{"id":5620,"date":"2024-12-19T01:43:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T01:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/?page_id=5620"},"modified":"2026-01-11T15:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T15:45:44","slug":"daily-meditations-fourth-week-of-advent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/daily-meditations-fourth-week-of-advent\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDITA\u00c7\u00d5ES DI\u00c1RIAS: QUARTA 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. 168-217<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 A SALVA\u00c7\u00c3O DO SENHOR<\/em>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 E toda carne ver\u00e1 a salva\u00e7\u00e3o de Deus<\/em>. - (Evangelho de Domingo, Lucas. iii., 1-6).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O Salvador do mundo, a quem, de acordo com o profeta Isa\u00edas, os homens veriam um dia na Terra. e toda carne ver\u00e1 a salva\u00e7\u00e3o de Deus<\/em> - veio. E Ele veio \u00e0 Terra, diz Santo Agostinho, para que os homens pudessem saber o quanto Deus os ama. E como \u00e9, \u00f3 meu querido Jesus, que o Senhor se depara com tanta ingratid\u00e3o por parte da maioria dos homens?<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I: <\/b>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ad\u00e3o, nosso primeiro pai, peca e \u00e9 condenado \u00e0 morte eterna junto com toda a sua posteridade. Vendo que toda a ra\u00e7a humana estava condenada \u00e0 perdi\u00e7\u00e3o, Deus resolveu enviar um Redentor para salvar a humanidade. Quem vir\u00e1 para ser a salva\u00e7\u00e3o do homem? Talvez um anjo ou um serafim? N\u00e3o, o Filho de Deus, o Deus supremo e verdadeiro, igual ao Pai, oferece-se para vir \u00e0 Terra, assumir a carne humana e morrer para a salva\u00e7\u00e3o dos homens. \u00d3 prod\u00edgio do amor divino! O homem, diz S\u00e3o Fulg\u00eancio, despreza Deus e se separa de Deus, e por amor a ele Deus vem \u00e0 Terra para buscar o homem rebelde. Como n\u00e3o quisemos ir ao nosso M\u00e9dico, Ele se dignou a vir at\u00e9 n\u00f3s, diz Santo Agostinho. E por que Jesus resolveu vir at\u00e9 n\u00f3s? Cristo veio, diz o mesmo santo doutor, para que o homem pudesse saber o quanto Deus o ama.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Por isso, o ap\u00f3stolo escreve: A bondade e a benevol\u00eancia de Deus, nosso Salvador, apareceram.<\/em> - (Tit. iii., 4). O singular amor de Deus para com os homens apareceu, como diz o texto grego. E que maior amor e bondade o Filho de Deus poderia nos mostrar do que se tornar homem e um verme como n\u00f3s, a fim de nos salvar da perdi\u00e7\u00e3o? Que espanto n\u00e3o sentir\u00edamos se v\u00edssemos um pr\u00edncipe se tornar um verme para salvar os vermes de seu reino! E o que dir\u00edamos ao ver um Deus feito Homem como n\u00f3s para nos livrar da morte eterna?\u00a0 O Verbo se fez carne<\/em>. - (Jo. i., 14). Um Deus feito carne! Se a f\u00e9 n\u00e3o nos garantisse isso, quem poderia acreditar?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 meu doce, am\u00e1vel e santo Filho, Voc\u00ea n\u00e3o sabe o que mais fazer para ser amado pelos homens! \u00c9 suficiente dizer que, de Filho de Deus, Tu foste feito Filho do homem e que escolheste nascer entre os homens como o resto das crian\u00e7as, s\u00f3 que mais pobre e mais mal alojado do que os outros, escolhendo um est\u00e1bulo para Tua morada, uma manjedoura para Teu ber\u00e7o, um pouco de palha para Tua cama. E, no entanto, poucos s\u00e3o os que Te conhecem! Poucos s\u00e3o os que Te amam!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tell me, O Christian, what more could Jesus Christ have done to win Thy love? \u00a0If the Son of God had engaged to rescue from death His own Father, what lower humiliation could He have stooped to than to assume human flesh and to lay down His life in sacrifice for His salvation? \u00a0Nay, I say more, had Jesus Christ been a mere man instead of One of the Divine Persons, and wished to gain by some token of affection the love of His God, what more could He have done than He has done for thee? \u00a0If a servant of thine had given for thy love his very life-blood would he not have riveted thy heart to him, and obliged thee to love him out of mere gratitude? \u00a0And how comes it that Jesus Christ, though He has laid down His very life for thee, has still failed to win thy love?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Men appreciate the good graces of a prince, of a prelate, a nobleman, of a man of letters, and even of a vile animal, and yet these same persons set no store by the grace of God \u2013 but renounce it for mere smoke, for a brutal gratification, for a handful of earth, for a whim, for a nothing! \u00a0What sayest thou, my dear brother?\u00a0 Dost thou wish still to be ranked among the ungrateful ones? \u00a0Go, seek for thyself one who is better able than God to make thee happy in the present life and in the life to come. \u00a0Go, find thyself a prince more courteous, a master, a brother, a friend more amiable, and who has shown thee a deeper love. \u00a0O Lord, who is like to thee? \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxxiv., 10). \u00a0O Lord, what greatness shall ever be found like to Thine?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Love, then, love, O souls, love this little Child, exclaims St. Bernard, for He is exceedingly to be loved.\u00a0 Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised! \u00a0The Lord is a little One and exceedingly to be loved!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O my dear Jesus, how is it that Thou dost encounter such ingratitude from the greater number of men? \u00a0In the time past, I, too, have not known Thee; but heedless of Thy love, I have sought my own gratification, making no account whatever of Thee and of Thy friendship. \u00a0But now I am sorry for it. \u00a0I grieve over it with my whole heart. \u00a0O my sweet Child, and my God, forgive me for the sake of Thy Infancy. \u00a0Thou knowest my past treasons; <\/em>for pity\u2019s sake do not abandon me or I shall fall away even worse than before. \u00a0O Mary, great Mother of the Incarnate Word, do not thou abandon me! \u00a0Thou art the Mother of perseverance and the stewardess of divine grace. \u00a0With thy help, O my hope, I trust to be faithful to my God till death.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 JOS\u00c9 E MARIA EM BEL\u00c9M<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A PALAVRA ETERNA SE TORNA PEQUENA<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil, ii., 7).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 St. Paul says that Jesus Christ, coming on earth, emptied Himself.<\/em> \u00a0He annihilated Himself, so to say.\u00a0 And why? \u00a0To save man and to be loved by man.\u00a0 \u201cWhere Thou didst empty Thyself,\u201d says St. Bernard, \u201cthere did Mercy and Charity more brilliantly appear.\u201d\u00a0 Yes, my dear Redeemer, in proportion as Thy abasement was great in becoming Man and in being born an Infant, so were Thy mercy and love shown to be greater towards us, and this with a view to win over our hearts to Thyself.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Although the Jews, by so many signs and wonders, had a certain knowledge of the true God, they were not, however, satisfied; they wished to behold Him face to face. \u00a0God found means to comply even with this desire of men; He became Man, to make Himself visible to them. \u00a0\u201cKnowing,\u201d says St. Peter Chrysologus, \u201cthat mortals felt an anguish of desire to see Him, God chose this method of making Himself visible to them.\u201d \u00a0And to render Himself still more attractive in our eyes, He would make His first appearance as a little Child, that thus He might be the more charming and irresistible; He showed Himself an Infant, that He might make Himself more acceptable in our eyes. \u00a0\u201cYes,\u201d adds St. Cyril of Alexandria, \u201cHe abased Himself to the humble condition of a little Child in order to make Himself more agreeable to our hearts.