de vita contemplativa - dic 2012

8/10/2019 De Vita Contemplativa - Dic 2012

1/15

d),,

tt

/,

ntr tr o

r,

n

r

/1,,

Q\{i,,t

;/r, 'i,,'

IBe

btts

ilteffip[rtrbs

;

{

ii

Year

VI

-

|{umber

12

-

Dscsnrer,n

2012


2/15

*tJ#,

Father*-throu-eh

thc

'door'

ol thcr

Eucharist:

n tl ie stablc ol Bcthlchcrn

let

us

adore he

same

-oru1,

onl

of

the

r,vomb

f Mary. Who, nrakirrg -l imself

present,

herc

rncl now. in

th e

Euchanstic Sacramcnt. vantcd to

bc-

rrorre

our spiritual tbod

tci

traustbrrn

the u'orld

frorn

u,ithin.

starling

rvith

the

human

heart."

.lcsus hose

o

nrake

Himself bread

lbr us: I{e is tlrc livirig

tsread

r,vhich

carnc dorvn

frorn

Heaven. FIe

left

l-{is

L lcavcnly drve l ing

place

to

bccome lnarl,

and

by His clealh

anri

resurrectrcltt,

LJ.:

I l \-

made Himscl l Eu-

charistic bread t0

transfbuit us into

Him. But

"Nio

L)ne

ats

this

flesh without first

adoring

t...q'e

wouicl

sin

if

we

did

nrrt adorc It. admonish-

es St. Augustine. This

"super

substan-

tial" frod is

"the

food

of the

great,"

adviscs hc

Saint

of

Hippo.

"Grow

an d

you

shall t-ced n mc; and t is

not

rvou

r.vho

will transbnn Mc into

1'ou,

but

you

rvili

bc

transfonilcd into

1,1c."St .

.lohn

Chrysostom,

n

no

le-ssouching

rvclrds

vritcs:

"Jcsus

n

the h,ucliarist

seclns o

say

o us:

Eat

mc.

drink me

lbclay

once again I dcscend

upon

the

eah fbr,r'ou.

I am eaten,brol


3/15

4i8[]#

)

'-

, l l ' \

"Af ler

havins

bcen l i runr l

in t l re

temple o[t . f

n-rsalenr,

Jesus

nrr( l ( -l le retr .r rn

our-

ne) '

to Nazrreth.

hurnble"

doci le

as

bef

re,

e-enter ing

into

hidclenriess

for

man\:

fi ,

H

lears

ot '

n 'ork hesidc

-f

seph

i

ancl

l ,lar1;aluavs

'suhject

to

f,

thcrn 'au,a i l in . t l re t inrc

l t t . : I

I

. ' t i ' '


4/15

'ti4$M.u*

' r r

f i\ ll

t

Z l ' i11-] .

',r

I i r'

lhc

(]rca

Ths

Birth

ha[

1

rr\v

n

end

Carth

ad

cYe.

[ ' l t t i i t t t t t t l t i ' t l

r t l

t l t t ' t ' t t ' tntt l , \ ' t t t i t t l

t l t , , l

, t t l t , ' t ' t

i t f

i t , ' i t t .r '

l t t t t t , t t t t 'r ' t l

i t t tol

glO-

r i l iad

l . i '

t t l l

t

t ' t ' t t t i tn,

in

i l t , ' t , .rr11; lt

\

t t l

t t t t i \ t '

tntt l

t s

Il

l t , t l , t : ; ' ( ' i t l t ' t

tnt lt '\ ' : :1,

lI

'

(

t t it lt t t .

Il

t t ,

uv in;4

hr

I t t i t t ' : l

tt

/ l t

lt t tntt t t t

l la , th.

i i l t ' .

ltu.:

lcuyen

und

ttu't l

( t t ' t 'L( )u l i ' tn t i i t t r , i l

l l t , tu

&)t itc {I

(t '(ult'(,

i t t l l t t : t t ,otth

ol

i;

l tunt l l t I

i t tn

t l t ' iguet l

lt t

ly

t t t 't t t l

I I t 'r

t() \(n'(, t lr 't 'r tr lil, '

n

all

c i ty 's and

at

al l

t i rncs,

t lear ly

belovcd.

docs

thrr

birrh

of our

l-rlltl

arrd

Saviour lom

thc Virein

Vlcrthcr

ccur

to the thoughts

of the liaitlitirl.

rvho

meditate

L)n divinc

things.

that

ti ie

rninci nay'trc

arousr'd

o

the rcknovi'-

ledgrncnt

if its

fuikcr.

ancl ,hethel

i1

bc

clcc,upiccln the

groaiis

of

surplicir-

tion.

or in

the shouting

f

praise.

lr

in

thc oflf-erins

l- saclificc. nray enrpior,

i ts

spiri tual

nsight

on norl i ins

more

licqucntlv

and

nrorc rustingl_1,'

han

ot

thc fact

hat tbc

Son

ol 'God,

trcgottcn

of

thc c:o*glaannt

rther.vas

alsrtbon

by

o human binh.

But

this Nativir,v

u'hicrh

s

to

tre adored

n

llcaven

aritl

on

crrth

s suggested

o

us

by ntt

rlay

norc

than

this r 'her.

lvi th

tlrc

carlv

l ight

sti l l

sheciding"

ts

rays

on nttui:e.

tl icrc is

trorrie

n uporr

out

scr)scshc

Itrieliinc:ss

l'

this

r.r,'ondrqtrrs

1'stci:r.

