MEDITATIO

That angels exist is attested by many pages of Holy Scripture (…). It must be realized that the word ‘angel’ is the name of an office, and not of a nature (…) since they are angels only when something is announced through them. Those who make minor announcements are called angels, those who make important ones are called archangels. Hence it is that not just any angel was sent to the Virgin Mary but that Gabriel the archangel was sent: it was right that the proper one for this role should be of the highest rank of angels since he was to announce the greatest news of all. (…) Whenever a mighty deed is in question, Michael is assigned, so that by his actions and name, which means “Who is like God?”, it may be made known that no one can do what God can do. So in the case of our ancient enemy, who in his pride wanted to be like God when he said: ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will make myself like the Most High’ (Is 14:13): when he is shown to be condemned to eternal punishment at the end of the world, he is described as about to do battle with Michael, as Saint John says : ‘War broke out with Michael the archangel. The Dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and it was thrown down to earth’ (cf. Rv 12:7-9). Gabriel was sent to Mary, for Gabriel means ‘Strength of God’. He came to announce him who deigned to be lowly so as to wage war on the spiritual powers of the air. He who came as God of power and as one strong in battle (Ps 24[23]:8) was to be announced by Gabriel, the strength of God. Finally Raphael is interpreted as ‘Healing of God’, since he wiped away the shadows of blindness from Tobias when he touched his eyes to cure him. The one who is sent to cure, was indeed worthy of the name ‘Healing of God’.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

Christ is “the way and the door” (Jn 14,6; 10,7); Christ is the ladder and the vehicle (…), “the mystery hidden from eternity” (Mt 13:35). Whoever turns his face fully to the Mercy Seat and with faith, hope and love, devotion, admiration, exultation, appreciation, praise and joy beholds him hanging on the cross: such a one makes the Pasch, that is, the Passover, with Christ (cf. Mk 14:14). By the staff of the cross he passes over the Red Sea (cf. Ex 14:16) (…). In this passing over, if it is to be perfect, all intellectual activities must be left behind and the height of our affection must be totally transferred and transformed into God. This, however, is mystical and most secret, which “no one knows except him who receives it” (Rv 2:17), no one receives except him who desires it, and no one desires except him who is inflamed in his very marrow by the fire of the Holy Spirit whom Christ sent into the world. And therefore the Apostle Paul says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:10). But if you wish to know how these things come about, ask grace not instruction, (…) darkness not clarity, not light but the fire that totally inflames and carries us into God by ecstatic unctions and burning affections. This fire is God, and “his furnace is in Jerusalem” (Is 31:9), and Christ enkindles it in the heat of his burning passion. (…) Whoever loves this death on the cross can see God because it is true beyond doubt that “Man will not see me and live” (Ex 33:20). Let us, then, die and enter into the darkness; let us impose silence upon our cares, our desires and our imaginings. With Christ crucified let us pass “out of this world to the Father” (Jn 13:1) so that when the Father is shown to us, we may say with Philip: “It is enough for us” (Jn 14:8). Let us hear with Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor 12:9). Let us rejoice with David saying: “My flesh and my heart have grown faint; You are the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion forever” (Ps 73[72]:26).

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

     “As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you,” (Is 66:12-13). The mother embraces her children and we seek out our own mother, the Church. Anything weak and helpless, whose weakness needs supporting, is sweet and vulnerable and endearing: God does not refuse his help to anything so young. Parents devote particular gentleness to their little ones; (…) in the same way, the Father of all creation gathers to himself all who take refuge in him, regenerates them by his Spirit and adopts them as his sons. He knows how gentle they are and they are the ones he loves, helps and protects; that is why he calls them his little children, (cf. Jn 13:33). The Holy Spirit, speaking through the mouth of Isaiah, applies the expression “child” to the Lord himself: “For a child is born to us, a son is given us (…)” (Is. 9,5). Who is this child, then? This newborn infant in whose image we, too, are children? Through the same prophet, the Spirit describes his greatness: “Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace,” (v. 6). Oh great God! Oh perfect child! The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son. How could the teaching this child gives not be irreproachable? It includes us all to guide us all, his children. He has stretched out his hands to us and we have placed in them all our faith. To this little child John the Baptist himself also gave testimony: “Behold,” he said, “the Lamb of God,” (Jn 1:29). Since Scripture has called children ‘lambs’, it has called “Lamb of God” the Word of God who became man for us and who wanted to become like us in all things, the Son of God himself, the child of the Father.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team