From the Expectation of labour and wishes of our Lady.
DAILY MEDITATIONS
OF THE MYSTERIES
OF OUR HOLY FAITH,
By the P. Alonso de Andrade
OF 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.
Meditation
From the Expectation of labour and wishes of our Lady.
FIRST POINT. The first considers the desires that the Blessed Virgin had from the first moment of her Conception, in which the use of reason was accelerated, and prevented with the grace and divine illustrations that the desired of the centuries came into the world and what was to be the health of the people; which desires were always continuing and growing, at the rate that grew in charity and holiness; and at the time of childbirth they would be like a powerful river when it flows into the sea, and like a great fire that has been baiting it Continuously, whose flames reach the sky, so would be the ardent desires of the Blessed Virgin Mary to see, have, serve, worship and revere the Saviour of the world. Ponder that she did not want her for herself alone, but for the whole orb, like Saint Simeon for the health of Israel, and learn from this heavenly Teacher, what your desires and the jobs of your heart must be, not in earthly and transitory things, but in the divine and heavenly and in the universal good of your brothers.
POINT II. Consider how the Blessed Virgin joined the wishes with prayers, prayers, moans and holy works, for all of which she deserved that God shortened the deadlines, and came to remedy the world, fulfilling what she says through the mouth of David (1): By the mercy of the needy and by the moan of the poor I will rise later, says the Lord: and so he got up and came for the moans and prayers of the Virgin. Ponder what she revealed to Saint Elizabeth, a widow, as St. Bonaventure writes, who spent much of the night and day on prayer and desires to see and know the one who was to be so happy that she deserved to be Mother of the Saviour, burning herself in lively desire to serve her as her slave, judging herself very vilely, and considering herself unworthy to serve her, and asking the Lord to grant her this grace; and for this humility and these desires she deserved to be chosen for Mother of the Saviour whom she wanted so much: from all which you have to get desires to serve To God and those who serve him, and fervour of spirit to accompany them with holy works, prayers and mortifications, if you wish to have a good achievement from them.
POINT III. Consider the hope so firm that the Queen of the angels had to achieve what she wanted; and although the Wise man says (2): That the hope that dilates the soul, did not grieve our Lady to dilate hers, before with great equality of courage and tranquillity of her spirit she hoped in God that she would fulfil her desires, increasing every day prayers, moans, prayers, penances and holy works, I confirm hope of achieving what she wanted; from whom you must learn to have long-simity in your desires, and trust in your requests to achieve what you ask and You want: trust in the Lord, even if it is delayed, and you will see good achievement of your requests.
POINT IV. Consider that as the time of childbirth approaches, the desires of the Blessed Virgin to see and serve the desire of the people would increase, just as the stone runs with great speed, the closer it gets to its centre, and would repeat those words of the Songs (3): Who will give you, oh my brother, the earring of my mother's chest? And that just as flames rise from the fire, in the same way from the fire of the desires of the Blessed Virgin rose flames of requests and continuous moans and prayers, asking for the world the Saviour; and God fulfilled his desires, as Moses his request, giving him in his hands the manna of heaven for the health of men. Consider at this point, that just as the flowers are the beginning of the fruit, so the desires are the seed of the works, and to whom God wants to make mercy, he first gives wishes of them, and the more they grow, it is a greater indication that God shortens the deadlines to give him mercy; look, do not fail the desires that God gives you, but esteem them as garments of his mercies and the graces that he wants to make you: raise your heart to God, and ask him for perseverance in your desires, spirit and fervour to put them to work and receive in your soul his divine visitation.
(1) Salt. 11. (2) Prov. (3) Cant.
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 into practice. My Mother Immaculate, Saint Joseph, my father and lord, my guardian Angel: intercede for me.
Daily offer of works
Come Holy Spirit
It inflames our hearts
In the redeeming longings of the Heart of Christ
So that we really offer
Our people and labours
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.
Church of the Saviour of Toledo at 21:00:00
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