Before man is life and death . . . that which he shall choose shall be given him.<\/em> \u00a0Ah! let us make such a choice now as we shall not have to repent of for all eternity.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O God, make me sensible of the great wrong I have done Thee in offending Thee and renouncing Thee for the love of creatures. \u00a0I am sorry with my whole heart for having despised Thee, my sovereign Good; do not reject me now that I return to Thee. \u00a0I love Thee above all things, and for the future I will renounce all things rather than lose Thy grace. \u00a0Through the love which Thou hast shown me in dying for me, succour me with Thy help, and do not abandon me.\u00a0 O Mary, Mother of God, be thou my advocate.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 ORA\u00c7\u00c3O MENTAL:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>I. - Sua import\u00e2ncia<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 O AMOR DE DEUS PELOS HOMENS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son. \u2014 <\/em>(John iii., 16).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that the Eternal Father, in giving us His Son for a Redeemer, the victim and price of our ransom, could not give us stronger motives for hope and love, to inspire us with confidence, and to oblige us to love Him.\u00a0 \u201cIn giving us His Son,\u201d says St. Augustine, \u201cHe could give us nothing more.\u201d \u00a0He desires that we should avail ourselves of this immense Gift in order to gain for ourselves eternal Salvation, and every grace that we want; for in Jesus we find all that we can desire; we find light, strength, peace, confidence, love, and eternal glory; for Jesus Christ is a Gift which contains all the gifts that we can seek for or desire. \u00a0How hath he not also, with him, given us all things? \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. vii., 32).\u00a0 God having given us His beloved only begotten Son, Who is the fountain and treasure of all good, who could fear that He would deny us any favour that we ask of Him?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Eternal God! who could ever have given us this treasure of infinite value, but Thou, Who art a God of infinite love? \u00a0O my Creator, what more couldst Thou have done to give us confidence in Thy mercy, and to put us under an obligation of loving Thee? \u00a0O Lord, I have repaid Thee with ingratitude; but Thou hast said: To them that love God all things work together unto good. \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. viii., 28). \u00a0Therefore, notwithstanding the great number and the enormity of my sins, I will not despair of Thy bounty; rather let my transgressions serve to humble me the more whenever I meet with any insult; insults and humiliations does he indeed deserve who has had the temerity to offend Thy divine Majesty. \u00a0I wish that my sins may serve to reconcile me more to the crosses which Thou shalt send me, that I may be more diligent in serving and honouring Thee in order to compensate for the injuries I have committed against Thee.\u00a0 O my God, I will always remember the displeasure I have caused Thee in order that I may the more exalt Thy mercy and be inflamed with love for Thee.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Christ Jesus is of God made unto us wisdom, and justice, and sanctification, and redemption. \u2014 <\/em>(1 Cor. i., 30). \u00a0God hath given Jesus to us in order that He might be to us ignorant and blind creatures light and wisdom, wherewith to walk in the way of salvation; in order that to us who are deserving of hell He might be justice, enabling us to aspire to Paradise; that to us sinners He might be sanctification, to obtain for us holiness; that finally, to us slaves of the devil He might be a ransom to purchase for us the liberty of the sons of God. \u00a0In short, the Apostle says that with Jesus Christ we have been enriched with every good gift and every grace, if we ask it through His merits: In all things you are made rich in him … so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace. \u2014 <\/em>(1 Cor. i., 5).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And this gift which God has made us of His Son is a gift to each one of us; for He hath given Him entirely to each of us, as if He had given Him to each one alone, so that every one of us may say: Jesus is all mine; His body is mine; His blood is mine; His life is mine; His sorrows, His death, His merits, are all mine. \u00a0Wherefore St. Paul said: He loved me and delivered himself for me. <\/em>\u2014 (Gal. ii., 20). \u00a0And every one may say the same thing: \u201cMy Redeemer has loved me; and for the love that He bore me He has given Himself entirely to me.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My God, my God, how can I ever leave off loving Thee and separate myself again from Thy love! \u00a0I repent, and will always repent of the outrages I have committed against Thee; but I depend upon Thee to help me. \u00a0O my God, for Thy Glory\u2019s sake, vouchsafe to grant that, as I have offended Thee much I may also love Thee much!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Mary, my Queen, do thou assist me. \u00a0Thou knowest my weakness. \u00a0Grant that I may have recourse to thee whenever the devil tries to separate me from God. \u00a0My Mother, my hope, do thou help me. \u00a0Amen.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQUARTA-FEIRA DA PRIMEIRA SEMANA DO ADVENTO<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 O GRANDE PENSAMENTO DA ETERNIDADE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O homem entrar\u00e1 na casa de sua eternidade<\/em>. - (Eccles. xii., 5)
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Aquele que constr\u00f3i uma casa para si mesmo se esfor\u00e7a muito para torn\u00e1-la c\u00f4moda, arejada e bonita, e diz: \"Eu trabalho e me dou muito trabalho com essa casa, porque terei que morar nela por toda a minha vida\". E, no entanto, qu\u00e3o pouco \u00e9 o Casa da Eternidade<\/em> pensou!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Foi assim que Santo Agostinho designou o pensamento da eternidade: \"O Grande Pensamento\".\u00a0Magna Cogitatio<\/em>. Foi esse pensamento que induziu tantos solit\u00e1rios a se retirarem para os desertos; tantos religiosos, at\u00e9 mesmo reis e rainhas, a se fecharem em claustros; e tantos m\u00e1rtires a sacrificarem suas vidas em meio a tormentos, a fim de adquirirem uma eternidade feliz no C\u00e9u e evitarem uma eternidade miser\u00e1vel no inferno. O bem-aventurado Jo\u00e3o de \u00c1vila converteu uma certa senhora com estas duas palavras: \"Reflita\", disse ele a ela, \"sobre estas duas palavras: Sempre\u00a0<\/em>e\u00a0Nunca<\/em>.\" Certo monge desceu a uma sepultura para meditar continuamente na eternidade, e repetia constantemente: \"\u00d3 eternidade! Eternidade!\"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quantas vezes, meu Deus, mereci a eternidade do inferno! Oh, se eu nunca tivesse Te ofendido! Conceda-me a tristeza por meus pecados; tenha compaix\u00e3o de mim.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O mesmo Bem-aventurado Jo\u00e3o de \u00c1vila diz que aquele que acredita na eternidade e n\u00e3o se torna um santo deve ser confinado como um louco. Quando chegarmos \u00e0 eternidade, n\u00e3o haver\u00e1 d\u00favida de que estaremos em uma casa mais ou menos c\u00f4moda, mais ou menos arejada: a quest\u00e3o ser\u00e1 se estaremos em um pal\u00e1cio transbordante de del\u00edcias ou em um abismo de tormentos sem fim. E por quanto tempo? N\u00e3o por quarenta ou cinquenta anos, mas para sempre, enquanto Deus for Deus. Os santos, para obter a salva\u00e7\u00e3o, achavam pouco dedicar toda a sua vida \u00e0 ora\u00e7\u00e3o, \u00e0 penit\u00eancia e \u00e0 pr\u00e1tica de boas obras. E o que fazemos para o mesmo fim?