February 2

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MEDITATION FOR FEBRUARY 2

CONTINUATION OF CHRIST’S DISCOURSE AT THE LAST SUPPER

“I am the true vine and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He will take away; and every one that beareth fruit, He will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15, 1-2).

First Prelude: Again enter the Cenacle, and listen attentively to Christ’s touching words.

Second Prelude: O my God, cleanse my soul more and more of its imperfections, that it may be worthy of intimate union with Thee, which Thou desirest so ardently.

FIRST POINT

JESUS THE TRUE VINE

Jesus calls Himself the Vine and us the branches. As the sap is transmitted from the trunk to the branches, and nourishes and fructifies them, so we, through the grace of our Blessed Saviour and intimate union with Him, receive the strength to produce fruits of salvation. Oh, glorious union of all the faithful with Christ! What superabundance of fruits of eternal life have been brought forth by the Apostles, the martyrs, all the saints and all fervent souls who fostered union with Him! All their thoughts, words, and actions, all their sufferings, were exceedingly precious in the sight of God and were treasured up for an eternal reward. Without this union we cannot bring forth fruit, can do nothing good, nothing meritorious of heaven.

Though united with Jesus through faith and sanctifying grace, we must, nevertheless, make an effort, through recollection and frequent remembrance of the presence of God, to draw these bonds more closely. Because of lack of zeal, of defective intention and all manner of imperfections, which so easily vitiate our otherwise good actions, distracted souls bear little fruit. Recollected souls, on the contrary, are the constant recipients of new grace, because they present no obstacles to the Divine Giver. Jesus continually pours forth in their souls His enlivening, strengthening, and consoling stream of graces, thus qualifying them for the greatest sacrifices and insuring the most glorious fruits. He does this particularly in Holy Communion.

Oh, how should we strive to foster this holy union, this interior spirit, in an exalted degree, in virtue of which all our actions, even the smallest and most indifferent, acquire great worth in the sight of God. Why have we so little comprehended the value of holy recollection, practiced it so negligently and consequently, yielded so little fruit? Shall not the heavenly Vintner when He will seek fruit, find only wild grapes in our vineyard?

SECOND POINT

THE VINES MUST BE PRUNED THAT THEY MAY YIELD ABUNDANT FRUIT

Contemplate the loving activity of the heavenly Father in souls who live in intimate union with His Son. Even in the most perfect, He finds many defects, which He would have them correct. Consequently He seeks to purify them by the chastisements of a severe but beneficent Providence,—by crosses and sufferings, persecutions, manifold reverses, even the sacrifice of one’s honor and good name. Then, again, He frustrates their plans, deprives them of divine consolation, of loved ones, who apparently are indispensable. All these means have been wisely chosen; and are calculated to detach our hearts from creatures, and to afford us ample opportunity to bring forth purer and more precious fruits of virtue. Oh, that we would contemplate the various incidents of life, the daily little crosses from this view-point! How often do we experience even in this life that love prompts God to deal thus with us?

We must be grateful to Him for everything and surrender ourselves wholly to His divine and paternal Providence, and often say with St. Augustine; “Lord, here cut, here burn, but have mercy on me in eternity.” We must deem ourselves happy to be purified in this life and thus, as far as possible, to escape the purging flames of purgatory. At the same time, we must fear, by lack of devotion, by continual distraction, and insensibility to the inspirations of grace, to sever ourselves wholly from the Vine and consequently to wither away in tepidity. Let us, rather, remain closely united with Jesus through a lively faith and self-immolating love that we may yield rich fruits and thus give glory to the heavenly Father.

Do I recognize the loving hand of our heavenly Father in the painful incisions made by crosses and reverses? Do I bear them in the spirit of faith, and do I seek to further my purification and sanctification by voluntary acts of oblation and self-denial?

Affections: O my God, I offer Thee my heart that Thou mayest cut away what is unworthy of Thee and opposed to my perfection. I will endeavor to accept, in a spirit of faith, all the trials that Thy love will send me, and to surrender myself to the loving guidance of Divine Providence. Thou, O my Saviour, art the Fountainhead of the supernatural life of Thy elect; only in union with Thee, can I bring forth fruits of virtue and sanctification. Oh, impart to me generously of the divine, life-giving sap of Thy grace. Let me remain in Thee, and effect Thou in my soul that I may give joy to Thee by my good works, and promote the honor and glory of the heavenly Father.

Resolution: I will strive to remain intimately united with Jesus by interior recollection, and will accept gratefully the sufferings He imposes upon me for my sanctification.

Spiritual Bouquet: “He that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit.”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary. . .