Darts of Fire: OR PROOFS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS GIVEN US OF HIS LOVE IN THE WORK OF REDEMPTION by St. Alphonsus Liguori VI. Per viscera misericordiae Dei nostri, in quibus visitavit nos Oriens ex alte. "Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us."-----Luke, i. 78 Behold, the Son of God comes on earth to redeem us, and He comes stimulated alone by the bowels of His mercy. But, O God! if Thou hast compassion on lost man, is it not enough that Thou shouldst send an Angel to redeem him? No, says the Eternal Word, I will come Myself, that man may know how much I love him. St. Augustine writes: " For this reason chiefly did Jesus Christ come, that man should know how much God loves him." [De catech. rud. c. 4] But, my Jesus, even now that Thou hast come, how many men are there who truly love Thee? Wretch that I am, Thou knowest how I have hitherto loved Thee; Thou knowest what contempt I have had for Thy love. Oh that I might die of grief for it! I repent, my dear Redeemer, of having so despised Thee. Ah, pardon me, and at the same time give me grace to love Thee. Let me no longer remain unmindful of that great affection which Thou hast borne me. I love Thee now, but I love Thee but little. Thou dost merit an infinite love. Grant me at least that I may love Thee with all my strength. Ah, my Saviour, my joy, my life, my all, whom should I love if I love not Thee, the infinite Good? I consecrate all my wishes to Thy will; at the sight of the sufferings Thou hast undergone for me, I offer myself to suffer as much as it shall please Thee. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver me from sin, and then dispose of me as Thou wilt. I love Thee, infinite Good, and I am content to receive any punishment, even to be annihilated, rather than to live without loving Thee. 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-fire6.htm