{"id":7962,"date":"2025-04-09T15:34:29","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T15:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/?page_id=7962"},"modified":"2026-04-09T16:00:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:00:55","slug":"daily-meditations-easter-week","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/daily-meditations-easter-week\/","title":{"rendered":"MEDITA\u00c7\u00d5ES DI\u00c1RIAS: SEMANA DA P\u00c1SCOA"},"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 II - PARTE II, pp. 1-40<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 A RESSURREI\u00c7\u00c3O DE JESUS CRISTO<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Alegremo-nos ao ver em Sua gl\u00f3ria ressuscitada nosso Salvador, nosso Pai, o melhor Amigo que temos. Alegremo-nos tamb\u00e9m, por n\u00f3s mesmos, porque a Ressurrei\u00e7\u00e3o de Jesus Cristo \u00e9 para n\u00f3s um penhor seguro de nossa pr\u00f3pria ressurrei\u00e7\u00e3o e da gl\u00f3ria que esperamos um dia ter no C\u00e9u em nossa alma e corpo.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jesus veio ao mundo n\u00e3o apenas para nos redimir, mas para nos ensinar, com seu exemplo, todas as virtudes, especialmente a humildade e a santa pobreza, que est\u00e1 inseparavelmente unida \u00e0 humildade. Para isso, Ele escolheu nascer em uma caverna; viver como um homem pobre em uma oficina por trinta anos; e finalmente morrer, pobre e nu, em uma cruz, vendo Suas vestes divididas entre os soldados antes de dar Seu \u00faltimo suspiro; enquanto, depois de Sua morte, Ele recebe o len\u00e7ol para Seu enterro como uma esmola de outros.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Que os pobres sejam consolados ao verem Jesus Cristo, o Rei do C\u00e9u e da Terra, vivendo e morrendo na pobreza para nos enriquecer com Seus m\u00e9ritos e dons.\u00a0 Porque conheceis a gra\u00e7a de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, que, sendo rico, se fez pobre por amor de v\u00f3s, para que, pela sua pobreza, enriquec\u00easseis<\/em>. \u2014 (2 Cor. viii. 9).\u00a0 For this cause the Saints, in order to become like unto Jesus in His poverty, despised all earthly riches and honours, so that one day they might go to enjoy with Jesus Christ the riches and honours prepared by God in Heaven for them that love Him.\u00a0 And speaking of these blessings the Apostle St. Paul says that nem olhos viram, nem ouvidos ouviram, nem jamais penetrou no cora\u00e7\u00e3o do homem o que Deus tem preparado para aqueles que o amam<\/em>. \u2014 (1 Cor. ii. 9).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 meu Jesus, eu Te pe\u00e7o por Tua Ressurrei\u00e7\u00e3o, faze-me ressuscitar glorioso contigo no \u00faltimo dia, para estar sempre unido a Ti no C\u00e9u, para louvar-Te e amar-Te para sempre.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jesus Christ, then, rose from the dead with the glory of possessing all power in Heaven and on earth, not only as God, but as Man. \u00a0All the angels and all men are therefore subject to Him. \u00a0Let us rejoice in thus seeing in glory our Saviour, our Father, and the best Friend we possess.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And let us rejoice for ourselves, because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is for us a sure pledge of our own Resurrection, and of the glory that we may hope one day to have in Heaven in our soul and in our body. \u00a0This hope gave courage to the Martyrs to suffer with gladness all the evils of life, and the most cruel torments of tyrants.\u00a0 We must rest assured, however, that none will rejoice with Jesus Christ but they who are willing to suffer in this world with Him; nor will he obtain the crown who does not fight as he ought to fight. \u00a0He that striveth for the mastery is not crowned except he strive lawfully. <\/em>\u2014 (2 Tim. ii. 5). \u00a0At the same time let us be assured by what the same Apostle says: that all the sufferings of this life are short and light in comparison with the boundless and eternal joys we hope to enjoy in Paradise. \u2014 (2 Cor. iv. 17). \u00a0Let us labour the more to continue in the grace of God, and continually to pray for perseverance in God\u2019s friendship. \u00a0Without continual prayer we shall not obtain perseverance, and without perseverance we shall not be saved.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O sweet Jesus, worthy of all love, how hast Thou so loved men that, in order to show Thy love, Thou hast not refused to die wounded and dishonoured on an infamous tree! \u00a0O my God, how is it there are so few among men who love Thee with their whole heart?\u00a0 O my dear Redeemer, I wish to be one of these few.\u00a0 Miserable that I am to have forgotten Thy love in the past, and given up Thy grace for miserable pleasures!\u00a0 I know the evil I have done. \u00a0I grieve over it with my whole heart and would wish to die of grief. \u00a0O my beloved Redeemer, I love Thee now more than myself and am ready to die a thousand deaths rather than lose Thy friendship. \u00a0Jesus, I thank Thee for the light Thou hast given me. \u00a0O Jesus, my Hope, leave me not in my own hands. \u00a0Help me until death.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 O C\u00c9U QUE DEUS CONQUISTOU PARA N\u00d3S<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The bliss of Heaven consists in seeing and loving God face to face. \u00a0\u201cEverything we expect,\u201d says St. Augustine, \u201cis expressed in a word of one syllable, namely, God.\u201d<\/em> \u00a0The reward God promises to us does not consist altogether in the beauty, the harmony, and other advantages of the city of Paradise. \u00a0God Himself, Whom the Saints are allowed to behold, is, according to the promises made to Abraham, the principal reward of the just in Heaven. \u00a0I am thy reward exceeding great. \u2014 <\/em>(Gen. xv. 1). \u00a0St. Augustine asserts that were God to show His face to the damned, \u201chell would be instantly changed into a paradise of delights.\u201d \u00a0And he adds that were a departed soul allowed the choice of seeing God and suffering the pains of hell, or of being freed from these pains and deprived of the sight of God, \u201cit would prefer to see God, and to endure those torments.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The delights of the soul infinitely surpass all the pleasures of the senses. \u00a0Even in this life, Divine love infuses such sweetness into the soul when God communicates Himself to it that the body is raised from the earth. \u00a0St. Peter of Alcantara once fell into such an ecstasy of love that, taking hold of a tree, he drew it up from the roots, and raised it with him on high. \u00a0So great is the sweetness of Divine love, that the holy Martyrs, in the midst of their torments, felt no pain, but were on the contrary filled with joy. \u00a0Hence St. Augustine says that when St. Laurence was laid on a red-hot gridiron, the fervour of Divine love made him insensible to the burning heat of the fire. \u00a0Even on sinners who weep for their sins, God bestows consolations which exceed all earthly pleasures. \u00a0Hence St. Bernard says: \u201cIf it be so sweet to weep for Thee, what must it be to rejoice in Thee!\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How great is the sweetness which a soul experiences when, in the time of prayer, God, by a ray of His own light, reveals to it His goodness and His mercies towards it, and particularly the love Jesus Christ has borne to it in His Passion! \u00a0It feels its heart melting and, as it were, dissolved through love. \u00a0But in this life we do not see God as He really is: we see Him, as it were, in the dark. \u00a0We see now through a glass in a dark manner, but then face to face. \u2014 <\/em>(1 Cor. xiii. 12). \u00a0Here below God is hidden from our view; we can see Him only with the eyes of Faith. \u00a0How great shall be our happiness when the veil is raised, and we are permitted to behold God face to face! \u00a0We shall then see His beauty, His greatness, His perfection, His amiableness, and His immense love for our souls.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or hatred. \u2014 <\/em>(Eccles. ix. 1). \u00a0The fear of not loving God, and of not being loved by Him, is the greatest affliction which souls that love God endure on the earth; but in Heaven the soul is certain that it loves God and that He loves it; and sees that the Lord embraces it with infinite love, and that this love shall not be dissolved for all eternity. \u00a0The knowledge of the love Jesus Christ has shown it in offering Himself in sacrifice for it on the Cross, and in making Himself its Food in the Sacrament of the Altar, shall increase the ardour of its love. \u00a0It shall also see clearly all the graces God has bestowed upon it, all the helps which He has given it, to preserve it from falling into sin, and to draw it to His love.\u00a0 It shall see that all the tribulations, the poverty, the infirmities and persecutions which it regards as misfortunes, have all proceeded from love, and have been the means employed by Divine Providence to bring it to glory. \u00a0It shall see all the lights, loving calls, and mercies which God had granted to it after it had insulted Him by its sins. \u00a0From the blessed mountain of Paradise it shall see so many souls damned for fewer sins than it had committed, and shall see that it is saved and secured against the possibility of ever losing God.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justly, then, has St. Augustine said that to gain the eternal bliss and peace of Paradise, we should embrace eternal labour.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 \"SUA TRISTEZA SE TRANSFORMAR\u00c1 EM ALEGRIA\"<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Oh, happy are we, if we suffer with patience on earth the troubles of this present life!\u00a0 Distress of circumstances, fears, bodily infirmities, persecutions, and crosses of every kind, will one day all come to an end; and if we be saved, they will all become for us subjects of joy and glory in Paradise: Your sorrow, says the Saviour to encourage us, shall be turned into joy. \u2014 (John xvi. 20).\u00a0 So great are the delights of Paradise that they can neither be explained nor understood by us mortals: Nem olhos viram, nem ouvidos ouviram, nem jamais penetrou no cora\u00e7\u00e3o do homem o que Deus tem preparado para aqueles que o amam<\/em>. \u2014 (1 Cor. ii. 9).\u00a0 Beauties like to the beauties of Paradise, eye hath never seen; harmonies like unto the harmonies of Paradise, ear hath never heard; nor hath ever human heart gained the comprehension of the joys God hath prepared for those that love Him.\u00a0 Beautiful is the sight of a landscape adorned with hills, plains, woods, and views of the sea.\u00a0 Beautiful is the sight of a garden abounding with fruits, flowers, and fountains.\u00a0 Oh, how much more beautiful is Paradise!
