Meditation: The Choice of a State of Life: Conformity to the Holy Will of God in the Choice (10): Let Us Give Ourselves to Jesus, Begging Him to Make

Let Us Give Ourselves to Jesus, Begging Him to Make

Us DIE TO OURSELVES IN ORDER TO LEAD A

Hidden Life with God

0 Good Jesus, I surrender myself completely to the power of Thy holy love, I implore Thee by that love, to reduce me now into a state of death that may imitate and honor Thy state of death. Utterly extinguish in me the life of sin and of the old Adam. Cause me to die to the world, to myself and to all that is not Thee. Mortify my eyes, cars, tongue, hands, feet, heart and all the other powers of my body and soul, so that I may no longer be able to see, nor hear, speak, taste, act, walk, love, think, will , nor make any other use of all the parts of my body or the faculties of my soul, save in accordance with Thy good pleasure, led by the guidance of Thy divine spirit, 0 my Well-beloved Jesus, I give myself to Thee to derive the benefits of these words of Thine apostle: "You are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col, 3, 3). Hide me utterly with Thee in God. Bury my mind, my heart, my will and my being, so that I may no longer have any thoughts, desires, or affections, any sentiments and dispositions other than Thine own. And just as the earth changes and transforms into itself the bodies buried within it, do Thou change and transform me completely into Thyself. Bury my pride in Thy humility, my coldness and tepidity in the fervor of Thy divine love, and all my other vices and imperfections in Thy virtues so that, just as the earth

consumes all the corruption of the body buried in it, so all the corruption of my soul may be consumed and annihilated in Thy divine perfections.

0 Mother of Jesus, I honor and revere thee in the state of thy death .and burial. I offer thee all the honor then given thee by the angels and holy apostles. I thank thee for all the glory thou didst give to the death and burial of Thy Son by thine own. I offer thee my own death and burial, imploring thee to obtain for me, by thy holy prayers, the grace that every aspect of my earthly end may pay everlasting homage to the death and burial of thy Spotless self and of thy beloved Son, our Saviour.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God." Mortui estis, et vita vestra est abscondite cum Christo in Deo (Col. 3 , 3 )

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Tenth Meditation

The Entrance of the Soul into Heaven

Let Us Offer Jesus Christ Our Entrance Into Heaven in Honor of

His Ascension and of the Assumption of his Holy Mother

0 JESUS, I adore, praise and glorify Thee countless times at the moment of Thy triumphant entrance into heaven. I offer Thee all the glory, love and praises that were given to Thee in welcome by the Father, the Holy Spirit, Thy Blessed Mother and all the angels. I also honor Thy Blessed Mother in the moment of her assumption into Paradise. I offer her to the glory and praises that were bestowed upon her by the Omnipotent Father, by her Beloved Son, Thyself, Thy Holy Spirit, all the angels and all the saints. I offer to Thee and to Thy glorious Mother, my own entrance into Paradise, which, I hope, by Thy great mercy, to make one day, in honor of the glorious and triumphant entry of Thy ascension and her assumption. 0 my Most Adorable Jesus, I desire to consecrate everything that ever was, is, and shall be in me, in time and in eternity, to the honor and homage of Thee and Thy most holy Mother.

LET US OFFER PRAISE AND LOVE To THE THREE DIVINE

Persons, to Jesus, Mary, the Angels

And the Saints

0 Most Admirable and Most Adorable Trinity, I adore, bless and magnify Thee infinitely for all that Thou art in Thy manifold works of mercy and justice toward me and to all Thy creatures, in

heaven, on earth and in hell. I offer Thee all the adoration, love, glory, praise and benediction accorded Thee forever. 0 my God, how I rejoice to behold Thee so full of greatness, of marvels, of glory and joy! It is enough. I desire no other glory, felicity or happiness in eternity save to behold the incomprehensible glory, felicity and happiness of Him whom I love more than myself. 0 my glory and my love, may all heaven and earth be transformed into glory and love for Thee! Finally, I sacrifice myself all to Thee to be sacredly annihilated and consumed forever in the most pure fire of Thy divine love.

0 Jesus, Thou only object of my love, with what love, with what praises can I ever repay Thee for all that Thou art in Thyself, and for all the innumerable effects of Thy goodness towards all Thy creatures, myself in particular? Lord, may all Thy creatures, all Thy angels and saints, Thy Blessed Mother, and all the powers of Thy divinity and humanity be employed in blessing and loving Thee forever.

0 Mother of God, 0 holy angels, 0 blessed saints, I hail, honor and thank you all in general, and each one in particular, especially those to whom I owe some special obligation and with whom I am to be most closely associated in eternity. In thanksgiving for all the favors I have received from you, and much more for all the glory and services you have rendered to my God, I offer to each one of you the most amiable Heart of my Jesus, source of all joy, all glory and all praise. I give you m y mind and my heart; unite them with your minds and hearts and associate me in your constant chorus of praise to Him who created me, that I may praise and love Him eternally with you. Pray ardently that I may bless and love Him through you, while awaiting the day when it may please Him to unite me with you to love and glorify Him to perfection.

