Meditations
Meditation: Tuesday in the First Week of Advent
Today and the following days we will meditate on the second advent of the Savior coming to judge the world at the end of time, as the Gospel of Sunday last announced to us. We will, then, limit ourselves tomorrow to the consideration of the three preliminaries of the judgment; that is to say, First, the general resurrection; second, the separation of the good and the wicked; third, the descent of the Sovereign Judge, preceded by His cross. We will then make the resolution: First, to keep our bodies pure, so that they may rise glorious; second, to follow in all things the example set us by the saints, so that we may not be separated from them at the last day and driven back amongst the wicked; Second, to love Jesus Christ and His cross, which will be our joy in that great day if we have loved them during our life. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of the Apostle: “For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:10)
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Meditation: Monday in the First Week of Advent
We shall meditate today on three means whereby to sanctify the season of Advent, that is to say: First, on the spirit of penitence and renewal of life; second, on holy desires for the birth of Christ in us: Third, on special devotion to the mystery of the incarnation. We will then make the resolution: First, to excite ourselves during every day of this holy season to lead a better life, and to ask of God by fervent prayers to enable us to do so; second, to think often and lovingly of the mystery of the Incarnation, above all when reciting the Angelus. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the prayer which the Church has borrowed from the prophet to invoke the reign of Christ in us: “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rein the just.” (Is. 45:8)
...read moreMeditation: First Sunday in Advent
The holy season on which we have entered is intended on the part of the Church to make us meditate on the three great advents of the Savior upon earth: the first in the humility of the crib in order to save us; the second in the splendor of His glory at the last day in order to judge us; the third in the secret of our hearts by His grace in order to sanctify us. After having meditated on these three advents we will make the resolution: First, to enter upon a new life of recollection and prayer suitable to the season of Advent; second, to take particular care with regard to the perfection of every one of our ordinary actions, which will be the best manner of sanctifying this holy season. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of St. Paul: “Behold now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2)
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Meditation: St. Francis of Assisi
We will meditate today upon the great love of St. Francis of Assisi for Jesus crucified, and we shall see that this love is: first, a supreme remedy against sin; second, a means of progressing in all the virtues. Our resolution shall be: first, to have henceforth a special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, as a great model of devotion to the crucifix; second, to maintain this devotion habitually by always wearing a crucifix and often looking at it lovingly; third, to cherish all the sufferings which Heaven may send us as particles of the cross of Jesus Christ. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of St. Paul: “I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.” (Gal. 6:17)
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Overcoming Difficulties in Meditation
We will meditate today upon two principal difficulties which are met within meditation: First, distractions; Second, aridities and other trials. We will then make the resolution: First, to lead a more recollected and detached life, which will be a means of drying up the source of many of our distractions; Second, never to be discouraged by the state of powerlessness in which we may find ourselves during our meditation, but to remain quietly humiliated in the presence of God, admiring His goodness which bears with us and loves us in spite of our wretchedness. Our spiritual nosegay shall be the words of David: “In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water, have I come before Thee.” (Ps. 62:3)
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