Christmas Reflections: Post I

CHRISTMASTIDE: O ADMIRABILE COMMERCIUM!

By Abbot Marmion, O.S.B.

SUMMARY.—The mystery of the Incarnation is a wonderful exchange between divinity and humanity.—I. The Eternal Word asks of us a human nature in order to unite it to Himself by a personal union: Creator… animatum corpus sumens.—II. In becoming Incarnate, the Word brings us, in return, a share in His Divinity: Largitus est nobis suam deitatem.—III. This exchange appears still more wonderful when we consider the manner in which it is wrought. The Incarnation renders God visible so that we may hear and imitate Him.—IV. It renders God passible, capable of expiating our sins by His sufferings and of healing us by His humiliations.—V. We are to take our part in this exchange by faith: those who receive the Word-made-flesh by believing in Him have “power to be made the sons of God.”

The coming of the Son of God upon earth is so great an event that God willed to prepare the way for it during centuries. He made rites and sacrifices, figures and symbols, all converge towards Christ; He foretold Him, announced Him by the mouth of the prophets who succeeded one another from generation to generation.

And now it is the very Son of God Who comes to instruct us: Multifariam multisque modis olim Deus loquens patribus… novissime locutus est nobis in Filio (Heb 1:1,2). For Christ is not only born for the Jews of Judea who lived in His time. It is for us all, for all mankind, that He came down from Heaven: Propter nos et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis.

He wills to distribute to every soul the grace that He merited by His Nativity. This is why the Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, appropriates to herself, in order to place them upon our lips and with them to fill our hearts, the longings of the patriarchs, the aspirations of the just of ancient times, and the desires of the Chosen People. She wills to prepare us for Christ’s coming, as if this Nativity was about to be renewed before our eyes.

See how when she commemorates the coming of her Divine Bridegroom upon earth, she displays the splendour of her solemnities, and makes her altars brilliant with lights to celebrate the Birth of the “Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6), the “Sun of Justice” (Mal 4:2), Who rises in the midst of our darkness to enlighten “every man that cometh into this world” (Jn 1:5, 9). She grants her priests the privilege, almost unique in the year, of thrice offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

These feasts are magnificent, they are likewise full of charm. The Church evokes the remembrance of the Angels singing in the sky the glory of the new-born Babe; of the Shepherds who come to adore at the manger; of the Magi who hasten from the East to offer Him their adorations and rich presents.

And yet, like every feast here below, this solemnity, even with the prolongation of its octave, is ephemeral: it passes by. Is it for the feast of a day, howsoever splendid it may be, that the Church requires such a long preparation from us? Certainly not! Why then? Because she knows that the contemplation of this mystery contains a special and choice grace for our souls.

I said at the beginning of these conferences that each one of Christ’s mysteries constitutes not only a historical fact which takes place in time, but contains a grace proper to itself wherewith our souls are to be nourished so as to live thereby.

Now what is the intimate grace of the mystery of the Nativity? What is the grace for the reception of which the Church takes so much care to dispose us? What is the fruit that we ought to gather from the contemplation of the Christ Child?

The Church herself indicates this at the first Mass, that of midnight. After having offered the bread and wine which, in a few moments, are to be changed, by the consecration, into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, she sums up her desires in this prayer:

“Grant, O Lord, that the oblation which in we offer today’s festival may be acceptable unto Thee, and, by Thy grace, through this most sacred and holy intercourse, may we be found like unto Him in Whom is our substance united to Thee.” (Accepta tibi sit, Domine, quaesumus, hodiernae festivitatis oblatio: ut tua gratia largiente, per haec sacrosancta commercia, in illiusi nveniamur forma, in quo tecum est nostra substantia. Secret of the Midnight Mass.) The word forma is here taken in the sense of “nature,” “condition” natura, as in the text of St Paul: Christus cum in forma Dei esset… exinanivit semetipsum formam servi accipiens et habitu inventus ut homo.)

We ask to be partakers of that divinity to which our humanity is united. It is like an exchange. God, in becoming incarnate, takes our human nature and gives us, in return, a participation in His Divine nature.

This thought, so concise in its form, is more explicitly expressed in the secret of the second Mass: “Grant, O Lord, that our offerings may be conformed to the mysteries of this day’s Nativity, that as He Who is born as man is also God made manifest, so this earthly substance (which He unites to Himself) may confer upon us that which is divine.” (Munera rostra, quaesumus, Domine, nativitatis hodiernae mysteriis apta proveniant, ut sicut homo genitus idem refulsit et Deus, sic nobis haec terrena substantia conferat quod divinum est.. (Secret of the Mass at Break of Day.)

To be made partakers of the Divinity to which our humanity was united in the Person of Christ, and to receive this Divine gift through this humanity itself,—such is the grace attached to the celebration of today’s mystery. Our offerings will be “conformed to the mysteries of this day’s Nativity,” according to the words of the above quoted secret, if—by the contemplation of the Divine work at Bethlehem and the reception of the Eucharistic Sacrament,—we participate in the eternal life that Christ wills to communicate to us by His Humanity.

“O admirable exchange,” we shall sing on the octave day, “the Creator of the human race, taking upon Himself a body and a soul, has vouchsafed to be born of a Virgin, and, appearing here below as man, has made us partakers of His Divinity”: O admirabile commercium! CREATOR generis human), ANIMATUM CORPUS SUMENS, de virgine nasci dignatus est; et procedens homo sine semine, LARGITUS EST NOBIS SUAM DEITATEM (Antiphon of the Octave of Christmas).

Let us, therefore, stay for a few moments to admire, with the Church, this exchange between the creature and the Creator between heaven and earth, an exchange upon which all the mystery of the Nativity is based. Let us consider what are the acts and the matter of it;-under what form it is wrought;—we will afterwards see what fruits are to be derived from it for us;—and to what it engages us.

