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| Prayer Before and Prayer After |
The Resurrection of Our Lord, the Type of Our Spiritual Resurrection
“For we are buried together with Him by baptism into death; that as Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6, 4).
First Prelude: Behold our Divine Lord issuing triumphantly from the sealed tomb.
Second Prelude: O mighty Conqueror of death and hell, give me courage and strength to overcome the obstacles to my spiritual resurrection.
First Point: Our Spiritual Resurrection
Our Divine Saviour rose from the tomb to a new and perfect life to teach us that we must rise from the grave of sin and tepidity, to a new and zealous life. The Apostle exhorts us thereto, with the words: “As Christ is risen from the dead by the glory of the Father; so may we also walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6, 4). When Jesus rose from the dead, He loosened the linens that bound Him; we, too, must tear asunder the fetters that bind us to creatures, to the goods, honors, and pleasures of this world if we would lead a new life. It is true, we have chosen the solitude of the cloister and exteriorly renounced all things, but there remains still much to be done, before we shall have completely disengaged our heart from all earthly affections.
Our own corrupt nature, more than the world, is opposed to our spiritual resurrection; it is, in truth, a heavy stone, the crushing weight of which often bears us down. Daily, yes hourly, we feel this two-fold law within us, of which the Apostle says: “For I know there dwelleth not in me; that is to say, in my flesh, that which is good. For to will, is present with me; but to accomplish that which is good, I find not” (Rom. 7, 18). If we desire to pray, lift up our hearts to God, nature drags us down to earth. We should like to hold our tongue, but nature entices us to speak idle words; we are inclined humbly to submit, to obey, to be meek, amiable, patient, forbearing, but nature rebels. How often have we grown disheartened and discouraged at this ever-recurring task, forgetting that if there were no difficulty in the spiritual life, there should, likewise, be no real virtue. The Evil One, in league with perverse nature, seeks ever to hinder our spiritual resurrection. He guards the entrance to our heart to suppress our every virtuous effort in its incipiency. But let us not be disheartened,—Jesus, Who in His glorious resurrection vanquished death and hell, is with us, and “we can do all things, in Him Who strengtheneth us.” Do I recognize the chief obstacle to my spiritual resurrection? What stone weighs down my heart and bars the way to my progress in virtue?
Second Point: Our Spiritual Resurrection Must Be Generous and Permanent
During the forty days of Our Lord’s sojourn on earth after His resurrection, He repeatedly appeared to His Apostles and disciples, to convince them that He was truly risen, by allowing them to touch Him, and by eating with them. Our spiritual resurrection must, likewise, be real; we must in reality rise from an imperfect life to a life of fervor. But how can this be done? By exercising ourselves in all sincerity in the virtues opposed to our predominant fault,—by humbling ourselves on occasions that formerly indulged our pride, by punctuality in the daily regulation. Doing this, we will co-operate with the abundant graces Jesus imparts to us in this stupendous mystery. Oh! that we may not relapse into our former faults and sins and thus run the risk of missing the lofty aim, the object of our desires in religion. Let us beseech our Blessed Lord to imbue us with generosity and with fervor that will not relax but, rather, become intensified under trials and hardships. Prayer will secure for us His Divine assistance, which is indispensable for the accomplishment of the least good. He will not only send us an angel, but Himself, the gloriously risen Saviour, will aid us with His omnipotent hand, provided we are of good will.
Which are the marks of my spiritual resurrection from the grave of sin, negligence, and tepidity?
Affections: O my Jesus, Thou hast vanquished my enemies, conquer every obstacle that my perverted heart presents to the merciful operations of Thy grace, that I may rise with Thee to a new spiritual life, and henceforth walk in the path of holiness. Thou, my Divine Redeemer, knowest best what huge boulders bar the way to the complete, happy transformation of my heart. Thou knowest what imperfections hold my corrupt nature captive. Thy grace has frequently impelled me to amend my life, but owing to the weakness of my will, I have succumbed to the assaults of my enemies, and relapsed into the grave of tepidity and imperfections. O my Saviour, of myself I can do nothing, but do Thou confirm in me unbounded trust in Thy almighty grace, for with it I can do all things.
Resolution: I will combat that fault particularly which is most opposed to my spiritual resurrection.
Spiritual Bouquet: “For if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are in heaven and not those of earth.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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