صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

degree is necessary for all Christians; without it, an act of love would be a lie in their mouths, and they will be out of the way of salvation.

APPLICATION. Let us thank God for having called us to this state of life, where all are supposed to be, and to continue, in this first degree. But do not let us be under any delusion; we cannot keep ourselves in it save by the assistance of grace, and in certain circumstances of a special grace. Besides, in changing our dress we have not changed our nature. We are always men feeble and inconstant. Let us, then, be humble, always distrustful of self, and prompt in having recourse to prayer in temptations. However, the religious who, on principle, is contented with the first degree, will be little worthy of the name he bears, and by no means sure of salvation.

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT II. Second Degree of Self-denial or Humility.

CONSIDERATION. This second degree consists in the habitual disposition of losing all and suffering all, rather than commit a deliberate venial sin. All true religious ought to strive to attain it, to be able to witness to himself that he has attained the second degree; for, if not, 1st, It is with difficulty he will keep in the first, or rather he will not do it; experience teaches us too often the truth of those words of the Holy Spirit: Qui spernit modica paulatim decidet-'He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.' 2nd, He cannot imagine he is fulfilling the obligation he has contracted before God of tending to perfection, for nothing is more opposed to perfection than venial sin. 3rd, He can never enjoy true peace of heart, because he is resisting God's designs for him: Quis restitit Deo, et pacem habuit? Who hath resisted Him, and hath had peace?' 4th, He will never be fit to do great things for the salvation of souls.

APPLICATION. It is in our power to attain the second degree, and to remain in it. The proof of it is given to us in the acts of beatification and in the lives of many servants of God. It is said in the lives of the Venerable Du Pont and Bellarmine that they made a vow of never voluntarily committing a venial sin, and they were faithful to their vow until death. What they did with the help of grace we can also do; but have we seriously resolved on it? What means have we employed? With what perseverance?

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT III. Third Degree of Self-denial or Humility.

CONSIDERATION. This third degree consists in the disposition of rather being poor with Jesus Christ in His poverty than in abundance; of being rather forgotten and despised with Jesus Christ, who was humiliated and injured, than to live in honour; to be rather on the Cross with Jesus crucified than to enjoy the consolations and delights of this life, in order that we may have a greater resemblance with Jesus, our Divine Model, and be better able to prove our love.

APPLICATION. This habitual disposition, or third degree of humility, is not impossible to human weakness sustained by grace. Witness the Apostles and an infinity of martyrs who rejoiced in being stripped of all, scoffed at, spit upon, condemned to death for the name of Jesus; witness also so many persons educated in luxury and delights whom we see vowing themselves for love of Jesus to poverty, and the austerities of the cloister. These examples tend to encourage and stimulate us; and besides, what blessings belong to this third degree! It is the perfect imitation of Jesus Christ; it gives peace and joy of heart in the midst of tribulations, an abundance of Divine blessings, the assurance of salvation, the pledge of greater glory in heaven. How are you relatively to this third degree! What has been the end of those resolutions made in

so many retreats, that you would neglect nothing that would enable you to attain it?

COLLOQUY.

FIRST SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER.

FEAST OF THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELS.

*

1st Prel. Behold young Tobias travelling in company with the angel Raphael.

2d Prel. Beg for a true and solid devotion to our angel guardian.

POINT I. What is the Dignity of our Angel

Guardians?

CONSIDERATION. Among the most precious gifts of God's mercy to men should be reckoned that communion or spiritual intercourse which He has established between us and the holy angels, the order which He has given to these blessed spirits to take care of each of us; for, says the Psalmist, 'He hath given His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.' But what are these guardian angels? They are pure spirits, created after the image of God, endowed with beauty, power, agility, and intelligence, which are beyond all human conception. They are in regard of God and heaven where He manifests His glory, what the princes and first dignitaries of a kingdom are in regard of a king and his court. This angel, then, who is day and night by my side, is a prince of the celestial court, whose dignity infinitely surpasses that of the greatest monarchs of the earth.

APPLICATION. I believe this truth, but I scarcely ever think about it. When I am alone, I think and act as if no creature were near me witnessing my sufferings and my actions. If I had a more lively faith, what consolation and what a charm I should find in *This Meditation should be kept for the first Sunday of the month.

FIRST SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER.

145

conversing with this holy and wonderful friend, in telling him my troubles and anxieties; in asking him for counsel, strength, and courage in my doubts, sufferings, and temptations! We read in the lives of many Saints that their ardent faith and tender devotion towards their angel guardian obtained for them the grace of seeing him and conversing familiarly with him. We find this especially in the lives of St. Camillus, St. Frances of Rome, and St. Rose of Lima.

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

POINT II. What Services do our Angel Guardians
render us?

CONSIDERATION. 'He hath given His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.' In obedience to this command, our angel guardian, 1st, watches with tender care over the preservation of our body, our health, and our life, which are exposed to so many dangers. 2nd, He takes still greater care of our immortal soul and of our spiritual interests; he teaches us, brings good thoughts to our minds, shows us the snares laid for us, encourages and sustains us in the spiritual combat, secretly reproves us for our faults, and draws us by gentle inspirations to perform our duties. 3rd, He does for us what Raphael did for young Tobias—he guides us through the dangers of this life. 4th, He assists us especially at the hour of death.

APPLICATION. Let us admire and imitate, as much as we can, three things-1st, the perfect indifference of these angels about all that they are desired to do; 2nd, their recollection and purity in the midst of the noise and corruption of the world; 3rd, their immovable peace, notwithstanding their ill success in their good offices.

AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS.

VOL. II.

K

POINT III. What are our Obligations towards our
Angel Guardians?

CONSIDERATION. St. Bernard says there are three in particular-respect for his presence, devotion or gratitude for his charity, confidence in his vigilance. No one can deny these obligations; but the greater number of men, even at the present day, never think of them. This is an additional reason why we should fulfil them carefully.

APPLICATION.

[ocr errors]

How can we fulfil them? We can and ought to testify, 1st, our respect, by acting in his sight, especially when we are alone, as if we were in the company of some great person. The following thought will help us in doing so: One day my angel will bear witness for or against me of what I am doing at this moment.' 2nd, Ŏur devotion or gratitude, by being very docile to his inspirations, and thanking him every night for what he has done for us. 3rd, Our confidence, by consulting him and invoking him in all our doubts and wants, with the conviction it will never be done in vain.

COLLOQUY.

SEPTEMBER 2.

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD.

1st Prel. Behold Jesus in glory on Mount Tabor.

2d Prel. Beg the grace of drawing fruit from meditating on this great mystery.

POINT I. Mystery of the Transfiguration.

[ocr errors]

CONSIDERATION. Jesus taketh unto Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart. And He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, talking with Him. And Peter answering said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for

« السابقةمتابعة »