To be continued…

Source: http://www.catholicpamphlets.net/

December 28, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Christmas Novena: Day 6, Day 7, Day 8 and Day 9

Sixth Day: On the mercy of God in coming down from heaven…

“THE goodness,” says St. Paul, “and kindness “of God our Saviour appeared.” Tit. iii. 4. When, therefore, the Son of God made man appeared in the world, then also appeared the great goodness of God towards us. St. Bernard observes, “that “the power of God appeared in the creation of the “universe, and his wisdom in the preservation of “it, but that his mercy appeared much more evident in his taking upon himself human nature to “save lost man by his sufferings and death.” And what greater mercy could the Son of God have shown us, than by taking upon himself the punishments which we had deserved? Behold him born a helpless infant, bound in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger, unable to move or to feed himself; he stands in need of Mary’s support to sustain life. Behold him afterwards in Pilate’s hall, bound with cords to a pillar, from which he cannot release himself, and there scourged from head to foot. Behold him on his way to Calvary, fainting and falling as he goes along, through weakness and the heavy weight of the cross which he is carrying. Behold him, at last, nailed to the disgraceful cross, and ending his life in the midst of torments.

Jesus Christ by his own great love towards us was desirous of gaining the whole love of our hearts towards him, and hence he would not send an angel to redeem us, but would come himself to save us by his own passion and death. If an angel had been our Redeemer, man would have been obliged to divide his heart, and to love God as his Creator, and the angel as his Redeemer; but God, who would have man’s whole heart, as he was his Creator, would also be his Redeemer.

Affections and Prayers

My dear Redeemer, where should I now be, if thou hadst not borne with me in thy great patience, but hadst called me out of life in a state of sin? Since then thou hast waited for me until now, O Jesus, make haste to pardon me, lest death should surprise me in the guilt of my sins. I am sorry, O my sovereign good, for having so much despised thee; and would willingly die to expiate my offences. Thou wilt not reject a soul that sincerely seeks thee; if hitherto I have forsaken thee, I now seek thee and love thee. Yes, my God, I love thee above all things, I love thee more than myself. Help me, O Lord, to love thee always during the remainder of my life: I ask for nothing more; but this I do ask and hope to obtain from thee. Holy Mary, pray for me; for if you pray for me, I shall be secure of grace.

VI. Most sweet Jesus, remaining in the temple at the age of twelve years to dispute with the doctors, and after three days found by Mary, have mercy on us.

R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Seventh Day: On the flight of Jesus into Egypt.

THE Son of God came down from heaven to save lost man; but was scarcely born when man began to persecute him. Herod fearing that the child would deprive him of his kingdom, sought to take away his life. Joseph was however admonished by an angel in a dream to take Jesus with his mother and fly into Egypt. Joseph immediately informed Mary, and obeyed: he collected together the few tools of his trade that would be necessary for him to obtain a living in Egypt for himself and his poor family; while Mary packed up a small bundle of clothes for the divine infant. Approaching his crib, and weeping, she said to her sleeping child, “My dearest child and my God, thou art “come down from heaven to save man, and thou “art scarcely born before man seeks to take away “thy life!” Taking him in her arms, she ceased to weep, and the same night, together with Joseph, began their journey.

Let us consider how much these holy pilgrims must have suffered, in making so long a journey, and without any conveniences for travelling. The child could not walk, and Joseph and Mary were obliged to carry him by turns in their arms. In the deserts of Egypt, the bare ground was their bed, without any screen from the open air. The poor infant wept with cold, and Mary and Joseph wept with compassion. And who would not have shed tears, in seeing the Son of God, thus poor and persecuted, and flying from his enemies who sought his life!

Affections and Prayers

O My dear infant Saviour, thou didst weep, and thou hadst reason to weep in seeing thyself so persecuted by man, whom thou didst so much love. O God, 1 am one of those who persecuted thee by my sins. But thou knowest that I now love thee more than myself, and that nothing afflicts me so much as the remembrance of my ever having despised thee, my sovereign good. Pardon me, O Jesus, and grant that I may always carry thee in my heart through the whole journey of my life, that I may enter with thee into eternity. I have many times expelled thee from my soul by offending thee, but now I love thee above all things, and am sorry above every evil for having offended thee. My beloved Lord, I will never more leave thee, but do thou give me strength to resist temptations, and never suffer me to separate myself from thee any more; and grant that I may rather die than lose even Once again thy holy grace. Holy Mary, pray for me, that I may live and die in the love of Christ Jesus our Lord.

VII. Most sweet Jesus, living a hidden life at Nazareth forthirty years, serving thy blessed Mother and St. Joseph, have mercy on us.

R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Eighth Day: On the life of Jesus in Egypt and at Nazareth.

OUR Blessed Redeemer passed the first part of his childhood in Egypt, remaining there for seven years in poverty and obscurity. Joseph and Mary were there as strangers and were unknown, having neither relatives nor friends; so that they had a difficulty in obtaining for themselves their daily bread by the labour of their own hands. Their house, their furniture, their food, were all of the poorest kind. In this little cottage Mary nourished and brought up Jesus. Here she made him his first little garment. Here it was that the child Jesus began to take his first steps, trembling and frequently falling, as it happens to other children. Here he began to utter his first imperfect accents. O ye heavens! to what is God reduced for the love of us! a God trembling and falling as he tries to walk! a God speaking the first broken accents of an infant!

Not unlike this was the poor and abject life which Jesus, after his return from Egypt, lived in the cottage at Nazareth. Here, until the age of thirty years, he did nothing else but assist in the carpenter’s shop, in obedience to Joseph and Mary. “And he was subject to them.” St. Luke ii. What a subject of overwhelming astonishment! A God in the capacity of a servant! a God omnipotent, who by a single act of his will created the world, and can destroy it whenever he pleases. Ah! how should the thoughts of these things melt us with divine love! How delightful was it to observe the devotion with which Jesus prayed, the patience with which he worked, the readiness with which he obeyed, the modesty with which he eat, the sweetness and affability with which he spoke and conversed. Ah how did every word and every action of the holy Jesus gain for him the love of all, but especially of Mary and Joseph, who were always observing him!

Affections and Prayers

O Jesus, my Saviour, when I reflect that thou, my God, didst spend so many years in a poor cottage unknown and despised for the love of me, how can I desire the distinctions, pleasures, honours and riches of the world! I renounce all these things, and desire to become thy companion on earth, poor, mortified, and contemned, that I may come to enjoy thy blessed company for ever in heaven. What kingdoms! what treasures! O Jesus, hast thou in store for me! Thou shalt be my only treasure, my only good. I am exceedingly sorry for ever having despised thy friendship to satisfy my wicked caprices; I am sorry for it with all my heart. For the future I will rather lose my life a thousand times than lose thy grace. My God, I will never more offend thee, but will always love thee. Help me to continue faithful to thee to the end of my life. Holy Mary, refuge of sinners, intercede for me.