6

-

.9tr ,

( .)

lr* ,

u', . t , /-or,/ , , / r , ' t

, , , ,

- j i , .r . ' , .r l1i l t ,- . i

F

ot ' l rc \nge

(

l l r | ic l 's

( :( ) l t \

rse

r, i th

thc astonishcr l\1arv

l r r l l l r l

conccp-

t ion

bv

thc I lo lv

Sr i r i t rs

, i .ondrously

promised

as bel icvcd.sccnl

to recur

not

orrlv o thc mrnlr'y

brrl o thc r,'ery

eyes.

For tldal 'thc

Mnkcr

ot'the

i 'orld

rvas

rorn of

a

\irgin's

wonrb.

and

Hc.

Who

nacle:

il

natrlres.

ccalnc

Srxro '

She. \\honr

l{e cir-:rtcci.i''tlar, thc

Word

of Gocl

appcarcd

ciothed

in

flesh.

ancl

-hat

which had

nevcr bccn

visiblc to humancyesbcgan clbc tan-

gib le to

our

hal ldsas

rvcl l .

[oday

th c

shepherds

carned

l'ornAngels' voiccs

that thc

Saviour

ua-r

on-l n thc

suh-

stance

of our

flcsli anclsoul:

and oda_v

the

funn

of

thc

Gospcl tressase \\/rs

prc-arrangetl

by thc lcaders

of the

Lord' f'lctcks.

o that we t r)o nrav

say

rvith

the ann\,

of flrr:

ht--ar

nlv

lrost:

"(i lor-y

n tle highcst o

(iod.

and on

crrth

caL-r-

0

rcn

ol

grlori

i ' i l l "

(L k

l. I 4 \

:r

Aithough,

thcretbre.

that inl'anc,.

wirich

the

majcsty

of God's

Son

clicl ot

rlisilain.

reachcd

mature

rlanhoorl

b1,

the

grovrth

of years

and.

il hcn thc tri-

umph

of l-lis

passion

rnd csurrcction

was completcd.

all the actions of

hu-

militv

rvhich were

undcrlalh

ct, a t't7in.

pil l

n,n-

c"' i reani : / i ret, i rthtoi tttnu,hou't ' l / l tnnnu'r)

tt tnrtnut '(. Is7:14), 'r, 'h ic / t t t l (enr

'(),)

a' 3

r.r"'

(X'Lt

1:23).

O

wonclerful happening: a

virgin

becomes l

mo-

ther-, emainine a vir{in Consider this nero' order of natlue. With resarc]

to

otherr

\\'onlen, if

one

remains

a virgin, she cerlainlv cannot

l-ecome

a

mother:

once she has becom* a mothet

she no

longer

possesses

virgini 'y.

In

this case, nstead,

both

quatities

are

atiributed

to the

very

same person:

at the same time, i

fact,

She is

mother antl

virgin. \rgiri i tv has not

im-

perled giving

birth

and, on the other hand,

the birth has not

deprived

of

virginiV.

It

was

fitting,

in

fact, that He \\ho made

FIis

entrance into

hu -

rnan

life fbr

the salvation of'mankind...,

should

receive

}{is

oriein fi 'om

an

absolute integrity

declicrtecl

o Him without reser\/e.

()

rt

rt

ry of' Nt,trt t

Decr:mber

Z0IZ

- .9,,

t)4.:*,

fl,.,+rleti,y'/nlt:,u

7


5/15


6/15

Practlce

lurlnu

hrlstma$

l:

i

i t

l i t r ' , \ t t ' t t i l

Lt itr ; ir 'htt t

l i t lv ; l , l t t l l t t ' t '( ' l t ' t l t

'( \ '(eIs

trs., t ih v, 'hut

s t i t i lc t? l . t

i l i ' t Lt ' t ' ' t ' ' : \.1 i . . i , / (Jl . t , - ' . l t l l l t ' t I t l . . s( l t ' t , . , ' i l tt l t . t l t , rkl t t ' t ' l t . t l t l1t ' rhecl iy ineIn.l i t t t i

/u

, \ ' t t t 'c '

t ," ' jt lt tlutt .

jr t .r , ',

t 't t t it t tdc

tt t l / t t t , . t ltc, t 'a rt ' t / t t , f i i i t r l r nt ' ipul iner io ' t l i . s-

t


7/15

( ' r l l t tc lcs

t i t '

th is

l to lv

Scrson..r tr -1

v,.l tluvi l l

f lnd

thc

itl ,o sr-nti l i .tct-l t:,

d-

rnir 'rbl l ,

r lcndcd:

1-ler

lccp

revcrcncc

1or lcr

fiod.

and -{crglad

oy

at

}{is

l i i r lh .

. lovl

d ic l not

thc

verv

Angcls

c()i l tc

clou'n

and urqs

{cr

to i t ' l

Sh c

thcl 'r:furr:

tudics

o

iruitatr-

l i r: bl i thc

Shcplrclrir,.

i ,r

ir

r'ur

l ix'

- io."

to

l lc th l tr i lcrr r

Lk

2:

6).

ant l

thc

qlacj

Vlagi .

t i ' l lo

\ \ 'crc

rr

c l i - r r ig l r tu l

of '

t l tcntscl \

s

\

t l r

lc l ig l r l r rcrr .

n

( lu t l -

l in i l l t ' -usl lc | l l .

l l r .t l i r

tg t t i l l

t r re

rr ' ;c l

: r r rd r -d

hcnt

to lhc

( 'ar ,c

nhr, t ' t ,

l t t ,

t hi l i l r i ' .s\f r l :10).

