Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/94

 appeared  to  mankind  first  clothed  in  flesh;  but  now  He communicates  Himself  to  you  under  the  form  of  bread, in order  to  impart  to  your  soul  the  living  bread  of  immortality. Approach, then,  this  divine  mystery  in  such a manner  that  this  little  one  may  again  be  born  in  your heart; and  convince  yourself  that  this  will  be  the  case,  if you  begin  to  lead  a  life  conformable  to  His  own;  if  you love nothing  but  what  He  loved,  so  that  you  may  be  able to say,  with  the  Apostle,  "  I  live,  now  not  I;  but  Christ liveth  in  me." (Gal. ii.  20.)

III. In order  that  you  may  enjoy  this  little  one,  you must become  such  a  one  yourself. " Amen,  I  say  to you,  unless  ye  be  converted,  and  become  as  little  children, ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven." (Matt, xviii.  13.)  "Be  little  in  your  own  eyes,"  that  you may be  the  "  head  of  the  tribes  of  Israel"  (1  Kings  xv. 17),  that  is,  great  among  the  Saints. To such  as  these only God  communicates  the  secrets  of  His  wisdom. "I give thanks  to  Thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth," says Christ  Himself,  "  because  Thou  hast  hidden  these things  from  the  wise  and  the  prudent,  and  hast  revealed them  to  little  ones." (Matt. xi.  25.)  And  David  says: " The  testimony  of  the  Lord  is  faithful,  giving  wisdom to  little  ones." (Ps. xviii.  8.)

I. The  blessed  Virgin  having  entered  into  the  stable  at Bethlehem,  and  perceiving  the  time  of  her  happy  delivery approaching, was  wholly  fixed  upon  God,  in  high  contemplation, when  the  eternal  Word  made  His  first  appearance upon  earth. The divine  Infant  issues  from  His  mother's womb,  without  detriment  to  her  virginal  integrity,