January 6
The Epiphany of the Lord. (Mt 2.)
DAILY MEDITATIONS
OF THE MYSTERIES
OF OUR HOLY FAITH,
By the P. Alonso de Andrade
FROM THE COMPANY OF JESUS.
PRAYER TO BEGIN
By the sign of the Holy Cross, from our enemies delier us, Lord, our God. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
My Lord and my God: I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me. I adore you with deep reverence. I ask you for forgiveness of my sins and grace to make this time of prayer fruit. My Mother Immaculate, Saint Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian Angel: intercede for me.
January 6
Meditation
The Epiphany of the Lord. (Mt 2.)
The Holy Gospel says: when Christ was born, the wise men of the East came to worship him, guided by a star; King Herod was troubled, and with him all his court; together with counsel, and by his order he sent them to Bethlehem; the star appeared to them that they had seen in the East with the great joy of their souls; they arrived and worshiped Jesus, offered him their gifts, and having notice of heaven, they returned by another way to their land.
POINT ONE. Consider how in the first place God called to recognize his Son the angels and shepherds, and then the kings and wise men, Anne the prophetess and Simeon priest, and bringing from all states to worship Christ, because he rises like the same sun for all, and he calls everyone, and you to come to his service, without having an excuse for being poor or rich, for noble or plebeian, for seclesiastical or ecclesiastical; he calls everyone, for everyone is born, do not refuse to seek and serve him, but with all diligence offer yourself to his service.
POINT II. Consider how he called these kings by means of a star, and the first light of his rays they resolved to leave their lands, vassals, riches and comforts, and take such a long and laborious path, to come to worship Christ, and to offer themselves to his service, and learn from his fervent obedience to come to Christ, and to seek him at the expense of any work, then I will call you through the star of his inspiration, and to the first light that he will give you of his holy vocation: put your hand on your chest, and consider how many times you He has called, and how many you have resisted him, making you deaf to his voice: be ashamed that the Gentiles give you the advantage in answering him and serving him, and do not give him longer, but with spirit soon and surrendered tell him with Samuel (1): Speak, Lord that your servant hears: and with St. Paul (2): Lord, what do you want me to do? Here I offer myself everything to your service, and as your slave.
POINT III. Consider, that upon arriving in Jerusalem, King Herod's court the star disappeared, and on the way out, it reappeared and guided them to bring them to the presence of Christ, because the light of heaven and the inspirations of God disappear from the soul with the bustle of the court, and recover outside it in the solitude and retreat of secular business: in the courts of the kings, in their palaces and in the treatment of his courts, the devotion and light of disappointment to seek Christ is lost; and outside of them it is found in Solitude and silence, in the recollection and retreated prayer with God: get into account with yourself, and look dispassionately how many times you have lost the peace of your soul and the light of disappointment and good purposes and the star of the knowledge of God and the appreciation of the eternal goods that guided you to heaven, for entering the court and the frequency of the peoples and in the businesses of the century: and because the remedy is to flee from them, resolve with these holy kings to get out of the traffic and bustle of the world, and to leave All secular business and retire to procure the business that matters most to you, which is that of your salvation, and you will find the star of devotion and the light of disappointment that will lead you to the presence of the Lord, until you join him: lately ask him for grace to achieve this grace and strength to execute this advice so useful for your soul.
POINT IV. Consider in that happy portal Christ the Child in the hands of the Blessed Virgin and in the company of St. Joseph, and the holy kings, kneeling at his feet, worshiping him for God and offering him his gifts: enter with meditation inside their hearts, and contemplate the joy they would have when after such a long and laborious journey they found the jewel they were looking for and saw their eyes to the desired of the centuries: they would not get tired of looking at him, and they would be bathed in an immense sea of joy, they would offer Christ their gifts and much more their hearts to serve him eternally, and The Lord would return them thousands of graces and favors, enriching them with faith, hope, charity, strength, light and heavenly wisdom, knowledge and appreciation of eternal goods and contempt of the temporal, and a burning zeal to bring the whole world to the knowledge and service of Christ. Listen carefully to the colloquiums they would have with the Blessed Virgin, and with the glorious Saint Joseph the days they were there, and take out of these honeycombers sweet honey of devotion for your soul: recognize how important it is to follow the star of the holy inspiration to come to Christ and the joy above all joy received by those who give themselves from their service from the heart and the top of all the virtues, and offer your heart to him with these holy kings and as much you possess and have, and you will receive an eternal reward.
(1) 1R. 3 (2) Act. 8.
PRAYER TO END EVERY DAY
I thank you, my God, for the good purposes, affections and inspirations that you have communicated to me in this meditation. I ask you for help to put them to work. My Mother Immaculate, Saint Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian Angel: intercede for me.
Daily offer of works
Come Holy Spirit
Inflames our hearts
In the redeeming longings of the Heart of Christ
So that we really offer
Our people and works
In union with Him
For the redemption of the world
My Lord and my God Jesus Christ
For the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I consecrate myself to your Heart
And I offer myself with you to the Father
In your Holy Sacrifice of the altar
With my prayer and my work
Today's sufferings and joys
In reparation for our sins
And that your Kingdom may come to us.
I ask you in particular
For the Pope and his intentions,
For our Bishop and his intentions,
For our parish priest and his intentions.