\u201d \u00a0\u201cFor our advantage was this emptying made.\u201d \u00a0For this, indeed, was the form most suitable to win our love.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Prophet Ezechiel rightly exclaimed that the time of Thy coming on earth, O Incarnate Word, should be a time of love, the season of lovers: Behold, thy time was the time of lovers. \u2014 <\/em>(Ezech. xvi., 8). \u00a0And what object had God in loving us thus ardently, and of giving us such clear proofs of His love, other than that we might love Him? \u00a0\u201cGod loves only in order to be loved,\u201d says St. Bernard. \u00a0God Himself had already said as much: And now, O Israel, what does the Lord, thy God require of thee, but that thou fear and love him. \u2014 <\/em>(Deut. x., 12).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O my sweet, amiable, holy Child, Thy first appearance before us is as a poor Infant, that even from birth Thou mightest lose no time in attracting our hearts towards Thee. \u00a0And so didst Thou go on through the remainder of Thy life ever showing us fresh and more striking tokens of Thy love, so that at length Thou didst shed the last drop of Thy Blood and die overwhelmed with shame upon the infamous tree of the Cross. \u00a0And how is it, O Jesus, that Thou couldst have encountered such ingratitude from the majority of mankind? \u00a0I see few, indeed, that knew Thee, and fewer still that love Thee. \u00a0Ah, my dear Jesus, I, too, desire to be among this small number.\u00a0 O, my sweet Child and my God, forgive me. \u00a0I love Thee! \u00a0I love Thee!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In order to force us to love Him God would not commission others, but chose to come Himself in person to be made Man and to redeem us. \u00a0St. John Chrysostom makes a beautiful reflection on these words of the Apostle: For nowhere doth he take hold of the angels, but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold. \u2014 <\/em>(Heb. ii., 16). Why, asks the Saint, did he not say received,<\/em> but rather taketh hold?<\/em> \u00a0Why did not St. Paul simply say that God assumed human flesh? \u00a0Why would he affirm with marked emphasis that He took it, as it were, by force, according to the strict meaning of the Latin apprehendit?<\/em> \u00a0He answers that he spoke thus, making use of the metaphor of those who give chase to those who are fleeing away. \u00a0By this he would convey the idea that God always longed to be loved by man, but man turned his back upon Him, and cared not even to know of His love; therefore God came from Heaven, and took human flesh, to make Himself known in this way, and to make Himself loved, as it were, by force by ungrateful man who fled from Him.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For this, then, did the Eternal Word become Man; for this He, moreover, became an Infant. \u00a0He could, indeed, have appeared upon this earth as a full-grown Man, as the first man, Adam, appeared. \u00a0No, the Son of God wished to present Himself under the form of a sweet little Child, that thus He might the more readily and the more forcibly draw to Himself the love of man. \u00a0Little children of themselves are loved at once; to see them and to love them is the same thing. \u00a0Ah, my dear Jesus, it is true that in time past I did not know Thee.\u00a0 Heedless of Thy love I sought only my own gratification, making no account whatever of Thee or of Thy friendship. \u00a0But now I am conscious of the evil I have done.\u00a0 I am sorry for it and I grieve over it with my whole heart. \u00a0I love Thee, Jesus, and that so dearly that even if I knew that all mankind were about to rebel against Thee and forsake Thee, yet would I not leave Thee though it should cost me a thousand lives. \u00a0Accept, O Jesus, of my poor heart to love Thee. \u00a0There was a time when it cared not for Thee, but now it is enamoured of Thy goodness, O Divine Infant. \u00a0O Mary, O great Mother of the Word Incarnate, neither do thou abandon me. \u00a0Thot art the Mother of perseverance and the stewardess d divine grace. \u00a0Help me, then, and help me always. \u00a0With thy aid, O my hope, I trust to be faithful to my God for ever.\u00a0 Amen.<\/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 CONSIDERA\u00c7\u00d5ES SOBRE O ESTADO RELIGIOSO -XII<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere a grande felicidade que os religiosos desfrutam ao morar na mesma casa com Jesus no Sant\u00edssimo Sacramento.<\/em>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Se os mundanos consideram um favor t\u00e3o grande ser convidado por reis para morar em seus pal\u00e1cios, quanto mais favorecidos devemos nos considerar por sermos admitidos a morar continuamente com o Rei dos C\u00e9us em Sua pr\u00f3pria casa? \u00d3 Senhor, eu Te agrade\u00e7o! Como mereci esse destino feliz?<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:<\/b>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A Vener\u00e1vel Madre Maria de Jesus, fundadora de um convento em Toulouse, disse que estimava muito seu destino como religiosa, principalmente por dois motivos. A primeira, que as religiosas, por meio do voto de obedi\u00eancia, pertencem inteiramente a Deus; e a segunda, que elas t\u00eam o privil\u00e9gio de estar sempre com Jesus Cristo no Sant\u00edssimo Sacramento.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nas casas dos religiosos, Jesus Cristo habita na igreja por causa deles, de modo que eles podem encontr\u00e1-Lo a qualquer hora. As pessoas do mundo dificilmente podem visit\u00e1-Lo durante o dia e, em muitos lugares, somente pela manh\u00e3. Mas os religiosos O encontram no Tabern\u00e1culo sempre que desejam, de manh\u00e3, \u00e0 tarde e \u00e0 noite. L\u00e1 eles podem se entreter continuamente com Nosso Senhor, e l\u00e1 Jesus Cristo se alegra em conversar familiarmente com Seus amados servos, a quem, para esse fim, Ele chamou do Egito, para que Ele possa ser seu Companheiro durante esta vida, escondido sob o v\u00e9u do Sant\u00edssimo Sacramento, e na pr\u00f3xima, revelado no Para\u00edso. \"\u00d3 solid\u00e3o\", pode-se dizer de toda casa religiosa, \"na qual Deus fala e conversa familiarmente com Seus amigos!\"
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Contempla-me em Tua Presen\u00e7a, \u00f3 meu Jesus! - Escondido no Sacramento, Tu \u00e9s o mesmo Jesus que por mim Te sacrificou na Cruz. Tu \u00e9s Aquele que tanto me ama e que, por isso, Te confinou nesta pris\u00e3o de amor. Entre tantos que Te ofenderam menos do que eu, e que Te amaram mais do que eu, Tu me escolheste, em Tua bondade, para fazer-Te companhia nesta casa, onde, tendo-me tirado do meio do mundo, me destinaste a viver sempre unido a Ti e, depois, a ter-me perto de Ti para louvar-Te e amar-Te em Teu reino eterno. \u00d3 Senhor, eu Te agrade\u00e7o. Como mereci esse destino feliz?\u00a0 Escolhi ser um abjeto na casa do meu Deus, do que habitar nos tabern\u00e1culos dos pecadores.<\/em> - (Sl. lxxxiii., 11). Feliz, de fato, sou eu, \u00f3 meu Jesus, por ter deixado o mundo; e \u00e9 meu grande desejo desempenhar o mais vil of\u00edcio em Tua casa, em vez de morar nos mais orgulhosos pal\u00e1cios reais dos homens.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Souls that love Jesus Christ much know not how to wish for any other paradise on this earth than to be in the presence of their Lord, Who dwells in this Sacrament for the love of those who seek and visit Him.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness. \u2014 <\/em>(Wis. viii., 16). \u00a0He who does not love Jesus Christ finds tediousness in His company. \u00a0But those who on this earth have given all their love to Jesus Christ find in the Blessed Sacrament their treasure, their rest, their paradise, and therefore the great desire of their hearts is, as often as they can, to visit their God in this Sacrament, to pay their court to Him, offering Him their affections and laying at the foot of the altar their sorrows, their desire of loving Him, of seeing Him face to face, and, in the meantime, of pleasing Him in all things.