1 — ZEAL FOR SOULS

Presence of God. — O Jesus, who gave Yourself for salvation of world, kindle in my heart great zeal for salvation of souls.

Meditation

1 — As love of God takes possession of our hearts, it causes to be born and nourished in them ever greater love for neighbor; and this love, being supernatural, aims above all at supernatural good of our brethren and therefore becomes zeal for salvation of souls.

If we love God little, we shall love souls little as well; and conversely, if our zeal for souls is weak, it means our love for God is equally weak. How would it be possible to love God greatly without greatly loving those who are his children, object of his love, his care, his zeal? Souls are, so to speak, treasure of God. He created them in his image and likeness in act of love. He redeemed them in Blood of his Only-Begotten in act of still greater love: “God so loved world as to give his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but may have life everlasting” (Jn. 3:16).

Whoever has penetrated mystery of God’s love for men cannot remain indifferent to their destiny. In light of faith he has understood God’s whole action in world aims at their good and eternal happiness, and he wants in some way to take part in this action, certain he cannot do anything more pleasing to God than offer his humble cooperation for salvation of those so dear to Him.

Such has always been ardent desire of saints, a desire that led them to heroic generosity for good of one soul alone. “This,” writes St. Teresa of Jesus, “is inclination the Lord has given me. It seems He esteems one soul that by our efforts and prayers, by his mercy, we win for Him, more than all services we can render Him” (Foundations).

It is true, primary end of God’s action is his glory; but this glory, because He is infinitely good, He loves to procure particularly through salvation and happiness of his creatures. In fact nothing more than salvific work for men exalts his goodness, love, and mercy. Therefore to love God and his glory means to love souls, to labor and sacrifice for their salvation.

St. John Chrysostom says: “Nothing is colder than Christian who does not care for salvation of others.” This coldness is consequence of very languid charity. Let us kindle and revive charity, and zeal for salvation of souls will be enkindled in us. Then our apostolate will no longer be only duty imposed from outside that we necessarily perform by obligation of our state, but requirement of love, flame spontaneously bursting forth from interior heat of charity.

Giving oneself to interior life does not mean shutting oneself in ivory tower to enjoy God’s consolations undisturbed while unconcerned for others’ good. It means concentrating all one’s powers in seeking God and laboring for one’s sanctification so as to become pleasing to God and thus acquire power of action and intercession by which to obtain salvation of many souls.

2 — Zeal for souls is born from charity, born from contemplation of Christ crucified. His wounds, his Blood, agonizing pains tell us how much souls are worth in God’s sight and how much God loves them. Yet this love is not returned, and ungrateful men seem ever more to flee his action. This is sad spectacle of every age, renewed also today, as if to insult Jesus and renew his Passion.

“All world is in flames: the impious, so to speak, yearn to condemn Jesus Christ again; they raise against Him countless calumnies and strive in a thousand ways to destroy his Church.” If Teresa of Jesus (Cam. 1, 5) could say this of her century tormented by Protestant heresy, much more can we say it of ours, in which struggle against God and Church has increased beyond measure and spread throughout world.

Blessed are we if we can repeat with Saint: “Loss of so many souls breaks my heart. I would not that number of reprobate increase ... It seems to me that to save one soul of many lost, I would sacrifice my life a thousand times” (ibid., 4 and 2). But it is not enough to formulate desires; one must do, act, and suffer for salvation of brothers.

Colloquy

“O my sweet Lord, how unworthily are You persecuted by those to whom You have done so much good! Truly these traitors seem to want to crucify You once more, leaving You no place to rest your head. I cannot fix my gaze on this spectacle, O my Redeemer, without feeling my heart break.

“Consider, O eternal Father, that so many scourges, outrages, and most tormenting sufferings are not things to be forgotten. Is it possible, my Creator, that so affectionate a Heart as yours should endure that in our days so little account is made of what your Son accomplished with so much love, solely to please You and obey your commands, when You enjoined Him to love us even to remaining in Most Blessed Sacrament, now outraged by heretics who destroy his tabernacles and demolish his churches?

“Must your Son do something else to content You? Has He not already done everything? Is it possible that every time we offend You again, this most innocent Lamb must always pay? Permit it no more, O my sovereign Lord! Let your divine Majesty now be appeased. Rather than consider our sins, remember your most holy Son redeemed us. Remember his merits, merits of his most glorious Mother, and those of so many saints and martyrs who died for You!

“Oh, shame!... How do I dare make this prayer to You? Before my boldness You have every reason to be more indignant. Yet, O Lord, do not forget You are God of mercy: have pity then on this unworthy sinner, this miserable worm who lets herself be carried to such audacity.

“Look at my desires and tears accompanying my prayer, and forgetting my sins, I beg You, for what You are, my God, have pity on many souls that are being lost, and protect your Church” (T.G. Cam. 1, 2 and 3; 3, 8 and 9).