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 meu Deus! Muitos anos de minha vida j\u00e1 se passaram; a morte est\u00e1 pr\u00f3xima, e o que tenho feito at\u00e9 agora por Ti? D\u00ea-me luz e for\u00e7a para dedicar o restante de meus dias ao Teu servi\u00e7o. Infelizmente, eu Te ofendi demais; desejo, de agora em diante, amar-Te.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With<\/em> fear and trembling work out thy salvation. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil, ii., 12).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To obtain salvation we must tremble at the thought of being lost, and tremble not so much at the thought of hell, as of sin, which alone can send us thither. \u00a0He who dreads sin avoids dangerous occasions, frequently recommends himself to God, and has recourse to the means of keeping himself in the state of grace. \u00a0He who acts thus will be saved; but for him who lives not in this manner it is morally impossible to be saved. \u00a0Let us attend to that saying of St. Bernard: We cannot be too secure where Eternity is at stake.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thy Blood, O Jesus, my Redeemer, is my security.\u00a0 I should have been already lost on account of my sins, hadst Thou not offered me Thy pardon, on condition of my repentance for having offended Thee. \u00a0I am sorry therefore, with my whole heart, for having offended Thee, Who art infinite Goodness. \u00a0I love Thee, O sovereign Good, above every other good. \u00a0I know that Thou willest my salvation and I will endeavour to secure it by loving Thee forever. \u00a0O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 ORA\u00c7\u00c3O MENTAL:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>II. - Seu fim e objetivo<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:<\/strong>\u00a0 A PALAVRA SE FEZ HOMEM NA PLENITUDE DOS TEMPOS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When the fulness of time was come God sent his Son. <\/em>\u2014 (Gal. iv., 4).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that God allowed four thousand years to pass, after the transgression of Adam, before He sent His Son upon earth to redeem the world. \u00a0And in the meantime, oh, what fatal darkness reigned upon the earth! \u00a0The true God was not known or adored, except in one small corner of the world. \u00a0Idolatry reigned everywhere; so that devils and stones and beasts were adored as gods.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But let us admire in this the Divine Wisdom: He deferred the coming of the Redeemer in order to render His advent more welcome to man, in order that the malice of sin might be better known, as well as the necessity of a remedy and the grace of the Saviour. \u00a0If Jesus Christ had come into the world immediately after the fall of Adam, the greatness of this favour would have been but slightly appreciated. \u00a0Let us therefore thank the goodness of God for having sent us into the world after the great work of Redemption had been accomplished.\u00a0 Behold, the happy time is come which was called the fulness of time: When the fulness of time was come, God sent his Son . . . that he might redeem them that were under the law. \u2014 <\/em>(Gal. iv., 4).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Divine Word, become Man for me, though I behold Thee thus humbled and become a little Infant in the womb of Mary, yet I confess and acknowledge Thee for my Lord and King, but a King of Love. \u00a0My dearest Saviour, since Thou hast come down upon earth and clothed Thyself with our miserable flesh, in order to reign over our hearts, I beseech Thee come and establish Thy reign in my heart also, which was once, alas, ruled over by Thine enemies, but is how, I hope, Thine, as I desire that it may be always Thine, and that from this day forth Thou mayst be its only Lord: Rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. cix., 2). \u00a0Other kings reign by the strength of arms, but Thou comest to reign by the power of Thy love; and therefore Thou dost not come with regal pomp, or clothed in purple and gold, or adorned with sceptre and crown, or surrounded by armies of soldiers. \u00a0Thou comest into the world to be born in a stable \u2013 poor, forsaken, placed in a manger on a little straw, because thus Thou wouldst begin to reign in our hearts.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is called fulness,<\/em> on account of the fulness of grace which the Son of God came to communicate to men by the Redemption of the world. \u00a0Behold the Angel who is sent as ambassador into the town of Nazareth to announce to the Virgin Mary the coming of the Word, Who desires to become incarnate in her womb. \u00a0The Angel salutes her, calls her cheio de gra\u00e7a<\/em> e blessed among women. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke, i., 28). \u00a0The humble Virgin, chosen to be the Mother of the Son of God, is troubled at these praises on account of her great humility: but the Angel encourages her, and tells her that she has found grace with God; <\/em>that is to say, that grace which brought peace between God and man, and the reparation of the ruin caused by sin. \u00a0He then tells her that she must give her Son the Name of Saviour: Thou shalt call his name Jesus \u2014 <\/em>(Luke, i., 31), and that this her Son is the very Son of God, Who is to redeem the world, and thus to reign over the hearts of men. \u00a0Behold, at last Mary consents to be the Mother of such a Son: Be it done unto me according to thy word. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke, i., 38). \u00a0And the Eternal Word takes flesh and becomes Man: And the Word was made flesh. \u2014 <\/em>(John i., 14).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us thank this Son, and let us also thank His Mother, who, in consenting to be the Mother of such a Son, consented also to be the Mother of our salvation, and the Mother of sorrows, accepting at that time the martyrdom of sorrow that it would cost her to be the Mother of a Son Who was to come into the world to suffer and die for man.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ah, my Infant King, how could I have so often rebelled against Thee, and lived so long Thy enemy, deprived of Thy grace, when, to oblige me to love Thee, Thou hast put off Thy divine majesty, and hast humbled Thyself even to appearing, first, as a Babe in a cave; then as a servant in a shop, and as a criminal on the Cross? \u00a0Oh, happy me, if, now that I have been freed, as I hope, from the slavery of Satan, I allow myself forever to be governed by Thee and by Thy love! \u00a0O Jesus, my King, Who art so amiable and so loving to our souls, take possession, I pray Thee, of mine; I give it entirely to Thee; accept it, that it may serve Thee forever, but serve Thee only for love. \u00a0Thy majesty deserves to be feared, but Thy goodness still more deserves to be loved. \u00a0Thou art my King, and shalt be always the only object of my love; and the only fear I have is the fear of displeasing Thee. \u00a0That is what I hope. \u00a0Do Thou help me with Thy grace. \u00a0O Mary, my dear Lady! it is for thee to obtain for me that I may be faithful to this beloved King of my soul.