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Receive me, then, O Lord, to stay with Thee all my life long; do not drive me away, as I deserve. \u00a0Be pleased to allow that, among the many good Religious who serve Thee in this house, I, though a miserable sinner, may serve Thee also. \u00a0Many years already have I lived far from Thee. \u00a0But now that Thou hast enlightened me to know the vanity of the world, and my own foolishness, I will not depart any more from Thy feet, O my Jesus! \u00a0Thy presence shall animate me to fight when I am tempted. \u00a0The nearness of Thy abode shall remind me of the obligation I am under to love Thee, and always to have recourse to Thee in my combats against hell. \u00a0I will always keep near to Thee, that I may unite myself to Thee, and attach myself closer to Thee. \u00a0I love Thee, O my God, hidden in this Sacrament. \u00a0Thou, for the love of me, remainest always on this altar. \u00a0I, for the love of Thee, will remain in Thy presence as much as I shall be able. \u00a0There enclosed Thou always lovest me, and here enclosed I will always love Thee. \u00a0Always then, O my Jesus, my Love, my All, shall we remain together \u2013 in time in this House, and during eternity, in Paradise. \u00a0This is my hope; so may it be. \u00a0Most holy Mary, obtain for me a greater love for the Most Holy Sacrament.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 INCENTIVO AOS NOVI\u00c7OS PARA QUE PERSEVEREM EM SUA VOCA\u00c7\u00c3O<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 O AMOR QUE DEUS NOS MOSTROU AO SE TORNAR HOMEM<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Word was made flesh . . . and delivered himself for us. \u2014 <\/em>(John i., 14; Eph. v., 2).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us consider the immense love which God shows us in becoming Man in order to procure us eternal life.\u00a0 Our first parent, Adam, having sinned and rebelled against God, was driven out of Paradise and condemned to everlasting death with all his descendants. \u00a0But behold the Son of God, Who, seeing man thus lost, in order to deliver him from death offers to take upon Himself human flesh, and to die condemned as a malefactor upon the Cross. \u00a0But, my Son, we may suppose the Father saying to Him, consider what a life of humiliation and suffering Thou wilt have to lead upon earth. \u00a0Thou wilt have to be born in a cold cave, and to be laid in a manger for beasts. \u00a0Thou wilt have to fly as an Infant into Egypt to escape from the hands of Herod. \u00a0On Thy return from Egypt Thou wilt have to live in a shop as a humble servant, poor and despised.\u00a0 And, finally, worn out by sufferings, Thou wilt have to give up Thy life upon a Cross, insulted and forsaken by all. \u2013 Father, all this matters not, replies the Son; I am content with enduring all, provided man is saved.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O great Son of God, Thou hast become Man in order to make Thyself loved by men; but where is the love that men bear to Thee? \u00a0Thou hast given Thy Blood and Thy life to save our souls; why, then, are we so unthankful towards Thee, that, instead of loving Thee, we treat Thee with so much ingratitude and contempt? \u00a0And behold, O Lord, I myself have been one of those who more than others have thus ill-treated Thee. \u00a0But Thy Passion is my hope. \u00a0Oh, for the sake of that love which induced Thee to assume human flesh and die for me on the Cross, forgive me all the offences I have committed against Thee.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I love Thee, O Incarnate Word, I love Thee, O my God!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What would be said if a prince were to take compassion upon a dead worm, and were to choose to become a worm himself, and to make, as it were, a bath of his own blood, to die in order to restore the worm to life? \u00a0But the Eternal Word has done even more than this for us; for, being God, He has chosen to become a worm like us, and to die for us, in order to purchase for us the life of divine grace which we had lost. \u00a0When He saw that all the gifts He had bestowed upon us could not secure to Him our love, what did He do? \u00a0He became Man, and He gave Himself entirely to us: The Word was made flesh . . . and delivered himself for us. \u2014 <\/em>(John i., 14; Eph. v., 2).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Man, by despising God, says St. Fulgentius, separated himself from God; but God, through His love for man, came from Heaven to seek him. \u00a0And why did He come?\u00a0 He came in order that man might know how much God loved him, and that thus, out of gratitude at least, he might love Him in return. \u00a0Even the beasts, when they show us affection, make us love them; and why, then, are we so ungrateful towards a God Who descends from Heaven to earth to make us love Him?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One day, when a priest was saying these words in Mass: Et verbum caro factum est \u2013 And the Word was made flesh \u2013 <\/em>a man who was present neglected to make an act of reverence; upon which the devil gave him a blow, saying: \u201cAh, ungrateful man! if God had done as much for me as He has done for thee, I should remain continually prostrate with my face to the ground returning thanks to Him.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Infinite Goodness, I love Thee, and I repent of all the injuries I have done Thee. \u00a0Would that I could die of sorrow for them. \u00a0O my Jesus, give me love. \u00a0Let me not live any longer ungrateful for the affection Thou hast borne me. \u00a0I am determined to love Thee always.\u00a0 Give me holy perseverance!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, do thou obtain for me from thy Son the grace to love Him always \u2013 even until death. \u00a0Amen.<\/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 CONSIDERA\u00c7\u00d5ES SOBRE O ESTADO RELIGIOSO -XIII<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere que a vida de um religioso se assemelha principalmente \u00e0 vida de Jesus Cristo.<\/em>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jesus desejou viver pobre nesta Terra como Filho e Companheiro de um mec\u00e2nico, em uma moradia pobre, com roupas e alimentos pobres, para que assim pudesse dar a Seus servos a compreens\u00e3o do que deve ser a vida daqueles que desejam ser Seus seguidores. \u00d3 meu Senhor, deixarei tudo e Te seguirei.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I: <\/b>
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O ap\u00f3stolo diz que o Pai Eterno predestina ao reino dos c\u00e9us somente aqueles que vivem de acordo com a vida do Verbo Encarnado.\u00a0 E aos que dantes conheceu, tamb\u00e9m os predestinou para serem conformes \u00e0 imagem de seu Filho<\/em>. - (Rom. viii., 29). Qu\u00e3o felizes, ent\u00e3o, e seguros do Para\u00edso n\u00e3o deveriam ser os religiosos, visto que Deus os chamou para um estado de vida que, de todos os outros estados, \u00e9 o mais parecido com a vida de Jesus Cristo.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jesus, nesta Terra, desejou viver pobre, como Filho e Companheiro de um mec\u00e2nico, em uma moradia pobre, com roupas e alimentos pobres: Sendo rico, ele se tornou pobre por causa de voc\u00eas, para que, por meio da sua pobreza, voc\u00eas se tornassem ricos<\/em>. - (2 Cor. viii., 9). Al\u00e9m disso, Ele escolheu uma vida muito mortificada, longe das del\u00edcias do mundo, e sempre cheia de dor e tristeza, come\u00e7ando com Seu nascimento e terminando com Sua morte; por isso, o Profeta O chamou: O homem das tristezas<\/em>. - (Is. liii., 3). Com isso, Ele quis dar a Seus servos a compreens\u00e3o do que deve ser a vida daqueles que desejam segui-Lo: Se algu\u00e9m quiser vir ap\u00f3s mim, negue-se a si mesmo, tome a sua cruz e siga-me<\/em>. - (Mat., xvi., 24). Seguindo esse exemplo e aceitando esse convite de Jesus Cristo, os santos se esfor\u00e7aram para despojar-se de todos os bens terrenos e tomar sobre si dores e cruzes, a fim de serem semelhantes a seu amado Senhor.