VIII. Most sweet Jesus, for three years before thy passion, preaching and teaching the way of salvation, have mercy on us.

R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Ninth Day: On the birth of Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem.

A DECREE of the Roman Emperor having gone forth, that all persons should present themselves to be enrolled in their own city, Joseph with his spouse Mary, set out from Nazareth to go to be enrolled in Bethlehem. O God, how much must the Blessed Virgin have suffered in this long journey, over a mountainous country and in the depth of winter, through frost, and cold, and rain! As soon as they had finished their toilsome journey, Mary’s time was accomplished. Joseph, therefore, went through the town in quest of lodgings, where Mary might bring forth her divine child. But, because they were poor, they were rejected by all: they were even refused admittance into the inns where other poor persons were admitted. They, therefore, left the town the same night, and coming to a neglected stable, Mary entered it. There, in the darkness of night, in a cold, damp stable, suited only for beasts, was born amongst us the Eternal Son of God. There did he appear for our sakes a tender infant, weeping and shivering with cold. Having adored him as her God, the Blessed Virgin pressed him to her bosom, and having bound him in the poor swaddling-clothes she had with her, laid him upon some straw in a manger. See in what manner the Son of God chose to be born for the love of us.

Affections and Prayers

My adorable infant Jesus, I should not dare to present myself at thy feet, if I did not know that thou invitest me to approach thee. I by my sins caused thee to weep in the stable of Bethlehem. But since thou comest into the world to forgive penitent sinners, forgive me I beeeech thee, for I am exceedingly sorry for having despised thee, my Saviour and my God, who hast been so good to me, and hast so much loved me. In this memorable night thou dispensest great graces to many souls; do thou also give consolation to my poor soul. The grace which I now ask of thee is the grace to love thee from this day forward with my whole heart; inflame my whole self with the fire of thy holy love. I love thee, O my God, who art become an infant for my sake. O do not suffer me any more to cease from loving thee! Holy Mary, your prayers are all-powerful; I ask nothing of you but to pray to Jesus for me.

IX. Most sweet Jesus, terminating thy sorrowful life by dying for us on the cross, have mercy on us.

R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

December 24, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Christmas Novena: Day 4 and Day 5

Fourth Day: On the humble life which Jesus began in his infancy.

ALL the signs which the angels gave to the shepherds by which they might discover the infant Jesus, were marks of humility. And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. St. Luke, ii. 12. Thus would the Son of God, the King of heaven be born, because he came to destroy the reign of pride, which had been the original cause of all the evils which had fallen upon lost man.

The prophets had previously foretold that our Redeemer would be the most abject of men, and acquainted with scorn and contempt. And how much did he suffer from those who despised and rejected him! he was treated as a drunkard, a magician and a blasphemer. What ignominies did he undergo in his passion! he was abandoned by his own disciples, one of them even sold him for thirty pieces of silver, and another denied that he knew him: he was conducted through the streets bound like a robber, scourged like a slave, treated as a fool, as a mock king, buffeted, spit upon in the face, and at last made to die, nailed to a cross between two thieves, as the vilest malefactor in the world. “Was then,” exclaims St. Bernard, “the most noble treated as the vilest of men?” “But, my Jesus,” continues the same saint, “the more thou wast vile, the more dear hast thou become to me.”

Affections and Prayers

Ah my dear Saviour, thou didst embrace contempt for the love of me, and I have been unable to put up with an injurious word, but have immediately thought of revenging it! I, who have so often deserved to be trampled upon by devils in hell! I am ashamed to appear before thee, proud and haughty sinner as I am. Cast me not away from thy face, O Lord, as I have deserved. Thou hast said that thou wilt not despise a contrite and humble heart. I am sorry for all the offences I have ever committed against thee. Pardon me, O Jesus, I will never more offend thee. Thou hast suffered so many injuries for the love of me: I will suffer all the injuries that are offered to me for the love of thee. I love thee, O Jesus, despised and rejected. I love thee, my sovereign good, above all things. Help me to love thee always, and to suffer all affronts for the love of thee. Holy Mary, recommend me to your Son, pray to Jesus for me.

IV. Most sweet Jesus, remaining in Egypt for seven years, poor, unknown and despised by that barbarous nation, have mercy on us. R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

Fifth Day: On the suffering life of Jesus commenced from his birth.

JESUS Christ could have redeemed man without suffering and dying for him; but no, to teach us how much he loved us he chose for himself a life of continual hardships and sufferings. Hence the prophet Isaias calls him, ” the man of sorrows.” His passion did not commence a little before his death, but from the first moment of his life.

Scarcely is he born, but he is laid in a manger, where all is uneasy and painful. The black walls and foul stench of the stable, and the rough straw which serves for his bed, add to his sufferings. Soon after his birth, he is obliged to fly into Egypt, where he spent several years of his infancy in poverty and contempt. His life in Nazareth was but very little better, and at last his career was most painful, and terminated in Jerusalem, by death upon a cross in the midst of torments.

So that the life of Jesus was one continual suffering, and a twofold suffering; because he had always present to his mind the torments which he had to endure immediately before and at his death. Sister Mary Magdalen Orsini, weeping one day over her crucified Jesus, said to him: “But, O “Lord, thou didst hang only three hours upon the “cross, and I have been suffering these many “years.” But Jesus answered her: “Ah! thou “little knowest what thou sayest; from the moment “of my conception, I suffered continually all the ‘” pains both of my life and of my death.” Jesus Christ was not, however, so much afflicted by all his corporal sufferings, which he voluntarily endured for us, as by the sight of our ingratitude towards him in return for all his love for us. St. Margaret of Cortona was never satisfied with bewailing her offences against God, on which account her confessor one day said to her: “Margaret, “cease to weep, for God has pardoned you.” But she replied: “Ah! father, how is it possible I can “cease weeping, when I know that my sins afflicted “Jesus Christ during the whole of his life?”

