Monday, September 22 : Blessed Columba Marmion

Let us keep our eyes unceasingly fixed on the divine ideal; let us work to realize within ourselves the perfection to which God wishes us to come in order to imitate his divine Son. He is the form of our eternal predestination, and for each one of us there exists “a measure according to which Christ is to be given to us” (cf. Eph 4:7). Here below we do not know what this measure is, what is the measure of our predestination fixed by God. But without question it is going to form Christ in us, to reproduce the characteristics of the unique ideal that the Father himself indicates regarding us. If we are faithful in laboring at this work, despite temptations and difficulties, the day of reward promised by God will sound for us. (…) If we have had that constant application which love brings to the perfect fulfilment of our heavenly Father’s wishes, if we have done “always the things that please him” (Jn 8:29), we shall receive the magnificent reward promised by him who is Faithfulness itself: “Well done, good and faithful servant: because you have been faithful over a few things, enter into the joy of your Lord; I will give you a share in a great many goods” (cf. Mt 25:21). All the saints, on entering heaven, hears these blessed words; these are the welcome they receive from Christ Jesus. And what are the good things in which Our Lord gives a share? God himself, in his Trinity and his perfections, and, with God, all spiritual good. The soul will be like God for it will “see him as he really is” (1 Jn 3:2). Through this ineffable vision which succeeds to faith the soul will be fixed in God and will find in him the divine stability. It will be for ever knit in a perfect embrace to the supreme and immutable Good, without the fear of ever losing him.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team