( 'orne.

hcn,

a i th l i l

Chi ldrcn

f ' rhc

('hurch.

ct

us akc

our

sharc

n

Her

or,

l 'his

i .s

or

hc

sctson

rrrsighing

or

l i ,r

'nvccping.

''orurrto

us

e Chlld

is

born

(Is

9:6). lc

tirr

\ 'hol lr u'c

hivc

een

o

long

',l,aiting

s

cr)ntctand Ic is

cornc

fo

tl ,.t ' t ' l l

i l totrg

r'(.f

l :1-l).

Great.

n-

tleed,

und

long \\/ls

rlr

ruspcrlsciSr )

tnuch

hc ntorr.

ct

us

klvc

ciurp{Jssoss-

ing Il i rn.

-i 'he

dav r.t,i l l

oo

soon

corte

whcn

his

Child.

lotL'

ctrn

o s, i l l

be

t.hc

{un

tf'Sorrrn+is.

and then

rr'e vill

rrolllpassionate

im;

but at

prssent

|,t,c

rr-rust

cjoice

and

be

glad

at

Fiis

corning

and sing

round

His Crib

rvith

th e

:\lgcls.

Hcavcn sends

Lrsa

prcsent

of

its

or,vn

oy':

we

need

o_v,

nti

forty

days

rre

not

too man,v

tlr r"lso get t u,ell n-

trJ

our

hearts.

fhe

Scripture

ells

us hat

,seLure

nind

is like

a continual

lbast

(Prulv

15:16),

and

a

securc l tind

ca n

only

be

whcre

hcre s

peacc:

norv t

is

Peacc

which

thcse

blessed

days

bring

to

thc

eurth;

Pcuce,

sny

thc

Argcls,

to

nten

oJ'grlocl

v'ill

Gnsrrntmr:

Intimatcly

and inserarabl.r'

nited

vl

tii

tliis

r-\cluisjtc

n'r,sticii

jt,.v,

.s hc

s\ ' r ) l l iue i t i

l

l r l l t t r t i i ' .

i r t t t i t r i i lc

s

i l l -

t le ,- :r

l r ru

o l l rnr

\ \ l r t r .

r rc i ther

dc -

tcn-cd h_l '

) r . t t '

n t \ ' ,

t l l t i le

s

nor

rc -

stt 'a incclri

thc

in l i r r i g

g:pc\: t

.h ic i i

bc-c:omcs

His

s()\rct'cign

\,{ajcst-i ,.

dcigncd

tl

l- 'c

ri l i r l

,.rf

Iis on'n

(:rca-

ture.

and

hai,r-

a

stahl ir bi

His

hirti l -

p lacrc.

l i l

herrv

cl r r :r lcnt ly

nust Jc

not

havc

icsircd

r>

ldvancc

hc

work

o1'(rur

alvaticl l i .

o

rcmovc

evervthi l tg

which

cor id

rnakc

us afra ic lof

ar-

l l roucl r inu

l inr .

and

to

cncouragc

s.

hr.'

l is

{)\\,n

\{lmple,

t-r clLrn.

1, he

pJt l r ) l 'hurr i i l i t - r ' .o thc leavcr i l ,eha d

st.ra"'c-tl

ront

[rt,

pricic

Gritc'ul l .v.

herctbre.

ct

us rcccive

thc

precious i ft;

this

IJir

ne-

Jabc.

ur

Dclivererr.

Hc

is

tlrc

Oni,-l3egottcn

Strn

of'thc

;athcr. hat

jathcrn'ho

huth

sr

,t,,:rl

ht,

v,orltl

o,t

tr

git,e:

his

onl.t,

Srn

. ln

i:

I

.

I c.

the Strn.

unre*

sclvct l l l

ra t i f lcs

l is

i -at l icr 's

v i l i ,

ancl

conrcs

o rrl l i r

f{ inisel l '

bat:uu,se

t

. ;

iti.s

ott,tt

u,i//.

ftlr,i '.as

thc Apostlc

cr -

prcsscs

t,

hath

not

the

Futher

v,ith

hnz

git,en

us'

all

tliings?

(Rm

8:32). O

gift

incstirnable

Ilow

shall

wc be ablc

to repay

it

bi..

suitablc

gratitLuic,

we

u'ho

areso

poor

oS

lt)t

o k-nou,' ow

to

appreciatc

it ' l

God

alonc"

ancl

th c

Divinc

In{irnt

in

His

Cnb, ltnorr the

valuc of tlrc m1.'stcry'f Bethlehenr.

which

is

givcn

t0 Lls.

Lovn

Shall our

dcbt. hcn.

never

be

paid?