Affections and Prayers

Did I then, my dear Jesus, afflict thee by my sins during the whole of thy life? Tell me, O Jesus, what I must do, to obtain thy pardon. I will do all that thou requirest of me. I truly repent of all the offences I have ever committed against thee. I repent, and love thee more than myself. I perceive within myself a great desire to love thee; thou hast given me this desire; give me then strength truly to love thee. It is just that I should love thee much, because I have so much offended thee. Oh remind me continually of the love which thou hast shown me, that my soul may ever burn with the love of thee, that I may always think of thee, desire thee, and always seek to please thee. O God of love, I, who once was a slave of hell, now give myself entirely to thee. Accept of me in pity, and unite me to thee by thy holy love. O Jesus, I desire from this day forward to live and die in the exercise of thy love. Holy Mary, my Mother and my hope, help me to love God; this is the favour I now ask of you and hope to obtain.

V. Most sweet Jesus, returned into thy own country to be one day crucified between two thieves, have mercy on us. R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

December 20, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Christmas Novena: Day 3

Third Day: On the poverty of Jesus from the time of his birth.

GOD so ordained it, that his Son should be born into the world at the time when an order had been issued by the emperor for aJl persons to go to be enrolled in the place of their birth. And it came to pass, that when Joseph and his spouse had arrived at Bethlehem to be enrolled in compliance with Caesar’s edict, Mary’s time was accomplished, and as she had been refused admittance into any of the houses, even into the poorest inns, she was obliged to take up her abode for the night in a stable, and there she brought forth the King of heaven. If Jesus had been born in Nazareth, although he would still have been born in poverty, yet he would have had at least all those comforts and conveniences which even poverty affords on such occasions. But no: he would be born in a cold and comfortless stable; he would have a manger for a cradle, and a little rough straw for a bed, that he might suffer the more.

Let us enter into the stable of Bethlehem, but let us enter with faith. If we enter without faith, we shall behold nothing but a poor infant who will excite our compassion by the beauty of his appearance, by his shivering with cold and his weeping, as he lies upon hard straw. But if we enter with faith, we shall see that the infant before us is the Son of God, that he is come into the world for the love of us, and suffers so much to satisfy for our sins; and how will it be possible for us not to thank him and to love him?

Affections and Prayers

O My infant Savior, how could I, knowing how much thou hast suffered for me, have been so ungrateful as to offend thee? But the tears thou didst shed, and the poverty thou didst choose for the love of me, induce me to hope for the pardon of all my offences against thee. I am sorry, O Jesus, for having so often turned my back upon thee, and love thee above all things: My God and my all. For the future thou alone shalt be my treasure and my only good. I will say to thee with St. Ignatius: “Give me thy love, give me thy grace, and “I am sufficiently rich.” I wish for nothing more, I desire nothing more, thou art my all, O Jesus, my life and my love.

III. Most sweet Jesus, persecuted by Herod, and obliged to fly into Egypt, have mercy on us. R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

December 19, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflections

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: ON PREPARING FOR CHRIST’S COMING.

“A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled; and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight; and the rough ways plain; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” (Luke iii. 4,5,6)

THE Prophet Isaias, foreseeing the coming of the promised Redeemer, and unable to contain his joy, breaks forth into these fervid exclamations: “Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem; . . for her evil is come to an end — her iniquity is forgiven. Get thee up into a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings to Sion; . . . say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God.” (Is. xl. 1, 2, 9.) Yes, my Brethren, the time is at hand, when we are to celebrate the birth of our Redeemer — of our Saviour — of our God! That happy day approaches, which the ancient Saints so ardently longed for — that happy day, at the prospect of seeing which Abraham rejoiced; and, when he saw it in spirit only, he was glad; that happy day is fast approaching; and the Church now calls upon us to prepare our hearts for celebrating it in a propel manner. Let us do so, my Brethren, by considering, in the first place, why Jesus Christ came on earth; and, secondly, how we are to prepare our hearts to profit by His coming.

POINT I. Why Jesus Christ came upon earth.

Jesus Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk. xix. 10.) To be convinced of this we need only follow Him from the manger to the Cross. The slightest attention to His life will be a sufficient proof.

1. For, why was He born in poverty, in humiliations, and sufferings? It was to teach us how to avoid and expiate sin. Why did He receive the Name of JESUS, at the same time shedding His blood? An Angel from heaven tells us the reason “Thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Mt. i. 21.)

2. How clearly, how forcibly, does His ardent desire for our salvation shine forth in those tender parables, which He delivered to the Jews, during the three years of His public ministry? At one time, He represents Himself as the Good Shepherd going in search of the lost sheep, and coutinuing His search till He has found it (Lk. xv.); at another time, as the kind and compassionate Samaritan, soothing and healing the wounds of one that had fallen amongst robbers (Lk. x.); and again, as the loving and forgiving Father, receiving back His prodigal but repentant son, and restoring him to favour. (Lk. xv.) These parables are so evident in their meaning and object, that they need no explanation. For how clearly, and how forcibly do they show, that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost!” (Lk. xix. 10.) And more especially when we consider that the parable of the lost sheep, and that of the prodigal son, were intended by our Lord to answer the objection which the Jews had made against Him: “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.)” (Lk. xv. 2.)

3. If we still further consider those tender and pressing invitations, whereby He urges sinners to return to Him, how plainly again does he manifest the same earnest desire of our salvation? “Come to Me, all you that labour and are burdened; and I will refresh you.” (Mt. xi. 28.) “Go and learn what this meaneth: I will have mercy and not sacrifice . . . For I am not come to call the just but sinners.” (Mt. ix. 13.) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldst not?” (Mt. xxiii. 37.)

4. How powerfully, and with what complete conviction, does He still further prove the ardour of His desire of procuring our eternal happiness, by the constant labours which He underwent in teaching us the truths of salvation? “And Jesus went about all the cities, and towns; teaching in their synagogues; and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; and healing every disease, and every infirmity; and seeing the multitudes, He had compassion on them, because they were . . . . lying like sheep that have no shepherd.” (Mt. ix. 35.) Thus did He go about from place to place, “to enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the way of peace.” (Lk. i. 79.)

