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Now to receive from these motives a profound and
strong heat of love, it is necessary:
1. that after having considered one of them in a
general way, we apply it in particular to ourselves.
For example: O how amiable this great God is, who out
of his infinite goodness gave his son for the whole
world's redemption! Yes, indeed for all in general,
but in particular for me, who am the first of
sinners.(1) Ah! he hath loved me, yea, I say, he hath
loved even me, even me myself, such as I am, and
delivered himself to his Passion for me.(2)
2. We must consider the Divine benefits in their
first and eternal source. O God! Theotimus, what love
can we have sufficiently worthy of the infinite
goodness of our Creator, who from all eternity
determined to create, preserve, govern, redeem, save
and glorify all in general and each in particular?
Ah! what was I then when I was not? What was I? who
now being something am yet but a simple and poor worm
of the earth? And still God from the abyss of his
eternity thought thoughts of benediction in my
behalf? He considered and designed, yea determined,
the hour of my birth, of my baptism, of all the
inspirations that he would bestow upon me; in a word,
all the benefits he would do and offer me. Ah! is
there a sweetness like unto this sweetness?
3. We must consider the Divine benefits in their
second and meritorious source; for do you not know,
Theotimus, that the High Priest of the Law wore upon
his back, and upon his bosom, the names of the
children of Israel, that is, the precious stones upon
which the names of the chiefs of Israel were engraven?
Ah! behold Jesus our chief bishop, and see how, from
the instant of his conception, he bore us upon his
shoulders, undertaking the charge of redeeming us by
his death, even the death of the cross.
O Theotimus, Theotimus, this soul of Our Saviour
knew us all by name and by surname; but above all in
the day of his Passion, when he offered his tears,
his prayers, his blood and his life for all, he
breathed in particular for thee these thoughts of
love: Ah! my eternal Father, I take to myself and
charge myself with all poor Theotimus's sins, to
undergo torments and death that he may be freed from
them, and that he may not perish but live. Let me
die, so he may live; let me be crucified so he may be
glorified. O sovereign love of the Heart of Jesus,
what heart can ever bless thee as devotedly as it
ought!
Thus within his maternal breast his divine heart
foresaw, disposed, merited and obtained all the
benefits we have, not only in general for all, but
also in particular for each one, and his breasts of
sweetness provided for us the milk of his influences,
his attractions, his inspirations, and the
sweetnesses by which he draws, conducts and nourishes
our hearts to eternal life.
Benefits do not inflame us unless we behold the
eternal will which destines them for us, and the
Heart of Our Saviour who has merited them for us by
so many pains, especially in his death and passion.
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