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tQUINTA-FEIRA DA PRIMEIRA SEMANA DO ADVENTO<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 RETRATO DE UM HOMEM QUE EST\u00c1 INDO H\u00c1 POUCO TEMPO PARA A CASA DE SUA ETERNIDADE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Debaixo de ti se estender\u00e1 a tra\u00e7a, e os vermes ser\u00e3o a tua cobertura.<\/em> - (Is. xiv., 11).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0No momento em que a alma deixar o corpo, ela ir\u00e1 para a eternidade e o corpo retornar\u00e1 ao p\u00f3. O mesmo destino aguarda a todos, nobres e camponeses, pr\u00edncipes e vassalos.\u00a0 Tu lhes tirar\u00e1s o f\u00f4lego, e eles voltar\u00e3o ao seu p\u00f3<\/em>. - (Sl. ciii., 29).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 meu Deus, n\u00e3o resistirei mais aos Teus apelos.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere que voc\u00ea \u00e9 p\u00f3 e que voltar\u00e1 ao p\u00f3. Chegar\u00e1 o dia em que voc\u00ea morrer\u00e1 e apodrecer\u00e1 em um t\u00famulo onde os vermes ser\u00e3o a sua cobertura<\/i>.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Imagine que voc\u00ea est\u00e1 vendo uma pessoa que acabou de morrer. Olhe para o corpo deitado na cama, com a cabe\u00e7a ca\u00edda sobre o peito, os cabelos em desordem e ainda banhados pelo suor da morte, os olhos encovados, as bochechas vazias, o rosto da cor de cinzas, os l\u00e1bios e a l\u00edngua como ferro, o corpo frio e pesado. Os observadores ficam p\u00e1lidos e tremem. Quantos, ao verem um parente ou amigo falecido, mudaram de vida e se retiraram do mundo!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O horror ser\u00e1 ainda maior quando o corpo come\u00e7ar a se putrificar. Vinte e quatro horas n\u00e3o se passaram desde a morte daquele jovem, e seu corpo j\u00e1 exala um odor desagrad\u00e1vel. As janelas devem ser abertas e, para evitar que a doen\u00e7a se espalhe por toda a fam\u00edlia, ele deve ser transferido em breve para a igreja e enterrado na terra. \"Se ele tiver sido um dos ricos e nobres do mundo, seu corpo emitir\u00e1 um fedor mais intoler\u00e1vel\", diz Santo Ambr\u00f3sio.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Vejam o fim daquele homem orgulhoso, lascivo e voluptuoso! Antes de sua morte, desejado e procurado em conversas, agora se tornou um objeto de horror e repulsa para todos que o contemplam! Seus parentes est\u00e3o se apressando para tir\u00e1-lo de casa. Eles contratam homens para fech\u00e1-lo em um caix\u00e3o, lev\u00e1-lo para o p\u00e1tio da igreja e jog\u00e1-lo em uma sepultura!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Jesus, meu Redentor, eu Te agrade\u00e7o por n\u00e3o ter me tirado da vida quando eu era Teu inimigo. Por quantos anos mereci estar no inferno! Se eu tivesse morrido em tal dia ou em tal noite, qual seria o meu destino por toda a eternidade? Senhor, eu Te agrade\u00e7o! Aceito minha morte em satisfa\u00e7\u00e3o por meus pecados e a aceito da maneira que o Senhor quiser envi\u00e1-la. Mas j\u00e1 que o Senhor me suportou at\u00e9 agora, espere por mim um pouco mais.\u00a0 Permita-me, portanto, lamentar um pouco minha tristeza<\/i>. - (J\u00f3 x., 20). D\u00ea-me tempo para lamentar minhas ofensas antes de me julgar. N\u00e3o resistirei mais a Teus chamados. Quem sabe se as palavras que acabei de ler podem ser o \u00faltimo chamado para mim! Contemplem o traidor penitente que recorre a Ti.\u00a0 Um cora\u00e7\u00e3o contrito e humilde, \u00f3 Deus, tu n\u00e3o desprezar\u00e1s<\/i>. - (Salmo 1., 19).
<\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that as thou hast acted on the occasion of the death of friends and relatives so others will act on the occasion of thy death. \u00a0During life, the fame of his wit, of his politeness, of the elegance of his manners and his facetiousness, was spread far and wide, but after death the dead man is soon forgotten. \u00a0On hearing the news of his death some say: \u201cHe was an honour to his family;\u201d \u201cHe has provided well for his children.\u201d\u00a0 Some regret his death because he had done them some service during life; others rejoice at it because it is an advantage to them. \u00a0But in a little time no one speaks of him. \u00a0In the beginning the relatives are afflicted for a short time, but soon they feel unwilling to hear his name through fear of renewing their grief. \u00a0In visits of condolence all are careful to make no mention of the deceased, and should any one happen to speak of him the relatives exclaim: \u201cFor God\u2019s sake do not mention his name!\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They occupy the possessions and offices of the deceased, and they are consoled by the share of the property which falls to them. \u00a0But the dead are no longer remembered. \u00a0Their memory hath perished with a noise. <\/em>\u2014 (Ps. ix., 7). \u00a0Thus in a short time your death will be rather a source of joy; and in the very room in which you have breathed forth your soul, and in which you have been judged by Jesus Christ, others will dance and eat, and play and laugh as before! \u00a0And where will your soul be then?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O God cast me not away from Thy face! \u00a0For Thy mercy\u2019s sake cast me not away! \u00a0Thou hast said: Him that cometh to me I will not cast out. \u2014 <\/em>(John vi., 37). \u00a0It is true that I have outraged Thee more than others, because I have been more favoured with Thy lights and graces. \u00a0But the Blood which Thou hast shed for me gives me courage and pardon if I repent. \u00a0My Sovereign Good, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. \u00a0Pardon me and give me grace to love Thee for the future. \u00a0I have offended Thee enough!\u00a0 The rest of my life I wish to spend in weeping unceasingly over the insults I have offered Thee and in loving with my whole heart a God worthy of infinite love. \u00a0O Mary, my hope, pray to Jesus for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 ORA\u00c7\u00c3O MENTAL:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>III. - Seu local e \u00e9poca<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:<\/strong>\u00a0 A HUMILHA\u00c7\u00c3O DE JESUS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Taking the form of a servant. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil. ii., 7).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Eternal Word descends on earth to save man; and whence does He descend? \u00a0His going out is from the end of heaven. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xviii., 7). \u00a0He descends from the bosom of His Divine Father, where from eternity He was begotten in the brightness of the Saints. \u00a0And whither does He descend? \u00a0He descends into the womb of a Virgin, a child of Adam, which in comparison with the bosom of God is an object of horror; wherefore the Church sings: \u201cThou didst not abhor the Virgin\u2019s womb.\u201d \u00a0Yes, because the Word in the bosom of the Father is God like the Father \u2013 is immense, omnipotent, most blessed and supreme Lord, and equal in everything to the Father. \u00a0But in the womb of Mary He is a creature, small, weak, afflicted, a servant inferior to the Father, taking the form of a servant. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil, ii., 7).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is related as a great prodigy of humility in St. Alexis that, although he was the son of a Roman gentleman, he chose to live as a servant in his father\u2019s house. \u00a0But how is the humility of this Saint to be compared to the humility of Jesus Christ? \u00a0Between the son and the servant of the father of St. Alexis there was, it is true, some difference; but between God and the servant of God there is an infinite difference.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My beloved Jesus, Thou art the Sovereign Lord of Heaven and earth; but for the love of me Thou hast made Thyself a servant even of the executioners who tore Thy flesh, pierced Thy head, and finally left Thee nailed on the Cross to die of sorrow. \u00a0I adore Thee as my God and Lord, and I am ashamed to appear before Thee, when I remember how often for the sake of some miserable pleasure, I have broken Thy holy bonds, and have told Thee to Thy face that I would not serve Thee. \u00a0Ah, Thou mayst justly reproach me: Thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst: I will not serve. \u2014 <\/em>(Jer. ii., 20).\u00a0 But still, O my Saviour, Thy merits, and Thy goodness which cannot despise a heart that repents and humbles itself, give me courage to hope for pardon: A contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. l., 19).<\/p>

