Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/91

 "Be ashamed "  (it  was  the  reflection  of  St.  Bernard), " that  the  display  of  so  much  kindness  does  not  cause  in you  a  joy  corresponding  to  that  inflamed  desire,  which the  mere  promise  excited  in  the  hearts  of  the  ancient Saints."

II. What expectation  a  devout  soul  ought  to  entertain of having  Christ  spiritually  born  in  itself  by  grace! "What is  my  hope?  is  it  not  the  Lord?" (Ps. xxxviii. S.)  In  this  expectation  we  ought  to  employ  all  the faculties of  our  souls:  our  memories  and  understandings should attentively  consider  His  admirable  virtues  and perfections: our  wills  should  be  exercised  in  ardent  affections of  love,  and  in  desires  of  representing  in  ourselves what  we  behold  in  Him,  in  order  that-  we  may with the  Apostle  "  behold  the  glory  of  the  Lord  with  face uncovered,  and  be  transformed  into  the  same  image." (2 Cor.  iii.  18.)

III. We ought  not  to  content  ourselves  with  mere  affections and  desires,  for  by  these  we  only  conceive Christ; but  we  must  bring  Him  forth  by  actions. We must labor  in  the  exercise  of  Christian  perfection  "  till Christ  be  formed  in  us." (Gal. iv.  19.)  If  our  desires do not  display  themselves  in  acts  of  virtue,  they  will  only torture our  consciences  and  prove  our  ruin. "Desires," says the  Wise  Man,  "kill  the  slothful." (Prov. xxi.  25.) Encourage yourself,  therefore,  and  inflame  your  heart with the  antiphons  of  the  Church  used  during  this  holy time. "O wisdom,  which  issued  from  the  mouth  of  the Most  High,  extending  from  end  to  end  mightily,  and sweetly  disposing  all  things,  come  and  teach  us  the  way of  prudence,  etc."