0 blessed day, when I shall begin to love most purely and perfectly my Lord and Saviour who is infinitely amiable! 0 thousand times happy day in which I shall begin to be all love for Him who i s all love for me! 0 Jesus, my sweet love, how consoled I am when I think that I shall love and bless Thee eternally! My eyes dissolve in tears and my heart melts with joy at the sweetness of the thought that some day I shall be completely transformed into praise and love for Thee. But, alas, when will i t come, this day, so longed for and a thousand times

desired? Will it yet delay for long? "Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged" (PS. 119, 5) - "How long, 0 Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? How long dost thou turn away thy face from me" (PS. 12, 1)? No more the hunted stag desires, Fleeing in woe and weariness, Waters to quench his burning thirst, Than my poor heart with sadness pressed Sighs after Thee, 0 Lord, my rest.

My heart is driven nigh to death By cruel desires, merciless, And longs for Thee, Lord, Mighty God, And in its longing, cries apace: When shall my eyes behold Thy face? When, ah, when will come that day To take my earthly woes away And bring me home at last to Thee?

LET US RESOLVE To LEAD A HEAVENLY LIFE HERE BELOW

While waiting for that day, I desire, 0 my Saviour, to realize in my. self St. Paul's words: "()or conversation is in heaven" (Phil- 3, 20), as well as Thy words of reassurance and guidance: "The kingdom of heaven is within you" (Luke 17, 21). I desire to live on earth as though I were not here, but living by my heart and spirit in heaven. I desire to concentrate all my powers on - the establishment Of the kingdom of Thy glory and holy love within myself. But Thou knowest, Lord, that of myself I can do nothing; therefore, I give myself to Thee, that Thou mayest destroy every obstacle and perfectly establish the kingdom Of Thy pure love in my body, in my soul, and in all my thoughts, words and actions.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"Our conversation is in heaven" Conversatio nostra in caelo est (Phil. 3, 20) 203-

VI

The Admirable Childhood

OF

The Most Blessed Virgin

Mary

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On the

Admirable Childhood of the

Most Blessed Virgin Mary(1)

The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary

Origin and Meaning of the Holy Name of Mary

THE most holy name of Mary was sent from heaven from the adorable Heart of the Most Holy T rinity , where it was cherished from all eternity. It was carried to earth by the Archangel Gabriel, who announced it to St. Joachim and St. Anne. This blessed name is a marvelous treasure containing within itself all riches.

It embraces the divine maternity, since Mary, according to St. Ambrose, signifies "God born of my race." Mary signifies also "enlightened" and enlightening," which is most fitting. For the infant Mary was so replenished with the light of grace from the first moment of her life, that she knew the Creator and all creatures, and all things necessary to Almighty God. If she was so enlightened at the commencement of her life, judge what progress she (1). At the end of his work, The Admirable Childhood of The Most Holy Mother of God, St. John Eudes added this series of meditations on the holy childhood of Mary. He recommended them for the days following September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Iady, and for the eighth day of each month, which he dedicated to the childhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

must have made during the years of her childhood, inasmuch as her light and grace continually grew and multiplied from moment to moment.

Return thanks to the Father of Light and supplicate Him to make you feel the effects of that precious name, Mary, which not only signifies "enlightened" but also "enlightener" and "enlightening." Pray Our Lady of Light to give you a share in that radiance that you may know the infinite goodness of God, in order to love Him; the frightful horror of sin, in order to hate it; the vanity of the things of this world, in order to despise them, and the abyss of your own nothingness, that you may humble yourself.

Another Meaning of the Name of Mary

The name, Mary, also signifies "Imitator of God." The most holy Virgin imitated God perfectly throughout her holy childhood, in the love God bears Himself, in His charity towards men, in His goodness, His liberality, His mercy, purity, sanctity and other perfections, appearing as a more perfect image of the Divinity than all the saints together.

St. Thomas calls Our Lady "a perfect image of the divine Goodness," Rejoice then with her; thank with her the most Holy Trinity, offering all the honor this holy maiden tendered the Blessed Trinity by her marvelous imitation. Weigh well the words of the Holy Ghost, speaking by the mouth of St. Paul: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children" (Eph. 5, 1). Humble yourself for having until now so inadequately practised His counsel. Resolve to do better, especially in imitating the Blessed Virgin in the virtues most necessary for you, and supplicate her constantly to assist you by her powerful prayers.

Third Meaning of the Name of Mary

Mary signifies Lady. From her infancy this holy maiden was Sovereign Lady of heaven and earth, of men, of angels and of all creatures.

Her power is absolute in heaven, earth and hell, over the demons and in all things, spiritual and corporal. Her power is threefold: first by her title of eldest daughter, and, consequently, of heiress to all the estates of the Eternal Father; second, by title of Mother of God, having been chosen by the Son of God, from the first moment of her life, to be His Mother; third, by title of Spouse of the Holy Ghost, as endowed with all the rights of spouse of the omnipotent Sanctifier.

