Monday, December 16, 2019

Meditation On The Nativity Of Our Savior Christ: Of The Journey Of Our Blessed Lady The Virgin From Nazareth To Bethlehem POINT I ~ Luis de la Puente

JACOPO DI CIONE 
San Pier Maggiore Altarpiece: 
The Nativity 1370-71

Of the Nativity of our Savior Christ

THE XVI. MEDITATION.
Of the Journey of our blessed lady the Virgin from Nazareth to Bethlehem

THE I. POINT

First, for the foundation of the meditations ensuing, I will consider, how the word incarnate being in the womb of his mother, would make the newest, most admirable, and holiest entrance into the world, that ever was, or shall be, painful to himself, and profitable to us, to settle the foundation of that Evangelical perfection, which he was to preach. SO that his first, entrance into the world, was (as St. Cyprian seethe) a pattern of our first entrance into Christian religion, that his Disciples might enter by the way he entered, exercising those virtues that he exercised. And to this end he left all that the world loveth, and seeketh, and and seeketh. and sought forth all that which the world abhorreth, and flyeth. And therefore to be born, he disposed how to get out of Nazareth, to leave those commodities that he might have had, being born in the house of his mother, and among his kindred, and friends, where he could not have wanted the shelter of some warm lodging, and coverture, besides some daintiness for his nourishment, which John Baptist failed not of, being born in his fathers house. But he abandoned it all, demonstrating how much he abhorreth the pampering of the flesh, and what a lover he is of poverty: seeing he forsook that little that his poor mother had,and like a stranger would be born in Bethlehem, and in such a season, when all things should be wanting unto him. With this example I will confound myself, for being so great a lover of mine own commodities, and delicacies, that not only I do not fly from them, but I carefully seek for them, and if I find them not, I afflict myself.

O Jesus of Nazareth, flourishing with the flowers of celestial virtues, which comment out of Nazareth to abandon the flowers of earthly delights; I humbly beseech thee, by this thy coming from thence, that thou wilt be pleased to favor my imbecility, that I may renounce the flowers, and flatteries of my flesh, desiring only the flowers of thy virtues, with the which thou mayest so adorn my soul, that thou maiest vouchsafe to be born therein, Amen. 

Luis de la Puente  

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Meditation On The Expectation Of Our Saviors Nativity THE III POINT ~ Luis de la Puente


Of the Expectation of our Saviors Nativity

The XV Meditation.

Of the expectation of our blessed Lady’s delivery: and of the Preparation for the birth of our Savior Christ. For that in Spain, eight days before the birth of our Savior Christ, we celebrate the feast of the expectation of our Blessed Lady’s delivery I insert here this meditation for that day, and the days ensuing till the Nativity: in which we are to consider the lively desires that three persons had of this sovereign delivery, and birth: that is to say: the child: the Virgin: and St. Joseph: in whom are represented the faithful, that firmly believe thus mystery, and in their imitation desire to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate it.

THE III POINT

1. Thirdly, I am to consider the assured hope that our blessed Lady had, that her Virginity should suffer no loss by this birth, firmly believing, that as she was a Virgin in conceiving the Son of almighty God, without the work of man: so likewise should she be in bringing him forth, without any evidence of her virginal integrity; for the experience of what was passed, assured her of what was to come, remembering that both these things were jointly prophesied by the Prophet Isaias, saying Behold a Virgin shall conceive, & bring forth a Son, whose name shall be Emanuel, which is to say being interpreted, God with us. These words she might revolve within herself, & with great admonition might say: ‘Whence to me so great good, that I should be this miraculous Virgin? what, is it possible that I had conceived within me that very Son whom the eternal Father conceived within himself? And that this Emanuel is with me, whom so many have desired to be with them: and that without loss of my virginity, he should issue out of me, to be, and remain with all universally?’

Colloquy

I give thee thanks (o most blessed Emanuel, for having chosen this humble Virgin for thy Mother. O that the hour of thy birth were now come, for albeit as thou art man, thou issuest out of me, yet as thou art God, thou wilt always remain with me. With such affections as these might the blessed Virgin be inwardly touched at this time, this hope filling her with great alacrity, for the great love she bare to virginity.