]rlot

so: \,ve

au

pay

it

by

lovc. which.

though

finite, givcs

itsclf'

rvi thout

nleasu[c.

and

ma.v

gr(]w

forcver

in

in-

tcnsity.For his easr)n.

lrc

Clhrrch.

l-

ter

She

has

offbrecl

le'r

adol'rtions

uld

in,nln*

ancl

gratitudc^

to llcr

Infant

Savioir. i r,cs

l i l rL

also

-lcr

cndc'rcsi

1:l

-

*L

:l

| . , ,

f

December

2012

- 9'n 9)'i1,,

(,r,r,/,,,,,1./,r/r,,,,

-

7i4

#

{

fi

{

{

#

4

tri

O

Inrlmi\rsg ilysrrRv

OF

TTIE

IXCNT.ATION

OI'

GOD

&'rtt

" lmrnense

m.\ 's terv of 'rh" lncrrnrt iorr

fr

lodl

Erernal

rnvsterv l . . .

l.

FJo." ' s

it

x.rss i l . , le

i r-

the

Wor, l

t t>

re

suir.st :u.rt irl l . r,n the f lesh rs

per-

son an, l at the

srnlc

i rnc,

s l i l i

rs

r

)r 'r 'son

rl rt l

srrl rs tant ial l r ' ,

o

l re

r.vhol-

l l in

the

l 'r; r lhcr'J

[ ,nt '


8/15

F

rJD

U

>..\

il

t-tl

F

z

I

,h "

-1

l

r< l


9/15

F-

V)

U

F-r

r,\

F&{

'-

-

z

a

ra

u

ra

U

thc

hrst

Clir-istrnas

Dair

llc

began

o

live in

our nridst;

he

tlucirarist perpetuates

-lis pres-

encc.

At

Rcthlchcm,

he

Word

,vas

rnadc

flcsh:

in the

Sacramcnt

He

is made

bread n

order

o

give

us

I

is

flcsh

without

stirring

anir

ccl-

ing

of

repu{rnanec

r l r rs.

At

l le thL:hcrrr

lc a lso

l icg i ru

pf i rc: t ic ing

hc vi r tucs

l ' l

l i s

surrra

mental

tatc.

le

conc:ctr lcdI is

cl i -

v in i ty

in

ordcr o f iun i l iar izc

ra n

rvi th

Cod. I Ic v 'cr lcd

I is d iv ine

giory

as a

l-lrst

stcp ro

the

veiling

of His hurnanity. Hc bound Flis

porver

n the wcakness

l-a

child's

body;

latcr

He

i,voulcl

ind

it

be -

ncath

he

Sacred

specics.

He

rvas

poor;

i{c

stripped

Hirnself

o1-

evcrv

posses-

sicin;

-.Ic,

hc

L't'cator

and

Sovcrcign

lVlastcr

tl{' all

things.

' l 'hc

sta-

ble

rvas

not

liis

o\,vn;

charit-v

ct

Il i rn

have

th c

use of

i t .

I - {e

l ived

wi th

l l is

l\{other

cin thc

of -

ferings

of

the

shcpherds

and

the

gitts

of

thc

Magi:

later n

LheEucharist.Hc rvould ask rnan

lbr

a shcl tcr

b l ' I { i ruscl f^

he

nat-

ter

fot

l'lis Sacrarncnt.

estrncnts

lbr

His

priest

and

-l isaltar.

This

s

l iolv

Bethlcl ie r

hcralds

th c

I;,uchal'ist.

We

cvt'n flnd

tlicrc

the naugu-

ration

of l lucharisric

vorshi:

n

its

chiei'

fon-n,

acLlntior-r.

r,lary

and .ioseph

u,ere

hc llrst

adorcrs

of

the

Worrl

Incarnatc.

l

hcv

be-

liei,'ccl

innly;

lheir

fith lvas

thcir.

viue:

Beatu,

quue

credid,st

"Bles:ecl

re

voLt

hat

hc,,e

belet,ed."

They adored

-Iirn

by thc

vir-rue

f

their

f-aith.

hc

shepht:rds

nd

lic Nlagi

also

adorc-d

Hirn in

union rvith

h,fary

an d

Joscph.

lliuy

was

entircly

ilevotcd to

thc scn'ice

of Her

Son.

She

u'as

all in-

lcnl

on I

is

service,

anticipating

Hi s

lcrstvishe's

ri

sarisfl ,them.

'he

hep-

hcrtls ol-fclcd

hcir plain

rnd

irnple

rrcsents.

ul


10/15

F

r)

F1-r

L)

--,

f/

fl

F-

z

(f)

q:al l

rrtobeii ig thc l iotiv

and

Blootl

cf

Our

Lord .lcsus

Ciirisl ."

Tlrc

Chur"ch{ersel l ' teachcs

s th;l t hc

lriith of

('hrist

is c]'cctcd

]ne\r rlter

r

spiri trrir lmanrler n

thc

N{ass.

br

Sh e

rl irces

hc se f:salnc

song of

praise

ot t

our l ip"

rvhich thc Anqcls sang

or l

(

lu' istnrls

nrol l :

" '( i lon,to

Gol n lhv

Iti.ght'.:t.

-1rtl

t

ctu'th

pe(K:(

o men of

goot{

rr i / i '

(L l


11/15

- i- '

l) \

; , l lHt

, i :{ tM.,1s

.cirT[t{ ,{

T"ot. l ,E

'

{,

-lgt,'ll

'a

Pll

.,/

-_

{'ard.

Ila.fhel

llrrry

lI

Yal

Final Parr

inajestic.

e appcarr.cl

n

tilc Vaticalt

Basilici.

c c.rcrrcis.;d

har

supcma-

turai

charrn

rvhich

haci the

irrc.-

sist ibie brcc

of 'raising

ntinds o

Cod.