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Assim, vemos que S\u00e3o Bento, filho do senhor de N\u00f3rcia, parente do imperador Justiniano, e nascido em meio \u00e0s riquezas e prazeres do mundo, quando ainda era um jovem de apenas quatorze anos, foi morar em uma caverna em Subiaco, onde recebia apenas um peda\u00e7o de p\u00e3o que o eremita Romanus lhe trazia todos os dias como esmola.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, meu Mestre e meu Redentor, Jesus, sou, ent\u00e3o, do n\u00famero daqueles afortunados que Tu chamaste para Te seguir. \u00d3 meu Senhor! Eu Te agrade\u00e7o por isso. Deixo tudo; quem me dera ter mais para deixar, para que eu possa me aproximar de Ti, meu Rei e meu Deus, que, por amor a mim e para me dar coragem com Teu exemplo, escolheste para Ti uma vida t\u00e3o pobre e t\u00e3o dolorosa. Caminha, Senhor, eu Te seguirei. Escolha para mim a cruz que quiser e me ajude. Eu sempre a carregarei com const\u00e2ncia e amor. Lamento que no passado eu tenha Te abandonado para seguir meus desejos e as vaidades do mundo; mas agora estou decidido a n\u00e3o Te deixar mais. Prenda-me \u00e0 Tua cruz e, se por fraqueza eu \u00e0s vezes resistir, atraia-me pelos doces la\u00e7os de Teu amor. N\u00e3o permita que eu volte a Te abandonar.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 St. Francis of Assisi renounced in favour of his father the whole of his inheritance, and even his garments, and, thus poor and mortified, consecrated himself to Jesus Christ. \u00a0Nor was it different with St. Francis Borgia and St. Aloysius Gonzaga, one being Duke of Gandia, the other of Castiglione; Both left all their riches, their estates, their vassals, their country, their home, their parents, and went to live a poor life in Religion.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So have done many other noblemen and princes even of royal blood. \u00a0Blessed Zedmerra, daughter of the King of Ethiopia, renounced the kingdom to become a Dominican nun. \u00a0Blessed Johanna of Portugal renounced the kingdom of France and England to enter Religion.\u00a0 In the Benedictine Order alone there are found twenty-five emperors, and seventy-five kings and queens who left the world to live poor, mortified and forgotten by the world, in a poor cloister. \u00a0Ah! indeed, these and not the grandees of the world are the truly fortunate ones.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At present worldlings think these to be fools, but in the Valley of Josaphat they shall know that they themselves have been the fools; and when they see the Saints on their thrones crowned by God they shall say, lamenting and in despair: These are they whom we had sometime in derision . . . we fools esteemed their life madness, and their end without honour. \u00a0Behold, how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints! <\/em>\u2014 (Wis. v., 3, 4, 5).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, my Jesus, I renounce all the satisfactions of the world; the only satisfaction I seek is to love Thee, and to suffer as Thou pleasest. \u00a0I hope thus to come one day to be united to Thee in Thy kingdom by the bond of eternal love, there to see Thee and to love Thee without fear of ever being separated from Thee. \u00a0I love Thee, O my God, my All, and will always love Thee.\u00a0 Thou art my hope, O Most Holy Mary, thou, the most conformed to Jesus, art now the most powerful to obtain this grace. \u00a0Be thou my protectress!<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 INCENTIVO AOS NOVATOS<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 (continua\u00e7\u00e3o)<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 JESUS FEZ E SOFREU TUDO PARA NOS SALVAR<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He hath loved me and delivered himself for me. \u2014 <\/em>(Gal. ii., 20).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Son of God being true God is infinitely happy; and yet, as St. Thomas says, He has done and suffered as much for man as if He could not be happy without him. \u00a0If Jesus Christ had been obliged to earn for Himself upon this earth His Eternal Beatitude, what could He have done more than to burden Himself with all our weaknesses, and assume all our infirmities, and then end His life with a death so severe and ignominious?\u00a0 But no, He was innocent, He was holy, and was in Himself blessed; whatever He did and suffered was all to gain for us divine grace and Paradise, which we had lost.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Miserable is he who does not love Thee, my Jesus, and does not pass his life enamoured of so much goodness.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If, therefore, my Jesus, Thou hast for love of me embraced a laborious life and bitter death, I may, indeed say that Thy death is mine, Thy sufferings are mine, Thy merits are mine, Thou Thyself art mine; since for me Thou hast given Thyself up to so great sufferings. \u00a0Ah, my Jesus, there is nothing that afflicts me more than the thought that once Thou wert mine, and that I have so often willingly lost Thee. \u00a0Forgive me, and unite me to Thyself; suffer me not in future ever to offend Thee again. \u00a0I love Thee with all my heart. \u00a0Thou willest to be all mine; and I will be entirely Thine.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If Jesus Christ had permitted us to ask Him for the greatest proof of His love, who would have dared to propose to Him to become a Child like one of us, to embrace all our miseries, to make Himself of all men the most poor, the most despised, the most ill-used, even to dying in torments the infamous death of the Cross, cursed and forsaken by all, even by His own Father?\u00a0 But that which we should not have dared even to think of, He has both thought of and done.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My beloved Redeemer, I beseech Thee to bestow upon me the graces which Thou hast merited for me by Thy death. \u00a0I love Thee, and am sorry for having offended Thee. \u00a0Oh, take my soul into Thy hands; I will not let the devil have dominion over it any more; I desire that it may be entirely Thine, since Thou hast bought it with Thy Blood. \u00a0Thou alone lovest me, and Thee alone will I love. \u00a0Deliver me from the misery of living without Thy love, and then chastise me as Thou willest. \u00a0O Mary, my refuge, the death of Jesus and thy intercession are my hope.<\/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 CONSIDERA\u00c7\u00d5ES SOBRE O ESTADO RELIGIOSO - XIV<\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere o zelo que os religiosos devem ter pela salva\u00e7\u00e3o das almas<\/em>.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nosso Redentor n\u00e3o imp\u00f4s a S\u00e3o Pedro penit\u00eancia, ora\u00e7\u00f5es ou outras coisas, mas apenas que ele se esfor\u00e7asse para salvar Suas ovelhas.\u00a0 Sim\u00e3o, filho de Jo\u00e3o, voc\u00ea me ama? Apascenta minhas ovelhas<\/em>. - (Jo. xxi., 17).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Sim, meu Senhor, eu Te servirei com todas as minhas for\u00e7as nessa grande obra.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:<\/strong>\u00a0
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Aquele que \u00e9 chamado para a Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o do Sant\u00edssimo Redentor nunca ser\u00e1 um verdadeiro seguidor de Jesus Cristo, e nunca se tornar\u00e1 um santo, se n\u00e3o cumprir o objetivo de sua voca\u00e7\u00e3o e n\u00e3o tiver o esp\u00edrito do Instituto, que \u00e9 a salva\u00e7\u00e3o das almas, especialmente das almas mais necessitadas de socorro espiritual, como as pessoas pobres do pa\u00eds.*