2. From hence it proceeded that she was free from those fears, that other childing women have, and from those cares of their delivery, which use to afflict them with great pain: for she only was careful to prepare her soul with notable acts of virtue, the better to serve her son, and likewise to provide (as far forth as her poverty would permit her) for all things needful for his birth. In imitation of her, I am to prepare myself for the Nativity, that I expect of the Son of almighty God, removing those impediments that I shall find in my soul, and adorning it with excellent act of virtues, according to that which in the precedent points we have declared, and to that which holy Church commandeth on those days, with the very words of St. John Baptist. Prepare the way of our Lord: make straight his paths: every valley shall be filled, and every mountain & hill shall be made low: crooked ways shall become straight, & rough ways plain: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Which is to say: remove from you vices, that are contrary to the Savior that is born: and adorn you with virtues, like unto his. Remove the baseness of pusillanimity, the loftiness of pride, crooked intentions, and rough manners, endeavoring in all that is possible, to exhale your spirit to the highest with confidence, and to base it to the lowest with humility; directing your intentions to that which is heavenly, without any mixture of what is earthly; being meek, & gentle to all, without giving occasion of stumbling to any; for such is the Savior that is to be born, and with such dispositions you are to receive him. These four virtues opposite to the four contrary vices, I am to procure for the end aforesaid, by the meditation of our Blessed Lady the Virgin, saying unto her.

Colloquy

O most sacred Virgin, who with fervent desires expected the Nativity of thy Son, & with excellent works disposed thy self to behold, and to embrace him, negotiate for me, that I may remove from me the impediments of his coming, and may with great diligence prepare myself thereunto, Amen.

Luis de la Puente 

Friday, December 13, 2019

MEDITATION ON The Expectation Of Our Saviors Nativity THE II POINT ~ Luis de la Puente


Of the Expectation of our Saviors Nativity

The XV Meditation.

Of the expectation of our blessed Lady’s delivery: and of the Preparation for the birth of our Savior Christ. For that in Spain, eight days before the birth of our Savior Christ, we celebrate the feast of the expectation of our Blessed Lady’s delivery I insert here this meditation for that day, and the days ensuing till the Nativity: in which we are to consider the lively desires that three persons had of this sovereign delivery, and birth: that is to say: the child: the Virgin: and St. Joseph: in whom are represented the faithful, that firmly believe thus mystery, and in their imitation desire to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate it.

THE II POINT

1. Secondly, I will consider the fervent desires of the most sacred Virgin to see her Son born, and that the happy hour of his nativity was now arrived. First, that she might know face to face him, that was not only her Son, but the Son also of everliving God; to behold that sacred humanity that he had taken from her flesh, and to enjoy his excellent beauty.

2. Secondly, to adore him, to serve, and nourish him, and to do towards him the office of a mother, in gratitude for that great favor that he had done her, in electing her to that end. And therefore with great tenderness of heart she might apply to him that of the Canticles: Who shall give thee me (O my Son) Vt inueniam teforis, & deosouler te. that I may see thee out of this thy enclosure, to kiss thee, to cherish, and to serve thee, as thou does merit?

3. Thirdly, that the world might enjoy that good, that was enclosed in her: for albeit she exceedingly loved him, yet she would not have him for herself alone, but for all, because he was incarnate for all universality. And as Hop that is delayed afflicteth the heart, every day seemed to her a whole year: though on the other side she was most contented to contain him within her, understanding that such was hie pleasure. With these considerations I am to move my heart, and to awake therein fervent desire, that this Son of almighty God might be born spiritually within my soul, and within the soul of all men, that by all he might be adored, served, and loved, repeating to this end certain verses of the Psalms, and of the Prophets, which holy Church useth in the time of Advent: which are to say:

Awake o Lord, thy power, and make hast to save us. Would thou wouldest break these heavens, and descend, that in thy presence all my vices might be dissolved. O Heavens distill from on high this divine dew: O clouds rain for me this just one: and open o thou earth, and bud out to me this Savior: show thy mercy , o Lord, and graciously give me thy Salvation. To this purpose I may frame certain ejaculatory prayers, like to those which in these days the holy Church useth, in those seven Antiphons which are sung at Evensong, calling our Savior Christ by those names, which he holdeth as he is God, or as he is man, by reason of the offices he doth in those souls, whom he visiteth: And therefor I may say unto him:

O infinite wisdom, come to govern me in the way of heaven! O splendor of the glory of the Father, come to illuminate me with the splendor of thy virtues! O sun of justice, come to give light, and heat of life to him, that is seated in the shadow of death! O King of kings, descend to govern me! O master of nations, come to instruct me! O Savior of the world, make hast to save me. And in this form may be framed other such like petitions, according to the time, conforming myself herein to the spirit of the Catholic Church.

4. Finally, I may spiritlize the desires of the blessed Virgin, and of her Son whom she bare in her womb, quickening my desire, that those good purposes, which by the inspiration of the holy Ghost I have conceived, may come to light, and be effected in such time, place & season, as God shall require, absolutely conforming myself to his most holy will. For as the infant conceived, naturally desireth to come into the light of this world at his due time, and if he cometh not, he torments his mother, and dieth, endangering likewise herself; So the good purpose, which the holy Ghost inspireth me with of altering, or bettering my life, is as it were crying, and desiring to come to light in his due time. And if by negligence, or contempt, it be not effected, it torments the conscience with remorse, and useth to be an occasion of great falls, almighty God permitting them as a chastisement, for having extinguished the spirit, & the good purposes that proceeded from his inspiration. And hereupon the holy spirit saith, that Desires kill the slothful: that is, desires conceived by the virtue of almighty God, and not accomplished through our own sloth.

Luis de la Puente 

Thursday, December 12, 2019

MEDITATION ON The Expectation Of Our Saviors Nativity ~ Luis de la Puente


Of the Expectation of our Saviors Nativity

The XV Meditation.

Of the expectation of our blessed Lady’s delivery: and of the Preparation for the birth of our Savior Christ.

For that in Spain, eight days before the birth of our Savior Christ, we celebrate the feast of the expectation of our Blessed Lady’s delivery I insert here this meditation for that day, and the days ensuing till the Nativity: in which we are to consider the lively desires that three persons had of this sovereign delivery, and birth: that is to say: the child: the Virgin: and St. Joseph: in whom are represented the faithful, that firmly believe thus mystery, and in their imitation desire to prepare themselves worthily to celebrate it.

THE I POINT. 

First, I am to consider the most fervent desire that our Lord Jesus Christ had, being in the womb of his mother, to perfect, and bring to an end the business of our Redemption, and consequently to be born in the world, to frame all things according to the will of his Father. For even from his mothers belly that sentence was true, that afterwards he uttered: I am to be baptized with a baptism, o how am I straightened until it be dispatched? For howsoever his body was pressed, and straightened in that strait womb of his mother, his heart was much more pressed, and straitened with the force of this vehement desire: for which I ought to give him infinite thanks, and to be correspondent unto him, with such another hearty desire: truly to serve him. But notwithstanding this desire, he would not be born before the nine months, which is the time wherein commonly all other children are born. 

1. To conform himself unto all, and to suffer that prison entirely without omitting as much as a day: for in that which concerned suffering, he would use with himself no dispensation,exception, nor privilege; & therefore he would not be born at the seven months, nor at the eight, but at the nine months complete. 

2. For that he took all this time, as a time of retiredness for his entrance into the world, spending it in perpetual prayer, and contemplation. As he was retired forty days in the desert, before he manifested himself to the world by his preaching: advising us herin, how we ought to recollect ourselves, dedicating sometime to retired prayer, and to be vacant to God only, before we issue out in public, and begin any great enterprise: as likewise how we should recollect ourselves to celebrate with devotion his holy Nativity

Luis de la Puente