Sunday<\/p>\n
Meditations from Catholic 19th Century Bishop Challoner this week.<\/p>\n
CONSIDER, first, that advent is a time of penance and devotion,
\nduring which we are daily admonished by the church “to
\nprepare the way of the Lord, and to make straight his paths,”
\nby entering into the like dispositions Avhich the Baptist required
\nof the people, to prepare them for their Messiah. Advent
\nsignifies “the coming :” and we are now taught to embrace in
\nsuch manner the mercy and grace, which our Lord brings with
\nhim at his first coming amongst us in his incarnation, as to escape
\nthose dreadful judgments, which his justice will execute
\nupon impenitent sinners, at his second coming to judge the
\nliving and the dead.
\nConsider, secondly, in what manner we must now dispose
\nourselves for the spiritual birth of Christ within our souls, at
\nthe approaching solemnity of Christmas. “Knowing the time,”
\nsays the apostle; “that it is now the hour for us to rise from
\nsleep : for now our salvation is nearer, than when we first believed.
\nThe night is past, [or far spent] the day is at hand;
\nlet us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the
\narmor of light : Jet us walk decently as in the day,” &c. Ah!
\nChristians, listen seriously to this summons, and shake off,
\nonce for all, that unhappy lethargy which keeps you fast asleep
\nto the things of God.\u00a0\u00a0Conclude, in earnest, to prepare the way of the Lord, by
\nputting away all your sins and purifying your soul. Thus he
\nwill come and abide with you.<\/p>\n
Prayer:
\nWe adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.<\/p>\n
Monday
\nCONSIDER, first, that St. John the Baptist, the great forerunner
\nof our Lord, continually called upon the people to turn
\nfrom their evil ways, and “do penance : because the kingdom
\nof heaven was at hand.” He told them that they must “bringforth
\nworthy fruits of penance,” if they would “escape the
\nwrath to come;” and this without delay; for that “the axe was
\nlaid at the root of the tree;” and “every tree that did not bring
\nforth good fruit, should be cut down and cast into the fire.”
\nThe church still continues to repeat to all her children,
\nespecially at this holy time, these most important lessons of
\nthe Baptist.
\nConsider, secondly, that the virtue of penance which St.
\nJohn enforced, always was, and always will be, absolutely
\nnecessary in the conversion of a sinner : and it implies three
\nthings. First, the renouncing and detesting of all our sins, by
\nwhich we have offended our good God : secondly, a turning to
\nGod with our whole heart, and an offering of ourselves to him
\nfor time and eternity : thirdly, a resolution of satisfying, according
\nto our small ability, for past offences, by a penitential
\nlife. Christians, this must be our great business at this holy
\ntime, if we hope to prepare ourselves for Christ.<\/p>\n
Prayer:
\nLet the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tuesday
\n…the church, in celebrating the divine
\nmysteries three times over on Christmas-day, commemorates
\nthree different births of Christ: his eternal birth, from his
\nheavenly Father ; his temporal birth, from his virgin mother;
\nand his spiritual birth by grace, in the souls of the faithful.
\nThe best devotion for the time of Christmas, is that which conduces
\nmost towards this spiritual birth of Christ within our
\nsouls; and, of course, the best devotion ior advent is ]. to
\npurify them from sin : 2. to adorn them with virtue : 3. to invite
\nour Lord to take possession of them, by daily fervent
\nprayer.\u00a0Conclude to practice these lessons, to the best of your power.
\nAn advent thus spent will bring you a happy Christmas.<\/p>\n
Prayer:
\nO Lord come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wednesday
\nCONSIDER, first, that the miracles of Christ were wrought,
\nnot only to confirm our faith and hope in him, but likewise to
\ndirect our practice. For as the diseases and corporal infirmities
\nof this life, mystically represent the spiritual disorders of
\nour vices and passions; so we are taught by our Saviour’s miracles
\nin healing all kinds of bodily indispositions, to apply to
\nhim for the cure of the infirmities of the soul. These are the
\nfar more grievous evils of the two, and if not healed, are attended
\nwith far more dreadful consequences.
\nConsider, secondly, how our blessed Saviour “went about
\nall Galilee,” says St. Matthew, [iv. 23.] “healing all manner
\nof sickness, and every infirmity among the people; and his
\nfame went throughout all Syria. And there came to him great
\nmultitudes, having with them the dumb, the blind, the lame,
\nthe maimed, and many others; and they cast them down at his
\nfeet, and he healed them,” [Matth. xv. 30.] “And all the
\nmultitude sought to touch him; for virtue went out from him,
\nand healed all,” [Luke vi. 19.] Be assured he is no less able
\nor willing now to heal our souls, provided we apply to him
\nwith an humble confidence and earnest prayer.<\/p>\n
Prayer:<\/p>\n
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
\nThursday
\nConsider, thirdly, that as Christ came to deliver men from
\nthe tyranny and slavery of the devil, his miracles shone forth
\nprincipally in casting out evil spirits, in destroying the works<\/p>\n
of the devil, and in expelling Satan from his usurped dominions.
\nAlas! does not this most wicked one spiritually possess
\nthousands of Christians, by means of some or other of the capital
\nvices? Does he not lender many spiritually deaf and
\ndumb, with regard to the confession of their sins, and the calls
\nand inspirations of divine grace? Does he not bend them
\ndown to the earth by worldly affections, like the crooked woman
\nin the gospel? In these cases we must seek redress from
\nChrist by humble prayer.
\nConclude to study well the practical lessons, which may be
\nlearned from the miracles of our Lord, as well as the motives
\nthey afford for strenghtening your faith and hope.<\/p>\n
Prayer:
\nHoly, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with Thy Glory.<\/p>\n
Friday
\nCONSIDER, first, that the leprosy is a figure of sin; and the
\nprescriptions concerning it, in the book of Leviticus, were all
\nfigurative, and expressive of what was to be done under the
\nnew law, for the cure of this spiritual leprosy. The first mentioned
\nto have been cleansed by our Lord, “worshipped him,
\nsaying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And
\nimmediately his leprosy was cleansed,” [Matth. viii. 2, 3.]<\/p>\n
We see in this instance, that faith and humility are very efficacious
\nwith our heavenly physician. In the case of legal defilement,
\nthe leper, by the judgment of the priest, was separated
\nfrom the rest of the faithful, and was not to expect a cure without
\nthe most humble dispositions, and an exact compliance with
\nthe ceremonies prescribed: much more are the same dispositions
\nrequisite for the healing of the dreadful leprosy of sin.
\nConsider, secondly, that our Lord having cleansed the leper,
\nto teach us to avoid all ostentation and vain glory in doing
\ngood, said to him: “see thou tell no man; but go show thyself
\nto the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded.”<\/p>\n
Prayer:<\/p>\n
Give Thanks to the Lord for He is good for His Mercy endures forever.
\nSaturday
\nConsider, thirdly, how our Lord also cured ten other lepers,
\n[Luke xvii.] who applied to him with the like dispositions of
\nfaith and humility. These, too, he referred to his priests. But
\nout of the ten who received the benefit of a cure, only one re –
\nturned to glorify God, and give thanks to our merciful Redeemer:
\nthe rest ungratefully forgot their benefactor like many
\nChristians, who appear quite insensible of the favor of reconciliation,
\nand are thus in danger of a worse relapse even than
\nbefore!
\nConclude to dread and detest the spiritual leprosy of sin,
\nmore than any\u00a0other evil; and seek your cure with proper dispositions.<\/p>\n
Prayer:<\/p>\n
O Come let us worship and fall down before Christ, O Son of God, Who didst rise from the dead, save us who chant unto Thee, Alleluia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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