“I pray not for the world, but for them whom Thou hast given Me; because they are Thine—They are not of the world as I also am not of the world. And not for them only do I pray but for them also who through their word shall believe in Me. That they all may be one as Thou, Father, in Me, and I in Thee; that they also may be one in us” (John 17, 9, 16, 20-21).
First Prelude: In spirit, enter the Supper Hall and with greatest reverence listen to our Divine Saviour’s prayer to His heavenly Father for His disciples and for all who should in future believe in Him.
Second Prelude: O my Divine Saviour, replenish us with Thy Holy Spirit that by charity and concord we may foster intimate union with Thee to the best of our ability.
First Point
JESUS DESIRES TO SAFEGUARD US AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD
Our infinitely compassionate Saviour prayed “not for the world,” but for all men that they might cease to live according to its spirit. His words: “I pray not for the world,” corroborate the woe that He had pronounced upon it on a former occasion. Who loves the world is an enemy of God. He makes light of sin, which is always an infinite offense against the infinite love of God. The Apostle St. John accordingly admonishes us: “Love not the world, nor the things which are in this world. If any man love the world the charity of the Father is not in Him” (John 1, 15). The worldling incessantly strives for its transitory goods. He is a victim of pride, independence, and gratification of the sensual appetites, and is utterly unfit to receive the spirit of God. What an incentive for us to renounce the false maxims of the world as we once did in Baptism through our sponsor! We renewed these solemn promises on the day of our first Holy Communion and confirmed them on entering religion. It were dangerous self-deception, however, to consider ourselves secure in our present holy state, and to imagine that in the seclusion of the cloister we have nothing to fear.
JESUS DESIRES TO SAFEGUARD US AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD
Our infinitely compassionate Saviour prayed “not for the world,” but for all men that they might cease to live according to its spirit. His words: “I pray not for the world,” corroborate the woe that He had pronounced upon it on a former occasion. Who loves the world is an enemy of God. He makes light of sin, which is always an infinite offense against the infinite love of God. The Apostle St. John accordingly admonishes us: “Love not the world, nor the things which are in this world. If any man love the world the charity of the Father is not in Him” (John 1, 15). The worldling incessantly strives for its transitory goods. He is a victim of pride, independence, and gratification of the sensual appetites, and is utterly unfit to receive the spirit of God. What an incentive for us to renounce the false maxims of the world as we once did in Baptism through our sponsor! We renewed these solemn promises on the day of our first Holy Communion and confirmed them on entering religion. It were dangerous self-deception, however, to consider ourselves secure in our present holy state, and to imagine that in the seclusion of the cloister we have nothing to fear.
Let us be on our guard—the prejudices of the world and its errors can gain access even to the cloister. Let us aspire to the virtues that are diametrically opposed to the worldly spirit, namely, religious modesty, simplicity, filial piety, lively faith, firm hope, and ever increasing love. Let us esteem holy poverty, religious obedience, and purity of heart which flees from the mere shadow of sin and shuns dangerous occasions. Even the smallest of these acts of virtue is of more value than a thousand worlds. We will, therefore, practice these virtues in union with our Divine Saviour and like Him we, too, shall glorify the Father. Thus, our dear Lord Himself shall be glorified through us, as He was glorified in His Apostles and all the saints.
Could it be possible that I, who am called to glorify the heavenly Father and His only begotten Son, should further be remiss and negligent in His service? Dare I presume to have fully conquered the spirit of the world and acquired the spirit of Christ? How deeply am I indebted to our Divine Saviour for having extricated me from the dangers of the world! What shall constitute my return for this inestimable grace?
Second Point
JESUS PRAYS THAT HIS DISCIPLES MAY BE ONE
“Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me: that they may be one as we also are” (John 17, 11). Thus spoke Jesus, manifesting at once His burning desire to see love and concord reign among all who claim to belong to Him. He prays for His Apostles and all the faithful of His Church, that they may be one, also, in the externals of divine worship by observing the same liturgy and rites. We all should be of one heart, one soul and one body, whose head is Jesus. How great and sublime is our Holy Catholic Church for this reason, alone! In her is mirrored faithfully the unity of the Blessed Trinity.