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0To understand how great the joys of Paradise are, it is enough to know that in that blessed realm resides a God omnipotent, Whose care it is to render happy His beloved souls.\u00a0 St. Bernard says that Paradise is a place where “there is nothing thou wouldst not, and everything thou wouldst.”\u00a0 There thou shalt not find any thing displeasing to thyself, and every thing thou dost desire thou shalt find: “There is nothing thou wouldst not.”\u00a0 In Paradise there is no night; no seasons of winter and summer; but one perpetual day of unvaried serenity, and one perpetual spring of unvaried delight.\u00a0 No more persecutions of jealousies are there; for there all sincerely love one another, and each rejoices in each other’s good as if it were his own.\u00a0 No more bodily infirmities or pains are there, for the body is no longer subject to suffering; no poverty is there, for every one is rich to the full, not having anything more to desire; no more fears are there, for the soul being confirmed in grace can sin no more, nor lose that supreme good which it possesses.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere is everything thou wouldst.\u201d \u00a0In Paradise thou shalt have whatsoever thou desirest. \u00a0There the sight is satisfied in beholding that city so beautiful, and its citizens all clothed in royal apparel, for they are all kings of that everlasting kingdom. \u00a0There shall we see the beauty of Mary, whose appearance will be more beautiful than that of all the Angels and Saints together.\u00a0 We shall see the beauty of Jesus, which will immeasurably surpass the beauty of Mary. \u00a0The smell will be satisfied with the perfumes of Paradise. \u00a0The hearing will be satisfied with the harmonies of Heaven, and the canticles of the Blessed, who will all with ravishing sweetness sing the Divine praises for all eternity. \u00a0Ah, my God, I deserve not Paradise, but hell; yet Thy death gives me a hope of obtaining it. \u00a0I desire and ask Paradise of Thee, not so much in order to enjoy as in order to love Thee for ever, secure that it will never more be possible for me to lose Thee. \u00a0O Mary, my Mother, O Star of the Sea, it is for thee, by thy prayers, to conduct me to Paradise.<\/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 AMOR DE JESUS AO MORRER POR N\u00d3S<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Jesus morreu por n\u00f3s para que, por meio de Seu amor por n\u00f3s, pudesse obter o dom\u00ednio total de nosso cora\u00e7\u00e3o.\u00a0 Para esse fim<\/em>escreveu S\u00e3o Paulo, Cristo morreu e ressuscitou para ser o Senhor tanto dos mortos como dos vivos<\/em>. \u2014 (Rom. xiv. 9).\u00a0 Contemplating the death of Jesus Christ, and the love with which He died for men, the Saints esteemed it little to forfeit for His sake, property, honours, and life itself.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem poderia ter concebido que o Filho de Deus, o Senhor do Universo, para demonstrar Seu amor por n\u00f3s, sofreria e morreria na cruz, se n\u00e3o o tivesse feito de fato? Com raz\u00e3o, Mois\u00e9s e Elias, no Monte Tabor, falaram da morte de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo como de um excesso<\/em>. \u2014 (Luke ix. 31).\u00a0 And what could be greater excess of love than for the Creator to die for His creatures?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Para retribuir adequadamente o Seu amor, meu querido Redentor, seria necess\u00e1rio que outro Deus morresse por Ele. Portanto, seria pouco, n\u00e3o seria nada, se n\u00f3s, pobres vermes miser\u00e1veis da terra, entreg\u00e1ssemos toda a nossa vida por Ti, que deste a Tua por n\u00f3s.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O que deve nos estimular ainda mais a am\u00e1-Lo \u00e9 o desejo ardente com o qual, ao longo de Sua vida, Ele ansiava pela hora de Sua morte. Por esse desejo, Ele de fato provou qu\u00e3o grande era Seu amor por n\u00f3s.\u00a0 Eu tenho um batismo, disse ele, com o qual devo ser batizado; e como estou apertado at\u00e9 que ele se cumpra<\/em>. \u2014 (Luke xii. 50).\u00a0 I must be baptized with the Baptism of My own Blood, to wash away the sins of men, and how am I dying with the desire of My bitter Passion and Death!\u00a0 My soul, lift up your eyes, and behold your Lord hanging upon a disgraceful Cross; behold the Blood which trickles down from His Wounds.\u00a0 Behold His mangled body, all inviting you to love Him.\u00a0 Your Redeemer in His sufferings would have you love Him at least through compassion.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Jesus, Tu n\u00e3o me recusaste Tua vida e Teu precioso Sangue, e eu Te recusarei qualquer coisa que Tu me pedires? N\u00e3o, o Senhor se entregou a mim sem reservas. Eu me darei a Ti sem reservas.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0St. Francis de Sales, speaking of these words of the Apostle, The charity of Christ presseth us \u2014 <\/em>(2 Cor. v. 14), says: \u201cKnowing that Jesus Christ, being true God, has loved us even to the laying-down of His life for us, and this upon a Cross, do we not feel our hearts as it were in a press, forcibly straitened, and love pressed from them by a violence which is the more powerful as it is the more amiable?\u201d \u00a0And he adds: \u201cWhy, therefore, do we not cast ourselves upon Jesus Christ crucified, to die on the Cross for the love of Him Who has willingly died upon the Cross for the love of us? \u00a0I will cling to Him, should we say, and will never abandon Him; I will die with Him, and be consumed in the fire of His love. \u00a0My Jesus has given Himself entirely to me, and I will give myself entirely to Him.\u00a0 I will live and die upon His bosom; neither life nor death shall ever separate me from Him. \u00a0O Eternal Love, my soul seeks Thee and espouses Thee forever!\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0\u00a0 A VIDA FELIZ DAQUELES QUE AMAM A DEUS<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Justice and peace have kissed. <\/em>\u2014 (Ps. lxxxiv. 11).\u00a0 Peace resides in every soul in which justice dwells.\u00a0 Hence David said: Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests<\/em> of thy heart. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxxvi. 4).\u00a0 To understand these words we must consider that worldlings seek to satisfy the desires of their hearts with the goods of this earth; but, because these cannot make them happy, their hearts continually make fresh demands; and how much soever they may acquire of these goods, they are not content. \u00a0Hence the Prophet says: Delight in the Lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.<\/em> \u00a0Give up creatures, seek your delight in God, and He will satisfy all the cravings of your heart.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is what happened to St. Augustine, who, as long as he sought happiness in creatures, never enjoyed peace; but, as soon as he renounced them and gave to God all the affections of his heart, he exclaimed: \u201cAll things are hard, O Lord, and Thou alone art repose.\u201d \u00a0As if he had said: Ah, Lord! I now know my folly. \u00a0I expected to find felicity in earthly pleasures; but now I know that they are only vanity and affliction of spirit, and that Thou alone art the peace and joy of our hearts.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Apostle says that the peace which God gives to those who love Him surpasses all the sensual delights a man can enjoy on this earth. \u00a0The peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding. \u2014 <\/em>(Phil. iv. 7). \u00a0St. Francis of Assisi, in saying \u201cMy God and my All!\u201d experienced on this earth an anticipation of Paradise. \u00a0St. Francis Xavier, in the midst of his labours in India for the glory of Jesus Christ, was so replenished with Divine consolations, that he would exclaim: \u201cEnough, O Lord!\u00a0 Enough !\u201d \u00a0Where, I ask, has any lover of this world been found, so satisfied with the possession of worldly goods as to say: Enough, O world, enough; no more riches, no more honours, no more applause, no more pleasures? \u00a0Ah, no! worldlings are constantly seeking after higher honours, greater riches, and new delights; but the more they have of them, the less are their desires satisfied, and the greater their disquietude.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is necessary to persuade ourselves of this truth, that God alone can give content. \u00a0Worldlings do not wish to be convinced of it, through an apprehension that if they give themselves to God, they will lead a life of bitterness and discontent. \u00a0But with the Royal Prophet, I say to them: O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet. \u2014 <\/em>(Ps. xxxiii. 9). \u00a0Why, O sinners, will you despise and regard as miserable that life which you have not as yet tried? \u2013 O taste and see.<\/em> \u00a0Begin to make a trial of it; hear Mass every day; practise Mental Prayer and the Visit to the Most Holy Sacrament; go to Communion at least once a week; fly from evil conversations; walk always with God; and you shall see that, by such a life, you will enjoy that sweetness and peace which the world, with all its delights, has not hitherto been able to give you.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 VOC\u00ca SER\u00c1 COROADO<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:\u00a0