5. How vividly, moreover, and how strikingly has He exemplified this same earnest desire to save sinners, in the mercy by which He receive and pardoned Magdalen (Lk. vii. 48), and Zaccheus (Lk. xix. 9), the humble publican (Lk. xviii. 13) and the penitent thief? (Lk. xxiii. 43.)

Indeed, so much did He show His tender mercy towards sinners, that the Jews accused Him of being “a friend of publicans and sinners.” (Lk vii. 34.) But, in answer to them, He said: “They that are whole need not the physician, but they that are sick: I am not come to call the just, but sinners to penance.” (Lk. v. 31, 3c.)

6. Only follow Him, my Brethren, through the different stages of His Passion. Contemplate Him, agonizing in the Garden; seized by His own chosen people, and dragged by them from one tribunal to another, amidst insults, injuries, and ill-treatment of every kind; most inhumanly scourged at a pillar, and barbarously crowned with thorns; falsely accused, and unjustly condemned, and thus allowing Himself to be “reputed with the wicked.” (Is. liii. 12.)

Contemplate Him on the Cross, dying the most cruel and humiliating death; and shedding the last drop of His Sacred Blood for our Redemption; at the same time praying for His enemies, that is for sinners. Now, why did He suffer all this, but to atone for our sins, and enable us to obtain forgiveness? Why did He shed the last drop of His Blood upon the Cross, but to wash away the sins of the world, and reconcile lost man to his offended God?

7. If further proof be necessary, consider what takes place on our altars. Why does He daily renew the Adorable Sacrifice of the Mass till the end of the world? Why does He thus continue His presence amongst us; and even feed and nourish our souls with His own Body and Blood, in the Holy Communion? Could He give us stronger testimonies of the tenderest love? of the most ardent desire to save our souls?

8. And, that our sins might not prevent Him from visiting us in the Holy Communion, and enriching our souls with His strengthening graces, He has still further manifested His desire of our salvation, by instituting in His Church a means of pardon — the Sacrament of Penance.

You see, then, His great goodness and mercy towards us. His sincere desire to save, not only the just, but also sinners who return to Him by repentance.

POINT II. How we are to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.

Go to Him, therefore, with confidence; be not disheartened at the thought of difficulties; for His mercy will assist you. You see the means of pardon provided for you, in the Sacrament of Penance; and of future advancement and perseverance, in the Holy Communion. It is by preparing for these Sacraments, that you are to “prepare the way of the Lord, to make straight His paths.” For, by taking a review of your past sins, and by the humiliation of confession, “every mountain and hill shall be brought low;” that is, your pride will be humbled. By your contrition and resolutions of amendment “the crooked shall be made straight;” that is, your vicious habits will be corrected; divine grace, obtained by these Sacraments, will make “the rough ways plain;” that is, will smooth down every difficulty.

But you must not only bring down the mountain of pride and make your crooked ways straight by renouncing your evil habits; but you must also “fill up every valley,” that is, your want of virtue must be supplied by religious exercises by good works.

To “fill up every valley,” then, practise “The Christian’s Daily Exercise,” which you find at the end of the Catechism. As you are there taught, give the first moments, when you awake, to prayer; adoring God, and offering to him your heart, with all the actions of the day. Reflect, at least for a short time, on some pious subject; resolving to conquer some vice, and to labour for some particular virtue. During the day bear in mind the presence of God; making to Him frequent aspirations of love, conformity, contrition, and patience. Be always intent upon mortifying your passions, receiving, in the spirit of penance, all the crosses, contradictions, and troubles with which you may meet.

At night, make your general and particular examination of conscience; thanking God for the blessings you have received; lamenting your sins, and craving pardon; resolving to avoid them in future, and imploring the graces necessary for that purpose.

Sanctify the Sundays and Holidays; and be regular in approaching to the Sacraments.

Practise these duties, my Brethren; then all your days will be full days — full of merit and good works; for it is by practising these duties, that “every valley will be filled up”—that every vacancy or deficiency of your past life will be supplied; that your souls will be adorned with virtue, and fitted, not only for worthily celebrating our Saviour’s coming amongst us, but also for enjoying Him eternally in the Kingdom of His glory.

Source: http://www.catholicpamphlets.net/

December 18, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Christmas Novena: Day 2

SECOND DAY: On the love of God in being born an Infant.

The Son of God, in becoming man for the love of us, could have appeared on the earth at once as a perfect man, as Adam appeared when he was first created: but as infants usually attract more the love of those who behold them, he chose to appear on the earth as an infant, and as an infant the poorest and most abject ever born. St. Peter Chrysologus writes: “Our God would be born thus, that “thus he might be loved.” The prophet Isaias had foretold that the Son of God would be born an infant, and thus give himself wholly to us through the love which he had for us: A child is born to us, and a son is given to us. (Isa. ix. 6.) O my Jesus, my sovereign and true God, what could have brought thee down from heaven to be born in a stable, but thy love for man? What could have drawn thee from the bosom of thy Father to be laid in a manger? What could have induced thee to exchange thy throne above the stars for a little straw? What could have called thee from the midst of the angelic choirs to come and be placed between an ox and an ass? Thou inflamest the hearts of the seraphim: and dost thou now tremble with cold in an open stable? Thou givest motion to the heavens and to the sun: and must thou now be moved by others taking thee in their arms? Thou providest food for men and for all living creatures: and dost thou now stand in need of nourishment to preserve thy life? Thou art the joy of heaven: and dost thou now weep and cry? Tell me what has reduced thee to such great miseries. “What has done this?” asks St. Bernard; and he answers: “Love has done it.”

Affections and Prayers

My dear infant Savior, tell me for what end thou art come upon the earth? Tell me, what art thou in quest of? Ah! thou art come to die for me and to deliver me from hell. Thou art come to seek me, the lost sheep, that I may never more stray from thee but may always love thee. O my Jesus, my treasure, my life, my lore, and my all, if I love not thee, whom shall I love? Where shall I find a parent, a friend, a spouse more loving than thou art, or who more affectionately desires my welfare? I love thee, O my God, I love thee, O my only good. I am grieved for having been so many years in the world without loving thee, and for having, instead of loving thee, offended and despised thee. Pardon me, my beloved Redeemer, for I am sorry for having treated thee in this manner, and grieve for it from the bottom of my soul. Pardon me, and give me grace never more to separate myself from thee, but always to love thee during the remainder of my life. O thou the love of my soul, to thee do I give my whole self; accept of me and reject me not as I have deserved to be rejected. Holy Mary, you are my advocate; you by your holy prayers obtain from your Son whatever you ask; intercede with him therefore to pardon me, and to grant me perseverance in virtue until the moment of my death.

