Page Meditations for particular times and days of the year. Eight Meditations on the great mystery of the Incarna- Nine Meditations, one for each day of the Novena. Chaplet to be recited before each Meditation Page Med. III. On the poverty of Jesus from the time of his birth 175 Med. IV. On the humble life which Jesus began in his infancy 177 Med. VIII. On the life of Jesus in Egypt and at Nazareth 184 Med. IX. On the birth of Jesus in the stable of Bethlehem 185 On the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. On Jesus crowned with thorns and treated as a mock king 224 II. On divine love as a light which enlightens us III. On divine love as a fountain which satisfies our thirst 252 IV. On divine love as the dew which fertilizes our souls 254 V. On divine love as repose which refreshes us ....... 255 VI. On divine love as the virtue which strengthens us .. 257 VII. On divine love inducing God to dwell in our souls.. 258 VIII. On divine love as a sacred bond which binds us.... 260 IX. On divine love as a treasure containing every good.. 262 1. On the love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament 266 II. On Jesus residing upon our altars that he may III. On the great gift of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament 270 VI. On the desire of Jesus Christ to be united with July 2. On the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin.. 282 August 15. On the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin 283 September 8. On the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.. 285 September 29. On St. Michael.... Nov. 21. On the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin.. 292 Chap. I. On the means of continuing in the grace of God 296 V. The practice of conformity to the will of God.. 337 VI. The practice of purity of intention VII. The practice of avoiding tepidity.. Darts of Fire: or, proofs given us by Jesus Christ of THE WAY OF SALVATION. PART I. MEDITATIONS SUITABLE FOR ALL TIMES IN THE YEAR. Meditation First. On eternal Salvation. I. OUR most important affair is that of our eternal salvation; upon it depends our happiness or misery for ever. This affair will come to an end in eternity, and will decide whether we shall be saved or lost for ever; whether we shall have acquired an eternity of delights, or an eternity of torments; whether we shall live for ever happy, or for ever miserable. O God, what will my lot be? Shall I be saved, or shall I be lost? I may be either. And if I may be lost, why do I not embrace such a life, as may secure for me life eternal? O Jesus, thou didst die to save me; yet have I been lost, as often as I have lost thee my sovereign good: suffer me not to lose thee any more. II. Men esteem it a great affair to gain a law-suit, to obtain a post of honour, or to acquire an estate. Nothing, however, which will end with time, deserves to be esteemed great. Since therefore all the goods of this world will one day end in our regard; as we shall either leave them, or they will leave us; that affair alone should be esteemed great, B upon which depends eternal happiness or eternal misery. O Jesus, my Redeemer, cast me not away from thy face, as I have deserved! I am indeed a sinner; but I am grieved from the bottom of my heart for having offended thy infinite goodness. Hitherto I have despised thee, but now I love thee above all things. Henceforth, thou alone shalt be my only good, my only love. Have pity on a sinner who penitently casts himself at thy feet and desires to love thee. If I have grievously offended thee, I now ardently desire to love thee. What would have become of me, if thou hadst called me out of life, when I had lost thy grace and favour? Since thou, O Lord, hast shown so much mercy to me, grant me grace to become a saint. III. Let us awaken our faith in a heaven and a hell of eternal duration: one or other will be our lot. O God, how could I, knowing that by committing sin I was condemning myself to eternal torments, how could I sin so often against thee and forfeit thy grace? Knowing that thou art my God and my Redeemer, how could I, for the sake of a miserable gratification, so often turn my back upon thee? O God, I am sorry above every evil for having thus despised thee. I love thee above every good, and from henceforth, I will suffer the loss of all things rather than lose thy friendship. Give me strength to continue faithful. And do thou, O Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for me and assist me. Meditation Second. On Sin, as it dishonours God. I. BY transgression of the law thou dishonourest God. Rom. ii. 23. When the sinner deliberates |