"A LITTLE WHILE AND YOU SHALL NOT SEE ME" (Gospel of Sunday, John 16)
There is nothing shorter than time, and yet nothing more valuable. There is nothing shorter, for the past is no more, the future is uncertain, the present only a moment. Jesus Christ said: A little time and now you shall not see me. We may say the same of our life which, according to St. James is a vapor which appears for a little while (James 4:15).
The Apostle St. Paul says The time is short, it remains that... they that weep be as though they wept not; that they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that used this world, as if they used it not (1 Corinthians 7:29, 31). Since, then, the time we have to remain on this earth is short, the Apostle tells those who weep that they ought not to week, because their sorrows shall soon pass away; and those who rejoice, not to fix their affections on enjoyments, because they shall soon have an end. Hence he concludes that we should use this world, not to enjoy its transitory goods, but to merit eternal life.
Son, says the Holy Ghost, observe the time and fly from evil (Ecclesiasticus 4:23). Son, learn to preserve time, which is the most precious and greatest gift that God can bestow upon your. St. Bernardine of Sienna teaches that time is of as much value as God; because in every moment of time well spent the possession of God is merited. He adds that in every instant of this life a man may obtain pardon of his sins, the graces of God, and the glory of Paradise. Hence St. Bonaventure says that "no loss is of greater moment than the loss of time."
But, on his part, St. Bernard Says that though there is nothing more precious than time, there is nothing more valuable in the estimation of men. You will see some persons spending four or five hours in play. If you ask them why they lose so much time, they answer: to amuse ourselves. Others remain half the day standing in a street, or looking out from a window. If you ask them what they are doing, they will say in reply that they are passing the time. And why, says the same Saint, do you lose this time? Why should you lose even a single hour which the mercy of God gives you to weep over your sins and to acquire Divine grace?
O time, despised by men during life, how much will you be desired at the hour of death, and particularly in the other world! Time is a blessing we enjoy only in this life; it is not enjoyed in the next; it is not found in Heaven or in hell. In hell the damned exclaim with tears: "O that an hour were given to us!" They would pay any price for an hour or for a minute in which they might repair their eternal ruin. But this hour or minute they never shall have. In Heaven there is no weeping; but, were the Saints capable of sorrow, all their wailing should arise from the thought of having lost in this life the time in which they could have acquired greater glory, and from the conviction that this time shall never more be given to them.
Oh God of my soul, what should be my lot at this moment had thou not shown me so many mercies! I should be in hell among the fools to whose number I have belonged. I thank Thee, O my Lord, and I entreat thee not to abandon me in my blindness. I feel that thou does tenderly call me to ask pardon and to hope for graces from thee., my savior, I hope thou wilt admit me among thy children. Father, I am not worthy to be called thy child! I have sinned against Heaven and before thee!
II.
St. Francis Borgia Was careful to employ every moment of his time for God. When others spoke of useless things, he conversed with God by holy affections; and so recollected was he that, when asked his opinion on the subject of conversation, he knew not what to answer to make. Being corrected for this, he said I am content to be considered stupid rather than lose my time in vanities.
Some will say a colon what evil am I doing? Is it not, I ask, an evil to spend your time in amusements, in conversations, and useless occupations which are unprofitable to the soul? Does God give you this time to waste it? Let not, says the Holy Ghost, the part of a good gift overpass thee (Ecclesiasticus 14:14). The laborers of whom St Matthew speaks did no evil; they only lost time, remaining idle in the streets. But they were rebuked: Why stand you here all day idle? (Matthew 20:6). On the day of Judgment Jesus Christ will demand an account, not only of every month and day that has been lost, but even of every idle word spoken. Every idle word that men shall speak they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). He will likewise demand an account of every moment of the time which you will lose. According to St. Bernard, all time not spent for God is lost time. Hence the Holy Spirit says: Whatsoever thy hand is able to do, do it earnestly: for neither work nor reason... shall be in hell, whither thou art hastening. What you can do today defer not till tomorrow; for tomorrow you may be dead, and may be gone into another world where you shall have no more time to do good, and where you shall only enjoy the reward of your virtues or suffer the punishment due to your sins. Today if you shall hear his voice harden not your hearts (Psalm 94). Obey his call today; for it may happen that to Morrow time will be no more for you, or that God will call you no more. All our salvation depends on corresponding with the Divine calls, and at the time that God calls us.
O my God, enlighten me! Give me to understand that the only evil is to offend Thee, the only good to love Thee. Enable me to spend the remainder of my days in serving Thee. O Mary, my hope, do thou intercede for me.
SALVE REGINA, MATER MISERICORDIAE! HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, MOTHER OF MERCY!
