Sunday

*Readings this week from Catholic Bishop Challoner

Meditations for ‘Low’ Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, and the week following

…in virtue of the blood of Christ, here applied
to our souls; and we are “born again of water and the
Holy Ghost,” (John iii. 5.) to a new and everlasting life; and
are made children of the living God, and heirs of his eternal
kingdom.
Consider, secondly, that we are dedicated and consecrated
to God by this sacrament, to be eternally devoted to his divine
love. “We who before were not his people, are now
the people of God,” [1 Peter ii. 10.] “A chosen generation,
a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people,
called out of darkness into the admirable light*’ of Christ.
Consider, thirdly, that “all who are baptised it Christ Jesus,
are baptised in his death; that as Christ is risen from the dead
by the glory of the Father, so we may also walk in newness of
life,” [Romans vi. 3, 4.] Knowing this, that our old man is
crucified with him, that the body of sin may be destroyed, and
that we may serve sin no longer,” [verse 6.] So that henceforward,
in consequence of our baptism, we must “reckon ourselves
dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord,”
[verse 11.] And therefore, “as Christ, rising again from the
dead, dies now no more; as death shall no more have dominion
over him,” [verse 9,] so now we must die no more by
sin ; sin must no more have dominion over us.
Conclude ever to bear in mind both the dignity and the obligations
of your baptism; and consequently, to imitate, by renouncing
sin and rising to a life of grace, the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ.
Prayer:  We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
*Sub Tuum Praesidium

Monday

Consider, thirdly, that we also engage ourselves strictly to
observe the whole law, and the commandments of our heavenly
Father, our King, and our God; but more especially the
great commandment of “loving him with our whole heart,
with our whole soul, with our whole mind, and with our whole
strength” and of “loving our neighbor as ourselves.” Ah,
let us not unnaturally spurn the just commands of the Parent
of all nature, nor impiously set aside our most sacred engagements.

Conclude, henceforward at least carefully to observe your
baptismal vows; and since God claims your whole being upon
all possible titles, give yourself to him without reserve, in
time and eternity.

Prayer:  Holy angel of the Lord by guardian, pray to God for me.

 

Tuesday

Consider, secondly, that at baptism we renounce Satan and
all his works and pomps, and declare an eternal war against
this mortal enemy of God and man. We are anointed with
consecrated oil on the breast and between the shoulders,
to signify the inward unction of divine grace, to strengthen us
to love God and keep the commandments, arid to bear, in a
Christian manner, all the labors and adversities of this mortal
pilgrimage. Immediately after baptism, we are anointed with
the holy chrism on the top of the head, to signify our being
now incorporated with Christ, the great Anointed of the Lord,
and consecrated to God for ever. In consequence of which,
all Christians are called by St. Peter a Mngly priesthood : as,
in the old law, God anointed his priests, prophets, kings, and
martyrs.

Consider, thirdly, that after baptism, by the white linen
which the priest puts upon pur head, (instead of the white
garment anciently worn on this occasion,) and by the lighted
taper which we receive from him, we are reminded of our
strict obligation to lead a holy and innocent life to hold forth
the light of faith, to the edification of all men and to keep it
always burning with divine charity, till we meet our Lord in
s heavenly kingdom.

Prayer:  Our Father, Who art in  Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

 

 

Wednesday
CONSIDER, first, how dismal is that fall, by which, in a moment,
we lose all the dignity, all the advantages, all the treasures
conferred on us in baptism. A dreadful fall, indeed! by
which the poor soul falls from heaven to hell, from being a
child of God, to be a slave of Satan, and of sin which is even
worse than Satan; from being the spouse of Christ, to be the
prostitute of unclean spirits; from being the temple of the Holy
Ghost, to be the habitation of the most Wicked One!
Consider, secondly, the folly and madness of such an exchange!
Alas! the soul in acting thus, forfeits all her good at
present, and all her title to happiness, either in time or eternity,
for mere delusion and eternal misery. Ah, unhappy sinner!
open thine eyes, and see the wretched bargain thou hast
made. To part with thy GOD, and thy ALL, for something so
base, so vile, so empty, and so transient! Before thy sin,
heaven was thine; GOD himself was thine!-But now thou
hast parted with thy GOD, thou hast exchanged heaven for
hell, and thou standest upon the very brink of a miserable
eternity.
Prayer:

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen….truly He is risen!

