Advent Meditation~By St. Alphonsus de Liguori (December 21)

[Dawn Marie]

THE MYSTERIES OF THE FAITH

THE INCARNATION

Discourse by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

December 21, 2014

Discourse 22

 

Affections and Prayers

 

O my despised Jesus!, by Thy example Thou hast done too much to render reproaches and contempt sweet in the eyes of those that love Thee. But how is it, then, that instead of embracing them, as Thou hast done, when I received some little contempt from men, I behaved with so much pride and took occasion from it to offend Thy Infinite Majesty, sinner and proud that I was? 

Ah, Lord, I see why it is; I did not know how to bear an affront patiently, because I did not know how to love Thee. If I had loved Thee truly, it would have been sweet and pleasing to me. But since Thou dost promise pardon to him who repents, I repent with all my heart of all the excesses of my life,---- a life so unlike Thine. But I desire to amend, and therefore I promise Thee to be willing to suffer patiently from this day forward all the contempt to which I shall be subject, for Thy love, O my Jesus!, who wast so much despised for the love of me.

 

I understand that humiliations are precious mines by which Thou dost enrich souls with eternal treasures. I deserve other humiliations and other reproaches for having despised Thy grace; I deserve to be trampled on by the devils. But Thy merits are my hope. I will change my life, and no longer displease Thee, henceforth, I will seek for nothing but Thy Divine pleasure.

 

I have deserved many times to be sent to burn in hell-fire; Thou hast waited for me till now, and, as I hope, hast pardoned me. Grant, therefore, that instead of burning in that unhappy flame, I may be inflamed with the blessed fire of Thy holy love. No, I will no longer live without loving Thee. Help me; let me not live any more ungrateful to Thee, as I have hitherto done. For the future I will love Thee only; I desire that my heart should belong to Thee alone. Ah, take possession of it, and keep it forever, that I may be always Thine, and Thou mayest be always mine, that I may Thee, and Thou mayest love me forever.

 

Yes, this is my hope, O my God!, that I shall always love Thee, and that Thou wilt always love me. I believe in Thee, Infinite Goodness!  I hope in Thee, Infinite Goodness! I love Thee, Infinite Goodness!

I love Thee and I will always say I love Thee. I love Thee, I love Thee, and because I love Thee, I will do all I can to please Thee. Dispose of me as Thou wilt.

All I ask is, that Thou wouldst give me grace to love Thee, and then do with me as Thou pleaseth.

 

Thy love is, and always shall be, my only treasure, my only desire, my only good, my only love. Mary, my hope, Mother of beautiful love, do Thou help me in loving the God of love with all my heart and forever.