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Esse foi realmente o fim para o qual nosso Redentor desceu do c\u00e9u: O esp\u00edrito do Senhor<\/em>Nosso Divino Mestre diz, me ungiu para pregar o Evangelho aos pobres.<\/em> - (Lucas iv., 18). Ele n\u00e3o buscou nenhuma outra prova do amor de Pedro por Ele, a n\u00e3o ser o fato de que ele deveria obter a salva\u00e7\u00e3o das almas: Sim\u00e3o, filho de Jo\u00e3o, voc\u00ea me ama? Apascenta minhas ovelhas<\/em>. - (Jo., xxi., 17). Ele n\u00e3o lhe imp\u00f4s, diz St. John Chrysostom, penit\u00eancia, ora\u00e7\u00f5es ou qualquer outra coisa. Ele apenas pediu que ele se esfor\u00e7asse para salvar Suas ovelhas: \"Cristo n\u00e3o lhe disse: doe seu dinheiro, jejue, enfraque\u00e7a seu corpo com trabalho duro, mas Ele disse: Apascentar Minhas ovelhas<\/em>.\" E Ele declara que consideraria todo benef\u00edcio conferido ao menor de nossos vizinhos como conferido a Ele mesmo.\u00a0 Em verdade vos digo que, todas as vezes que o fizestes a um destes meus pequeninos irm\u00e3os, a mim o fizestes<\/em>. - (Mat. xxv., 40).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Todo religioso deve, portanto, com o m\u00e1ximo cuidado, nutrir esse zelo e esse esp\u00edrito de ajudar as almas. Para esse fim, seus estudos devem ser dirigidos; e seu pensamento constante e toda a sua aten\u00e7\u00e3o devem ser dedicados ao trabalho pelas almas que lhe foi designado por seus superiores. Estaria faltando esse esp\u00edrito aquele que, pelo desejo de cuidar apenas de si mesmo e de levar uma vida retirada e solit\u00e1ria, n\u00e3o aceitasse de todo o cora\u00e7\u00e3o o trabalho que lhe \u00e9 imposto pela obedi\u00eancia.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 meu Senhor Jesus Cristo, como posso agradecer-Te o suficiente por me teres chamado para o mesmo trabalho que Tu mesmo realizaste na terra, a saber, ajudar na salva\u00e7\u00e3o das almas com meus pobres trabalhos? Em que mereci essa honra e essa recompensa, depois de t\u00ea-Lo ofendido t\u00e3o gravemente e de ter feito com que outros tamb\u00e9m O ofendessem? Sim, meu Senhor! O Senhor me chama para ajud\u00e1-Lo nesse grande empreendimento. Eu Te servirei com todas as minhas for\u00e7as.<\/p>

* [Embora Santo Afonso, nessa Considera\u00e7\u00e3o, tenha especialmente em vista a Congrega\u00e7\u00e3o dos Mission\u00e1rios que ele fundou, o que ele diz aqui \u00e9 para todos os religiosos de ambos os sexos e, de fato, para todos os que servem a Deus. - Editor].<\/em><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What greater glory can a man have than to be, as St. Paul says, a co-operator with God in this great work of the salvation of souls? \u00a0He who loves the Lord ardently is not content to be alone in loving Him, he would draw all to His love, saying with David: O magnify the Lord with me, and let us extol his name together. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxxiii., 4). \u00a0Hence St. Augustine exhorts all those who love God to \u201cdraw all men to His love.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A good ground of hope for his own salvation has he who, with true zeal, labours for the salvation of souls.\u00a0 \u201cHave you saved a soul?\u201d says St. Augustine, \u201cthen you have predestinated your own.\u201d \u00a0The Holy Ghost promises: When thou shalt pour<\/em> out thy soul to the hungry, and shalt satisfy the afflicted soul . . . the Lord will fill thy soul with brightness . . . and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a fountain of water whose waters shall not fail. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. lviii., 10, 11). \u00a0In this \u2013 namely, in procuring the salvation of others \u2013 St. Paul placed his hope of eternal salvation, when he said to his disciples of Thessalonica: For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory? \u00a0Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? \u2014 <\/em>(1 Thess. ii., 19).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Behold, O Jesus, I offer Thee all my labours and my blood, and even my life in order to obey Thee. \u00a0Nor do I in this seek to gratify my own inclination, or to gain the applause and esteem of men; I desire nothing but to see Thee loved by all as Thou deservest. \u00a0I prize my happy lot, and call myself fortunate, that Thou hast chosen me for this great work, in which, I now protest that I renounce all the praise of men and all self-satisfaction, and seek only Thy glory. \u00a0To Thee be all the honour and satisfaction, and to me only the discomfort, the blame, and the reproach. \u00a0Accept, O Lord, this offering which I, a miserable sinner, who wish to love Thee and to see Thee loved by others, make of myself to Thee, and give me strength to do what I desire.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most Holy Mary, my advocate who lovest souls so much, help me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 INCENTIVO AOS NOVATOS<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 (continua\u00e7\u00e3o)<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 JESUS VEIO PARA LEVAR UMA VIDA AFLITA<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Having joy set before him he endured the cross. \u2014 <\/em>(Heb. xii., 2).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In creating man in the beginning, God did not place him on earth to suffer, but put him into the paradise of pleasure. \u2014 <\/em>(Gen. ii., 15). \u00a0He put man in a place of delight in order that he might pass thence to Heaven where he would enjoy for all eternity the glory of the blessed. \u00a0But by sin man unhappily made himself unworthy of his earthly Paradise, and closed against himself the gates of the Heavenly Paradise, wilfully condemning himself to death and to everlasting misery.\u00a0 But what did the Son of God do to rescue man from such a state of misery? \u00a0From being blessed and most happy as He was He chose to be afflicted and tormented. \u00a0Our Redeemer could, indeed, have rescued us from the hands of our enemies without suffering. \u00a0He could have come on earth and continued in His happiness, leading a life full of joys, and receiving the honour due to Him as King and Lord of all. \u00a0One drop of His Blood, a single tear of His offered to God would have redeemed the world, and a countless number of worlds, on account of the Infinite dignity of His Person. \u00a0But no! \u2013 having joy set before Him, He endured the Cross. \u00a0He renounced all pleasures and honours and made choice on earth of a life full of toil and ignominy. \u00a0\u201cWhat was sufficient for Redemption,\u201d says St. John Chrysostom, \u201cwas not sufficient for love.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yes, because this Man was born on purpose to suffer, therefore He took to Himself a body particularly adapted for suffering. \u00a0As the Apostle tells us, He said to His Eternal Father as He came into this world: Sacrifice and oblation Thou wouldst not, but a body thou hast fitted to me. \u2014 <\/em>(Heb. x., 5). \u00a0Thou hast given Me a body as I requested of Thee, delicate, sensitive, and made for suffering. \u00a0I gladly accept this body and offer it to Thee; because by suffering in this body all the pains which will accompany Me through life and finally cause My death upon the Cross, I shall propitiate Thee on behalf of the human race, and gain for Myself the love of men.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Glory be to God in the highest. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke ii., 14). \u00a0I thank Thee, O Jesus, in the name of all mankind, but I thank Thee especially for myself, a miserable sinner.\u00a0 What would have become of me, what hope could I have had of pardon and salvation, if Thou, my Saviour, hadst not come down from Heaven to save me?\u00a0 Therefore do I praise Thee, and thank Thee, and love Thee.