\u00a0Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Besides, this Son of God having become the servant of His Father, in obedience to Him, made Himself also, the servant of His creatures, that is to say, of Mary and Joseph: And he was subject to them. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke ii., 51).\u00a0 Moreover, He made Himself even a servant of Pilate, who condemned Him to death, and He was obedient to him and accepted it; He became a servant of the executioners, who scourged Him, crowned Him with thorns, and crucified Him; and He humbly obeyed them all, and yielded Himself into their hands.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O God! and shall we, after this, refuse to submit ourselves to the service of so loving a Saviour, Who, to save us, has subjected Himself to such painful and degrading slavery? \u00a0And rather than be the servants of this great and so loving a Lord, shall we be content to remain the slaves of the devil, who does not love his servants, but hates them and treats them like a tyrant, making them miserable and wretched in this world and in the next? \u00a0But if we have been guilty of this great folly, why do we not quickly give up this unhappy servitude?\u00a0 Courage, then, since we have been delivered by Jesus Christ from the slavery of hell; let us now embrace and bind around us with love those sweet chains, which will render us servants and lovers of Jesus Christ, and hereafter obtain for us the crown of the eternal kingdom amongst the Blessed in Paradise.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I confess, my Jesus, that I have offended Thee greatly; I confess that I deserve a thousand hells for the sins I have committed against Thee; chastise me as Thou seest fit, but do not deprive me of Thy grace and love. \u00a0I repent above every other evil of having despised Thee.\u00a0 I love Thee with my whole heart. \u00a0I propose from this day forth to desire to serve Thee and love Thee alone.\u00a0 I pray Thee bind me by Thy merits with chains of Thy holy love, and never suffer me to break those blessed chains again. \u00a0I love Thee above everything, O my Deliverer; and I would prefer being Thy servant to being master of the whole world. \u00a0And of what avail would all the world be to him who lives deprived of Thy grace?\u00a0 \u201cMy sweetest Jesus, permit me not to separate myself from Thee.\u201d \u00a0This grace I ask of Thee, and I intend always to ask it, and I beg of Thee to grant me this day the grace to repeat continually to the end of my life the prayer: My Jesus, grant that I may never again separate myself from Thy love. \u00a0I ask this favour of thee also, O Mary, my Mother: Help me by thy intercession that I may never separate myself again from my God.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSEXTA-FEIRA DA PRIMEIRA SEMANA DO ADVENTO<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 A VIDA INFELIZ DO PECADOR<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0N\u00e3o h\u00e1 paz para os \u00edmpios, diz o Senhor<\/em>. - (Is. xlviii., 22).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0N\u00e3o, o mundo com todos os seus bens n\u00e3o pode satisfazer o cora\u00e7\u00e3o do homem. Ele foi criado n\u00e3o para eles, mas somente para Deus. Portanto, somente Deus pode tornar o homem satisfeito e feliz, e dar aquela paz que o mundo n\u00e3o pode dar.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nesta vida, todos os homens buscam a paz. O comerciante, o soldado, o homem que se dedica \u00e0 advocacia - todos trabalham com a esperan\u00e7a de fazer fortuna e, assim, encontrar paz por meio do lucro mundano, de um cargo mais elevado, de um processo judicial. Mas os pobres mundanos buscam no mundo a paz que o mundo n\u00e3o pode dar. Somente Deus pode dar a paz, como a Santa Igreja proclama nas seguintes palavras: \"D\u00e1 aos Teus servos a paz que o mundo n\u00e3o pode dar\". N\u00e3o; o mundo, com todos os seus bens, n\u00e3o pode satisfazer o cora\u00e7\u00e3o do homem; pois ele foi criado, n\u00e3o para eles, mas somente para Deus: portanto, somente Deus pode torn\u00e1-lo feliz e satisfeito. Os animais brutos, que foram criados para os prazeres sensuais, encontram paz nos bens terrenos: d\u00ea a um boi um feixe de feno, e a um cachorro um peda\u00e7o de carne, e eles ficam satisfeitos, n\u00e3o desejam mais nada. Mas a alma, que n\u00e3o foi criada para outro fim sen\u00e3o amar a Deus e viver em uni\u00e3o com Ele, nunca poder\u00e1 encontrar paz ou felicidade em prazeres sensuais; somente Deus pode deix\u00e1-la perfeitamente satisfeita.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O Filho de Deus deu o nome de tolo ao homem rico que, depois de ter colhido uma rica colheita em seus campos, disse a si mesmo:\u00a0Alma, tens muitos bens guardados para muitos anos; descansa, come, bebe e tem bom \u00e2nimo.<\/i> - (Lucas xii., 19). \"Miser\u00e1vel tolo!\", diz S\u00e3o Bas\u00edlio, \"voc\u00ea tem a alma de um porco, de um bruto, que espera torn\u00e1-la feliz comendo, bebendo ou com prazeres sensuais?\" Um homem pode se ensoberbecer, mas n\u00e3o pode se satisfazer com os bens deste mundo. Sobre as palavras do Evangelho, eis que deixamos todas as coisas<\/i> - (Mat. xix., 27), S\u00e3o Bernardo escreve que viu diferentes classes de tolos trabalhando sob diferentes esp\u00e9cies de loucura. Todos tinham uma grande sede de felicidade: alguns se saciavam com os bens da terra, figura dos avarentos; outros com o vento, figura dos ambiciosos, que buscam honras v\u00e3s; outros se sentavam ao redor de uma fornalha, engolindo as fa\u00edscas que dela eram lan\u00e7adas; estes eram os apaixonados e vingativos; outros, enfim, bebiam \u00e1guas p\u00fatridas de um lago f\u00e9tido; e estes eram os voluptuosos e sem casta. Por isso, voltando-se para eles, o santo exclama: \"\u00d3 tolos! N\u00e3o v\u00eaem que essas coisas aumentam, em vez de diminuir, a sede de voc\u00eas!\"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, meu Deus, o que resta agora de todas as ofensas que ofereci a Ti, sen\u00e3o dores, amargura e m\u00e9ritos para o inferno? N\u00e3o lamento a dor e o remorso que sinto agora; pelo contr\u00e1rio, eles me consolam, porque s\u00e3o o dom de Tua gra\u00e7a e me fazem esperar que, j\u00e1 que inspiras esses sentimentos, desejas me perdoar. O que me desagrada \u00e9 a dor que Te causei, meu Redentor, que me amou com tanta ternura. Eu merecia, \u00f3 meu Senhor, ser abandonado por Ti, mas em vez de me abandonar, vejo que Tu me ofereces o perd\u00e3o e que \u00e9s o primeiro a pedir uma reconcilia\u00e7\u00e3o. \u00d3 meu Jesus, quero fazer as pazes com o Senhor e desejo Sua gra\u00e7a mais do que qualquer bem terreno.