His recollection

nd

pcrfi-:ction

tiuring

he

ccrcmonics

asthirn be-

yond

time.

so

much

so that-alier

havingobscnccl

irn

attcntivel-vur -

ing

thc

sacred

Synaxis--a

distin-

guishecl

nan

was

hcard o

say:

"J t

secrns

o

mc that that

mitrc is

no t

placed

il

thc hcad

of

a rnan.but on

thc hcaci

f

a

statuc."

But

to thc supematural

ealrty

-rf'

his pcrson, he Clarcljnal cidc,J n-

cornmon

if ls

tf

ntel lect

nd

acl lnin-

istrat ion.

leamedDominican

id

not liesitatc

o

givc

liis testiurony:

"The

C'ardinalkneu,

in clepth he

most

compiex

uestions

nd hc vcry

gra 'e

political.

'eligious

ncl

social

problems

f thc

intemational

orlci.

Thcolog,,

acrcdScripftlrcs,

hiio-

sophv.

History,Apok,rgetics,

ocio-

Iogv

and

l)iplomacy

\\ierc

all his

fieicl,"

\

coLrsiu

of

thc:

Carclinal.vho

kngv

liinr

lvel l .

asserted hat

"i i

rvas enoush

{br

him

to

givc

a

quick

glancc

ol '

flte e5'g o

grasp

atid

pctt-

ctratc hc

u-sscllccf

thc

lrlLlst

comnlex

of'

qrics-

tions."

Onc of thc

rnost

farlou

s

A

ncrican

writcrs

of

that

tirne--Miciracl

Wi

an-l

--

rec

oun n

g

one of his i , isi ts o th e

Secrctarv

i'State of' St.

Pius

X"

ivas

ablc o say':

"Whiist

the

Cardinal

sroke. hearcl

he

(lhurch

spcak."

Btt

t"'hat

rerniinsllrmortal

rc-

garding

he

Secretar.rlf Stateof

St .

Pius

X.

is

thc fan'rc

f

his hoiincss

n'hich w'as

eslablishcd n

thc

vcry

da)'

of

his

death.

rvhen

a IJishop

r.vrote:

His

lrlcrlory

r",i11ive on in

blessings"

ut

above

al l

in thc hol i-

trcss

of his virtues."From that nro-

ment. hosc

giving testimonr,'

o the

ht-rlincss

f thc

Clrrtlinalnultiplied

to

the

poittt

hat

a

unanimous

hoir

of voiccs

u,as

aisecl p thror.lghttut

rhe

whole world.

askins

for

hi s

cancrnisation.His faineof holincss

has

rlevcr decrcased

mongst he

pcropic-rvrote

the

Spanish

Epi-

scopate

to the

I{o);

Father in

1932-*,

but

especialiy

amongst he

clerg,ri.

n'ho

ook

upon

him

as

a holy

priest,

worthy

of

being

aisccl

o

the

altars."

The

Proccss

Februan' 953.

aftcr

his

death.

i.r,as tarted on

?6'n

trvcnty-thrcc

yeari;

V

{)

',/rorr,y'/nlir,

-

ll

THE

LIFE

AI{D

THOUGHTS

OF ?)r,,.(1.

Secre

nrv

of

Stnte

f

St.

pius

X

qr;/

7\e

fame

oJ'cardinal

'l,let'n'

del tr"ut.v

xrines.s

p,ctrt

rapidll,

rhrutuglrcut

lte

tt


12/15

of

(I.nrlrtntl

^fitrrrg

brl

p.vt

y

God,my

Father

nd

my

AlI, he Beginning

nd

theFnd

of

my existence;

the most bject nwretchedf allTlrycreatures, prostrate

myself efore

the

grcat

Lhrone .f

rW

inffible

Mqiesty;

worship

Thee

nd bless

hee

wrh

dll tlte

J'aculties

f nry soul

and

body.

I

believt

n Thee,

L)

'fruth

subsisting

n Titysetf

and essena|;

hope n

Thee,

o

ornrtipotcntMercy;

loveThee

o

inf:hre

Gttotlnes.s

nd Beauty.

In

the sght

o.f flr\t

gavrrrrc

othingrcs.i,

t.sr,cch

ht

helpt .f

Thlt

mercif.tl power,

he

assistancc

ndpr'tttcf

orr

rf

L'lary,

-lq,

4r71tr't

utd

minr.,

nil thtt

oJ'

aII

ht

AngeLs

nd

Sa',nts

njo;*ingTh^

rcwnce

that

I ntty

be abk to

thank

The iu(rr?lc

wav

J-or

he

gtfts

and.

Javours

Thouhast lagted

to

grant

me n Thy

poweful

goodness

Jron

thc

firsr

mo-

tneflt

oJ- rry exstence

o

thc

presrt

hour;

for

hang

seen

i:t

n rhink

oJ'

me,mLserdble

wori?L

f

tls earth,

f

om

ell

eternity;

Jbr

havingfreew

decreed

my

existcnce

n preference

to

so tiLnv ther

possible

hhrys;

and

e.special\

for

hating granted

me

another hy in

which

to loveand

serve

Thte.