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Behold, then, Jesus has scarcely entered into this world when He begins His sacrifice by beginning to suffer. \u00a0While an Infant in His Mother\u2019s womb, Jesus endures for nine months the darkness of that prison; He endures all the pain and is fully alive to all He endures. \u00a0Jesus was in wisdom, not in age, a Man, while yet unborn, says St. Bernard. \u00a0He comes forth from His Mother\u2019s womb; but He comes forth to fresh suffering. \u00a0He chooses to be born in the depth of the winter in a cavern, where beasts find stabling, and at the hour of midnight! \u00a0He is born in such poverty that He has no fire to warm Him, or clothes to screen Him from the winter\u2019s cold. \u00a0\u201cA noble pulpit is that manger!\u201d says St. Thomas of Villanova. \u00a0Oh, how well does Jesus teach us the love of suffering in the grotto of Bethlehem!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If thou wishest to love Jesus Christ, learn from Him how thou must love Him. \u00a0\u201cLearn from Christ how thou must love Christ,\u201d says St. Bernard. \u00a0Rejoice to suffer something for the God Who suffered so much for thee. \u00a0The desire of pleasing Jesus Christ, and of showing Him the love they bore Him was what rendered the Saints hungry and thirsty, not for honours and pleasures, but for sufferings and contempt. \u00a0This made the Apostle say: God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. \u2014 <\/em>(Gal. vi., 14). \u00a0And St. Teresa: \u201cEither to suffer or to die!\u201d \u00a0And St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi: \u201cTo suffer and not to die!\u201d \u00a0And St. John of the Cross: \u201cO Lord, that I may suffer and be despised for Thy sake!\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O my dear Redeemer, I praise Thine infinite Mercy!\u00a0 I praise Thine infinite Charity! \u00a0I love Thee above all things, I love Thee more than myself. \u00a0I love Thee with my whole soul and I give myself all to Thee. \u00a0Receive, O Sacred Infant, these acts of love. \u00a0If they are cold because they come from a frozen heart, do Thou inflame this poor heart of mine, a heart that has offended Thee, but is now penitent. \u00a0O most holy Mary, obtain for me the grace to live always bound to thy Son by the blessed chains of love. \u00a0Pray to Him for me. \u00a0This is my hope.<\/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 CONSIDERA\u00c7\u00d5ES SOBRE O ESTADO RELIGIOSO - XV<\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Considere o quanto as virtudes da mansid\u00e3o e da humildade s\u00e3o necess\u00e1rias para a vida religiosa.<\/em>.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Nosso Sant\u00edssimo Redentor quis ser chamado de Cordeiro para nos mostrar como Ele mesmo era manso e humilde e para que Seus disc\u00edpulos aprendessem com Ele a ser da mesma forma manso e humilde de cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>. - (Mt. xi., 29). O Esp\u00edrito Santo diz: O que lhe \u00e9 agrad\u00e1vel \u00e9 a f\u00e9 e a mansid\u00e3o<\/em>. - (Ecclus. i., 34, 35).<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Aprendam de mim porque sou manso e humilde de cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>. A mansid\u00e3o e a humildade de cora\u00e7\u00e3o s\u00e3o virtudes que Jesus, o Cordeiro de Deus, exige principalmente dos religiosos que professam imitar Sua vida sant\u00edssima. Aquele que vive como solit\u00e1rio em um deserto n\u00e3o tem tanta necessidade dessas virtudes; mas para aquele que vive em uma comunidade, \u00e9 imposs\u00edvel n\u00e3o se deparar, de vez em quando, com uma repreens\u00e3o de seus superiores ou algo desagrad\u00e1vel de seus companheiros. Em tais casos, um religioso que n\u00e3o ama a mansid\u00e3o cometer\u00e1 mil faltas todos os dias e viver\u00e1 uma vida inquieta. Ele deve ser todo doce com todos - com estranhos, com companheiros e tamb\u00e9m com inferiores, se algum dia se tornar Superior; e se for inferior, deve considerar que um ato de mansid\u00e3o ao suportar o desprezo e a reprova\u00e7\u00e3o tem mais valor para ele do que mil jejuns e mil disciplinas<\/em>.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0S\u00e3o Francisco disse que muitos fazem sua perfei\u00e7\u00e3o consistir em mortifica\u00e7\u00f5es exteriores e, no fim das contas, n\u00e3o s\u00e3o capazes de suportar uma palavra injuriosa. \"N\u00e3o entendendo\", acrescentou, \"quanto maior \u00e9 o ganho obtido ao suportar pacientemente as inj\u00farias\". Quantas pessoas, como observa S\u00e3o Bernardo, s\u00e3o todas doces quando nada \u00e9 dito ou feito contra sua inclina\u00e7\u00e3o, mas mostram sua falta de mansid\u00e3o quando algo as contraria! E se algu\u00e9m vier a ser um Superior, que acredite que uma \u00fanica repreens\u00e3o feita com mansid\u00e3o beneficiar\u00e1 mais seus s\u00faditos do que mil feitas com severidade. \"Os mansos s\u00e3o \u00fateis para si mesmos e para os outros\", como ensina S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o Cris\u00f3stomo. Em suma, como disse o mesmo santo, o maior sinal de uma alma virtuosa \u00e9 v\u00ea-la conservar-se em mansid\u00e3o nas ocasi\u00f5es de contradi\u00e7\u00e3o. Um cora\u00e7\u00e3o manso \u00e9 o deleite do Cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Deus.\u00a0 O que lhe \u00e9 agrad\u00e1vel \u00e9 a f\u00e9 e a mansid\u00e3o<\/em>.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O most humble Jesus, Who, for love of me didst humble Thyself, and become obedient unto the death of the Cross, how have I the courage to appear before Thee, and call myself Thy follower? \u00a0I who see myself to be such a sinner and so proud that I cannot bear a single injury without resenting it. \u00a0Whence comes such pride in me, who for my sins have so many times deserved to be cast forever into hell with the devils? \u00a0Ah, my despised Jesus, help me and make me conformable to Thee. \u00a0I will change my life.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It would be well for a Religious to represent to himself in his meditations, all the contradictions that may happen to him, and arm himself against them; and then when the occasion presents itself, he ought to do violence to himself, that he may not be excited or break out in impatience. \u00a0Therefore, he should refrain from speaking when his mind is disturbed, till he is certain that he has become calm again.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But to bear injuries quietly, it is above all necessary to have a great fund of humility. \u00a0He who is truly humble is not only unmoved when he sees himself despised, but is even pleased, and rejoices at it in his spirit, however much the flesh may resent it; for he sees himself treated as he deserves, and made conformable to Jesus Christ, Who, worthy as He was of every honour, chose, for the love of us, to be satiated with contempt and injuries.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brother Juniper, a disciple of St. Francis, when an injury was done to him, held up his cowl, as if expecting to receive pearls from Heaven. \u00a0The Saints have ever been more desirous of injuries than worldlings are covetous of applause and honours. \u00a0And of what use is a Religious who does not know how to bear contempt for God\u2019s sake? \u00a0He is always proud; humble only in name, and a hypocrite whom divine grace will repulse, as the Holy Ghost says: God resisteth the proud, but to the humble he giveth grace. \u2014 <\/em>(1 Peter v., 5).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Jesus, for love of me Thou hast borne so much contempt; I, for love of Thee, will bear every injury.\u00a0 Thou, O my Redeemer, hast made contempt honourable, indeed, and desirable, since Thou hast embraced it with so much love during Thy own life. \u00a0God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. <\/em>\u2014 (Gal. vi., 14). \u00a0O my most humble Mistress, Mary, Mother of God, thou who wast in all, and especially in suffering, the most conformed to thy Son, obtain for me the grace to bear in peace all the injuries which henceforward may be offered to me. \u00a0Amen.