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Imaginemos uma alma que, ao partir deste mundo, entra na eternidade pela gra\u00e7a de Deus. Cheia de humildade e confian\u00e7a, ela se apresenta diante de Jesus, seu Juiz e Salvador. Jesus a abra\u00e7a, d\u00e1-lhe Sua b\u00ean\u00e7\u00e3o e a faz ouvir estas palavras de do\u00e7ura: Venha, minha esposa, venha! Seu sal ser\u00e1 coroado!<\/em>\u00a0 Se a alma precisar ser purificada, Ele a envia ao Purgat\u00f3rio e, resignada, ela aceita o castigo, pois n\u00e3o deseja entrar no C\u00e9u, a terra da pureza, se n\u00e3o estiver totalmente purificada. O Anjo da Guarda vem conduzi-la ao Purgat\u00f3rio; ela primeiro lhe agradece pela assist\u00eancia que ele lhe prestou durante sua vida e depois o segue obedientemente. Ah, meu Deus, quando chegar\u00e1 o dia em que me verei fora deste mundo de perigos, seguro de que nunca mais poderei perder-Te? Sim, irei de bom grado para o Purgat\u00f3rio que ser\u00e1 meu; abra\u00e7arei com alegria todas as suas dores; ser\u00e1 suficiente para mim, naquele fogo, amar-Te com todo o meu cora\u00e7\u00e3o, pois l\u00e1 n\u00e3o amarei mais ningu\u00e9m al\u00e9m de Ti.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The purgation over, the Angel will return and say to the soul: Come, beautiful soul, the punishment is over; come, and enjoy the Presence of thy God Who is awaiting thee in Paradise. \u00a0Behold, the soul now passes beyond the clouds, passes beyond the spheres and the stars, and enters into Heaven. \u00a0O God, what will it say on entering into that beautiful country, and casting its first glance on that city of delights? \u00a0The Angels and Saints, and especially its own holy advocates, will go to meet it, and with jubilation will they welcome it, saying, Welcome, O companion of our own! \u00a0Welcome! \u00a0Ah, my Jesus, do Thou make me worthy of it.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What consolation will the soul not feel in there meeting with relations and friends of its own who have previously entered into Heaven! \u00a0But greater by far will be its joy in beholding Mary its Queen, and in kissing her feet, and thanking her for the many kindnesses she has done it. \u00a0The Queen will embrace it, and will herself present it unto Jesus, Who will receive it as a spouse.\u00a0 And Jesus will then present it to His Divine Father, Who will embrace and bless it, saying: Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.<\/em> \u00a0And thus will He beatify it with the same beatitude He Himself enjoys. \u00a0Ah, my God, make me love Thee exceedingly in this life, that I may love Thee exceedingly in eternity. \u00a0Thou art the object most worthy of being loved; Thou dost deserve all my love; I will love none but Thee. \u00a0Do Thou help me by Thy grace. \u00a0And, Mary, my Mother, be thou my protectress.<\/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\tTER\u00c7A-FEIRA NA SEMANA DA P\u00c1SCOA<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 \"VOC\u00ca FOI COMPRADO POR UM \u00d3TIMO PRE\u00c7O\"<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 Devemos dar mais valor \u00e0 alma do que a todos os bens da Terra. Para nos convencermos dessa verdade, basta saber que o pr\u00f3prio Deus condenou Seu Divino Filho \u00e0 morte para salvar nossas almas. E o Verbo Eterno n\u00e3o se recusou a compr\u00e1-las com Seu pr\u00f3prio sangue.\u00a0 Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o seu filho unig\u00eanito ... para que o mundo fosse salvo por ele<\/em>. \u2014 (John iii. 16, 17).<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O neg\u00f3cio da salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna \u00e9 para n\u00f3s o mais importante de todos os assuntos, mas tamb\u00e9m \u00e9 o mais negligenciado pelos crist\u00e3os. Eles s\u00e3o diligentes e n\u00e3o perdem tempo em procurar ganhar um processo judicial ou uma situa\u00e7\u00e3o de emolumento. Quantas medidas s\u00e3o tomadas para alcan\u00e7ar esses objetivos! Quantos meios adotados! Eles n\u00e3o comem nem dormem. E que esfor\u00e7os fazem para garantir sua salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna? Como eles vivem? Para salvar suas almas, a maioria dos crist\u00e3os n\u00e3o faz nada; pelo contr\u00e1rio, eles fazem de tudo para levar suas almas \u00e0 perdi\u00e7\u00e3o; eles vivem como se Morte<\/em>, Julgamento<\/em>, Inferno<\/em>, C\u00e9u<\/em>e Eternidade<\/em> n\u00e3o eram verdades de f\u00e9, mas f\u00e1bulas inventadas pelos poetas. Se uma pessoa perde uma a\u00e7\u00e3o judicial ou uma colheita, qu\u00e3o grande \u00e9 sua dor e ang\u00fastia! Com que zelo ele se esfor\u00e7a para reparar a perda! Se os mundanos perdem um cavalo ou um cachorro, com que dilig\u00eancia eles o procuram? Mas se perdem a gra\u00e7a de Deus, eles dormem, brincam e riem. Todos se envergonham quando lhes dizem que negligenciam seus assuntos mundanos, mas qu\u00e3o poucos se envergonham de negligenciar os assuntos da eternidade, que s\u00e3o os mais importantes de todos. O mundano diz que os santos eram verdadeiramente s\u00e1bios, porque buscavam apenas a salva\u00e7\u00e3o de suas almas; e ainda assim ele mesmo se ocupa de todos os assuntos mundanos e negligencia totalmente as preocupa\u00e7\u00f5es da alma.\u00a0 Mas n\u00f3s lhes rogamos, irm\u00e3os<\/em>, diz S\u00e3o Paulo, que voc\u00ea fa\u00e7a seu pr\u00f3prio neg\u00f3cio<\/em>. \u2014 (1 Thess. iv. 10, 11).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, meu Deus, como passei tantos anos que o Senhor me deu para garantir minha salva\u00e7\u00e3o eterna? Tu, meu Redentor, compraste minha alma com Teu Sangue e a entregaste a mim para que eu cuidasse de sua salva\u00e7\u00e3o; e eu trabalhei apenas para sua perdi\u00e7\u00e3o, ofendendo a Ti que me amas com tanta ternura. Agrade\u00e7o-Te por me dares tempo para poder reparar a grande perda que sofri. Perdi minha alma e Tua gra\u00e7a. Senhor, sinto muito, de todo o cora\u00e7\u00e3o, por minhas ofensas passadas e resolvo, de agora em diante, perder tudo, at\u00e9 mesmo minha vida, em vez de perder Tua amizade.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Salvation is the most important<\/em> affair, because if the soul be lost, all is lost. \u00a0We ought to set a higher value on the soul than on all the goods of the earth.\u00a0 \u201cThe soul,\u201d says St. Chrysostom, \u201cis more precious than the whole world.\u201d \u00a0To be convinced of this truth it is enough to know that God Himself condemned His Son to death in order to save our souls. \u00a0The Eternal Word has not refused to purchase them with His own Blood. \u00a0Hence a holy Father says that man appears to be of as much value as God. \u00a0And Jesus Christ has asked: What exchange shall a man give for his soul? \u2014 <\/em>(Matt. xvi. 26).\u00a0 For God so loved the world as to give his only begotten son. \u2014 <\/em>(John iii. 16). \u00a0If, then, such is the value of the soul, for what earthly good shall a man exchange and lose it?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 St. Philip Neri with reason could say that he who does not attend to the salvation of his soul is a fool. \u00a0Were there on this earth two classes of men, one mortal and the other immortal, and were the former to see the latter seeking after the things of this world, its honours, goods, and amusements, they should, certainly exclaim: O fools that you are! \u00a0You have it in your power to acquire eternal riches, and do you fix your thoughts on those miserable and transitory things? \u00a0Will you, for these, condemn yourselves to an eternity of torments in the next life? \u00a0Leave us, for whom all shall end at death, leave us to seek after these earthly goods! \u00a0But no; we are all immortal. \u00a0How then does it happen that so many lose their souls for the miserable pleasures of this life? \u00a0How does it come to pass, says Salvian, that Christians believe in Judgment, Hell, and Eternity, and still live as if they feared them not?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I love Thee above all things, and I resolve always to love Thee, my Sovereign Good, Who art worthy of infinite love. \u00a0Assist me, my Jesus, that this purpose may not be like my past resolutions to which I have been always unfaithful. \u00a0Take me out of life rather than suffer me ever again to offend Thee, or ever to cease to love Thee. \u00a0O Mary, my hope after Jesus, save me by obtaining for me holy perseverance.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONFISS\u00c3O<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

I. IMPORT\u00c2NCIA DA CONFISS\u00c3O FREQUENTE<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I do not intend to treat in this place of the Confessions of those who commit mortal sins, although I shall say something on proximate occasions and on sacrilegious Confessions; but I will principally speak of the Confessions of timorous souls that love perfection and endeavour constantly to purify their souls more and more from the stain of venial sins.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cesarius relates that a good priest commanded, in the Name of God, a devil who appeared to him, to tell what was most hurtful to him. \u00a0The demon answered that nothing was more injurious or displeasing to him than frequent Confession.\u00a0 Jesus Christ once said to St. Bridget, that they who wish to preserve fervour should often purify their souls by accusing themselves in Confession of all their defects, and all their negligence in His service. \u00a0Cassian says that he who aspires to perfection should aim at great purity of conscience; because from purity of conscience the soul passes to perfect love.\u00a0 Hence love corresponds to cleanness of heart. \u00a0It is, however, necessary to know that in the present state this purity of soul does not consist in a total exemption from all faults; for except our Divine Saviour and His Divine Mother, there neither has been nor will be in this world, any soul free from all stain. \u00a0In many things we all offend. \u2014 <\/em>(James iii. 2). \u00a0But it consists in two things: first, in a careful guard over the heart, to prevent the commission of every deliberate sin, however venial; and secondly, in instantly purifying the soul from any fault that it may commit. \u00a0Now these two are precisely the fruits of frequent Confession.