Wednesday, February 2 : Saint Bernard

Offer your son, O sacred virgin, and present to the Lord the blessed fruit of your womb. Offer the holy victim, pleasing to God, for the reconciliation of us all. (…) But this offering, brothers, seems to be so sweet; it is but presented to the Lord, redeemed by birds and at once carried away! The day will come when this child will no longer be offered in the Temple, nor in Simeon’s arms, but outside the city in the arms of the cross. The day will come when he will not be redeemed by the blood of a sacrifice but redeem others with his own blood., for God sent him for the redemption of his people. That will be the evening sacrifice; this is the morning sacrifice; this one is the happiest but that one is the most complete; for this one was offered at the time of birth and that one will be offered in the fullness of time, (…) But what shall we offer, brothers, what shall we give him for all the benefits he has given us? He offered the most precious victim he possessed for our sake; in truth he could not have had anything more precious. So let up, too, do what we can, let us offer him the best we have, that is to say, ourselves; he offered himself so who are you to hesitate to offer yourself? But who could allow that so great a majesty has deigned to receive my offering? I have only two things to offer you, Lord: my body and my soul; might I perfectly offer them to you as a sacrifice of praise? It is a benefit for me and is much more glorious and worthy of being offered to you than of being left in my hands. For in myself, my soul is troubled, but in you my spirit will leap for joy if it is truly offered.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team