Love of Jesus Christ
“If any man love not Our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema.” — 1 Cor. 16:22.
FOURTEENTH DAY.
There is nothing more salutary than to meditate each day upon the torments a Man-Gad has endured for us. The wounds of Jesus Christ pierce the hardest of hearts, they inflame the coldest. — St. Bonaventure.
St. Magdalene of Pazzi, meditating upon the sufferings of Jesus Christ, crucifix in hand, with ardent love cried out: “O Love! O Love! Never will my heart cease to tell Thee that Thou art its dear love.” With St. Philip Neri, let us often exclaim: “Jesus my love.”
A fervent Christian who knew not how to read astonished persons of piety by speaking to them of the adorable perfections of God, and of the love of Jesus Christ. One of these persons offered to teach him to read, so that he might be enabled to read books of devotion. He thanked him, saying, “Before accepting, I must consult my divine Master, Jesus crucified.” He did so. This was the answer he received: “What are the books you would read? What use to read? It is I Who am your book. In thinking of Me, you can always read the great love I have had for you. A God suffering and dying for your love — is not this sufficient to occupy you during life and during eternity?”
Prayer.
O my Saviour, all Thy wounds are so many mouths which tell me how guilty I am, how Thou hast loved me, and how grateful I should be. What shall I do to return Thy love?