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the first place, Confession cleanses the soul from the stains it contracts. \u00a0St. John Climacus relates that a young man, in order to discontinue the scandalous life that he led in the world, went to a Monastery in order to become a Religious. \u00a0Before his admission the Abbot told him that if he wished to be received, he must make a public confession of all his sins. \u00a0The young man, who was sincerely resolved to give himself to God, readily obeyed; and behold, while he confessed his faults in the presence of the monks, a holy Religious who was among them saw a man of venerable aspect cancel from a written paper that he held in his hand, every sin the penitent confessed, so that at the end of the Confession all his sins were cancelled. \u00a0Now, what then took place in a visible manner, happens invisibly to every one that confesses his sins with the requisite dispositions.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Confession not only washes away the stains of the soul, but it also gives it strength against relapse. \u00a0The angelic Doctor teaches that the virtue of Penance not only destroys the fault that has been committed, but also prevents it from budding forth again. \u00a0In his Life of St. Malachy, St. Bernard relates that there was a certain woman who was so much given to impatience and to anger that she became insupportable. \u00a0Hearing from her that she had never confessed her impatience, St. Malachy induced her to make a Confession of all her sins of anger.\u00a0 St. Bernard states that after her Confession she became so meek and patient that she appeared incapable of resenting any injury or insult that she received.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hence, to acquire purity of conscience, many Saints confessed their sins every day. \u00a0Such was the practice of St. Catharine of Sienna, of St. Bridget, of Blessed Colletta, of St. Charles Borromeo, of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and of many others. \u00a0St. Francis Borgia went to Confession even twice a day. \u00a0If worldlings cannot bear to appear before those whom they love with a stain on the countenance, what wonder is it that souls that love God should endeavour always to purify themselves more and more, in order to render themselves more pleasing in the eyes of their beloved Lord! \u00a0Now, I do not intend to require of those who practise frequent Communion to go to Confession every time they communicate; but it is right that they should go to Confession twice or at least once a week, and also when they have committed any deliberate fault.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 VENDO E DESFRUTANDO DE DEUS PARA SEMPRE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A beleza dos santos, a m\u00fasica celestial e os outros prazeres do Para\u00edso formam apenas uma parte menor de seus tesouros. O que d\u00e1 \u00e0 alma a plenitude de sua bem-aventuran\u00e7a \u00e9 ver um Deus amoroso face a face. Santo Agostinho diz que se Deus permitisse que Sua bela face fosse vista pelos condenados, o inferno, com todos os seus tormentos, se tornaria para eles um para\u00edso. Mesmo neste mundo, quando Deus d\u00e1 a uma alma em ora\u00e7\u00e3o o sabor de Sua doce Presen\u00e7a, e por um raio de luz descobre a ela Sua bondade e o amor que Ele tem por ela, t\u00e3o grande \u00e9 o contentamento que a alma se sente dissolver e derreter em amor; e ainda assim, nesta vida, n\u00e3o nos \u00e9 poss\u00edvel ver Deus como Ele \u00e9; n\u00f3s O contemplamos obscurecido, como se atrav\u00e9s de um v\u00e9u espesso. O que ser\u00e1, ent\u00e3o, quando Deus tirar esse v\u00e9u de diante de n\u00f3s e nos levar a contempl\u00e1-Lo face a face, abertamente? \u00d3 Senhor, por ter dado as costas a Ti, eu n\u00e3o seria mais digno de Te contemplar; mas, confiando em Tua bondade, espero Te ver e Te amar no Para\u00edso para sempre. Falo assim porque estou falando com um Deus que morreu para me dar o Para\u00edso.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Embora as almas que amam a Deus sejam as mais felizes deste mundo, elas n\u00e3o podem, aqui embaixo, desfrutar de uma felicidade plena e completa; o medo, que surge do fato de n\u00e3o saberem se merecem o amor ou o \u00f3dio de seu amado Salvador, as mant\u00e9m, por assim dizer, em sofrimento perp\u00e9tuo. No Para\u00edso, por\u00e9m, a alma tem certeza de que ama a Deus e \u00e9 amada por Deus; e v\u00ea que o doce la\u00e7o de amor que a mant\u00e9m unida a Deus jamais ser\u00e1 desfeito por toda a eternidade. As chamas de seu amor ser\u00e3o aumentadas pelo conhecimento mais claro que a alma possuir\u00e1 ent\u00e3o do que foi o amor de Deus ao se tornar Homem e ao desejar morrer por ela; e ao ter, al\u00e9m disso, se entregado a ela no Sacramento da Eucaristia. Seu amor aumentar\u00e1 ao contemplar, ent\u00e3o, em toda a sua distin\u00e7\u00e3o, as gra\u00e7as que Ele lhe concedeu para conduzi-la ao C\u00e9u; ela ver\u00e1 que as cruzes que lhe foram enviadas durante a vida foram todas artif\u00edcios de Seu amor para torn\u00e1-la feliz. Ver\u00e1, al\u00e9m disso, as miseric\u00f3rdias que Ele lhe concedeu, as muitas luzes e apelos \u00e0 penit\u00eancia. Do cume desse aben\u00e7oado monte, ela contemplar\u00e1 as muitas almas perdidas que agora est\u00e3o no inferno por pecados menores que os seus, e ver\u00e1 a si mesma agora salva, possu\u00edda por Deus e certa de que nunca mais poder\u00e1 perd\u00ea-Lo por toda a eternidade. Meu Jesus, meu Jesus, quando chegar\u00e1 esse dia t\u00e3o feliz para mim?<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The happiness of the blessed soul will be perfected by knowing with absolute certainty that that God Whom it then enjoys, it will be able to enjoy for all eternity.\u00a0 Were there to be any fear in the Blessed that they might lose that God Whom they now enjoy, Paradise would be Paradise no longer. \u00a0But no; the blessed soul is certain with the certainty which it has of the existence of God, that that supreme Good which it enjoys, it will enjoy for ever.\u00a0 That joy, moreover, will not grow less with time; it will be ever new. \u00a0The blessed one will be ever happy, and ever thirsting for that happiness; and, while ever thirsting, will be ever satiated.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When, therefore, we see ourselves afflicted with the troubles of life, let us lift up our eyes unto Heaven, and console ourselves by saying: Paradise! \u00a0The sufferings will one day come to an end; nay, they will themselves become objects over which to rejoice. \u00a0The Saints await us; the Angels await us; Mary awaits us: and Jesus stands with the crown in His hand wherewith to crown us, if we shall be faithful to Him. \u00a0Ah, my God, when will that day come on which I shall arrive at possessing Thee, and be able to say unto Thee: My Love, I cannot lose Thee more! \u00a0O Mary, my hope, never cease from praying for me, until thou Seest me safe at thy feet in Paradise!<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\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 NA SEMANA DA P\u00c1SCOA<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 \"AMAR\u00c1S O SENHOR TEU DEUS DE TODO O TEU CORA\u00c7\u00c3O\"<\/em><\/strong><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Porque para isso Cristo morreu e ressuscitou, para ser o Senhor tanto dos mortos como dos vivos<\/em>. \u2014 (Rom. xiv. 9).\u00a0 The Saints, contemplating the death of Jesus Christ, thought it little to give their life and all things for the love of so loving a God.\u00a0 How many Martyrs have sacrificed their lives for Him!\u00a0 How many tender Virgins, renouncing the nuptials of the great, have gone with joy to death to make some return for the affection of a God Who died for their sake!\u00a0 And what have you done for Jesus’ sake?<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mas uma coisa \u00e9 necess\u00e1ria<\/em>. \u2014 (Luke x. 42).\u00a0 What is this uma coisa necess\u00e1ria<\/em>? N\u00e3o \u00e9 necess\u00e1rio adquirir riquezas, nem obter dignidades, nem ganhar um grande nome. A \u00fanica coisa necess\u00e1ria \u00e9 amar a Deus. Tudo o que n\u00e3o for feito por amor a Deus est\u00e1 perdido. Esse \u00e9 o maior e o Primeiro Mandamento da Lei Divina. Ao fariseu que perguntou qual era o grande mandamento da Lei, Jesus Cristo respondeu: Amar\u00e1s o Senhor teu Deus de todo o teu cora\u00e7\u00e3o... Esse \u00e9 o maior e o primeiro mandamento<\/em>. \u2014 (Matt. xxii. 37, 38).\u00a0 But this, the greatest of the commandments, is the most despised by men: there are few who fulfil it.\u00a0 The greater part of men love relatives, friends, and even brute animals, but do not love God.\u00a0 Of these St. John says that they have not life \u2013 that they are dead.\u00a0 Aquele que n\u00e3o ama permanece na morte<\/em>. \u2014 (1 John iii. 14).\u00a0 St. Bernard says that the reward of a soul is estimated by the measure of her love for God.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Consideremos, ent\u00e3o, o quanto esse mandamento de amar a Deus de todo o cora\u00e7\u00e3o nos \u00e9 caro. Que objeto mais nobre, mais magn\u00edfico, mais poderoso, mais rico, mais belo, mais generoso, mais misericordioso, mais grato, mais am\u00e1vel ou mais amoroso do que Ele mesmo poderia Deus nos dar para amar?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais nobre<\/em> do que Deus? Alguns se gabam de uma nobreza familiar de quinhentos ou mil anos, mas a nobreza de Deus, nosso Pai, \u00e9 eterna. Ele \u00e9 o Senhor de tudo. Diante de Deus, todos os anjos no c\u00e9u e todos os nobres na terra s\u00e3o como uma gota de \u00e1gua ou um gr\u00e3o de poeira.\u00a0 Eis que os gentios s\u00e3o como a gota de um balde - eis que as ilhas s\u00e3o como um pouco de p\u00f3<\/em>. \u2014 (Is. xl. 15).
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais poderoso <\/em>do que Deus? Ele pode fazer tudo o que quiser. Por um ato de Sua vontade, Ele criou este mundo e, por outro ato, pode destru\u00ed-lo quando quiser.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais rico<\/em>? Ele possui todas as riquezas do c\u00e9u e da terra.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais bonito<\/em>? Diante da beleza de Deus, todas as belezas das criaturas se desvanecem.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais abundante<\/em>? Santo Agostinho diz que Deus tem um desejo maior de fazer o bem a n\u00f3s do que n\u00f3s temos de receb\u00ea-lo.
