Thursday, October 21 : Blessed Columba Marmion

One of the most precious results of the life of union with God is the keeping alive of the fire of love in the soul, not only the fire of divine love but also of charity towards our neighbor. By frequent contact with the furnace of substantial love the soul is set on fire for God’s interests and glory and for the extension of Christ’s reign in hearts. The true inner life makes us give ourself to souls as well as to God: it is the fount of zeal. When one truly loves God, one desires that he be loved, that his name be hallowed, his kingdom come in souls and his will be done in us, “may his name be hallowed, his kingdom come in souls, his will be done in everyone” (cf. Mt 6:9-10). The soul that truly loves God deeply resents the injuries that are done to the object of its love: “a fainting takes hold of it because of the wicked that transgress the divine law” (Ps 118:53 Vg.) It suffers at seeing the empire of the prince of darkness extended by sin, for Satan “as a roaring lion goes about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pt 5:8); he has accomplices into whom he breathes an incessant ardor, a zeal of hatred against the members of Jesus Christ (cf. Ps 68:10 Vg.) What, in fact, is zeal? It is an ardor that burns and is communicated, that consumes and is spread abroad; it is the flame of love — or of hatred — manifested by action. The soul inflamed with holy zeal spends itself for the interests of God without counting the cost, it strives to serve them with all its powers. And the more glowing this inward fire is, the more it radiates outwardly. This soul is animated with that fire which Jesus Christ came to cast upon earth and so ardently desires to see kindled in us (cf. Lk 12:49).
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team