II. Most sweet Jesus, presented and offered byMary in the temple to be one day sacrificed for us, have mercy on us. R.—Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

December 18, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Christmas Novena: Day 1

For the next nine days, I will post novena meditations for Christmas. These meditations were written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri. The text is from the book: The Way of Salvation, Meditations for Every Day of the Year. The whole book may be found online by typing in the title at http://books.google.com It should be noted that the text has been slightly modified and re-arranged for use on this blog.

First Day: On the love of God in becoming man for us.

Let us consider the immense love which God has shown us in becoming man to obtain for us eternal salvation. Our first father, Adam, had sinned, and had rebelled against God, for which he was expelled from Paradise, and, together with all his descendants, condemned to eternal death. But the Son of God, looking upon lost man, offered himself to take human flesh and free us from death, by dying for us as a malefactor on the cross. But, my beloved Son, might the Eternal Father have said to him, thou wilt have to lead a most humble and painful life upon the earth. Thou wilt have to be born in a cold stable and laid in a manger. Thou wilt have to fly into Egypt, in thine infancy, to escape from the hands of king Herod. After thy return from Egypt thou wilt have to reside under the roof of an humble carpenter, poor and despised. And at last thou wilt have to lay down thy life in the midst of torments, nailed to a cross, scorned and abandoned by all. Father, replies the Son, I will willingly undertake all, that man may be saved.

What would be said if a prince should take compassion on a dead worm, and be willing to become himself a worm, and shed his own blood, and die to bring back life to the worm? More than this has the Eternal Word done for us: being God, he has voluntarily made himself a worm like to us, and has died to recover for us the life which we had lost by forfeiting divine grace. Seeing that with all the many gifts which he had bestowed upon us he could not gain our love, he became man and gave his whole self to us: “The Word was made “flesh, and delivered up himself for us.” “Man, by despising God,” says St.Fulgentius, “separated himself from God: but God, by loving man, came from “heaven to recover man.” And why did he come? he came in order that man might know how much God loved him, and through gratitude might love God in return. Even the animals about us are loved by us: and why are we so ungrateful to God who has descended from heaven in order to beloved by us? One day when a priest was saying these words in the Mass: “And the Word was made “flesh;” a man that was present did not perform any act of reverence, when the devil struck him, saying: “Ungrateful wretch! if God had done as much “for me, as he hath done for thee, I should have “been always prostrate on the ground to thank “him.”

Prayers and Affections

O Divine Son of God, thou didst become man that thou mightest be loved by men, but where is the love which men have for thee? Thou hast given us thy blood and thy life to secure for us the salvation of our souls, and why are we so ungrateful, as, instead of loving thee, to slight and despise thee? Behold, O Lord, I have-been one who more than others have been thus ungrateful to thee. But thy passion is my hope. Oh! through that love which caused thee to assume human nature and to die upon a cross for me, pardon me all the offences I have committed against thee. I love thee, O Word made flesh, I love thee, O my God, I love thee, O infinite goodness, and am exceedingly sorry for all my sins, and would willingly die of sorrow for them. Give me, 0 Jesus, thy love, and never . suffer me to be again ungrateful to thee. I desire always to love thee. Grant me holy perseverance. O Mary, Mother of God, and my Mother also, obtain for me from your Son the grace of ever loving him until the end of my life. Amen

Most sweet Jesus, born in a stable, and laid upon straw in a manger, have mercy on us. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.

December 16, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Third Sunday of Advent Reflections

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT: ON PRAYER

“In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.” (Philip. iv. 6.)

AT the commencement of the time of Advent, we were led to a fear of God, by the consideration of those eternal judgments, which, at the last day, are to be executed upon all impenitent sinners: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” (Mt. xxv.) And in the Epistle of the Second Sunday, we were cheered with the consoling prospect, which hope holds out to us: “The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” (Rom. xv. 13.) For it is the consoling effect of hope, that it gives us an assured confidence of God’s being willing, and even desirous, to pardon our sins; through Jesus Christ; and so to avert from us those heavy judgments, to which our sins have exposed us; and that it encourages us, moreover, to apply to Him confidently for these happy effects of His mercy. And hence we see the reason of that tender solicitude and anxious desire of the Apostle, as expressed in the concluding words of last Sunday’s Epistle: “That you may abound in hope, and (also thereby) in the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. xv. 13.)

On the present Sunday we are directed to consider, not so much in the feelings of fear as of hope, the destitute state of our souls to which sin has reduced us; to look to our wants and necessities, and to exercise our hope in God, by having recourse to His mercy and goodness for relief. “In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.”

It is on prayer, therefore, that I intend now to address you — on its Necessity, and its Advantages, and on the Conditions that are required for rendering it effectual in obtaining for us the grant of our petitions.

POINT I. Necessity of Prayer.

WE MUST NECESSARILY PRAY. — And this necessity of prayer arises from our relation to God, from His absolute dominion over us, and our entire dependence on Him for everything. It is from Him that we received and still bold our being; for He created us, and is continually preserving us. We must therefore pay Him the homage of our adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and supplication.

Having created us, God placed us in this world between two extremes; for we must either serve Him while we are here, and thereby come to possess and enjoy him eternally, or else we must neglect His service, and thereby lose that supreme happiness, and be condemned to perpetual banishment from Him in the flames of hell. We have to escape the one by gaining the other. This is a work which every one of us has to accomplish; and no work can be of greater importance to us. But, of ourselves, we can do nothing towards it; at every step, we need God’s assisting and protecting grace; but that needed grace cannot be obtained without prayer. Without prayer then we must perish eternally.

We see the reason, therefore, why St. Paul so earnestly admonishes us to pray on all occasions “In everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.”

The same Apostle also says: “Be instant in prayer.” (Col. iv. 2.) “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. v. 17.) And our blessed Lord repeatedly commands us to pray: “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.” (Mt. xxvi. 41.) “You ought always to pray and not to faint.” (Lk. xviii. 1.) “Ask, and you shall receive.” (John xvi. 24.)

