Nineteenth meditation. The love of our neighbor

First point.

Reflect that Our Saviour, beholding the hour of His death approaching, assembled His disciples in order to engrave upon their hearts His last will and testament. He said to them: " This is My commandment, that you love one another. By this they will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Second point.

Reflect that Our Saviour taught this love of our neighbor not only by words, but by His own adorable example. "Wishing to die for love of all mankind, He gave Himself to us in the Most Blessed Sacrament, nay, even to Judas, whom He did not refuse to kiss, although He knew him to be His enemy. 0 my Saviour! Thy example confounds me. Alas! rarely am I willing to inconvenience myself, or give up my own wishes for the love of my neighbor, yet Thou teachest me at all times to love him in deed and in truth, and not alone in word. Thou dost assure me that I shall never enter Thy celestial temple, except by one gate, that of charity, which opens from two sides — the love of God and the love of the neighbor.

Third point.

Reflect that Our Lord did not say: " Love some of your neighbors." Mo. His command comprehends them all. Tou will, therefore, bear unworthily the title of Religious, if this love is not perfect in you.

If you do not feel love and gratitude toward those that do you good, you are ungrateful. If you do not love those that despise you, you are proud. If you do not love those that afflict you, you are impatient, etc. By all this you see that without this holy charity for the neighbor you have no virtue.

Affections.

Ah, Lord! if your servants are known by this holy mark of charity for the neighbor, I have great reason to fear, I who love myself so much, that I can scarcely resolve to abandon for even a little while my own interests for those of my dear neighbor. On all occasions, O heavenly Master, Thou offerest me Thy love as a model! My soul, let us consider in the presence of God, in what manner we should love our neighbors by following His example. Sweet Jesus!

Thou didst undergo labor to acquire for them repose. Thou didst suffer ignominy in order to obtain for them glory. Behold, 0 my soul, what we must endeavor to do. 0 Lord! despoil me of self-love, that I may be able to imitate Thee!

From the bottom of my soul, sweet Jesus! I crave a favor of Thee, namely, that Thou wouldst grant me the grace always to put myself in the place of my neighbor, do unto him only that which I would wish him to do to me, and do unto him all that I would wish him to do to me.

0 Lord! if I look with an evil eye upon those that displease me, wilt Thou not withdraw from me Thy benign countenance? If

1 speak ill of my neighbor, wilt Thou not be silent toward me? Thou wilt speak no word to my soul. If I refuse him my services, Thou wilt deny me Thy graces.

God forbid that I should make exceptions in my love for my neighbor! 0 Lord! Thou wilt grant me Thy grace. "Without regard to self, I will love Thee in my neighbor, and never will I love any one but in Thee and for Thee. Farewell, private friendships, particular affections! What! would you distract my soul with a diversity of objects, and withdraw my mind from its duty and its Rule? Come into my heart, O sweet religious union and holy community life, for it is you that the Lord blesses.