\u00a0 \u00a0 Quem mais misericordioso<\/em>? Se o pecador mais \u00edmpio da Terra se humilhar diante de Deus e se arrepender de seus pecados, Deus instantaneamente o perdoar\u00e1 e o abra\u00e7ar\u00e1.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Quem mais agradecido<\/em>? Ele n\u00e3o deixa sem recompensa o menor ato que realizamos por Sua causa.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Quem mais am\u00e1vel<\/em>? Deus \u00e9 t\u00e3o am\u00e1vel que, por apenas v\u00ea-Lo e am\u00e1-Lo no C\u00e9u, os santos sentem uma alegria que os torna perfeitamente felizes e contentes por toda a eternidade. O maior dos tormentos dos condenados decorre do fato de saberem que esse Deus \u00e9 t\u00e3o am\u00e1vel e que n\u00e3o podem am\u00e1-Lo.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00d3 bondade infinita! \u00d3 Amor Infinito! Meu Jesus enamorado, enche meu cora\u00e7\u00e3o com Teu amor para que eu possa me esquecer de mim mesmo e n\u00e3o pensar em nada al\u00e9m de amar e agradar-Te. Agora eu Te consagro meu corpo, minha alma, minha vontade e minha liberdade. At\u00e9 agora, procurei me satisfazer, para Seu grande desagrado. Estou extremamente arrependido, meu Amor crucificado. De agora em diante, n\u00e3o buscarei nada al\u00e9m de Ti, meu Deus e meu Tudo.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0And who is more loving<\/em> than God? \u00a0In the Old Law men might doubt whether God loved them with a tender love; but, after seeing Him die on a Cross for us, how can we doubt the tenderness and the ardent affection with which He loves us? \u00a0Let us raise our eyes and look at Jesus, the true Son of God, fastened with nails to a gibbet, and let us consider the intensity of the love which He bears us. \u00a0That Cross, those Wounds, says St. Bernard, cry out, and proclaim to us that He truly loves us. \u00a0And what more could He do to convince us of His great love than to lead a life of sorrow for thirty-three years, and afterwards die in torments on the infamous tree of the Cross, in order to wash away our sins with His own Blood? \u00a0Christ also hath loved us, and hath delivered himself up for us. \u2014 <\/em>(Ephes. v. 2). \u00a0Who hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. <\/em>\u2014 (Apoc. i. 5). \u00a0\u201cHow,\u201d says St. Philip Neri, \u201cis it possible for him who believes in God to love anything but God?\u201d \u00a0Contemplating God\u2019s love towards men, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi began one day to ring the bell, saying that she wished to invite all nations of the earth to love so loving a God. \u00a0St. Francis de Sales used to say with tears: To love our God it would be necessary to have an infinite love; and we throw away our love on vain, contemptible things.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Alas, my Jesus, how many times have I renounced Thy friendship and made myself a slave of Satan, dishonouring Thy Infinite Majesty! \u00a0I grieve above all things for having so grievously insulted Thee. \u00a0Ah, my God, bind my will to Thy feet with the sweet cords of Thy holy love, that it may wish for nothing but what pleases Thee. \u00a0May I take Thy Will as the sole guide of my life. \u00a0I renounce everything. \u00a0Thou alone art sufficient for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONFISS\u00c3O<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

II. EXAME DE CONSCI\u00caNCIA<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Every one knows that for a good Confession three things are necessary: an Examination of Conscience, Sorrow, and the Purpose to Avoid Sin.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As to the examination of conscience,<\/em> for those that frequent the Sacraments, it is not necessary to distress the head by efforts to find out all the minute circumstances of venial sins. I would rather see such persons careful to discover the causes and roots of their attachments and tepidity. \u00a0Some there are who have the same story to tell, and recite the same faults without sorrow, and without any thought of amendment.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For spiritual souls that go frequently to Confession, and guard against deliberate venial sins, it is not necessary to spend a long time in the examination of conscience. \u00a0With regard to grievous sins, they need not scrutinize the conscience, for had they committed any mortal sin, they would know it without examination.\u00a0 With regard to venial sins, if they have been fully deliberate, they, too, by the remorse that they cause, would make themselves known to the soul. \u00a0Besides, there is no obligation of confessing all our venial transgressions; consequently we are not obliged to make a strict search after them, and much less after the number, the circumstance, the manner, or the causes of them; it is enough to confess those that are most grievous, and most opposed to perfection, and to tell the rest in general terms. \u00a0And when you have not certain matter for the Sacrament, tell some sin of your past life for which you have great sorrow; and say, for example: I accuse myself in a special manner of all the faults I have committed in my past life against Charity, Purity, or Obedience. \u00a0How consoling is the doctrine of St. Francis de Sales on this point. \u00a0\u201cBe not troubled,\u201d he says, \u201cif you do not remember all your little faults at Confession; for as you often fall imperceptibly, so you are often raised up imperceptibly,\u201d that is, by the acts of love, or by the other good acts that devout souls are accustomed to perform.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A PR\u00c1TICA DO AMOR DE JESUS CRISTO\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

I. COMO JESUS CRISTO \u00c9 MERECEDOR DE NOSSO AMOR POR CAUSA DO AMOR QUE ELE NOS MOSTROU EM SUA PAIX\u00c3O<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Toda a santidade e perfei\u00e7\u00e3o de uma alma consiste em amar Jesus Cristo, nosso Deus, nosso soberano Bem e nosso Redentor. Quem Me ama, diz o pr\u00f3prio Jesus Cristo, ser\u00e1 amado por Meu Pai Eterno: O pr\u00f3prio Pai os ama, porque voc\u00eas me amaram<\/em>. \u2014 (John xvi. 27).\u00a0 Some, says St. Francis de Sales, make perfection consist in an austere life; others in prayer; others in frequenting the Sacraments; others in alms-deeds.\u00a0 But they deceive themselves: perfection consists in loving God with our whole heart.\u00a0 The Apostle wrote: Acima de todas essas coisas, tenha caridade, que \u00e9 o v\u00ednculo da perfei\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>. \u2014 (Col. iii. 14).\u00a0 It is charity which keeps united and preserves all the virtues that render a man perfect.\u00a0 Hence St. Augustine said: “Love God, and do whatever you please”; because a soul which loves God is taught by that same love never to do anything that will displease Him, and to leave nothing undone that may please Him.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mas talvez Deus n\u00e3o mere\u00e7a todo o nosso amor?\u00a0 Eu te amei com um amor eterno<\/em>. \u2014 (Jer. xxxi. 3).\u00a0 O man, says the Lord, behold I was the first to love thee.\u00a0 Thou wast not yet in the world, nay, the world itself was not, and I already loved thee.\u00a0 As long as I am God, I love thee; as long as I have loved Myself, I have also loved thee.\u00a0 With good reason, therefore, did St. Agnes, that young holy virgin, reply to those who wished to unite her to an earthly spouse: “I am engaged to another Lover.”\u00a0 “Go,” said she, “O lovers of this world, cease to ask my love; my God was the first to love me.\u00a0 He has loved me from all eternity: it is but just, then, for me to give Him all my affection, and to love none other but Him.”<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As Almighty God knew that man is won by kindness, He determined to lavish His gifts upon him, and so take captive the affections of his heart. \u00a0For this reason He said: I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love. \u2014 <\/em>(Osee, xi. 4). \u00a0I will catch men by those very snares by which they are naturally caught, that is, by the snares of love. \u00a0And such exactly are all the favours of God to man. \u00a0After having given him a soul created to His own image, with memory, understanding, and will, and a body with its senses, He created Heaven and earth for him; yes, all that exists, all for the love of man, \u2013 the firmament, the stars, the planets, the seas, the rivers, the fountains, the hills, the plains, metals, fruits, and a countless variety of animals: and all these God made that they might minister to the uses of man, and that man might love Him in gratitude for so many admirable gifts.\u00a0 The heavens and the earth and all things tell me to love Thee,\u201d says St. Augustine. \u00a0\u201cMy Lord,\u201d he said, \u201cwhatever I behold on the earth, or above the earth, all speak to me and exhort me to love Thee; because all assure me that Thou hast made them for the love of me.\u201d \u00a0The Abbot de Ranc\u00e9, founder of La Trappe, when from his hermitage he stood and surveyed the hills, the fountains, the birds, the flowers, the planets, and the skies, felt himself animated by each one of these creatures to love that God Who had created all through love for 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 \"ELA \u00c9 UM TESOURO INFINITO PARA OS HOMENS\"<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 A terra, os c\u00e9us e toda a natureza, com espanto, viram Jesus, o Filho Unig\u00eanito de Deus, o Senhor do Universo, morrer de dor e ang\u00fastia intensas em uma cruz vergonhosa - e por qu\u00ea?\u00a0 Ele nos amou e se entregou por n\u00f3s. <\/em>\u2014 (Eph. v. 2).\u00a0 And do men believe this and not love God?<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 valor inestim\u00e1vel do amor divino que nos torna ricos diante de Deus! \u00c9 o tesouro pelo qual conquistamos Sua amizade.\u00a0 Ela \u00e9 um tesouro infinito para os homens, que aqueles que a usam se tornam amigos de Deus<\/em>. \u2014 (Wis. vii. 14).\u00a0 The only thing we ought to fear, says St. Gregory of Nyssa, is the loss of God’s friendship; and the only object of our desires should be its attainment.\u00a0 It is love that obtains the friendship of God.\u00a0 Hence, according to St. Laurence Justinian, by love the poor become rich, and without love the rich are poor.\u00a0 “No greater riches than to have charity.\u00a0 With charity the poor man is rich, and without charity the rich man is poor.”
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Qu\u00e3o grande \u00e9 a alegria que uma pessoa sente ao pensar que \u00e9 amada por um homem de posi\u00e7\u00e3o elevada! Mas qu\u00e3o maior deve ser o consolo que uma alma obt\u00e9m da convic\u00e7\u00e3o de que Deus a ama!\u00a0 Eu amo aqueles que me amam<\/em>. \u2014 (Prov. viii. 17).\u00a0 In a soul that loves God the Three Persons of the Adorable Trinity dwell.\u00a0 Se algu\u00e9m me ama, guardar\u00e1 a minha palavra, e meu Pai o amar\u00e1, e viremos a ele, e faremos nele morada<\/em>. \u2014 (John xiv. 23).\u00a0 St. Bernard writes that among all the virtues charity is the one that unites us to God.\u00a0 St. Catharine of Bologna used to say that love is the golden chain that binds the soul to God.\u00a0 St. Augustine says that “love is a link connecting the lover with the beloved.”\u00a0 Hence were God not immense, where should He be found?\u00a0 Find a soul that loves God, and there God is certainly found.\u00a0 Of this St. John assures us.\u00a0 Aquele que permanece na caridade permanece em Deus, e Deus nele<\/em>. \u2014 (1 Jo. iv. 16).\u00a0 A poor man loves riches, but he does not therefore enjoy them; he may love a throne, but he does not therefore possess a kingdom.\u00a0 But the man that loves God possesses God.\u00a0 Ele permanece em Deus e Deus nele<\/em>.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00c9 verdade, \u00f3 meu Jesus, que sou t\u00e3o miser\u00e1vel que muitas vezes Te ofendi depois de tantas luzes e gra\u00e7as especiais. N\u00e3o sou mais digno de ser consumido naquelas chamas aben\u00e7oadas com as quais os santos se inflamam. Eu deveria antes queimar no fogo do inferno. Mas Tu me ordenaste que Te amasse, e eu Te obedecerei. Eu Te amarei, Jesus, de todo o meu cora\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0St. Thomas says that love draws in its train all other virtues, and directs them all to unite us more closely to God. \u00a0Hence, because from charity all virtues are born, St. Laurence Justinian called it the mother of all virtues.\u00a0 <\/em>Hence St. Augustine used to say: \u201cLove, and do what you wish.\u201d \u00a0He that loves God can only do what is good; if he does evil he shows that he has ceased to love God. \u00a0And when he ceases to love God, all things can profit him nothing. \u00a0If, said the Apostle, I gave, all my possessions to the poor, and my body to the flames, and have not charity, I am nothing. \u00a0And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver, my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. \u2014 <\/em>(1 Cor. xiii. 3).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Love also prevents us from feeling the pains of this life. \u00a0St. Bonaventure says that the love of God is like honey; it sweetens the bitterest things. \u00a0And what more sweet to a soul that loves God than to suffer for Him?\u00a0 She knows that by cheerfully embracing sufferings she pleases God, and that her pains shall be the brightest jewels in her crown in Paradise. \u00a0And who is there that will not willingly suffer and die in imitation of Jesus Christ, Who has gone before us, carrying His Cross, to offer Himself in sacrifice for the love of us, and inviting us to follow His example. \u00a0If any man will come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me. \u2014 <\/em>(Matt. xvi. 24). \u00a0For this purpose He has condescended to humble Himself to death, and to the opprobrious death of the Cross, for the love of us. \u00a0He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. <\/em>\u2014 (Phil. ii. 8).
