Twenty-seventh meditation. The Resurrection of Our Lord

First point.

Reflect that, after a deluge of torments, of sadness, and of sorrow had been inflicted on Our Saviour, He arose from the tomb by His own power, and early in the morning, beauteous, resplendent, subtile, agile, and all-glorious, He went to visit His most blessed Mother. Rejoice, O holy Mother! Behold your dear Jesus more triumphant than ever. Behold the temple that the Jews had demolished, raised up again. Behold, the sign of J onas has come. Behold your dear Joseph alive.

Second point.

Reflect that joy was immense in the Ark of Noe when the dove returned, bearing an olive branch as a sign that the flood had ceased and that God had bestowed the blessing of peace. But, O God! with what delight was not the band of apostles ravished, when they saw the sacred humanity of the Saviour, resuscitated and glorious, returning to them, bearing in His mouth the olive branch of holy and acceptable peace! " Pax vohis" He said. This is the indubitable sign of the cessation of the waters of the Father's anger; here is the sign of reconciliation of man with God.

Third point.

Consider how necessary it was that the benign Saviour should visit His disciples. Their faith, their hope, and their charity were wavering. It was Magdalen who had gone forth to embalm Him. The disciples of Emmaus said: " We had hoped; " and the

Digitized V^OOQle rest of them looked upon the words of the holy women as dreams. Behold why Our Saviour, fearing their peril, like a good Master, came to strengthen them. "Iam indeed Myself, beloved disciples. See My hands, My feet, and the wound of My side."

[Affections.

0 blessed and faithful Virgin, how sweet to your maternal heart was this joyful news: "Your Son is alive!" 0 holy daughters of Sion! dry your tears, behold, your Beloved has come! Since you have drunk the cup of His sorrows, as His Benjamin, He will give you the first and the greatest share in the joy of His glory. My soul, reverence in silence the triumphant Bon of our comforted Mother.

0 sweet Jesus! if my interior was well ordered and prepared for Thy coming, Thou wouldst address to me the consoling words:

1U RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.

" Peace be to you! 99 Alas, my heart! if we had once received the peace of Jesus, the world could no longer disturb us. Holy peace, sung by the angels at the birth of the Saviour, and bequeathed by Him at His Resurrection, be forever in my heart! Now I firmly believe that my Redeemer liveth, and that at the Last Day I shall rise again.

From this thought I make the determined resolution never to profane my body. As I shall not flatter it, since it must perish, I shall also guard it as destined to rise again in glory. For as my eyes shall eternally behold Our Saviour, I shall withdraw them from vain and useless objects. As I shall receive the kiss of the glorious Spouse, I shall not allow indecent, irreligious, quarrelsome words, or words of murmuring and excuse to pass my lips. I shall observe similar circumspection with regard to my other senses.

Come, O my Beloved, strengthen my faith, for confiding in Thy power honors Thy Father; my hope, because it is established on Thy redemption; my charity, since it embraces the goodness of the Holy Ghost. O dear Lover, what wilt Thou ask while showing Thy wounds, if not, " Have you need of strength? Behold My hands. Do you want heart? Here is My Sacred Heart Are you a dove? Here is the cleft of the corner-stone, come, repose therein." Lord, I have need of all this, and still more. I am sick and a prisoner, but I go to Thee, and there I find my medicine and my salvation.