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual: \u00a0<\/em>INCENTIVO AOS NOVATOS<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 (continua\u00e7\u00e3o)<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A TRISTEZA QUE A INGRATID\u00c3O DOS HOMENS CAUSOU A JESUS<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. <\/em>\u2014 (John i., 11).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During the holy time of Christmas St. Francis of Assisi went about the highways and woods, weeping and sighing with inconsolable lamentations. \u00a0When asked the reason he answered: \u201cHow can I help weeping when I see that Love is not loved? \u00a0I see a God become as it were foolish for the love of man, and man so ungrateful to this God!\u201d \u00a0Now, if this ingratitude of men so afflicted the heart of St. Francis, let us consider how much more it must have afflicted the Heart of Jesus Christ Himself. \u00a0Scarcely was He conceived in the womb of Mary than He saw the cruel ingratitude He was to receive from men. \u00a0He had descended from Heaven to enkindle the fire of Divine love, and this desire alone had brought Him down to this earth, to suffer here the greatest sorrows and ignominies: I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled? <\/em>\u2014 (Luke xii., 49). \u00a0And then He beheld the awful sins which men would commit after having seen so many proofs of His love. \u00a0It was this, says St. Bernardine of Sienna, which made Him feel an infinite grief.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is true, then, O my Jesus, that Thou didst descend from Heaven to make me love Thee; didst come down to embrace a life of suffering and the death of the Cross for my sake, in order that I might welcome Thee into my heart; and yet I have so often driven Thee from me and said: \u201cDepart from me, Lord; go away from me, Lord; for I do not want Thee.\u201d\u00a0 O God, if Thou wert not infinite Goodness, and hadst not given Thy life to obtain my pardon, I should not have the courage to ask it of Thee. \u00a0But I feel that Thou Thyself dost offer me peace: Turn ye to me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn to you. \u2014 <\/em>(Zach, i., 3). \u00a0Thou, Thyself, Whom I have offended, O my Jesus, makest Thyself my Intercessor: He is the propitiation for our sins. \u2014 <\/em>(1 John ii., 2).\u00a0 I will therefore not do Thee this fresh injury of distrusting Thy mercy. \u00a0I repent with all my soul of having despised Thee, O sovereign Good; receive me into Thy favour, for the sake of the Blood which Thou hast shed for me: Father, I am not worthy to be called Thy son. \u2014 <\/em>(Luke xv., 21).<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Even amongst us it is an insufferable sorrow for one man to see himself treated with ingratitude by another; for, as the Blessed Simon of Cassia observes, ingratitude often afflicts the soul more than any pain afflicts the body: \u201cIngratitude often causes more bitter sorrow in the soul than pain causes in the body.\u201d \u00a0What sorrow, then, must our ingratitude have caused Jesus, Who was our God, when He saw that His benefits and His love would be repaid by offences and injuries? \u00a0And they repaid me evil for good, and hatred for my love. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. cviii., 5). \u00a0But even at the present day it seems as if Jesus Christ is going about complaining: I am become a stranger to my brethren. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. lxviii. 9). \u00a0For He sees that many neither love nor know Him, as if He had not done them any good, nor had suffered anything for love of them. \u00a0O God, what value do so many Christians even now set upon the love of Jesus Christ? \u00a0Our Blessed Redeemer once appeared to Blessed Henry Suso in the form of a pilgrim who went begging from door to door for a lodging, but every one drove Him away with insults and injuries. \u00a0How many, alas! are like those of whom Job speaks: Who said to God: Depart from us . . . whereas he had filled their houses with good things. <\/em>\u2014 (Job xxii., 17). \u00a0We have hitherto joined these ungrateful wretches; but shall we continue always like them? \u00a0No; for that amiable Infant does not deserve it, Who came from Heaven to suffer and die for us in order that we might love Him.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No, my Redeemer and my Father, I am no longer worthy to be Thy son, having so often renounced Thy love; but Thou, by Thy merits, dost make me worthy. \u00a0I thank Thee, O my Father. \u00a0I thank Thee, and I love Thee. \u00a0Ah, the thought alone of the patience with which Thou hast borne with me for so many years, and of the favours Thou hast conferred upon me after the many injuries that I have done Thee, ought to make me live constantly on fire with Thy love.\u00a0 Come, then, my Jesus, for I will not drive Thee away any more, come and dwell in my poor heart. \u00a0I love Thee and will always love Thee; but do Thou inflame my heart more and more by the remembrance of the love Thou hast borne me. \u00a0O Mary, my Queen and my Mother, help me, pray to Jesus for me; make me live during the remainder of my life, grateful to that God Who has loved me so much, even though I have so greatly offended Him.<\/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 JESUS DESEJA SER AMADO<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Uma crian\u00e7a nasceu para n\u00f3s e um filho nos foi dado<\/em>. - (Is. ix., 6).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Contemplem o fim para o qual o Filho de Deus desejou nascer como crian\u00e7a - dar-Se a n\u00f3s desde Sua inf\u00e2ncia e, assim, atrair para Si o nosso amor. Assim, Ele desejou nascer porque desejava ser amado.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Deus concedeu tantas b\u00ean\u00e7\u00e3os aos homens a fim de lev\u00e1-los a am\u00e1-Lo, mas esses homens ingratos n\u00e3o apenas n\u00e3o O amaram, como nem mesmo O reconheceram como Senhor. Somente em um canto da Terra, na Judeia, Ele foi reconhecido como Deus por Seu povo escolhido; e por eles Ele era mais temido do que amado. Ele, por\u00e9m, que desejava ser mais amado do que temido por n\u00f3s, tornou-se homem como n\u00f3s, escolheu uma vida pobre, sofrida e obscura, e uma morte dolorosa e ignominiosa. E por qu\u00ea? Para atrair nosso cora\u00e7\u00e3o para Si. Se Jesus Cristo n\u00e3o tivesse nos redimido, Ele n\u00e3o teria sido menos grandioso ou menos feliz; mas Ele decidiu obter nossa salva\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e0 custa de tantos trabalhos e sofrimentos, como se Sua felicidade dependesse da nossa. Ele poderia ter nos redimido sem sofrimento; mas n\u00e3o - Ele quis nos livrar da morte eterna por meio de Sua pr\u00f3pria morte; e embora pudesse nos salvar de mil maneiras, Ele escolheu a maneira mais humilhante e dolorosa de morrer por puro sofrimento na cruz, para comprar o amor de n\u00f3s, vermes ingratos da terra. E o que, de fato, foi a causa de Seu nascimento miser\u00e1vel e de Sua morte mais dolorosa, sen\u00e3o o amor que Ele tinha por n\u00f3s?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, meu Jesus, que o Teu amor por mim destrua em mim todas as afei\u00e7\u00f5es terrenas e me consuma no fogo que vieste acender na terra. Eu amaldi\u00e7oo mil vezes essas paix\u00f5es vergonhosas que Lhe custam tanta dor. Arrependo-me, meu querido Redentor, de todo o meu cora\u00e7\u00e3o, de todas as ofensas que cometi contra Ti. No futuro, preferirei morrer a ofend\u00ea-Lo; e desejo fazer tudo o que puder para agrad\u00e1-Lo. Eu Te amo, meu \u00fanico Bem, meu Amor, meu Tudo.