Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/446



I. "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  with  thy  whole heart,  with  thy  whole  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind." (Matt. xxii.  37.)  God  wishes  us  to  make  Him  the  object of our  souls'  love,  and  hence  He  calls  us  His  beloved, His spouses,  and  His  sisters. " Open  to  Me,  My  sister, My  love." (Cant. v.  2.)  Love  is  gained  and  supported by love,  and  hence  the  disciple  of  love,  St.  John,  writes, " Let  us  love  God,  because  God  first  loved  us." (1 John iv.  19.)  This  God  "hath  loved  us  and  washed  us  from our  sins  in  His  own  blood." (Apoc. i.  5.)  Never  did mother love  her  infant,  nor  spouse  his  beloved,  so  affectionately as  God  loves  man. He makes  Himself  man's companion,  his  food,  his  ransom,  and  his  everlasting  reward. Surely a  Being  so  loving  deserves  to  be  loved " with  your  whole  heart,  with  your  whole  soul,  and with  all  your  mind."

II. To-day your  Beloved  will  enter  your  heart  in  the Holy Eucharist,  in  order  that  you  may  enjoy  His  conversation and  affectionate  entertainment  with  more  leisure. " If  any  one  loves  Me  he  will  keep  My  word,  and My  Father  will  love  him,  and  We  will  come  to  him  and make  an  abode  with  him." (John xiv.  23.)  Reflect  what an immensity  of  heavenly  graces  will  be  bestowed  on your  soul  by  His  remaining  with  you,  if  your  mind  be properly  disposed  to  receive  Him. God says  of  Himself, "With Me  are  riches  and  glory;  glorious  riches  and  jus-