It is clear from these, and from many other considerations, that it is necessary for us to pray, and to pray continually; that prayer is the first and most necessary thing for us to learn and make use of; that it is both the key which must unlock for us the treasury of God’s graces, and also the channel through which those graces are to be conveyed to our souls. The treasury of graces cannot be unlocked and opened to us, without the proper key; nor will the graces be conveyed to us otherwise than through the appointed channel.

POINT II. Advantages to be gained by prayer.

What has been already said on the necessity of prayer, serves, in a great measure, to show also its advantages, as being the effectual means of obtaining the necessary wants, and of saving our souls. No supply of our employment, therefore, can be more profitable; nor, at the same time, more consoling.

1. PROFITABLE. — For how can we be more profitably employed, than in drawing down upon ourselves the graces and blessings of heaven? and these we can obtain, and do obtain, by prayer. For the truth of this, we have the positive assurance of our blessed Lord Himself: “Amen, Amen I say to you: if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it you. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full.” (John xvi. 23.) “For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.” (Mt. vii. 8.)

2. CONSOLING. — What, therefore, can be a source of greater consolation than prayer? St. Chrysostom calls it, “an angelic occupation;” and St. Gregory, “an anticipation of the joys of heaven.” What sweet consolations have not the Saints drawn from prayer? And when God, for their greater good, withdrew those consolations from them for a time, their persevering fidelity to prayer did not fail to afford comfort to their souls.

POINT III. Conditions which must accompany our prayer.

But, in order that prayer may be effectual in drawing down these advantages, it must be accompanied with certain Conditions; it must be offered to God with such dispositions of soul as He requires.

1. We must pray, therefore, with humility — with a deep sense of our nothingness, of our unworthiness, and sinfulness: “To whom shall I have respect,” says Almighty God, “but to him that is poor and little, and of a contrite heart, and that trembleth at My words?” (Is. lxvi. 2.) “He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble, and He hath not despised their petition.” (Ps. ci. 18.) “The prayer of him that humbleth himself, shall pierce the clouds; and he will not depart till the Most High behold.” (Eccli. xxxv. 21.) “To the humble He giveth grace.” (1 Pet. v. 5.) In King Achab, we have a striking example of the advantage of humbling ourselves before God in prayer. For, as soon as he had done so, God said to Elias: “Hast thou not seen Achab humbled before Me? , Therefore, because he hath humbled himself for My sake, I will not bring the evil in his days.” (3 Kings xxi. 29.)

2. We must pray also all with confidence in God. Nothing honours God more — nothing is more pleasing to Him, nor more effectual in drawing down His blessings, than praying to Him with an humble, but entire confidence in Him: “And Jesus saith to them: Have the faith of God. Amen I say, to you, that whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not stagger in his heart, but believe, that whatsoever he saith shall be done; it shall be done unto him. Therefore I say unto you, all things WHATSOEVER you ask when you pray, believe that you shall receive and they shall come unto you.” (Mk. xi. 23.) When Mary Magdalen, with an humble confidence, prostrated herself at our Lord’s feet, He said to her: “Thy sins are forgiven thee; thy faith (that is thy confidence) hath made thee safe; go in peace.” (Lk. vii. 48, 50.) “If any of you want wisdom,” says St. James, “let him ask of God, who giveth to all men abundantly; . . . . and it shall be given him: but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is carried about by the wind. Therefore, let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” (James i. 5.)

3. We must pray, likewise, with perseverance — we must continue knocking at the door of God’s mercy, till it be opened to us: For “we ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Lk. xviii. 1.) We must “be instant in prayer.” For God wishes us to constrain Him, as it were, to show mercy: “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away.” (Mt. xi. 12.)

4. God requires, moreover, that we should pray with attention and fervour; for He looks to heart more than to the lips. “Prayer is the raising up of the mind and heart to God;” and not merely the raising up of the voice to Him. In order that you may pray with attention, put yourselves in the presence of God at the beginning of your prayers. St. Ignatius says you should do so before every prayer, however short. And this is the direction which God Himself gives us, when He says: “Before prayer prepare thy soul; and be not a man that tempteth God.” (Eccli. xvi. 23.)

Humble yourselves, my Brethren, at the thought of not having profited more by this powerful means of grace.

Look back, and examine what it is that has rendered your prayers ineffectual. Is it not attachment of your heart to creatures — to some passion, which, producing a want of fervour and attention, has hindered the effect of your prayer or has there not been a neglect of preparation which has produced the same effect? has there not been spiritual sloth; and consequently a want of perseverance? or has not your confidence in God been deficient? Whatever you may find to have been the defect, it must be corrected in future. Resolve therefore to begin, from this present moment, to take the necessary means of correcting it. “He lives well,” says St. Augustine, “who prays well.”

To be continued next week.

Source: http://www.catholicpamphlets.net/

December 12, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »

Second Sunday of Advent Reflections

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT: ON THE VIRTUE OF HOPE.

“Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom. xv. 13.)

DURING the time of Advent, we have to prepare ourselves for worthily and profitably celebrating the approaching Festival of Christmas, wherein we commemorate the first coming of our blessed Lord, when, in quality of our Redeemer, He came “to seek and to save the sheep that are lost of the house of Israel.”

POINT I. We must fear God.

To guide and assist us in this preparation, the Church directs our attention, on the First Sunday of Advent, to the terrible judgments of God, which, at the last day, or the second coming of Christ, will be executed severely and eternally upon impenitent sinners: “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” (Mt. xxv. 41.) And thus we are led to the fear of God, which, according to the Council of Trent, is the first step in the sinner’s conversion to God. (Sess. 6, c. 6.) And it is the first step also in his preparation for Christmas.

POINT II. We must also hope in God.

But, on this Second Sunday of Advent, it would seem to be the intention of the Church to lead you on, through this salutary fear of God’s judgments, to the consideration of His Mercy and Goodness; that so you may be raised to a firm hope that He will be propitious to you for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer. This hope, according to the same Council, is the second step in the sinner’s conversion to God; and it is the second also in his preparation for Christmas.