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O Jesus, I have believed all this, and yet not only have I not loved Thee, but I have frequently offended Thee. \u00a0Pardon me, I beseech Thee, and keep me ever mindful of the death Thou hast suffered for me, that I may never more offend Thee, but may always love Thee.\u00a0 Holy Mary, Mother of God, enable me to love Jesus: this is the only favour I ask of thee.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONFISS\u00c3O\u00a0 <\/i><\/strong><\/p>

III. CONTRI\u00c7\u00c3O<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the second place, sorrow<\/em> is necessary; this is the principal condition necessary for obtaining the pardon of sins. \u00a0The most sorrowful,<\/em> not the longest<\/em> Confessions, are the best. \u00a0The proof of a good Confession is found, says St. Gregory, not in the multitude of the words of the penitent, but in true compunction of heart. \u00a0But let those who go frequently to Confession, and abhor even venial faults, banish all doubts regarding the sincerity of their sorrow. \u00a0Some are troubled because they do not feel<\/em> sorrow; they wish to shed tears, and to feel a tender sorrow every time they receive the Sacrament of Penance; and, because with all their efforts they are unable to excite this tender sorrow, they feel always uneasy about their Confessions. \u00a0But you must be persuaded that true sorrow consists not in feeling it, but in wishing for it. \u00a0All the merit of virtue is in the will; hence, speaking of the Virtue of Faith, Gerson has said that sometimes a person who wishes to believe has more merit than another who believes. \u00a0Speaking of sorrow, St. Thomas says that the essential sorrow necessary for Confession is a displeasure at having committed sin; and this sorrow is not in the sensitive part of the soul, but in the will; for sensible sorrow is an effect of the displeasure of the will, which effect we are not always able to produce, because the inferior part does not always follow and obey the superior part of the soul. \u00a0Whenever the will is displeased, above all things, at having committed sin, the Confession is a good one.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Be careful to abstain from forced efforts to excite sensible sorrow. \u00a0Remember that, with regard to interior acts, the best are those that we perform with the least violence, and with the greatest sweetness; for the Holy Ghost ordereth all things sweetly and peacefully. \u2014 <\/em>(Wis. viii. 1). \u00a0Hence the holy penitent Ezechias said of the sorrow that he felt for his sins: Behold in peace is my bitterness most bitter. <\/em>\u2014 (Is. xxxviii. 17). \u00a0He felt great sorrow, but it was accompanied with peace.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you wish to receive absolution, be careful in your preparation for Confession, first to ask of Jesus Christ, and of the sorrowful Mother Mary, a true sorrow for your sins. \u00a0Make afterwards, as has been already said, a short examination of conscience, and then as to the sorrow, it is enough for you to say with sincerity: My God, I love Thee above all things; I hope, through the Blood of Jesus Christ, for the pardon of all my sins, for which I am sorry with my whole heart, because by them I have offended and displeased Thine infinite Goodness; I abhor them above every evil, and I unite my abhorrence of them to the abhorrence that Jesus had for them in the Garden of Gethsemani. \u00a0I purpose, with Thy grace, never more to offend Thee.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And as often as you have sincerely wished to make these acts, go in peace to receive absolution, without fear or scruple. \u00a0St. Teresa gave another excellent means of removing anxiety about sorrow for sins.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSee,\u201d said the Saint, \u201cwhether you have a sincere purpose not to commit the sins that you confess; if you have, doubt not that you also have true sorrow.\u201d<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A PR\u00c1TICA DO AMOR DE JESUS CRISTO\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

II. COMO JESUS CRISTO \u00c9 MERECEDOR DE NOSSO AMOR POR CAUSA DO AMOR QUE ELE NOS MOSTROU EM SUA PAIX\u00c3O<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Santa Maria Madalena de Pazzi, quando segurava qualquer bela flor em sua m\u00e3o, ao v\u00ea-la se inflamava de amor por Deus e dizia: \"E Deus, ent\u00e3o, pensou desde toda a eternidade em criar esta flor por amor a mim!\" Assim, aquela flor se tornou, por assim dizer, um dardo de amor, que a feriu docemente e a uniu cada vez mais a seu Deus. Por outro lado, Santa Teresa, ao ver \u00e1rvores, fontes, rios, lagos ou prados, declarava que todas essas coisas belas a repreendiam por sua ingratid\u00e3o em amar t\u00e3o friamente um Deus que as criou para que pudessem atra\u00ed-la ao Seu amor. Com o mesmo prop\u00f3sito, conta-se que um piedoso eremita, ao caminhar pelo campo, parecia-lhe que as plantas e flores em seu caminho o repreendiam pelo frio retorno de amor que ele dava a Deus; por isso, ele ia batendo gentilmente nelas com seu cajado e dizendo-lhes \"Oh, fiquem em sil\u00eancio, fiquem em sil\u00eancio! Voc\u00eas me chamam de infeliz ingrato; voc\u00eas me dizem que Deus os criou por amor a mim, mas eu n\u00e3o O amo; mas agora eu os entendo, fiquem em sil\u00eancio, fiquem em sil\u00eancio; n\u00e3o me censurem mais\".<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But God was not satisfied with giving us so many beautiful creatures. \u00a0He has gone to such lengths to gain our love, as to give us Himself. \u00a0The Eternal Father did not hesitate to give us even His only-begotten Son: For God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son. \u2014 <\/em>(John iii. 16). \u00a0When the Eternal Father saw that we were all dead, and deprived of His grace by sin, what did He do? \u00a0For the immense love, nay, as the Apostle writes, for the exceeding<\/em> love He bore us, He sent His beloved Son to make atonement for us; and so restore to us that life of which sin had robbed us: Who through his exceeding charity with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ. \u2014 <\/em>(Eph. ii. 4, 5). \u00a0And in granting us His Son (not sparing His Son, that He might spare us), He has granted us every good together with Him, His grace, His love and Paradise, since assuredly all these gifts are much less than that of His Son: He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up<\/em> for us all, how hath he not also with him, given us all things? \u2014 <\/em>(Rom. viii. 32).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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(Primeira sexta-feira de abril)<\/em><\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o matinal:\u00a0 \"AS FENDAS DA ROCHA\"<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Oh, que lugar seguro de ref\u00fagio n\u00e3o encontraremos nas sagradas \"fendas da rocha\", ou seja, nas Chagas de Jesus Cristo? \"As fendas da rocha\", diz S\u00e3o Pedro Dami\u00e3o, \"s\u00e3o as Chagas do Redentor; nelas minha alma depositou sua esperan\u00e7a\".<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0N\u00e3o h\u00e1 meio mais seguro de acender em n\u00f3s o amor divino do que considerar a Paix\u00e3o de Jesus Cristo. S\u00e3o Boaventura diz que as Chagas de Jesus Cristo, por serem Chagas de amor, s\u00e3o dardos que ferem os cora\u00e7\u00f5es mais duros, e chamas que incendeiam as almas mais frias: \"\u00d3 Chagas, que ferem os cora\u00e7\u00f5es de pedra e inflamam as mentes geladas!\" \u00c9 imposs\u00edvel que uma alma que cr\u00ea e pensa na Paix\u00e3o do Senhor possa ofend\u00ea-Lo e n\u00e3o am\u00e1-Lo, ou melhor, que n\u00e3o entre em uma santa loucura de amor, ao ver um Deus como que louco por amor a n\u00f3s: \"Vimos\", diz S\u00e3o Louren\u00e7o Justiniano, \"a Sabedoria enfatuada por um amor excessivo\". \u00c9 por isso que os gentios, como diz o Ap\u00f3stolo, ao ouvi-lo pregar a Paix\u00e3o de Jesus crucificado, consideraram-na uma loucura: N\u00f3s pregamos Cristo crucificado, o que para os judeus \u00e9 esc\u00e2ndalo, mas para os gentios \u00e9 loucura<\/em>. \u2014 (1 Cor. i. 23).\u00a0 How is it possible, said they, that a God, almighty and most happy, such as He Who is preached to us, could have been willing to die for His creatures?