<\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The goods of the world are but goods in appearance, and therefore they cannot satisfy the heart of man. \u00a0You have eaten,<\/em> says the Prophet Aggeus, but have not been filled. \u2014 <\/em>(Agg. i., 6). \u00a0Hence, the more the avaricious man possesses, the more he seeks to acquire.\u00a0 \u201cThe possession of great wealth,\u201d says St. Augustine, \u201cdoes not close, but rather extends, the jaws of avarice.\u201d \u00a0The more the unchaste man wallows in the mire of impurity, the greater is his disgust, and, at the same time, his desire for such beastly pleasures; and how can dung and carnal filthiness content the heart? \u00a0The same happens to the ambitious man, who wishes to satisfy his desires by smoke; for he always attends more to what he wants than to what he possesses. \u00a0After having acquired many kingdoms, Alexander the Great wept, because he had no more kingdoms to conquer. \u00a0If worldly goods could content the human heart, the rich and the monarchs of the earth would enjoy complete happiness; but experience shows the contrary. \u00a0Solomon tells us that he refused no indulgence to his senses. \u00a0Whatsoever my eyes desired, I refused them not. \u2014 <\/em>(Eccles, ii., 10). \u00a0But after all his sensual enjoyments what did he say? \u00a0Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. \u2014 <\/em>(Eccles, i., 2).\u00a0 That is, everything in this world is mere vanity, a pure lie, pure folly.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I am sorry, O infinite Goodness I for having offended Thee; I would wish to die of sorrow for my offences.\u00a0 Ah I through the love which Thou didst entertain for me when Thou didst expire on the Cross, pardon me, receive me into Thy Heart, and change my heart, so that henceforth I may please Thee as much as I have hitherto offended Thee. \u00a0I now renounce, for Thy sake, all the pleasures that the world can give me, and I resolve to forfeit my life rather than lose Thy grace. \u00a0Tell me what I must do in order to please Thee; I wish to do it. \u00a0What pleasures, what honours, what riches, can I seek? \u00a0I wish only for Thee, my God, my joy, my glory, my treasure, my life, my love, my All! \u00a0Give me the grace to love Thee, and then do with me what Thou pleasest. \u00a0Mary, my Mother and my hope, take me under thy protection and obtain for me the grace to belong entirely to God. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 \u00a0 ORA\u00c7\u00c3O MENTAL:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>IV. - M\u00e9todo de fabrica\u00e7\u00e3o<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:<\/strong>\u00a0 JESUS ILUMINA O MUNDO E GLORIFICA A DEUS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth. <\/em>\u2014 (Jer. xxxi. 22).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before the coming of the Messias the world was buried in a dark night of ignorance and sin. \u00a0The true God was hardly known, save in one single corner of the earth, that is to say, in Judea alone: In Judea God is known. <\/em>\u2014 (Ps. lxxv., 2). \u00a0But everywhere else men adored as gods devils, beasts, and stones. \u00a0Everywhere there reigned the night of sin, which blinds souls, and fills them with vices, and hides from them the sight of the miserable state in which they are living, as enemies of God, and worthy only of hell: Thou hast appointed darkness and it is night; in it shall all the beasts of the wood go about. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. ciii., 20).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From this darkness Jesus came to deliver the world: To them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. ix., 2). \u00a0He delivered it from idolatry by making known the light of the true God; and He delivered the world from sin by the light of His doctrine and of His divine example: For this purpose the Son of God appeared that he might destroy the work of the devil. \u2014 <\/em>(I John iii., 8).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My eternal God, I have dishonoured Thee by so often preferring my will to Thine, and my vile and miserable pleasures to Thy holy grace. \u00a0What hope of pardon would there be for me, if Thou hadst not given me Jesus Christ, our Saviour, that He might be the Hope of us miserable sinners? \u00a0He is a propitiation for our sins. \u2014 <\/em>(I Jo. ii., 2).\u00a0 Yes; for Jesus Christ, in sacrificing His life in satisfaction for the injuries we have done Thee, has given more honour to Thee than we have dishonour by our sins. \u00a0Receive me, therefore, O my Father, for the love of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 I repent, O infinite Goodness, of having outraged Thee: Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am not now worthy to be called thy son. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke xv., 21).\u00a0 I am not worthy of forgiveness; but Jesus Christ is worthy to be heard favourably by Thee. \u00a0He prayed once for me on the Cross: Father, forgive<\/em>; and even now in Heaven He is constantly begging Thee to receive me as a son: We have an advocate, Jesus Christ, who ever intercedes for us. \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. vii., 34). \u00a0Receive an ungrateful son, who once forsook Thee, but now returns resolved to desire to love Thee.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Prophet Jeremias foretold that God would create a new Child to be the Redeemer of men: The Lord hath created a new thing upon the earth. \u2014 <\/em>(Jer. xxxi., 22).\u00a0 This new Child is Jesus Christ. \u00a0He is the Son of God, Who is the object of the love of all the Saints in Paradise, and is the Love of the Father Himself, Who thus speaks of Him: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. \u2014 <\/em>(Matt, xvii., 5). \u00a0And this Son is He Who made Himself man. \u00a0A new Child, because He gave more glory and honour to God in the first moment of His creation than all the Angels and Saints together have given Him, or shall give Him for all eternity. \u00a0And therefore did the Angels at the birth of Jesus sing: Glory to God in the highest. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke ii., 14). \u00a0The Child Jesus has rendered more glory to God than men have deprived Him of by all their sins.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us therefore, poor sinners, take courage; let us offer to the eternal Father this Infant; let us present to Him the tears, the obedience, the humility, the death, and the merits of Jesus Christ, and we shall make reparation to God for all the dishonour we have caused Him by our offences.