God has revealed to us, in the book of Ecclesiasticus (ii. 9), that this is the sure way of escaping His severe judgments, and of drawing down upon us the consoling effects of His mercy: “Ye that fear the Lord,” He says, “hope in Him, and mercy shall come to you for your delight.” May “the God of hope,” therefore, from the riches of His mercy and goodness infuse bountifully into your souls this necessary, this saving virtue; “that you may abound in hope, and in the power of the Holy Ghost.”

We will consider now the powerful motives, which urge us to place all our hope in God; and also the qualities, which our hope should have.

POINT III. Why we must hope in God.

Hope is a theological virtue, which “helps us to expect, with confidence, that God will give us all things necessary for our salvation, if, on our part, we do what He requires of us.” (Catec.) This virtue is of strict obligation — it is absolutely necessary for us, as a means of salvation, and it is grounded on the most solid foundation.

For we have every motive to induce us to hope in God — to place an unlimited confidence in His mercy and goodness.

1. We have the pressing Exhortations, or rather, Commands of God: “Trust in Him, all ye congregation of people: …. God is our helper for ever.” (Ps. lxi. 9.) “Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not upon thine own prudence.” (Prov. iii. 5.) “And hope in God always.” (Osee xii. 6.) “Casting all your care upon Him, for He hath care of you.” (1 Pet. v. 7.)

2. We have also the infallible promises of God, whereby He has pledged Himself to reward those who “cast all their care upon Him.” For He says “Because he hath hoped in Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he hath known My Name.” (Ps. xc. 14.) And consequently He declares, that “Blessed is the man whose trust is in the Name of the Lord.” (Ps. xxxix. 5.) “Do not, therefore, lose confidence,” He says, “which hath a great reward,” (Heb. x. 35.)

We read in the Gospel, that our Lord attributed many of the miracles which He wrought, solely to the great confidence with which the petition for cure was presented to Him. Thus, He said to the centurion: “As thou hast believed, so be it done to thee.” (Mt. viii. 13.) In like manner, to the blind men, He said: “According to your faith “ (that is, your confidence), “be it done unto you.” (Mt. ix. 29.) . The woman, who, for twelve years, had been labouring under an infirmity, which, during that period, had been incurable, “said within herself: If I shall touch only the hem of His garment, I shall be healed. But Jesus seeing her, said: Be of good heart, daughter; thy faith (that is, thy confidence) hath made thee whole.” (Mt. ix. 20.)

3. Other motives of confidence are the great Love of God towards us, — His infinite goodness and mercy in our regard, — and (lest our past sins should weaken our hope) the infinite merits of Christ, which more than supply for our unworthiness.

These are the powerful and solid motives, which should excite our confidence in God — the sure grounds whereon our hope is founded.

POINT IV. How we must hope in God.

And resting, as it does, on sure grounds, it follows, that our hope should be firm and unlimited.

FIRM. — It should be firm, because the goodness, power, and promises of God leave no room for the least diffidence. And hence St. Paul calls this virtue: “The anchor of the soul, sure and firm” (Heb. vi. 19); it being impossible that God should want either the power, or the will, to assist them that trust in Him; or, that He should be untrue to His promises.

2. UNLIMITED. — Our hope must also be unlimited; that is, we should hope for ALL that we need, both for soul and body — we should hope for eternal happiness, and for all the means necessary for obtaining it, if only, on our part, we will do what God requires from us. And nothing should make us lose our confidence in God. “For He hath said: I will not leave thee; neither will I forsake thee: So that we may confidently say The Lord is my helper.” (Heb. xiii. 5, 6.) And He positively assures us that “He will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able” (to resist); “but that He will make with temptation issue, that we may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. x. 13.) He declares, indeed, that “the hope of the wicked shall perish “ (Prov. x. 28); but this is to be understood of such only, as will not have recourse to His mercy.

Examine now, my Brethren, whether your hope is such as it ought to be. Is it not weak and languishing? When attacked by temptations, or oppressed with misfortunes, do you not immediately, “lose confidence,” and become dejected and “sorrowful, even as others who have no hope”? (1 Thes. iv. 12.)

By commanding you to pray for salvation, for help in temptations, for pardon, for daily bread, and for all that you stand in need of, God thereby engages Himself to grant these things; and He will grant them, according to His repeated promises, if you pray with an entire confidence in Him, grounding that confidence on His infinite goodness and promises, through the infinite merits of Jesus Christ.

Never fail, therefore, to have immediate recourse to God, with a firm and unlimited hope, in your difficulties, dangers, and temptations, and in all your necessities.

On all occasions, cast yourselves confidently upon Him, for He will not withdraw that you may be left to fall. And let it not weaken or diminish your hope, when He appears to defer the help you crave, or if it should seem to you that He even positively refuses your requests. For He is then only trying your faith, as He tried the Chananean woman, whose faith, or firm, unlimited hope, He afterwards admired and rewarded: “O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee as thou wilt.” (Mt. xv. 28.) “Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward” (Heb. x. 35); but “hope in your God always” (Osee xii. 6); because “mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord” (Ps. xxxi. 10); for “no one hath hoped in Him, and been confounded.” (Eccli. ii. 11.)

To be continued next week.

Source: http://www.catholicpamphlets.net/

December 4, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | 1 Comment »

Private Novena for St. Josaphat Parish

Starting in December, in addition to the weekly Friday devotion, you are invited to make a private novena in honor of St. Philomena specifically for our parish of St. Josaphat. This novena takes place from the 3rd-11th of each month. It is offered in union with devotees worldwide.

Since St. Philomena is considered a patroness of impossible cases and considering that some favors have already been reported (two new ones in the past two weeks) we will continue to promote this devotion.

For this Novena you may use on of the following:

The offical text may be found here: http://www.philomena.us/Novena%20Prayer%20to%20Saint%20Philomena.pdf

If you are busy or only want a simple prayer use this one:

Novena Prayer to Saint Philomena
O faithful virgin and glorious martyr, Saint Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, O great saint! Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favorable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee (for St. Josaphat Church in Detroit). I am thoroughly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings, the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the passion and death of Jesus thy spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in his saints. Amen.

Source: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/pray0570.htm

You don’t have to be a member of our parish to join in prayer. Feel free to join us as we honor God in veneration of St. Philomena, the wonderworker.

December 2, 2011 | Categories: Devotional | Leave A Comment »