I

am on thLsmrth.i-or

rhe sole

urpo-re

f'

sewing

Thee,

O *y

Goil, and .savng

mt,

soul' And oll

other

hhtgs,

reat

ot'

small,

witl'-ittor

aroundnte,

mu^st

isappear

ntibc

u if

thev

di,l not cxlst

.o

tt1,

yes,

ftttrn

the

tLotrlrt

which Lhey ease o bc-forme thitt

.for

u,hicit

Yott

twe

created hem

o

he,

rhat is, he

meayx

o

a

great nvl.

I desire

nd

Jirnlv

resolve

oday

o use ll created

lngs n such

e wry

anrl

only

t

sa

far

as

they

help nrc

o

attaht

to

nqt nrd,

to havea dispostion

of

hoty

ndifference

e-

garding

that

whch

depends

WotL

nry

free

choice nd

tou,ardswhich

I

am

not

bouncl

by

any

obligation.

am

ready

o

dccept

ndiferentry

fro*

Tlq,l1at

and in

the

uay

which

is

plea:ing o Thee

henlth

or

sckness,

icires

r powrty,

honotr

or dLhonour,

longhfe

or a shorL

ne,

dnd thus

tt

all

otlrcr

tltings,

choosing

onh,wltdt

s

mostconformed o

l'lryt

Glory,

which

i:

nry

finol

aim.

Grant

hat nw

inLelkct, t\t

r1117rrrrrr

fi ft+t

f-er

wil

mw be

Thfue

-fbrever

22

-

-\i

9))a,

{-,nin.,z/z/.u

Der,ernber

:1012

I Cttn:;en't i Cyri'1'furt t

o-f

nry hCTft,

(y:ry

bfeAth,

tt-t jtv,cTd,

f lnd

e\ilfV f ii, t1r)(yf l11

qi nry,.soulnd

iro,/1'ro

I'hrc,

t:r.'

o,l,

v,ith the sole

esirt o.i'singtng,

witit evert

_facal

tv

I'liottc, \onglnnnn

.i praise o Thrc,

ln'nrt

of expiatiL'mflr nvsirrs

nti of llrrrls-

.Er.'rrrg.br

'lw gracti tnl rerre/irs.

i

reel

The,O rw

Jexts,

as

nLT

tnnitJ

King

arrd Sdt,iour,

nd

set r4rseif,herefort.

uni.Ier

lw stitndard, eadt,

"t

-foiLow

hcc

i'hytver Thou

n4lt.

rtllnrc.

And f

Thou at"t

so

goorl

us o callme tc

itti.tatt'f'lcc

l.,r't'clo.scil

uul

ntintott:itt

tovertT',l"twniliatiott

and su.1fenng.,.)

nt

r;l \,,,lcrtr--/rsrr.';l rf,

'r:ci tust'

i

hv srn'rl l tI

teurctl i , ut

a^Esist

e

in nry

'i 'ckl icss,

I

;Icsira

rr o1,r'

/-ittr'

.rrr

mu(h,

n^t

\larr:".,

ntl

base

nt,tseif ontttch

ht

ht*nlity atid

obedimce efittr:

f'nrt.

Jrri. t) trcfer ot onlverey eri.l, ncluding leath, o tnortal or

vcniai

sn,

but

to

prtli 'r'thrf

tr.rs n,l

sttffing

ai-stt

n

the ct.sci

n

x,lch'Tlw

glory

and

h rrnour

'c

kt '

i-

. rr '

J .r?'r

) rf ' r i .

I defe$ t tn, l

\ , t ' t ' | ,

r\ r '1.Dlv

ir. . ;

rr, /

l rrgl i c trc. 's ,

4chl ik t

nlntge

ntc,untaht iseu? i

beforc

nri, ru'ttl

vltich

I

rrppo.sc

t,tit

the

Psstcttt J-

ntv Lord.

I

rrrccp

)11'r-

hc.sirrs

ri,J iniquties of tfu: witti le:ro.rld,

especol ovel'the

sactileges

cntl

ind|ft-erence

which rs sho1r,'l1o

'fht:e

in

LIw

McrsBlessed

Sacran"ient

-fTlry

ovc. tlesireo mrike

rti'ator

attil

cxlsi-

ation.for

all

tlrcse.fiaits.

tlesire o lit,e

s'prntualil,

t;iLhin tte

tabutncle

n'ith Thee,

o r'islf Thte

,:tnilit'trc

Thec

and recewe'flrce pirirrrcliy

,hcrcver'fhou trt

pres-

ent unct tlw

sacrontatal,,,cil nil tlrcre,

r te

bot

of Thy Euchtn.sti;hrttne,

o live and

de.

I

besee;h

hee

-l'tr

hc

propagatittn

-f hc r-dith,

for

the

cotn'cr.siotr

_fEngl.antl nd of

tlrc

world.

I

pra1,

a

Thee

fr'

lic Churchancl

for

Tlw

Victr; br tht Princesrrrl trilo's; for thc

ytntth and

.for

the agcd;

or

Priesrs

and religous;

-or

he

intentios n-

trusted

o m,e

-for

,,". .;Jlr

f

te

scrtls

iit Purgatorv.

OJcsrrs.

low

Thee, loveThee

anil

desire o iove

Thec

orever.

L7&rJ,mry 7n16culnte

ncl

sor-

rowfr \lother,

esli.

me

rr./:sus.

Mj,

Guardian

,4ngel

an d

Prrs"r

alrlS,

ra'rtor

nrc.

7' ;/

'r ?

