SERIES OF MEDITATIONS FOR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. July. ON THE DEVOTION OF THE FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. 1st Prel. Imagine you see a pious assembly making the act of reparation before the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 2d Prel. Beg the grace to understand well the end, utility, and practice of the devotion of the first Friday of the month. POINT I. End of this Devotion. CONSIDERATION. The end of 'The Devotion of the First Friday' is, first, to maintain fervour among the associates of the worship of the Sacred Heart, by renewing it in an especial way at the beginning of each month, and thus preventing this devotion from languishing and gradually being forgotten. And further, it is to enhance and increase the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by devotion paid in public at fixed periods, and performed with much solemnity. Finally, it is to consecrate the first-fruits of each new month to the adorable Heart of Jesus, and to receive new favours from Him in return. APPLICATION. To attain these great and important ends, we should try to have them to-day continually before our minds; from this moment we should form a strong purpose of doing carefully all that we are accustomed to do on this day in honour of the Sacred Heart. Let us try always to have before our eyes that Heart which is so great and beautiful-which contains within it the fulness of all perfection, because it is the Heart of a God, living the life of a God. This contemplation will give us great fervour, and will increase our love and our devotion towards the person of Jesus Christ, and our desire of forming ourselves upon His model. AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS. POINT II. Utility of this Devotion. CONSIDERATION. Besides the numerous advantages indicated in the preceding Point, the devotion of the first Friday affords the faithful occasion for many eminent acts of piety which they would not otherwise perform confession, communion, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, or an hour of adoration, meditation on God's Word, consecration and reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, &c. For us who are religious, besides leading us to perform similar acts of piety, it makes us think of Jesus Christ and the promises we made Him at our profession; the immense love He has testified for us; the boundless love and devotion He demands from us in return. It also makes us think of the favours of all kinds which He has promised to those who worthily honour His Heart, and try to make it honoured by others. Finally, in making us think of the ingratitude in which His Divine Heart was steeped, it excites us to redouble our fervour, and thus aids us to become better Christians and better religious. APPLICATION. How we ought, then, to love this devotion, and strive to support and propagate it! It is true, all do not derive the same benefits from it, and that you yourself perhaps have not become better; but whose fault is it? Is it not your own, because the first Friday of the month has been for you a day which differed little from other days of the month? or because the little you have done in honour of the Sacred Heart has been done with indifference? Examine yourself. AFFECTIONS and RESOLUTIONS. POINT III. Practice of this Devotion. CONSIDERATION. In what ought the devotions of this day to consist? 1st, In doing what the faithful FOR THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. 401 also perform in honour of the Sacred Heart, but with that additional piety fitting to religious. 2nd, In passing this day in great recollection, thinking frequently of the love and of the sorrows of the Heart of Jesus. 3rd, In sanctifying this day by some acts of penance or special devotion, such as the Way of the Cross. 4th, To examine in what way we can improve during the month upon what we have done the preceding month, with the view of giving greater pleasure to the Heart of our loving Saviour. APPLICATION. Make the resolution of being faithful to these practices, and arrange their details. Beg for grace never to omit them for any excuse whatever. COLLOQUY. August. The Meditation for the first Friday in August will be found in vol. i. p. 303. September. The Meditation for the first Friday in September will be found in vol. i. p. 310. October. The Meditation for the first Friday in October will be found in vol. i. p. 321. November. The Meditation for the first Friday in November will be found in vol. i. p. 312. December. The Meditation for the first Friday in December will be found in vol. i. p. 314. VOL II. 20 SERIES OF MEDITATIONS FOR THE MONTHLY Meditation. On the deaths of the fervent and luke WHICH MAY AID US IN OUR REVIEW OF THE MONTH AND OUR EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. See vol. i. p. 398. SOME MEDITATIONS FOR DAYS OF COMMUNION. See vol. i. pp. 401-415 inclusive. To render these Meditations more suitable for the Monthly Retreat, before preparing the Points, read over the Meditation, in vol. i. p. 395. Take from it the Preludes and Colloquy. INDEX. SECOND EASTER, AND SECOND YEAR OF THE MINISTRY July. 1. Miraculous cure of the paralytic at the pool of Jeru- 2. Feast of our Lady's Visitation PAOK 1 3 . 3. On our Lady's great prerogatives 4. Hypocrisy and jealousy of the Pharisees. 5. Choice and vocation of the twelve Apostles 5 8 10 6. Sermon on the Mount: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit' 12 14 8. Sermon on the Mount: second, third, fourth beati- 17 9. Sermon on the Mount: fifth, sixth, and eighth beati- 19 10. Sermon on the Mount: qualities of an apostolic man 22 24 12. Sermon on the Mount: exact observance of the law 14. Sermon on the Mount: the persecutions 17. Sermon on the Mount: the Lord's Prayer, continued 19. Sermon on the Mount: laying up treasures 20. Sermon on the Mount: various precepts 21. The leper's prayer and his call 22. Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus 23. The Centurion and servant at Capharnaum 31 34 16. Sermon on the Mount: the Lord's Prayer, or Pater- |