The Sonship of Christ

 "God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law . . . that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. iv. 4, 5). The Son of God became Son of man so as to make all of us sons of God. We were outcasts, criminals under sentence of punishment, absolutely devoid of any claim to supernatural grace or heavenly glory, "by nature the children of wrath" (Eph. ii. 3). Now we have become children of God, not indeed by nature, but by adoption, on account of Jesus Christ being our brother in the flesh. 

Our duty next is to make this more perfect by the exercise of good works, which constitute a practical and active resemblance to God.

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The Royalty of Christ

Jesus Christ is not only our Pontiff in spirituals, He is King and supreme ruler of mankind in temporals: because "there is no power but from God." 

Your duty is to resist the rising tide of evil, to help the cause of good and happiness, by fidelity to Christ the King, and by promoting His reign.

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The Priesthood of Christ

"Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedec."

This priesthood is "for ever," because the oblation continues for ever in heaven and on earth. 

The eternal sacrifice as it goes on amongst us, is according to the order of Melchisedec, under the forms of bread and wine.

This is the "clean oblation" (of flour), which the prophet said would be offered among the Gentiles in every place, from the rising of the sun to its setting (Mal. i, 11). Venerate Our Lord as the eternal Priest, always offering the sacrifice of the Mass, invisibly but really, and inviting you to be present at it. There is no event so holy or so efficacious on earth; nothing that corresponds so exactly with the actual facts of heaven.

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The Prayer of Christ

The Gospels remind us continually of the long, frequent, and fervent prayers of Our Lord. This is meant for our example, and we should learn to consider prayer as the most pressing and important of our duties. 

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The Subjection of Christ

 

He had no possessions of His own, no home. He was sold for the price of a slave, was clothed as a buffoon and exposed to derision. He was scourged like a slave, and suffered the death of a slave. 

What He endured ought to have been your lot for ever; you deserved it, and except for Our Lord's substitution of Himself for you, you would have had to endure it.  

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For Whom Christ Merited

Consider the little you have done, and recognize that it was through Him. 

Consider how much you ought to do, and be certain that you can do it all in Him that strengtheneth you.

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The Merits of Christ

Merit and satisfaction belong to the deeds of the present life only, and cease as soon as we enter eternity. 

You are able to merit by every action of your life. By fervor and love you can make the smallest things great, and in the sight of God fulfill a long time in a few years.

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The Will of Christ

"I lay down My life . . . and I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment I have received from My Father"

There is no true freedom without subordination. Your highest liberty consists in willing subjection to the supremacy of God.

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The Sinlessness of Christ

One of the singular glories of Our Lords Humanity is that He is "holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens" for the body and soul of Jesus Christ are the body and soul of God the Son.

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The Infirmities of Christ

Think how much Our Lord must have suffered beyond what has been recorded. When you suffer such things remember that He endured them too, and unite yourself to Him.

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The Power of Christ

Jesus is present always in His Church, and with you personally when in the state of grace. His power is communicated to you according to your needs. "He that believeth in Me, the works that I do he shall do also" (John xiv. 12). What perfect confidence and fearlessness this should give you!

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The Intellect of Christ

Our Lord possessed the most perfect and powerful of created minds, but He concealed it brilliance, and He employed it solely for religious ends.

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The Graces and Virtues of Christ

 

There is some special aspect of Our Lord's life, which you are called upon to represent, some particular virtue for which you have a facility, some work corresponding to one of His. He will point it out to you if you beseech Him, and will give you strength to follow in His footsteps. 

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Divine Love in The Incarnation

 

The Incarnation is the chief exhibition of God's wonderful love for men; and thus it is that Holy Scripture sets it forth: "God so love the world as to give His only begotten Son" (John iii. 16).

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The Circumstances of The Incarnation

 

Picture to yourself the place where this mystery occurred. Go in spiritual pilgrimage to the lowly village among the hills of Galilee. Imagine its narrow, winding, unpaved streets, the humble whitewashed cottages with their flat roofs, the gardens beside, the wide view taking in Mount Carmel, Hermon, and the broad rich plain of Esdraelon. It is one of the holiest spots on earth. 

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The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin

 

"Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?"The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin was indeed like the dawn, caused by the sun, and announcing the approach of day. Mary appeared, the early reflection, by her grace and sinlessness, of the first beams of the Sun of justice.

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Speculations on The Atonement

Which were the sins that necessitated the Atonement by Christ? 1. Chiefly original sin. This had been the axe at the root of the tree; it had cut mankind off from the supernatural life in its source; it had subverted the original design of God; it had broken the final link of the chain that bound the universe to God; it deprived God of the service and glory of the whole human race.

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The Hypostatic Union & Atonement

 

The goodness of God requires that whatever happens, good should predominate over evil.  

All our action apart from God is worthless and destructive. Without religion all human talent and good intentions are positively noxious.

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The Hypostatic Union

Rejoice in the great glory and honor and happiness possessed by the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Union with Him will be your highest glory, and honor, and happiness, on earth and in heaven.

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The Fact of The Incarnation

We might well ask, "How shall this be done?" And the only answer is the angel's, "No word shall be impossible with God." The Almighty is not limited in His works to such things as we can understand. His action does not need to be seen and approved by us in advance. His wisdom is infinite to devise such a thing. 

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