\

j,

r l l ( ' r / / / t l /U l t

t(f

'

'

,)

tt

December

2172 -

- \n

'Yl't,||,,


13/15

l'braphic

f

ightt

Sl. Cmill Bitt t istu

t itr

: lrano

The

Imtellecir

Enlightemecl

by

Seraphic

Love

Final

Part

Tlte

srrul

v'hch,

in

purift'irtg

it,se//'ttntes

it.cellever

more to

(joc/,

hears

ht,o unmi.stuk-

able,rign-r

tLl 'ttctiott

'the

divine

Spouse;

un artleilt

ontl

pw'e

zeul.l 'or

thc salt,uion

ol

scntls ncl

sitcere

t'onlempt

a./'itsel-f.n

itr:t,

the

more

the

-srul

dvanc'es

n

its unon u:ith

God,

fi'eengit.self.fittrn

se$ishness,

the

n'tore

God.fitt,s

t t+,th

:Iims'eff)

kut

is, w,ith cli*

vine

c'lutrity',sittc:r'

Grxi

is love

und he v'htt remuitt.s

tt

tn'e retnuin.s

n

GorJand

(iod

in

him.

"

' I 'RI.:r l i t . t t-

() ' \

l l t . iR

1 {t :

t .U:1R'f

i rrcc

'hrist

:aute

t i lcl .v

to

savc

hc

lrst.

hcre-

tbrc

it is

nccessary

br

the

oncwho s

united

o

Him

to bc concerncd

about thc

salvation

of his neighbour.

This

is

thc meaning

of

thc Canticlc:

"Conte

m1:

st'n,

let

us

go

lo the.fields,'

we

,,;,ill

see

i.f'lhe

yines

ure butltling:

w,e v,i

,^pend

the night

in

tke t,il-

lages; there [ shall give vou rhe gli of-

i ' / iyr :"(Ct

:11.12);

hat s,

ct

us

go

ottt, ttty

beloved,

o

savc souls.

Come

It help

ftte

ftt ga.in

thcm, he.r:ause

withoul

You we

cun hut,e no

victorl'

(Cfr.

Jn

15:5).

We

are to have

ardenr

courpassion

ancl

concr:t br

thc

iniq-

uities

of

our neighbour.

wil l givc

ro

you

my

breasts

so that yoLt llitlr

snck-

le;

I wi l l

olfcr

to

you

the

rni lk

of'my

good

counsel

and of

the

exarnples

,

24

*

.9n,

5*)

*,

Y-

'r

,

,,

.,,r',|

t,,,,

- ll

e.tr-ntb

r

givcn

by mc [o

ln\i

neighbour,

,vhite

and

u,ithout

the rnark

of concupis-

cei lcc. rvl l l

sive

to

you

rxy l i tb lbr

his

salvation

and wil l

considcr rhe

sils of rn;

neighbour

as my

orvn,

us t

as thc Apostlcr

Paul

did

rvhcn he

srid:

"[4''hu

i.y

,^,,ectk,

nrl

I

utn

uo xettk|'

tr'Yho

:; ttatr:

o

fitll,

ttnd

I otn

rot

it-

dignant'|"

(Cor

I:29).

O

r.'eracious

hcafl.

o

heart ardent

with tlic c-harityof God This zcal is

bom of thc.

oly divine

kiss:

"1

oill

tek-

c'n up wilh

z,cl

or 1,our

house"

(Jn

2:7

Ps

68:

0),

that

s,

rvith

zcal

or rhe

house

vhich

s

the

soul o1'each

one

of

my ncighbours,

n which

God dwells

rnorc r';orthil;

thail

in

the

ternplc.

Evcry

faithful

Christian

is a

church. thc

altar of rvhich

is

the

he.art

anci

(-.hrist

hc

pricst

If r.r,c onsitlcr

hor.v,

or

love

of-this

soul. He was

cov*

: l { r l :

crccl

r,r' h

ri'

oi-ncl.

ricsrscd, cro

l

t.t t1

rvith lrort-..and

ri ict orl the

cross,

,r 'c

r.vi l i

ui lderstal tl

cn'

ucl l

horr

de-ar

th is c l iurch

s to FI inr .

F tr l lou ing l tc:h

cctrsideratir lr i .

t lso

i c sltrrultJ

ccol lru

as enamourcd.

icsirotts

tl l t l

cttncetrcd

fo l

h is

saivat io tr .

t.

i i l r

t i t t

o tr t t .

o

sowct '

o f 'a l I chaslc

ort ' .

I

r - t i rc

' i r t r

my

poor

soi i l

u 'h ic l i . h l t l tks

o \ i r i i . i:

w 'hol l riqucl icd

tl

r r t l i r i ' r r t r , c igh-

bour.

rn'hosc

aivati ttl l

i ru

ittl such

great thirst

iilr

tltl

the

rt'ood

crf

thc:

cross

(C[r .

Jn

l9:28).