 

Thursday
CONSIDER, first, that we must worship God “in spirit and
in truth,” (John iv. 24.) That is; we must join with the external
adoration and praise, prayer and sacrifice which is offered
in the Church of Christ, the internal homage of our heart,
and the pure worship of faith, hope, and charity. Embrace
then, with your whole soul, these three divine virtues. There
is no other,way to heaven and a happy eternity.
Consider, secondly, that these virtues are called theological
and divine, from their immediate relation to God. Thus faith
believes in him as the sovereign truth, and obliges the soul to
give a firm assent to all the truths revealed by him, however
incomprehensible to our weakness. Hope puts her whole trust
in him, as the infinite source of all good; and raises the soul
to a lively expectation of mercy, grace, and salvation from
him, confiding in his almighty power and goodness, mercy and
promises, and in the precious blood of his Son. Charity or
Divine love embraces Mm above all things, and loves him for
his own infinite goodness, and all others made after his image
and likeness, for his sake.
Consider, thirdly, that we must make frequent acts of these
divine virtues. The soul which does not often employ her
thoughts upon the great truths of God and eternity, quickly forgets
both God and herself; and thus, while her faith is asleep,
she is exposed to the most dreadful evils.

Prayer:

Christ is risen from the dead trampling down death by death and on those in the tombs bestowing life!

Christ is risen….truly He is risen!

Friday
CONSIDER, first, that “without faith it is impossible to please
God,” ( Heb. xi. 6. ) This virtue is the ground-work and first
foundation of all our good: here we must begin the -work of
our salvation. But what is faith? Not, as some vainly imagine,
a presumptuous confidence of the pardon of our sins, and
of our justification and eternal beatitude; excluding that humble
fear with which the Christian is taught to work out his salvation,
(Phil. ii. 12.) (Rom. xi. 20.) but a firm belief of all
those things which God has revealed or promised: a bowing
down of the soul to all that God has taught, however exalted
above our understanding. “Faith,” says the apostle, (Heb.
xi. 1.) “is the substance,” that is the strong foundation, “of
things to be hoped for; the evidence of things that are not
seen.”
Consider, secondly, that the merit of faith which makes it
so acceptable to God, consists in this; it pulls down the pride
of man by captivating his understanding, and obliges it to believe
what it cannot see, to adore what it cannot conceive,
and to submit to truths which it cannot comprehend. Man fell
from his original justice by proudly pretending to a more extensive
knowledge than God was pleased to allow him, which
might make him “like to God,” ( Gen. in. 5. ) And therefore
God justly requires we should return to him by the sacrifice of
what is most dear to our pride, namely, the liberty we are so
fond of, of thinking as we please in all matters, without restraint
or control.

Prayer:  O my God relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
*Act of Hope

 

Saturday
Consider, thirdly, then, some of the many strong and weighty
arguments and motives, which enforce the testimony and authority
of this Church of Christ. This great and most ancient
society is, and has been these eighteen hundred years, spread
far and near over the world. It was foreshown and foretold
long before by many plain and glorious prophecies. It was
established by Christ and his apostles by signs and wonders
and innumerable miracles. It was wonderfully propagated in
a short time throughout the world, in spite of all the opposition
of the whole earth and hell. It has been maintained ever
since by the .blood of millions of martyrs, and by the saintly
and miraculous lives of millions of other servants of God, in
every age. It has been embraced and followed by all the best
and wisest of men, and defended by the most godly and learned.
It has, in a word, all this time held forth the light of God
to the whole world, by the purity and sanctity of its doctrines,
and by zealously promoting the conversion of numberless sinners,
and withdrawing thousands of all conditions from the
broad way of the world to a life of holy solitude and penance:
so that it has at all times produced many eminent saints -whose
whole lives have been standing miracles of divine grace, and
presumptive arguments of the truth of that faith and church
which they all professed.
Glory to Jesus Christ – Glory forever!