\u00a0<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Drop down dew, O ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. xlv., 8). \u00a0Send forth the Lamb, the Ruler of the earth. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. xvi., 1).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thus did the holy Prophets desire for so many years the coming of the Saviour. \u00a0The same Prophet Isaias said: Oh, that thou wouldst rend the heavens, and wouldst come down: the mountains would melt away at thy presence . . . the waters would burn with fire. \u2014 <\/em>(Is. lxiv., 1, 2). \u00a0Lord, he said, when men shall see that Thou didst come on earth out of love for them, the mountains shall be made smooth, that is, men in serving Thee will conquer all the difficulties that at first appeared to them insuperable obstacles. \u00a0The waters shall burn with fire, and the coldest hearts will feel themselves burning with Thy love, at the sight of Thee made Man; and how well has this been verified in many happy souls! \u2013 in St. Teresa, in St. Philip Neri, St. Francis Xavier, who even in this life were consumed by this holy fire.\u00a0 But how many such are there? \u00a0Alas! but too few.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ah, my Jesus, amongst these few I wish also to be.\u00a0 How many years ought I not already to be burning in hell, separated from Thee, hating and cursing Thee forever! \u00a0But no, Thou hast borne with me with so much patience, that Thou mightest see me burn, not with that unhappy flame, but with the blessed fire of Thy love; for this end Thou hast given me so many illuminations, and hast so often wounded my heart while I was far from Thee; finally, Thou hast done so much that Thou hast forced me to love Thee by Thy sweet attractions.\u00a0 Behold, I am now Thine. \u00a0I will be Thine always and altogether. \u00a0It remains for Thee to make me faithful, and this I confidently hope from Thy goodness. \u00a0O my God! who could ever have the heart to leave Thee again and to live even a moment without Thy love? \u00a0I love Thee with all my heart, but this is too little. \u00a0My Jesus, hear me, give me more love, more love, more love.\u00a0 O Mary, pray to God for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 INCENTIVO AOS NOVATOS\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>(continua\u00e7\u00e3o)<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 O AMOR DE DEUS MANIFESTADO AOS HOMENS PELO NASCIMENTO DE JESUS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men instructing us that . . . we should live . . . godly in this world, looking at the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. \u2014 <\/em>(Titus ii., 11).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Consider that by the grace<\/em> that is said to have appeared<\/em> is meant the tender love of Jesus Christ towards men \u2013 a love we have not merited, and which, therefore, is called a \u201cgrace.\u201d \u00a0This love was, however, always the same in God, but did not always appear.\u00a0 It was at first promised in many prophecies and foreshadowed by many figures; but at the Birth of the Redeemer this Divine love appeared and manifested itself by the Eternal Word showing Himself to man as an Infant, lying on straw, crying and shivering with cold; beginning thus to make satisfaction for us for the penalties we have deserved, and so making known to us the affection which He bore us, by giving up His life for us: In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us. \u2014 <\/em>(1 John iii., 16).\u00a0 Therefore the love of our God appeared to all men.
<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But why is it, then, that all men have not known it, and that even to this day so many are ignorant of it?\u00a0 This is the reason: The light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light. \u2014 <\/em>(John iii., 19).\u00a0 They have not known Him, and they do not know Him, because they do not wish to know Him, loving the darkness of sin rather than the light of grace.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O my holy Infant! now I see Thee, poor, afflicted and forsaken; but I know that one day Thou wilt come to judge me, seated on a throne of splendour, and attended by the angels. \u00a0Forgive me, I implore Thee, before Thou hast to judge me. \u00a0Then Thou wilt have to act as a just Judge; but now Thou art my Redeemer, and the Father of mercy. \u00a0I have been of those ungrateful ones who have not known Thee, because I did not choose to know Thee, and therefore, instead of being inclined to love Thee by the consideration of the love Thou hast borne me, I only thought of satisfying my own desires, despising Thy grace and Thy love. \u00a0But into Thy sacred hands I commend my soul, which I have so long neglected; do Thou save it: Into thy hands I commend my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of<\/em> truth. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxx. 6).<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But let us endeavour not to be of the number of those unhappy souls who are ignorant and ungrateful. \u00a0If in times past we have shut our eyes to the light, thinking little of the love of Jesus Christ, let us try, during the days that remain to us in this life, to have ever before our eyes the sufferings and death of our Redeemer, in order to love Him Who has loved us so much: Looking for the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.<\/em> \u00a0Thus may we justly expect, according to the divine promises, that Paradise which Jesus Christ has acquired for us by His Blood. \u00a0At His first coming Jesus appeared as an Infant, poor and humble, and showed Himself on earth born in a stable, covered with miserable rags, and lying on straw; but at His second coming He will appear as Judge on a throne of majesty: We shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and majesty. <\/em>\u2014 (Matt. xxiv., 30). \u00a0Blessed then will he be who shall have loved Him, and miserable those who shall not have loved Him.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In Thee do I place all my hopes, knowing that, to ransom me from hell, Thou hast given Thy Blood and Thy life: Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.<\/em> \u00a0Thou didst not condemn me to death when I was living in sin, but hast waited for me with infinite patience, in order that, coming to myself, I might repent of having offended Thee, and might begin to love Thee, and that thus Thou mightest be able to forgive and save me. \u00a0Yes, my Jesus, I will please Thee. \u00a0I repent, above every other evil, of all the offences I have committed against Thee; I repent, and love Thee above all things.\u00a0 Do Thou save me in Thy mercy, and let it be my salvation to love Thee always in this life and in eternity.\u00a0 My dearest Mother Mary, recommend me to thy Son.\u00a0 Do thou represent to Him that I am thy servant, and that I have placed all my hope in thee. \u00a0He hears thee, and refuses thee nothing.<\/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 THIRD <\/em>WEEK OF ADVENT<\/em><\/a>
\u21d2\u00a0CHRISTMAS WEEK<\/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. 168-217 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Morning Meditation:\u00a0 THE SALVATION OF THE LORD\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. \u2014 (Gospel of Sunday.\u00a0 Luke. iii., 1-6). \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The … Continuar lendo <\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4884,"parent":0,"menu_order":50,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5620","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5620","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=5620"}],"version-history":[{"count":109,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12260,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5620\/revisions\/12260"}],"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=5620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}