Now

I knorv

\bur

goodncss

and

ultderstand

tliat

the sw'cctestaffection I am able

to

give

o You

is o dcsire

hc

salvation

f

my neighbour.,..O

blessed

oul,

'n'hir

due

to

such

zcal. bccrtlnc'

i l r

( ioci

l

hr.xcyconib

anclsr-r

',r'cct

r

l inc

((

li

Ct. 5 :1) l

This

is

the

grcat

sor lgo{ ' th tr

v,olTlan

whcl appcared

n

the sk)'

clothed

with

the

sun

(Apr

12f0, that

s,

of divinc

love.

and beneath

hcr

fcet

there

rvas

he

filoon,

rvhich

is the

lu -

cidit-v

and su'cctncss

l'thc

r,i'ortis

lli 'l

u'orks direc,tcd

o our

neighbour. Shc

had

Lrpon cr

hcrd

a crown

of trvelvc

stars.

vhich s thc

contittuous

glatrcc:

cf' the

soul

at lhc

l lvclve

articles ol '

faith.

that

arc

hcl cr

ou'tt.

This

womiitl

lias childrcn

ti'om hcr

trtdv.

w'hich

arc

thc works

rn

hich

shc

gavehirth to

u'itl:

tr i-rccharitv and n'i th groans ful l r f

sw'ect

aftbction. bS,

which

hatrcd

tb r

herself ucrcases ay

afier

dal'. is

hc

reurernbers

he

rvord of thc

heavenlv

spousc:

le v:ho hale-s

is

soul

in this

v'ttrld,

v,ill save

il

/br

lile

eternal

(Jn

12:25). . . .

This

hatrecl n i tes

he soul

ivifli

l-iod,.ir"tst

s lhr-

slvcct

Jcsus Lre-

sou-uht

His Fathcr"

saying:

"h{uv

th:v

al l ba

one,

jusl

cts,

ul ler,

, 'oLt

rc

it t

me

ancl

um

in

y()Lt,

o

lhrtl

lhc',''

lso

mcn'

hc in

u,s"

Ji r

7:2

i . l -h is

tatrct l

rs

thc

fiLtrtdr.ti t ln

if

trtrc

iret'fecl iolt.

fl 'onr which.

iu thc

sr,rul

of-

tlic

.ilrst

[ran- clcrivcs

hc

virtr.rc

t'pal icncc.

t

is

a

u'ork

ot-pcrltction,

becrruse

vith-

rrrt

raticncc

no onc

can

rcach

thr:

surnrn i t

r i l -

pcr fcct ion. Thc

etcnla l

\\ 'ortl dcsccndcd

r,r,i l l ingl-v

o

eat'tl r

l i i inr tlrc bosonr

of

the

Father

Ct1-.

rl

l : l - { . lS)

to str ' "v

h is

hatred

anci h is

l"rrticnce:

{c

cnhruced

thcr

and borc:

thcnr

unt i l I l is death., . .

understa l t t l

tot'r veil,

rtry

Lord, that

of

rnvsclf'l aln

nnablc

o have his

selt'-hatrecl.

s Yutl

had i t

w'i thin \burself

as man:

bu t

drau'rnc

b-v

Yonr

gracc to

this

gi l i l i .

si ircc

renre tbe that

o he

rt'hocallcd

Yoi

got-d,

Yott cpl icd

and said

hatuo

onc

\\us

goocl

cxccpt

God alone

]vlk

l0:1,8:

-k l8 :

9) .

O

gooci lesus.

hcrc

is no

dcrubt

hat

thc lttarc

a man

lovcs

\bu.

the

nlclrc

he has

hah"ed

-orhirn-

scll'.

tlehold, nov,r.

,vith

the

hclp

rlf

CocJ.

havc ot-fcrcd

he

r,r'ill ing

ohia-

tion

and

thc

Lord

(lod

ivi l l

give

ai l

thc,vdr:sirc

o ihose

u,ho celebrate

his

rlbl igaton

,vurthi l ,v:

rav

his

ohlation

be

healthl, '

rav

he lrc

ol cl ivine

ov e

lvhich dcvotirs

thc

sacrificc

and the

vic: t im

dcsccnd.

jnst

as

thc

rnatcr ia l

fire

cicsccndccl

l'om

Hcat'ct"l

alld de-

voured he sacrificcof Solotrtrn 2 Cr

7:1),

and

rnay

thc divine

N4a.iestytr

fi l i hc

miud thai

nttthing

else

rna-v-

find a

rlace

hcreitl.

\nd

vori.

fathcr,

who have

not

disdaincd

o lrc

nstrucrt-

ed

b-v

au

uncdut-atsd

wolnan.

n()w

arnend

n-v

-emininc

crhosity,

correct

thc lalse sent{::nccs

nd

retlrovc

cvcly

error

that

yor-r

.rnci.

ince

havc

sirn-

piy

obcyed

yor:r

qucstiorr.

beseech

l,ou

huinbly

to

blcss

mc.

Ameu.

%

December.

2U12

*

j)r,

S))n"

7-lr,rr/onl/,t/i.,,u

25


14/15

i lr

Irurgatorlr,

I

tt

otrlrl

Itarre beetr

ablt'

tr-t

free

\0u;

but froil

Ileli ;rot c\en

tire

I'opre

s al-rle

o

trce'

-voLl.

ln fact, ther

l.ord has said

that

t lrere

'nul lo

csf

rc -

t l t t t t i t t io': there

is

no

\

fft

l

.r ll

{ i l

\l

\il

\ i l

r,il

i l

i tl

"$ l

.il

tl

l

ll

It

tl

tl

il

l

tl

it

il

it

tl

IMffiI

rffi

t

TJrU

f

I\n

ffiuqrx

iJ=h.

l l"ov

of' ' he t/ ' i ints

$*il


15/15

de vita contemplativa - dic 2012

Documents