Oh, how our heart expands when we think of the communion of the faithful on earth with all who have gone before us and are yet to come after us! Daily we commemorate this communion of saints, the fruit of Christ’s prayer to His heavenly Father. How great is our obligation as religious to sacrifice all, to preserve and foster perfect conformity of minds and hearts among us, which makes for true happiness in religious life! What a glorious spectacle for heaven and earth, what joy for the Saviour to realize His Heart’s desire so pre-eminently in the hearts of those whom He has overwhelmed with graces! In His infinite love He prays, also, for us that where He is, we may be; where the head is, there the members must be.
In this world, however, the Saviour can be found in renunciation, in humiliations, in sufferings and self-denial. Only thus could He enter into His glory. Would we share His glory with Him in the next world, then we must walk the paths that He once trod—the narrow and difficult paths of self-denial. Behold, my soul, the work you must accomplish, if the Saviour’s prayer is to be effectual in you.
Do I follow my Saviour in privations, in poverty, in the self-denial inseparable from obedience and renunciation? Am I not occasionally at fault when charity is disturbed in the community?
Affections: O my God, sever me ever more and more from this perverted world, inspire me with hatred of its errors and false maxims, that this aversion may preserve me from imbibing its spirit, and assist me in evading its snares. Thy Divine Heart, O Jesus, shall be my secure refuge. Let me become ever more closely riveted to Thee. Give this grace to all my fellow religious, that we may all be one among ourselves as Thou art one with the Father. O blessed union of all the faithful here below, of all the members with their head, be the pledge and the commencement of that eternal felicity, for which the Saviour besought His heavenly Father in His pontifical prayer!
Resolution: We will shun the spirit of the world and live in sincere love and harmony with our fellow religious.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me; that they may be one as we also are.”
Prayer: Our Father . . .
JESUS PRAYS THAT HIS DISCIPLES MAY BE ONE
“Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me: that they may be one as we also are” (John 17, 11). Thus spoke Jesus, manifesting at once His burning desire to see love and concord reign among all who claim to belong to Him. He prays for His Apostles and all the faithful of His Church, that they may be one, also, in the externals of divine worship by observing the same liturgy and rites. We all should be of one heart, one soul and one body, whose head is Jesus. How great and sublime is our Holy Catholic Church for this reason, alone! In her is mirrored faithfully the unity of the Blessed Trinity.
Oh, how our heart expands when we think of the communion of the faithful on earth with all who have gone before us and are yet to come after us! Daily we commemorate this communion of saints, the fruit of Christ’s prayer to His heavenly Father. How great is our obligation as religious to sacrifice all, to preserve and foster perfect conformity of minds and hearts among us, which makes for true happiness in religious life! What a glorious spectacle for heaven and earth, what joy for the Saviour to realize His Heart’s desire so pre-eminently in the hearts of those whom He has overwhelmed with graces! In His infinite love He prays, also, for us that where He is, we may be; where the head is, there the members must be.
In this world, however, the Saviour can be found in renunciation, in humiliations, in sufferings and self-denial. Only thus could He enter into His glory. Would we share His glory with Him in the next world, then we must walk the paths that He once trod—the narrow and difficult paths of self-denial. Behold, my soul, the work you must accomplish, if the Saviour’s prayer is to be effectual in you.
Do I follow my Saviour in privations, in poverty, in the self-denial inseparable from obedience and renunciation? Am I not occasionally at fault when charity is disturbed in the community?
Affections: O my God, sever me ever more and more from this perverted world, inspire me with hatred of its errors and false maxims, that this aversion may preserve me from imbibing its spirit, and assist me in evading its snares. Thy Divine Heart, O Jesus, shall be my secure refuge. Let me become ever more closely riveted to Thee. Give this grace to all my fellow religious, that we may all be one among ourselves as Thou art one with the Father. O blessed union of all the faithful here below, of all the members with their head, be the pledge and the commencement of that eternal felicity, for which the Saviour besought His heavenly Father in His pontifical prayer!
Resolution: We will shun the spirit of the world and live in sincere love and harmony with our fellow religious.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Holy Father, keep them in Thy name whom Thou hast given Me; that they may be one as we also are.”
Prayer: Our Father . . .
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