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, my Father, I love Thee and I will always love Thee. \u00a0O my Father, now that I know well the love Thou hast borne me, and the patience which Thou hast shown me for so many years, I resolve no longer to live without loving Thee. \u00a0Give me a great love so that I may constantly lament the displeasure I have given Thee, Who art so good a Father; cause me ever to burn with love towards Thee, Who art so loving a Father towards me. \u00a0My Father, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee!\u00a0 O Mary! \u00a0God is my Father, and thou art my Mother.\u00a0 Thou canst do all things with God; help me; obtain for me holy perseverance and His holy love.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tS\u00c1BADO DA PRIMEIRA SEMANA DO ADVENTO<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal: O PODER DA INTERCESS\u00c3O DE MARIA<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Comigo est\u00e3o as riquezas... para que eu possa enriquecer aqueles que me amam<\/em>. - (Prov. viii., 18).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Se as ora\u00e7\u00f5es dos santos s\u00e3o muito poderosas para Deus, qu\u00e3o grande deve ser o poder das ora\u00e7\u00f5es de Maria! As primeiras s\u00e3o as ora\u00e7\u00f5es dos servos, as \u00faltimas s\u00e3o as ora\u00e7\u00f5es de uma M\u00e3e! Bem-aventurada \u00e9, portanto, a pessoa por quem Maria reza. Santa M\u00e3e de Deus, rogai por n\u00f3s!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:\u00a0
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0S\u00e3o Bernardo nos diz que Maria recebeu uma dupla plenitude de gra\u00e7a. A primeira foi na Encarna\u00e7\u00e3o do Verbo que se fez Homem em seu sant\u00edssimo ventre; a segunda, na plenitude da gra\u00e7a que recebemos de Deus por meio de suas ora\u00e7\u00f5es. Portanto, todo bem que recebemos de Deus \u00e9 recebido por meio da intercess\u00e3o de Maria! Se as ora\u00e7\u00f5es dos santos s\u00e3o t\u00e3o poderosas para Deus, qu\u00e3o grande deve ser o poder das ora\u00e7\u00f5es de Sua M\u00e3e. As primeiras s\u00e3o as ora\u00e7\u00f5es de servidores<\/em>e o \u00faltimo as ora\u00e7\u00f5es de um\u00a0M\u00e3e<\/em>! As ora\u00e7\u00f5es de Maria t\u00eam a for\u00e7a de um comando com Jesus Cristo. Por isso, \u00e9 imposs\u00edvel que o Filho n\u00e3o conceda uma gra\u00e7a que a M\u00e3e pede. \"Alegre-se, alegre-se, \u00f3 Maria\", diz S\u00e3o Met\u00f3dio, \"voc\u00ea tem seu Filho como devedor. Todos n\u00f3s somos devedores a Ele, mas Ele \u00e9 devedor somente a voc\u00ea\". Aben\u00e7oada, ent\u00e3o, \u00e9 a pessoa por quem Maria reza!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O great Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me!\u00a0 Behold the miseries of my soul and pity me.\u00a0 Pray and never cease to pray until thou seest me safe in Paradise.\u00a0 O Mary, thou art my hope; abandon me not.\u00a0 Holy Mother of God, pray for me.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus rejoices when His most beloved Mother prays to Him, that He may have the pleasure of granting her all she asks. \u00a0One day St. Bridget heard Jesus speak to Mary and say: \u201cO Mother, thou well knowest that I cannot do otherwise than grant thy prayers; therefore, ask of Me what thou wilt. \u00a0Since thou, when on earth, didst deny me nothing, it is becoming, now that I am in Heaven, that I should deny thee nothing that thou asketh of Me.\u201d \u00a0Mary has only to speak and her Divine Son grants her all she asks. \u00a0Let us, therefore, pray to His Divine Mother without ceasing, if we wish to secure our eternal salvation, and let us address her in the words of St. Andrew of Crete: \u201cWe beseech thee, therefore, O holy Virgin, to grant us the help of thy prayers with God; prayers that are more precious than all the treasures of the world; prayers that obtain for us a very great abundance of graces; prayers that confound all enemies, and triumph over their strength.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ah, my Lady, had I always invoked thee in temptation I should never have fallen. \u00a0In the future I will never cease to invoke thee, saying: Mary, help me!\u00a0 Mary, succour me! \u00a0Amen.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 O VALOR DA LEITURA ESPIRITUAL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 O FILHO DE DEUS FOI CARREGADO COM TODAS AS NOSSAS INIQUIDADES<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God, sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh and of sin, hath condemned sin in the flesh. \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. viii., 3).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider the humble state to which the Son of God chose to abase Himself. \u00a0He vouchsafed to take upon Himself the form, not only of a servant, but of a sinful servant, appearing in the likeness of sinful flesh.<\/em> \u00a0Therefore, St. Bernard writes: \u201cHe assumed not merely the form of a servant, that He might be under subjection, but even that of a wicked servant, that He might be beaten.\u201d \u00a0He would assume not only the condition of a servant \u2014 He Who was Lord of all; but even the appearance of a guilty servant \u2014 He who was the Saint of Saints. \u00a0For this end He clothed Himself with that same flesh of Adam which had been infected with sin.\u00a0 Our Redeemer, in order to obtain salvation for us, offered Himself voluntarily to His Father to make satisfaction for all our sins: He was offered because it was his own will. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. liii., 7). \u00a0And His Father loaded Him with all our crimes: He hath laid on him the iniquities of us all. \u2014 <\/em>(lb. 6). \u00a0And thus, behold the Divine Word, innocent, most pure and holy \u2014 behold Him, even, as an Infant, charged with all the blasphemies, with all the impurities, with all the sacrileges, and all the other crimes of men; and in this way become, for the love of us, the object of Divine malediction, on account of the sins for which He had bound Himself to satisfy the Divine Justice.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O my innocent Lord, Mirror without spot, Love of the Eternal Father! \u00a0Ah, no, chastisements and maledictions were not due to Thee; but they were due to me, a miserable sinner. \u00a0Nevertheless, Thou wouldst show to the world this excess of love, by sacrificing Thy life to obtain pardon and salvation for us, paying by Thy sufferings the penalties which we had deserved. \u00a0May all creatures praise and bless Thy infinite mercy and goodness! \u00a0I thank Thee on behalf of all men, but especially for myself; because as I have offended Thee more than others, so Thou hast suffered the pains which Thou didst endure, more for me than for others. \u00a0I curse a thousand times those sinful pleasures of mine, which have cost Thee so much suffering. \u00a0But since Thou hast paid the price of my ransom, oh, let not the Blood which Thou hast shed for me be lost to me. \u00a0I am sorry that I have despised Thee, O my Love; but, oh, give me more sorrow.