Can we reflect a little on what the Saints have taught us, on why the Passion of Our Lord Jesus, and the contemplation of His Sorrows and Suffering is perhaps the best and most efficacious remedy for sin and the surest and an almost infallible means of advancing in holiness? From: http://www.passioiesus.org/en/santos/citas_santos.htmSt. Alphonsus writes: "He who desires", says St. Bonaventure, "to go on advancing from virtue to virtue, from grace to grace, should meditate continually on the Passion of Jesus." And he adds that "there is no practice more profitable for the entire sanctification of the soul than the frequent meditation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ."St. Augustine also said that a single tear shed at the remembrance of the Passion of Jesus is worth more than a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year of fasting on bread and water."Several other Saints have said the same, like St. Paul of the Cross, and St. Peter Alcantara: "The remembrance of the most holy Passion of Jesus Christ is the door through which the soul enters into intimate union with God, interior recollection and most sublime contemplation..."
"The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. "The greatest and most overwhelming work of God's love."
"The most holy Passion of Jesus Christ is the most efficacious means to convert obstinate sinners."
"The holy sufferings of Jesus is a sea of sorrows, but it is also a sea of love. Ask the Lord to teach you to fish in this sea. Immerse yourself in it, and, no matter how deeply you go, you will never reach the bottom. Allow yourself to be penetrated with love and sorrow. In this way you will make the sufferings of the gentle Jesus your own. Fish for the pearls of the virtues of Jesus. This holy fishing is done without words." 8th April, 1758
In the passion of our blessed Saviour, six things chiefly are to be meditated upon. First, the bitterness of his sorrow, that we may compassionate with him. Secondly, the greatness of our sins, which were the cause of his torments, that we may abhor them. Thirdly, the greatness of the benefit, that we may be grateful for it.
Fourthly, the excellency of the divine charity and bounty therein manifested, that we may love him more fervently. Fifthly, the conveniency of the mystery, that we may be drawn to admiration of it. Lastly, the multiplicity of virtues of our blessed Saviour which did shine in this stupendous mystery, that we may partly imitate and partly admire them; wherefore, in the midst of these meditations, let us sometimes compassionate with our blessed Saviour in the extremity of his sorrows; extreme indeed, both by reason of the tenderness of his body, as also, for the great affection he bore unto our souls.
He did suffer them without any manner of consolation, as we shall speak hereafter in its proper place. Sometimes let us stir up in ourselves compunction for our sins, which were the cause of his great sufferings. Sometimes let us kindle in our souls an ardent affection, considering his great affection towards us, which upon the cross he declared and manifested to the whole world. And the benefit which he bestowed upon us in his passion, because he bought us with the inestimable price of his precious blood, of which only, we reap the benefit and commodity.
St. Francis De Sales: "The death and passion of Our Lord is the sweetest and most constraining motive that can animate our hearts in this mortal life... so, in the glory of heaven above, next to the Divine goodness known and considered in itself, Our Saviour's death shall most powerfully ravish the blessed spirits in the loving of God."And Fr. Thomas Kempis: "The religious who concerns himself intently and devoutly with our Lord's most holy life and passion will find there an abundance of all things useful and necessary for him. He need not seek for anything better than Jesus."And St. Montfort has taught us, "Blessed Albert the Great learned in a revelation that by simply thinking of, or meditating on, the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a Christian gains more merit than if he had fasted on bread and water every Friday for a whole year, or had beaten himself with his discipline once a week until the blood flowed, or had recited the whole Book of Psalms every day. If this is so, then how great must be the merit that we can gain by the Holy Rosary which commemorates the whole life and passion of Our Savior!" Let us therefore also try to often say especially the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary during this Sorrowful time leading up to the Passion and console Our Saviour. https://www.michaeljournal.org/articles/roman-catholic-church/item/the-secret-of-the-rosaryWhat are your thoughts, dear friends, on this subject? As we prepare to enter Holy Week and the holiest of all days, what can we better learn about the efficacy of keeping the Lord's Passion ever before our mind and hearts, and how best can we make it the object of our continual meditation?
Topic: The Saints on meditation on the Passion as the best means to advance in holiness (Read 253 times)