Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Cardinal, founder of the Oratory in England, theologian
Twelve meditations and intercessions for Good Friday, 9-10
"My heart is moved with pity for the crowd"
Inspired Scripture has told us: “You have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook the sins of men that they may repent, For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made… But you spare all things because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls,” (Wis 11:23ff.). Now see what it is that causes him to come down from heaven and gives him the name of Jesus…: “You are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins,” (Mt 1:21). It is his great love for men, his compassion for sinners: this is what causes him to come down from heaven.
So why should he consent to veil his glory within a mortal body had he not ardently desired to save those who had gone astray and lost all hope of salvation? He himself says: “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost,” (Lk 19:10). Rather than leave us to perish, he has done all that an all-powerful God could do according to his divine attributes: he has given his own self. And he loves us all to such an extent that he wanted to give his life for each one of us, as absolutely, as fully as if there had been but one, single person to save. He is our best of friends…, the only true friend, and he has exercised all possible means to ensure that we should love him in return. He refuses us nothing so long as we consent to love him…
O my Lord and Saviour, in your arms I rest secure. If you keep me, I have nothing to fear; but if you abandon me I have nothing left to hope for. I have no idea what will happen to me as I await my death; I know nothing of what is to come; but I entrust myself to you… I lean entirely on you since you know what is good for me. As for me, I do not know.
Daily Marriage Tip for December 5, 2018:
When you receive Christmas cards in the mail, pray that evening for the people who sent the card. Display the cards visibly in your home to remember those family members and friends throughout Advent.