Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/102

 without taking  further  notice. 2. Others  heard  and  admired what  the  shepherds  related;  but,  being  occupied with what  they  conceived  to  be  of  greater  importance, thought no  more  of  the  subject. 3. The  shepherds  came and adored  with  lively  faith  and  spiritual  joy;  but  afterwards returned  to  their  usual  occupation,  and  no  more is heard  of  them. 4. Only  the  blessed  Virgin  and  St. Joseph  remained  and  pondered  each  particular  of  the mystery. Examine to  which  of  these  classes  you  belong, or would  wish  to  belong.

"Behold thy  Saviour  cometh;  save  me,  O  God,  by  Thy  name." (Is. lxii.  11;  Ps.  liii.  3.)

I. "  His  name  was  called  Jesus"  (Luke  ii.  21),  that  is. Saviour. With good  reason  did  He  receive  this  name; for on  this  day  He  first  shed  His  blood,  which  was  to be  completely  drained  from  His  sacred  body  on  Calvary. On that  occasion  was  fulfilled  the  prophecy  of  the  Psalmist: "With  Him  there  is  plentiful  redemption. "  (Ps. cxxix.  7.)  If  the  patriarch  Joseph,  and  some  others,  be styled  saviors  in  Holy  Writ,  because  they  delivered  the people from  famine  or  temporal  death,  with  how  muck more reason  does  this  appellation  belong  to  Christ,  who has done  all  that  was  necessary,  on  His  part,  to  deliver the whole  world  from  everlasting  death! " He  shall  save His  people  from  their  sins." (Matt. i.  21.)

II. This Saviour  will  visit  you  to-day  in  the  holy  Eucharist, "to  save  your  soul  out  of  distresses"  (Ps.  xxx.  8); to deliver  you  from  your  spiritual  enemies;  and  to  give you strength  and  courage  to  surmount  every  obstacle  to salvation. He will  purify  you  with  His  sacred  blood,