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus loaded Himself with as many maledictions as there ever have been, or ever will be mortal sins committed by all mankind. \u00a0And in this state He presented Himself to His Father when He came into the world. \u00a0Yes, even from the commencement of His life, he presented Himself as a criminal and a debtor for all our misdeeds, and as such was condemned by His Father to die upon a Cross as a malefactor, and accursed. \u00a0God hath condemned sin in the flesh. \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. viii., 3). \u00a0Oh, if the Eternal Father had been capable of feeling grief, what anguish would He not have endured, at seeing Himself obliged to treat as a criminal, and the most monstrous criminal in the world, this innocent Son, His beloved One, Who was so worthy of all His love!\u00a0 Behold the Man!<\/em> said Pilate, when he showed. \u00a0Jesus to the Jews, in order to move them to pity for this innocent One so cruelly treated. \u00a0Behold the Man!<\/em> the Eternal Father seems to say to us all, showing Him to us in the stable of Bethlehem: \u201cThis poor Infant, Whom you behold, O men, laid in a manger for beasts, and lying upon straw, is My beloved Son, Who has come to take upon Himself your sins and your sorrows! \u00a0Love Him, then, because He is most worthy of your love, and you are under the greatest obligations to love Him.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make me know the evil I have committed in offending Thee, my Redeemer and my God, Who hast suffered so much to oblige me to love Thee! \u00a0I love Thee, O infinite Goodness, but I desire to love Thee more; I desire to love Thee as much as Thou deservest to be loved.\u00a0 Make Thyself loved, O my Jesus, make Thyself loved by me and by all men; for well dost Thou deserve to be loved. \u00a0Enlighten, I pray Thee, the minds of those sinners who will not know Thee, or will not love Thee; make them comprehend how much Thou hast done for love of them, and the desire Thou hast for their salvation. \u00a0Most holy Mary, pray for me and for all sinners; obtain for us light and grace to love thy Son, Who has loved us so much.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 A AMARGURA DO CORA\u00c7\u00c3O DE JESUS NO VENTRE DE SUA M\u00c3E<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A devo\u00e7\u00e3o de todas as devo\u00e7\u00f5es \u00e9 o amor a Jesus Cristo e a medita\u00e7\u00e3o frequente sobre o amor que esse am\u00e1vel Redentor teve e ainda tem por n\u00f3s. Consideremos os sofrimentos que o Cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Jesus suportou por n\u00f3s desde a inf\u00e2ncia, pois assim n\u00e3o conseguiremos amar outra coisa sen\u00e3o o Cora\u00e7\u00e3o que tanto nos amou.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere a grande amargura com que o Cora\u00e7\u00e3o do Menino Jesus deve ter se sentido aflito e oprimido, no ventre de Maria, no primeiro momento em que Seu Pai prop\u00f4s \u00e0 Sua considera\u00e7\u00e3o toda a s\u00e9rie de desprezos, tristezas e agonias que Ele deveria sofrer durante Sua vida, para libertar os homens de suas mis\u00e9rias: De manh\u00e3, ele desperta meu ouvido... E eu n\u00e3o resisto... Entreguei meu corpo aos grevistas<\/em>. - (Is. 1, 4, 6). Assim Jesus falou pela boca do Profeta.\u00a0 De manh\u00e3 ele desperta meu ouvido<\/em>. Isso quer dizer que: Desde o primeiro momento de Minha concep\u00e7\u00e3o, Meu Pai Me fez sentir que era Sua vontade que eu levasse uma vida de sofrimento e, no final, fosse sacrificado em uma cruz.\u00a0 E eu n\u00e3o resisto... Entreguei meu corpo aos grevistas.<\/em>\u00a0 Tudo isso eu aceitei para sua salva\u00e7\u00e3o, \u00f3 almas dos homens! Desde ent\u00e3o, entreguei Meu Corpo aos flagelos, aos pregos e \u00e0 morte de cruz!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Meu amado Redentor, quanto n\u00e3o Te custou, desde Tua primeira entrada no mundo, tirar-me do lama\u00e7al em que ca\u00ed por causa de meus pecados! Voc\u00ea consentiu em ser tratado como o mais humilde dos escravos para me libertar da escravid\u00e3o do dem\u00f4nio, a quem eu havia me vendido voluntariamente pelo pecado. Mesmo assim, sabendo de tudo isso, tive a ousadia de afligir continuamente o Teu am\u00e1vel Cora\u00e7\u00e3o, que tanto me amou! Mas como Tu, que \u00e9s inocente e \u00e9s meu Deus, aceitaste uma vida e uma morte t\u00e3o dolorosas, aceitarei por Teu amor, \u00f3 meu Jesus, toda afli\u00e7\u00e3o que vier de Tuas m\u00e3os. Eu os aceito e abra\u00e7o porque eles v\u00eam dessas m\u00e3os que foram perfuradas para me livrar do inferno que tantas vezes mereci. \u00d3 meu Senhor, d\u00e1-me Teu santo amor para que todos os sofrimentos e ignom\u00ednias se tornem doces e agrad\u00e1veis para mim.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Maria Sant\u00edssima, recomende-me a seu Filho pelo amor que tem por Ele. Eis que sou uma daquelas ovelhas pelas quais seu Filho morreu!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reflect that whatever Jesus Christ suffered in His life and in His Passion, was all placed before Him while He was yet in the womb of His Mother, and He accepted all with love. \u00a0But in accepting all this, and in overcoming the natural repugnance of the senses, O God, what anguish and oppression did not the innocent Heart of Jesus suffer! \u00a0Well did He understand what He was to endure; first of all shut up for nine months in the dark prison of the womb of Mary; then in enduring the shame and the sufferings of His birth; being born in a cold grotto that was a stable for beasts; in having afterwards to lead for thirty years a despised life in the shop of an artizan; and in seeing that He was to be treated by men as ignorant, a slave, a seducer, and one guilty of death, and that the most infamous and painful death allotted to criminals.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All this did our loving Redeemer accept every moment, but at each moment that He accepted it, He suffered at once all the pains and humiliations that He was afterwards to endure even until His death. \u00a0The very knowledge of His divine dignity made Him feel, still more, the insults that He was to receive from men: All the day long my shame is before me. