Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament Leads a Life of Sacrifice

JESUS CHRIST IN THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT LEADS A LIFE OF SACRIFICE.

(For the Third Day of the Novena.)

The sacrifice of the cross lasted a few hours. Jesus Christ renews it every moment in the Eucharist, since the holy Mass is celebrated every moment in some part or other of the world. Thus the life of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament may be called a continual life of sacrifice; in which He Himself is both priest and victim. We will then meditate,—first, what share the heart of Jesus has in this Sacrifice of itself: and—secondly, what a strong invitation this is to our heart to sacrifice itself for Jesus.

Preparatory prayer.—As usual.

First Prelude.—View Jesus Christ in the Sacrament as a lamb placed on the altar to be sacrificed, and flames issuing from His Heart, with which, like a victim, it is consumed.

Second Prelude.—Beg of Him to make you understand well the value of His Sacrifice, and to give you courage to imitate Him by the sacrifice of your whole self to His love.

POINT I.

1. The love of Jesus Christ for His divine Father, and for us was the principal cause of the Sacrifice of the cross; but the envy and hatred of His enemies and executioners had also a share in it. But here it is love alone that does everything. This new sacrifice is, then, entirely the invention and work of His loving Heart alone. The essential interest of the divine glory and of man's redemption, was already infinitely satisfied by the sacrifice of the cross.

   i. Why then is it thus continually and for so long a time renewed? Ah! what sufficed to satisfy the infinite justice of the Father, was not, however, sufficient to satisfy the infinite love of the loving Heart of the Son. In order to be sacrificed on the cross, it was sufficient that He left His enemies in ignorance of His Majesty, for had they known Him to be the God of glory, they would never have crucified Him; but in order to sacrifice Himself again in the Blessed Sacrament, it is necessary for Him to conceal His humanity itself from His dearest friends.

   ii. And then why not content Himself with this renewal of His Sacrifice once in the year, as He is satisfied that the memory of His other mysteries should be renewed in the Church once a year? Or why not at least provide in this His new sacrifice for His own divine honour? Why accomplish it with a concealment that exposes Him to many irreverences and sacrileges? And then, why—Ah! how infinite are the difficulties that His greatness and our unworthiness opposed to this Sacrifice; nothing could overcome them but the excessive love of a heart insatiable in loving us.

2. Do you understand now, my cold, blind, ungrateful soul, the share the Heart of Jesus Christ has in His continual sacrifice of Himself for us in the Blessed Sacrament?—Admiration, thanksgiving, and desire of correspondence.

POINT II.

1. The life of sacrifice that the Heart of Jesus Christ lives for you in the Blessed Sacrament, is an invitation that urges you to enter upon a similar life of sacrifice for Him. If you desire to answer the call, you have nothing to do but to imitate Him. It is His love for you that every day sacrifices Him: love Him, and you too will easily sacrifice yourselves for Jesus. Ah! consider attentively that these repugnances to trifling sacrifices are a sign of your little love for Him. What other reason is there why retirement, poverty, and obedience, are disagreeable to you? What other reason is there why it costs you so much to subdue a resentment, an affection, a dislike? During so many years of religious life, you have never, alas! tasted a drop of that ineffable joy which souls that love Jesus Christ experience in suffering. Unhappy soul! do this at least: begin to sacrifice yourself, in order to learn how to love Him.

2. Every little sacrifice produces a new degree of love in us, which moves us and strengthens us for a more noble sacrifice. Provided only the soul perseveres with some constancy in her little efforts, the loving heart of Jesus Christ loses patience in thus inflaming her heart by slow degrees. A day suddenly comes when He purposely puts her in the occasion of making an heroic sacrifice to Him, and provided only she has resolution to attempt it, He enkindles in her heart one of those flames of His love, which animates her to some great action that becomes the beginning of her sanctity. This is the ordinary way of the sanctification of souls. Consider it well, as it is less difficult than it appears.

3. Compare the sacrifices of Jesus Christ with those you have an opportunity of making at present. If yours are at present small, what a shame to refuse to make them! If they are great, ah! happy soul! this is the day on which Jesus Christ wishes to begin your sanctification, and consequently this is a happy day for you. Fix your eyes on that tabernacle where dwells your only good, your Spouse, your God sacrificed for you; and speak to that adorable Heart with that confidence and familiarity you have learnt from yesterday's meditation, and resolve.