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, meu Jesus, se eu olhar para o Teu corpo, fora dele s\u00f3 vejo feridas e sangue. Se dentro, em Teu Cora\u00e7\u00e3o, n\u00e3o encontro sen\u00e3o amargura e ang\u00fastia, que Te fazem sofrer as agonias da morte. Ah, Deus enamorado dos homens, como \u00e9 poss\u00edvel que uma bondade t\u00e3o grande e um amor t\u00e3o grande sejam t\u00e3o mal correspondidos pelos homens? Costuma-se dizer que o amor \u00e9 retribu\u00eddo pelo amor; mas Teu amor - com que tipo de amor ele pode ser retribu\u00eddo? Seria necess\u00e1rio que um Deus morresse por Ti para recompensar o amor que tens por n\u00f3s ao morrer por n\u00f3s. \u00d3 Cruz, \u00f3 Chagas, \u00f3 Morte de Jesus, voc\u00eas me prendem intimamente ao amor de meu amado Jesus!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Behold your Redeemer expiring, and with His dying breath saying: Ele \u00e9 consumado.<\/em> \u2014 (John xix. 30). \u00a0As if He had said: O men, all has been completed and done for your redemption. \u00a0Love Me, then, since I have nothing more that I can do to make you love Me. \u00a0My soul, look up at thy Jesus Who is now going to die.\u00a0 Look at those eyes growing dim, that face grown pale, that Heart which is beating with languid pulse, that Body which is now abandoning itself to death: and look at that beautiful Soul which is just on the point of forsaking that Sacred Body. \u00a0The heavens are darkened, the earth trembles, the sepulchres are opened; signs that now the Maker of the world is about to die. \u00a0Lo, at last, Jesus, after having commended His Blessed Soul to His Father, first giving a deep sigh from His afflicted Heart, and then bowing His head in sign of the offering of His life, which at this moment He renewed for our salvation, at length, by the violence of His sorrow, expires and renders up His Spirit into the hands of His beloved Father.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Approach, my soul, to this holy Cross. \u00a0Embrace the feet of thy dead Saviour, and think that He is dead through the love which He bore to thee. \u00a0Ah, my Jesus, to what has Thy affection towards me reduced Thee?\u00a0 And who, more than I, has enjoyed the fruits of Thy death? \u00a0Make me, I beseech Thee, understand what love that must have been that a God should die for me, to the end that from this day forth I may love none other than Thee. \u00a0I love Thee, O greatest Good; O true Lover of my soul, into Thy hands I here commend it. \u00a0I beseech Thee, by the merits of Thy death, make me to die to all earthly loves, in order that I may love Thee alone, Who art alone worthy of all my love. \u00a0Mary, my hope, pray to Jesus for me.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hail, Jesus, our Love, and Mary, our hope!<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cO riven Heart, O Love for me now crucified!
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Give to my soul repose within Thy wounded side!\u201d<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONFISS\u00c3O\u00a0 <\/i><\/strong><\/p>

IV. PROP\u00d3SITO DA EMENDA - FIRME, UNIVERSAL, EFICAZ<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In the third place, a purpose to sin no more is necessary for a good Confession; and this purpose must be firm, universal,<\/em> e efficacious.
<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First, it must be firm. <\/em>\u00a0Some say: I would wish nevermore to commit this sin: I would wish never more to offend God. \u00a0Alas! this expression, I would wish; <\/em>denotes that the purpose is not firm. \u00a0In order to have a firm purpose, you must say with a resolute will: I<\/em> will never more commit this sin: I will never more<\/em> deliberately offend God.
<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Secondly, it must be universal.<\/em> \u00a0The penitent must purpose to avoid all sins without exception, that is, all mortal Sins. \u00a0With regard to venial sins, it is sufficient for the validity of the Sacrament to have sorrow for one species of them, and to have a firm purpose to avoid it.\u00a0 Spiritual souls should purpose to avoid all deliberate venial sins; and with regard to indeliberate venial sins, it is enough to resolve to guard against them according to the best of their ability; for it is impossible to avoid all indeliberate sins.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thirdly, the purpose of avoiding sin must be efficacious;<\/em> that is, it must make the penitent adopt the means of not relapsing into the sins that he confesses, and must make him avoid the proximate occasions of a relapse. \u00a0An occasion is called proximate in which a person has frequently fallen into grievous sin, or has been, without a just cause, an occasion of sin to others. \u00a0It is not enough for penitents to purpose merely to renounce sin: it is necessary also to resolve to remove the occasion of it; otherwise all their confessions, though they should receive a thousand absolutions, will be invalid: for not to remove the proximate occasion of mortal sin is in itself a mortal sin. \u00a0And, as I have already shown in my Teologia Moral<\/em> (Lib. 6, n. 454), he that receives absolution without a firm purpose of removing the proximate occasion of mortal sins, commits a new mortal sin, and is guilty of sacrilege.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But some one may say: If I separate from such a person, if I give up such a familiarity, scandal will be the consequence, and it will be an occasion of talk.\u00a0 I answer: You are wrong; you will, on the contrary, give scandal by not removing the occasion, to those who are aware of the friendship; and be assured, that although they may not speak in your presence, they think your conduct deserving of blame. \u00a0But you will say: To separate from such a one would be an act of incivility, and even of ingratitude, for such a one assists, serves me, and relieves me. \u00a0Yes, such a one helps to remove you from God, and to make you lead an unhappy life here, and a more unhappy life hereafter. \u00a0Is it incivility or ingratitude to avoid such a person?
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Civility and gratitude are first due to Jesus Christ, Who is a Sovereign of infinite Majesty, and from Whom we have received immense benefits. \u00a0Do you not then see that it is passion makes you speak in this manner, and makes you seek pretexts in order to bring you to eternal perdition? \u00a0Ah! give no more pain to the Heart of Jesus Christ. \u00a0To St. Ludgard, while she was miserably entangled in a dangerous friendship, Jesus appeared, and showed her His Heart grievously wounded. \u00a0The Saint began to weep over her fault, and took leave of her friend, saying that she could love no other than Jesus Christ, to Whom she had been espoused. \u00a0Thenceforward she consecrated herself entirely to the love of her Spouse, and became a Saint.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A PR\u00c1TICA DO AMOR DE JESUS CRISTO\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

III. COMO JESUS CRISTO \u00c9 MERECEDOR DE NOSSO AMOR POR CAUSA DO AMOR QUE ELE NOS MOSTROU EM SUA PAIX\u00c3O<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 O Divino Filho de Deus, por meio de Seu amor por n\u00f3s, entregou-Se totalmente a n\u00f3s: Que me amou e se entregou por mim<\/em>. \u2014 (Gal. ii. 20).\u00a0 In order to redeem us from everlasting death, and to recover for us the Divine grace and Heaven which we had forfeited, He became Man, and assumed flesh like our own: Et verbum caro factum est; E a palavra se fez carne<\/em>. Eis, ent\u00e3o, um Deus reduzido ao nada: Mas esvaziou-se a si mesmo, assumindo a forma de servo (...) e, por h\u00e1bito, foi encontrado como homem<\/em>. \u2014 (Philipp. ii. 7).\u00a0 Behold the Sovereign Lord of the world humbling Himself so low as to subject Himself to all the miseries which the rest of men endure.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mas o que \u00e9 ainda mais surpreendente \u00e9 que Ele poderia muito bem ter nos salvado sem morrer e sem sofrer nada; no entanto, Ele escolheu uma vida de tristeza e desprezo, e uma morte de amargura e ignom\u00ednia, a ponto de expirar em uma cruz - a forca da inf\u00e2mia, o pr\u00eamio dos criminosos mais vis: Ele se humilhou, tornando-se obediente at\u00e9 a morte, at\u00e9 a morte de cruz<\/em>. \u2014 (Philipp. ii. 8).\u00a0 But why, if He could have ransomed us without suffering, why should He choose to die, and to die on a Cross?\u00a0 To show us how He loved us.\u00a0 Que me amou e se entregou por mim<\/em>. Ele nos amou e, por nos amar, entregou-se a dores, ignom\u00ednias e a uma morte mais cruel do que qualquer outro homem jamais suportou neste mundo.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That great lover of Jesus Christ, St. Paul, has written: The charity of Christ presseth us \u2014 <\/em>(2 Cor. v. 14); wishing to show us by these words that it is not so much the sufferings themselves of Jesus Christ as His love in enduring them that obliges us and, as it were, constrains us to love Him. \u00a0Let us hear what St. Francis de Sales says on this text: \u201cWhen we remember that Jesus Christ, true God, has loved us to such an excess as to suffer death, and the death of the Cross for us, our hearts are, as it were, put in a wine-press, and suffer violence, until love be extorted from them; but a violence which, the stronger it is, becomes the more delightful.\u201d \u00a0He then goes on to say: \u201c Ah! why do we not therefore cast ourselves on Jesus crucified, to die on the Cross with Him, Who has chosen to die for love of us? \u00a0I will hold Him, we should say, and I will never let Him go; I will die with Him, and will be consumed in the flames of His love. \u00a0One flame shall consume this Divine Creator and His miserable creature. \u00a0My Jesus gives Himself unreservedly to me, and I will give myself unreservedly to Him. \u00a0I will live and die on His loving Breast; neither life nor death shall ever separate me from Him. \u00a0O eternal Love, my soul longs after Thee, and makes choice of Thee for ever! \u00a0Come, O Holy Spirit, and inflame our hearts with love. \u00a0O love, O death, to die to all other loves, to live solely to that of Jesus Christ! \u00a0O Redeemer of our souls, grant that we may eternally sing: \u2018Live, Jesus! \u00a0I love Jesus; live, Jesus, Whom I love! \u00a0Yes, I love Jesus, Who reigns for evermore.\u2019\u201d<\/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 AMOR DO CORA\u00c7\u00c3O DE MARIA POR DEUS<\/em><\/b><\/p>

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Amar\u00e1s o Senhor teu Deus de todo o teu cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>. Em Maria, o amor divino era t\u00e3o ardente que at\u00e9 os serafins desceram do c\u00e9u para aprender no cora\u00e7\u00e3o de Maria como amar a Deus.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/b>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Santo Anselmo diz que \"onde quer que haja a maior pureza, h\u00e1 tamb\u00e9m a maior caridade\". Quanto mais um cora\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e9 puro e vazio de si mesmo, maior \u00e9 a plenitude de seu amor para com Deus. Maria Sant\u00edssima, por ser toda humildade e n\u00e3o ter nada de si mesma, estava cheia do amor divino, de modo que \"seu amor para com Deus superava o de todos os homens e anjos\", como escreve S\u00e3o Bernardino. Por isso, S\u00e3o Francisco de Sales a chamou, com raz\u00e3o, de \"a Rainha do amor\".
