Darts of Fire: OR PROOFS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN US OF HIS LOVE IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION by St. Alphonsus Liguori III.  Neque per sanguinem hircorum aut vitulorum, sed per proprium sanguinem introivit semel in sancita, aeterna redemptione inventa. "Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by His Own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption."-----Heb. ix. 12   And of what worth would the blood of all goats or even of all men be, if they were sacrificed to obtain Divine grace for us? It is only the blood of this Man-God which would merit for us pardon and eternal salvation. But if God Himself had not devised this way to redeem us, as He did by dying to save us, who ever would have been able to think of it? His love alone designed it and executed it. Therefore holy Job did well to cry out to this God Who loves man so much: What is man, O Lord, that Thou dost so exalt him? Why is Thy heart so intent upon loving him? What is man that Thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost Thou set Thy heart upon him? [Job, vii. 17] Ah, my Jesus, one heart is but little with which to love Thee; if I loved Thee even with the hearts of all men, it would be too little. What ingratitude, then, would it be if I were to divide my heart between Thee and creatures! No, my love, Thou wouldst have it all, and well dost Thou deserve it; I will give it all to Thee. If I do not know how to give it Thee as I ought, take it Thyself, and grant that I may be able to say to Thee with truth, God of my heart. [Ps. lxxii. 26] Ah, my Redeemer, by the merits of the abject and afflicted life that Thou hast willed to live for me, give me true humility, which will make me love contempt and an obscure life. May I lovingly embrace all infirmities, affronts, persecutions and interior sufferings, and all the crosses which may come to me from Thy hands. Let me love Thee, and then dispose of me as Thou wilt. O loving heart of my Jesus! make me love Thee by discovering to me the immense good that Thou art. Make me all Thine before I die. I love Thee, my Jesus, Who art worthy to be loved. I love Thee with all my heart, I love Thee with all my soul. The Back spray takes you to the previous page and the Forward to the next.   E-Mail HOME-----------------------CHILDREN--------------------CHRISTMAS www.catholictradition.org/Christmas/darts-fire3.htm