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xliii., 16).\u00a0 He had continually before His eyes His shame, especially that confusion He should one day feel at seeing Himself stripped naked, scourged, and suspended by three nails, and so end His life in the midst of the insults and curses of those very men for whom He was dying: Becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil, ii., 8). \u00a0And why? \u00a0To save us miserable and ungrateful sinners.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O loving Heart of Jesus, that loves men with so much tenderness and is so little loved by men \u2014 do Thou apply a remedy to such great ingratitude! \u00a0Inflame our hearts with a true love for Thee. \u00a0Ah, why can I not go through the whole world to make known the graces, the sweetness, the treasures that Thou dispensest to those who truly love Thee! \u00a0Accept the desire I have of seeing all hearts burning with love for Thee. \u00a0O divine Heart, be Thou my consolation in trials, my repose in labour, my solace in anxieties, my haven in tempests. \u00a0I consecrate to Thee my body and my soul, my heart and my life, all that I am. \u00a0To Thee I offer all my thoughts, all my affections, all my desires.\u00a0 O Eternal Father, I offer to Thee the pure affections of the Heart of Jesus. \u00a0If Thou dost reject mine, Thou canst not reject Thy Son\u2019s. \u00a0Blessed art thou O immaculate Mary, who hadst thy heart always and entirely united to the Heart of Jesus, obtain for me that in future I may wish and desire only what Jesus wills and what thou wiliest. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONTEMPLEM O CORA\u00c7\u00c3O QUE TANTO AMOU OS HOMENS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 E A PALAVRA SE FEZ CARNE. <\/em><\/strong>- (Jo\u00e3o I., 14).<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God sent the Archangel Gabriel to ask Mary\u2019s consent that He should become her Son; Mary gives her consent, and behold the Word is made Man. \u00a0O wonderful prodigy at which the heavens and all nature stand in astonishment! \u00a0The Word made flesh! \u00a0A God made Man! \u00a0What if we were to see a king become a worm, to save the life of a little worm of earth by his death?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Behold the only-begotten Son of God, omnipotent and true God, equal to the Father, born a little Infant in a stable. \u00a0He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men<\/em>. \u2014 (Phil, ii., 7). \u00a0If any one would see a God annihilated, let him enter into the Cave of Bethlehem, and he will find Him as a little Infant, bound in swaddling-clothes, so that He cannot move, and weeping and trembling with cold. \u00a0Ah, holy Faith, tell me whose Son is this poor Child? \u00a0Faith answers: He is the Son of God, and He is true God. \u00a0And what has brought Him to so miserable a condition? \u00a0It is the love He had for men. \u00a0And yet there are men to be found who do not love this God!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O amiable Infant, though I see Thee in this cavern lying on straw poor and despised, yet Faith teaches me that Thou art my God, Who camest down from Heaven for my salvation. \u00a0I acknowledge Thee, then, for my sovereign Lord and Saviour; but I have nothing alas to offer Thee. \u00a0I have no gold of love, because I have loved creatures; I have loved my own caprices, and I have not loved Thee, O amiable Infinite One! \u00a0I have not the incense of prayer, because I have lived in a miserable state of forgetfulness of Thee. \u00a0I have no myrrh of mortification, for I have often displeased Thy infinite goodness in order not to be deprived of my miserable pleasures. \u00a0What then shall I offer Thee? \u00a0I offer Thee my heart, soiled and poor as it is; do Thou accept it and change it.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Behold the end for which the Son of God willed to be born an Infant, to give Himself to us from His Childhood, and thus to draw to Himself our love. \u00a0Why, asks St. Francis de Sales, does Jesus take the sweet and tender form of an Infant, if it be not to stimulate us to love Him and to confide in Him? \u00a0St. Peter Chrysologus had said before: \u201cThus He willed to be born, because He wished to be loved.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh, dear Child Jesus, my Saviour, I love Thee, in Thee do I trust. \u00a0Thou art all my hope and all my love.\u00a0 What would have become of me if Thou hadst not come down from Heaven to save me? \u00a0I know the hell which would have awaited me for the offences I have offered Thee. \u00a0Blessed be Thy mercy, because Thou art ever ready to pardon me if I repent of my sins. \u00a0Yes, I repent with all my heart, my Jesus, of having despised Thee.\u00a0 Receive me into Thy favour, and make me die to myself to live only to Thee, my only Good. \u00a0Thou camest into the world for this purpose, to wash the hearts of men from their sins by Thy Blood and thus change them from sinners into saints. \u00a0Give me the gold of Thy holy love; give me the spirit of holy prayer, give me the desire and strength to mortify myself in everything that displeases Thee. \u00a0I am resolved to obey Thee and to love Thee; but Thou knowest my weakness, oh, give me the grace to be faithful to Thee! \u00a0Most holy Virgin, thou who didst welcome with such affection and didst console the holy Magi, do thou welcome and console me also, who come to visit thy Son and to offer myself to Him. \u00a0O my Mother, I have great confidence in thy intercession! \u00a0Do thou recommend me to Jesus. \u00a0To thee do I entrust my soul and my will; bind them forever to the love of Jesus!<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u21d1 \u00a0<\/a>\u00cdNDICE<\/a>
<\/em>\u21d0 TWENTY-FOURTH <\/em>WEEK AFTER <\/em>PEN<\/em>TECOST<\/em><\/a>
\u21d2 SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT<\/em><\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

VOLUME ONE – PART I, pp. 1-53, 294-301 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Morning Meditation:\u00a0 THE DAY OF THE LAST JUDGMENT \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0That day is a day of wrath . . . a day of calamity and misery. \u2014 (Soph. … Continuar lendo <\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4884,"parent":0,"menu_order":47,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5460","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5460"}],"version-history":[{"count":130,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12272,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5460\/revisions\/12272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}