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0De fato, Deus deu aos homens o preceito de am\u00e1-Lo de todo o cora\u00e7\u00e3o: Amar\u00e1s o Senhor teu Deus de todo o teu cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>. \u2014 (Matt. xxii. 37); but, as St. Thomas declares,\u00a0 “this commandment will be fully and perfectly fulfilled by men only in Heaven, and not on earth, where it is only fulfilled imperfectly.”\u00a0 On this subject Blessed Albert the Great remarks, that, in a certain sense, it would have been unbecoming had God given a precept that was never to have been perfectly fulfilled.\u00a0 But this would have been the case had not the Divine Mother perfectly fulfilled it.\u00a0 The Saint says: “Either some one fulfilled this precept, or no one; if any one, it must have been the most Blessed Virgin.”\u00a0 Richard of St. Victor confirms this opinion, saying: “The Mother of our Emmanuel practised virtues in their very highest perfection.\u00a0 Who has ever fulfilled as she did that first commandment, Amar\u00e1s o Senhor teu Deus de todo o teu cora\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>? Nela, o amor divino era t\u00e3o ardente que nenhum defeito de qualquer esp\u00e9cie podia ter acesso a ela.\" \"O amor divino\", diz S\u00e3o Bernardo, \"penetrou e encheu de tal forma a alma de Maria, que nenhuma parte dela ficou intocada; de modo que ela amou com todo o seu cora\u00e7\u00e3o, com toda a sua alma, com toda a sua for\u00e7a, e estava cheia de gra\u00e7a\". Portanto, Maria poderia muito bem dizer: Meu Amado se entregou todo a mim, e eu me entreguei todo a Ele: Meu amado para mim, e eu para ele<\/em>. \u2014 (Cant. ii. 16).\u00a0 “Ah! well might even the Seraphim,” says Richard, “have descended from Heaven to learn, in the heart of Mary, how to love God.”
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00d3 Maria, minha M\u00e3e, voc\u00ea n\u00e3o deseja outra coisa sen\u00e3o ver Jesus amado; obtenha para mim essa gra\u00e7a acima de todas as outras. N\u00e3o lhe pe\u00e7o bens terrenos, honras ou riquezas. Pe\u00e7o o que seu pr\u00f3prio cora\u00e7\u00e3o mais deseja para mim. Desejo amar o meu Deus.<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0God, Who is love, came on earth to enkindle in the hearts of all the flame of His Divine charity; but in no heart did He enkindle it so much as in that of His Mother; for her heart was entirely pure from all earthly affections, and fully prepared to burn with this blessed flame. \u00a0Thus St. Sophronius says that \u201cDivine love so inflamed her that nothing earthly could enter her affections; she was always burning with this heavenly flame, and, so to say, inebriated with it.\u201d \u00a0Hence the heart of Mary became all fire and flames, as we read of her in the sacred Canticles: The lamps thereof are fire and flame \u2014 <\/em>(Cant. viii. 6); fire burning within through love, as St. Anselm explains it; and flames shining without by the example she gave to all in the practice of virtues. \u00a0When Mary, then, was in this world, and bore Jesus in her arms, she could well be called, \u201cfire carrying fire\u201d; and with far more reason than the woman spoken of by Hippocrates, who was thus called because she carried fire in her hand. \u00a0Yes, for St. Ildephonsus said that \u201cthe Holy Ghost heated, inflamed, and melted Mary with love, as the fire does iron; so that the flame of the Holy Spirit was seen, and nothing was felt but the fire of the love of God.\u201d \u00a0St. Thomas of Villanova says that the bush seen by Moses, which burnt without being consumed, was a real symbol of Mary\u2019s heart. \u00a0Therefore with reason, says St. Bernard, was she seen by St. John clothed with the sun: and there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun <\/em>\u2014 (Apoc. xii. 1); \u201cfor,\u201d continues the Saint, \u201cshe was so closely united to God by love, <\/em>and penetrated so deeply the abyss of Divine wisdom, that, without a personal union with God, it would seem impossible for a creature to have a closer union with Him.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O most beautiful Mary, O most amiable Mary, thou hast gained the Heart of God! \u00a0Take also my heart, and make me a saint. \u00a0I love thee. \u00a0In thee is my confidence. \u00a0Most amiable Mother, pray for me.<\/p>

Leitura espiritual:\u00a0 CONFISS\u00c3O\u00a0 <\/i><\/strong><\/p>

V. FALSA VERGONHA<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 O God, how many souls shall, on account of this accursed shame, burn and burn forever in the very depths of hell! \u00a0Some Christians, through human respect, and through fear of losing the esteem of others, easily continue for months and years to make sacrilegious Confessions and Communions. \u00a0In the Chronicles of the Discalced Carmelites it is related that a young girl of great virtue consented to a sin against chastity; she concealed the sin three times in Confession, and went to Communion; after the third Communion she suddenly fell dead. \u00a0Because she was regarded as a Saint her body was laid in a particular part of the church of the Jesuits; but after the obsequies were finished, and the Church closed, the confessor was conducted by two Angels to the place of interment; she came forth, fell on her knees, and threw from her mouth into a chalice prepared for them, the three consecrated Hosts which had been sacrilegiously received, and miraculously preserved in her breast. \u00a0The Angels stripped her of the scapular; the miserable girl instantly presented a horrible aspect, and was carried out of sight by two devils.<\/p>

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But how can a Christian that has been so daring as to sin grievously against the Divine Majesty, and has thus merited hell, where he should suffer eternal shame, find an excuse before God for concealing a sin in Confession, in order to avoid the momentary and trifling confusion that would arise from confessing it to a priest?\u00a0 If he wishes to be pardoned by God, and to deliver himself from the hell he has deserved, the shame caused by the confession of his sin disposes him to receive pardon. \u00a0It is but just that the man that has despised God should humble and confound himself. \u00a0Adelaide, the sinner, gave a beautiful answer to the devil. \u00a0Being called by God to a change of life, she was converted, and instantly resolved to make a good Confession; the devil placed before her eyes the shame that she should suffer in confessing all her sins, and said to her: \u201cAdelaide, where are you going?\u201d \u00a0She courageously answered: \u201cFilthy beast, do you ask me where I am going? \u00a0I am going to confound myself and to confound you.\u201d<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o noturna:\u00a0 A PR\u00c1TICA DO AMOR DE JESUS CRISTO\u00a0\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

IV. COMO JESUS CRISTO \u00c9 MERECEDOR DE NOSSO AMOR POR CAUSA DO AMOR QUE ELE NOS MOSTROU EM SUA PAIX\u00c3O<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o I:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0O amor de Jesus Cristo pelos homens criou Nele um desejo ardente pelo momento de Sua morte, quando Seu amor seria plenamente manifestado a eles; por isso, Ele costumava dizer em Sua vida: Eu tenho um batismo com o qual devo ser batizado, e como estou apertado at\u00e9 que ele seja realizado!<\/em> \u2014 (Luke xii. 50).\u00a0 I have to be baptized in My own Blood; and how do I feel Myself straitened with the desire that the hour of My Passion may soon arrive; for then man will know the love I bear him!\u00a0 Hence, St. John, speaking of that night in which Jesus began His Passion, writes: Sabendo Jesus que era chegada a sua hora de passar deste mundo para o Pai, e tendo amado os seus que estavam no mundo, amou-os at\u00e9 o fim<\/em>. \u2014 (John xiii. 1).\u00a0 The Redeemer called that hour His own hour (hora ejus<\/em>), porque o tempo de Sua morte foi o tempo desejado por Ele, pois foi ent\u00e3o que Ele desejou dar aos homens a \u00faltima prova de Seu amor, morrendo por eles em uma cruz, oprimido pelas dores.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mas o que poderia ter induzido um Deus a morrer como um malfeitor em uma cruz entre dois pecadores com tal insulto \u00e0 Sua Divina Majestade? \"O que fez isso?\", pergunta S\u00e3o Bernardo. Ele responde: \"Foi o amor, descuidado de sua dignidade\". Ah, o amor, de fato, quando tenta se dar a conhecer, n\u00e3o procura o que \u00e9 adequado \u00e0 dignidade do amante, mas o que servir\u00e1 melhor para se declarar ao objeto amado. S\u00e3o Francisco de Paula, portanto, tinha boas raz\u00f5es para gritar ao ver um Crucifixo: \"\u00d3 caridade! \u00d3 caridade! \u00d3 caridade!\" E, da mesma forma, quando olhamos para Jesus na Cruz, todos n\u00f3s devemos exclamar: \u00d3 amor! \u00d3 amor! \u00d3 amor!<\/p>

Medita\u00e7\u00e3o II:
<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Ah, if Faith had not assured us of it, who could have ever believed that a God, almighty, most happy, and the Lord of all, should have condescended to love man to such an extent that He seems to go out of Himself for the love of him? \u00a0We have Seen Wisdom itself, that is the Eternal Word, become foolish through the excessive love He bore to man! \u00a0So spoke St. Laurence Justinian. \u00a0\u201cWe see Wisdom itself infatuated through excess of love.\u201d \u00a0St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi said the same. \u00a0One day, being in an ecstasy, she took a wooden Crucifix in her hands and cried out: \u201cYes, my Jesus, Thou art mad with love! \u00a0I repeat it, and I will say it for ever: My Jesus, Thou art mad with love!\u201d\u00a0 But no, says St. Denis the Areopagite: \u201cNo, it is not madness, but the ordinary effect of Divine love, which makes him who loves go out of himself in order to give himself up entirely to the object of his love: Divine love causes ecstasy.\u201d
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oh, if men would only pause and, looking at Jesus on the Cross, consider the love He has borne each one of them! \u00a0\u201cWith what love,\u201d says St. Francis de Sales, \u201cwould not our souls become enkindled at the sight of those flames which are in the Redeemer\u2019s breast! \u00a0And oh, what happiness, to be able to be consumed by that same fire with which our God burns for us! \u00a0What joy, to be united to God by the chains of love!\u201d \u00a0St. Bonaventure called the Wounds of Jesus Christ, Wounds which pierce the most senseless hearts, and which inflame the most icy souls. \u00a0How many darts of love come forth from those Wounds, to wound the hardest hearts! \u00a0Oh, what flames issue from the burning Heart of Jesus Christ to inflame the coldest souls! \u00a0And chains, how many, from that wounded side, to bind the most stubborn wills!<\/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 SEMANA SANTA<\/em><\/a>
\u21d2 FIRST WEEK AFTER EASTER<\/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 II – PART II, pp. 1-40 EASTER SUNDAY Morning Meditation:\u00a0 THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Let us rejoice at seeing in His risen glory our Saviour, our Father, the best Friend we possess.\u00a0 Let us rejoice, too, … Continuar lendo <\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4884,"parent":0,"menu_order":76,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7962","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7962","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=7962"}],"version-history":[{"count":139,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12542,"href":"https:\/\/societyofthemostholyredeemer.org\/pt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7962\/revisions\/12542"}],"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=7962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}