XIII. - MARY IS THE MOTHER OF PENITENT SINNERS.
Our Blessed Lady told St. Bridget that she was the Mother not only of the just and innocent, but also of sinners, provided they were willing to repent. Oh, how prompt does a Sinner who is desirous of amendment and flies to her feet find this good mother to embrace and help him, far more so than any earthly mother! St. Gregory VII wrote in this sense to Princess Matilda, saying: "Resolve to sin no more and I promise that undoubtedly thou wilt find Mary more ready to love thee than any earthy mother."
But whoever aspires to be a child of this great Mother must first abandon sin, and then may hope to be accepted as such. Richard of St Laurence, on the words of proverbs, up rose her children (Proverbs 31:28), Remarks that the words up rose came first, and then the word children to show that no one can be a child of Mary without first endeavoring to rise from the fault into which he has fallen; for he who is in mortal sin is not worthy to be called the son of such a Mother. And St. Peter Chrysologus says that he who acts in a different manner from Mary declares thereby that he will not be her son. "He who does not the works of his mother abjures his lineage." Mary Humble and he be proud; Mary Pure and he wicked; Mary full of charity and he hating his neighbor. He gives thereby proof that he is not, and will not be, the son of his holy Mother. The sons of Mary, says Richard of St. Laurence, are her imitators, and this chiefly in three things: in chastity, liberality, and humility; and also in meekness, mercy, and such like.
While disgusting her by a wicked life, who would dare to even wish to be the child of Mary? A certain sinner once said to Mary, "Show thyself a mother"; but the Blessed Virgin replied, "Show thyself a son." Another invoked Divine Mother, calling her the "Mother of mercy"; and she answered: "You sinners, when you want my help, call me 'Mother of mercy,' and at the same time do not cease by your sins to make me a 'Mother of sorrow and anguish.'" He is cursed of God, says Ecclesiasticus, that angereth his mother (Ecclesiasticus 3:18). "His mother, that is, Mary," says Richard of St. Laurence. God curses those who by their wicked life, and still more by their obstinacy in sin, afflict this tender Mother.
I say by their obstinacy; for if a sinner, though he may not as yet have given up his sin, endeavors to do so, and for this purpose seeks the help of Mary, this good Mother will not fail to assist him, and make him recover the grace of God. And this is precisely what St. Bridget heard one day from the lips of Jesus Christ, who, speaking to his mother, said: "Thou assists him who endeavors to return to God, and thy consolations are never wanting to anyone." So long, then, as a sinner is obstinate, Mary cannot love him; but if he, finding himself chained by some passion which keeps him a slave of hell, recommends himself to the Blessed Virgin, and implores her, with confidence and perseverance, to withdraw him from the state of sin in which he is, there can be no doubt but this good Mother will extend her powerful hand to him, will deliver him from his chains, and will lead him to a state of salvation.
THE PRACTICE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST.
XIX. - HOW MUCH WE ARE OBLIGED TO LOVE JESUS CHRIST.
I.
Our Lord said one day to St. Teresa: "Everything which does not give pleasure to me is vanity." Would that all understood well this great truth! Quote for the rest, one thing is necessary." It is not necessary to be rich in this world, to gain the esteem of others, to lead a life of ease, to enjoy dignities, to have a reputation for learning: it is only necessary to love God and to do His will. For this single end has He created us, for this He preserves our life; and thus only can we gain admittance into Paradise. Put Me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm (Canticles 8:6). The Lord thus speaks to all His espoused souls. Put Me as a seal upon thy heart and upon thine arm, in order that all thy desires and actions tend to Me; Upon thy heart, that no other love but Mine may enter there; upon thy arm, in order that all thou does may have Me for its sole object. Oh, how quickly does that soul speed onward to perfection which in all her actions regards but Jesus crucified, and has no other desire than to gratify Him!
II.
To acquire, then, a true love of Jesus Christ should be our only care. The Masters of the spiritual life describe the marks of true love. Love, they say, is fearful, and its fear is none other than that of displeasing God. it is generous, because trusting in God, it is never daunted even at the greatest enterprises for his glory. It is strong, because it subdues all evil appetites, even in the midst of the most violent temptations, and of the darkest desolations. It is obedient, because it immediately flies to execute the Divine will. It is pure, because it loves God alone, and for the sole reason that He deserves to be loved. It is ardent, because it would inflame all mankind, and willingly see them consumed with Divine love. It is inebriating, for it caused the soul to live as it were out of herself, as if she no longer saw, nor felt, nor had any more perception of earthly things, bent wholly on loving God. It is a unitive by producing a close union with the will of the creature and the Will of the creator. It is longing, for it fills the soul with desire of leaving this world, to fly and unite herself perfectly with God in her true and happy country, where she may love Him with all her strength.
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