Mankind, Christians included, tends generally to rob this glorious lady in so far as possible, of the authority and power God has given her over them, and bestow their authority and power upon Satan, her enemy. This is what you have done every time and as often as you have been guilty of mortal sin.

Beg pardon of the Son and the Mother, and endeavor to establish their reign in your heart, removing every obstacle and imploring the Blessed Virgin Mary to employ in your behalf the power God has given her.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"0 clement, 0 loying, 0 sweet Virgin Mary." 0 clemens, 0 pia, 0 dulcis Virgo Maria. 208-

Our Obligations to Honor and Imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary

in Her Admirable Childhood

Excellence of the Holy Childhood of Mary

WE are obliged to honor the sacred Virgin in her childhood. First, because the twelve years of this sacred period contain in themselves almost an infinitude of greatness and holiness, which merits the highest honor, and will be for eternity the object of the praises of the denizens of heaven. Count the mysteries, the virtues, the thoughts, affections, words, actions and mortifications of this maiden. Reflect upon her holy use of the powers of her soul, and of her interior and exterior senses. You will find herein sufficient reasons for entertaining a singular devotion to her. For all that passed in the interior or exterior of this blessed child was filled with perfection and sanctity, worthy of most particular veneration.

Secondly, we should revere this admirable maiden because her infancy was a continual exercise of adoration, praise and love towards God. She was full of grace, therefore she gave more glory to God by the smallest action than the chief among the saints by the practice of most heroic virtue.

Thirdly, we should render all possible honor to her pure sanctity because all the virtues of her infancy were employed in preparing her to give us a Saviour and to cooperate with Him in our salvation. May all these reasons inspire in us a singular devotion and particular love for this inviolate and amiable maiden.

Advantages Derived from the Holy Childhood of Mary

Among other considerations, We Must remark that we are indebted to the holy childhood of Mary for three great favors. The Son of God when about to be born into the world could have created a virgin of perfect age and become incarnate in her. But His infinite goodness towards us obliged Him to choose for His Mother a daughter of Adam, thus to honor all the human race with three signal favors.

First, by this birth of the Infant Mary, divine Bounty gave us two treasures of sanctity, St. Joachim and St. Anne.

The second favor is that, by the birth of the holy Infant Mary, God bestowed upon the race of Adam another inestimable gift, an immense treasure of good, the holy and precious Mother of God, born of Adam's race, our sister and our Mother.

The third favor consists in the treasure our Iady herself has given us, the God-man, our Brother.

Weigh well these three great favors God has given us in the birth of the most holy Infant Mary and let these considerations excite in us a great desire to honor our Blessed Lady in every possible way.

The Holy Childhood of Mary is a Model

For All Christians

The Son of God wished His admirable Mother to pass through the state of infancy that she might give an example and rule of life for all Christians to follow. For all men are obliged by the laws of the Gospel to be children in innocence, in simplicity, in humility, in obedience and in all virtues. "Amen, I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 18, 3)

Render thanks to the Son of God for having given us an example so noble and so charming, and a rule so holy and so sweet. Venerate this divine example, love this amiable rule. See if you have followed it in the

past. Humble yourself and ask pardon for the shortcomings of which you have been guilty. Begin carefully to imitate the virtues of the precious infancy of your most holy Mother. Beg her to assist you to eradicate in yourself any obstacle to your loving imitation of her virtue.

Ejaculatory prayer:

"Unless you ... become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Nisi efficiamini sicut parvuli, non intrabitis in regnum caelorum (Matt. 18, 3)

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The Innocence and Simplicity of the Blessed Virgin

in Her Admirable Childhood

Innocence of Mary During her Childhood

AN INNOCENT person is an individual who does not know what it is to injure another, or, in different words, to commit sin, because sin alone dishonors God and injures men.

Consider that, among all pure creatures, the Immaculate Virgin alone was conceived, born and lived until her last breath in perfect innocence. She was not only preserved from all sin, but was i n reality impeccable. The goodness of God endowed her will with this happy impossibility. First, by a singular favor of His divine Providence, God preserved her from all perils, and occasions of danger, as much by His immediate protection as by the ministry of millions of angels who accompanied her everywhere and guarded her most carefully. This privilege was most appropriate to the dignity of the Mother of the Saint of saints and Sovereign Monarch of the universe.

Secondly, the great and marvelous light within her soul revealed, with unerring clearness, the tiniest atom of imperfection, and the superabundance of the grace which filled her vanquished the very shadow of sin. St. Augustine says: "Ad vincendum omni ex parte peccatum. " Thirdly, the sacred fire of divine love so inflamed her heart that she lived in the continual exercise of most pure love, without fatigue or interruption. This held her will under a moral inability to choose any fault, even the slightest.

Thank God for the marvelous innocence with which He clothed this most holy Virgin from the first moment of her life. Ask the grace to imitate this shining innocence, carefully avoiding any offense against

God, against your neighbor, against your own soul. Endeavor to apply yourself as ardently as possible to the exercise of divine love, for the greater your love for God, the farther removed you are from sin. Offer your heart to this Mother of Fair Love, and beseech her to kindle therein one spark of the ardent fire of love with which her own heart is consumed.