The Saint Maker Series: Daily Paschal Meditations from the Works of St. Alphonsus

By St. Alphonsus Liguori

We are calling this 'the saint maker series' because everyone that has read it has developed a greater love and devotion to Our Lord than they had before. The morning mediation is to be done sometime in the morning. The evening in the evening and the spiritual reading section either midday or whenever pos

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sensus Fidelium Press
• Release date: Mar 20, 2024
• ISBN: 9798869267740

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The Saint Maker Series

Daily Pascha Meditations from the Works of St. Alphonsus

St. Alphonsus Liguori

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Copyright © 2024 Sensus Fidelium Press

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Originally published by R. Washbourne, London and M. H. Gill & Son, Dublin, Ireland. The Sensus Fidelium Press edition has been retypeset, updated spelling & language. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-962639-56-9

For more information, please visit sensusfideliumpress.com

Daily Prayers

Morning and Evening Prayers

LATIN RITE PRAYERS

Morning Offering

O JESUS, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our Associates and in particular for the intention of the Apostleship of Prayer.

Act of Faith

O MY God, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I believe that Thy Divine Son became man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

Act of Hope

O MY God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Act of Charity

O MY God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbour as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Prayers for the Day Ahead

Grace at Meals

Before:

BLESS us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

After:

WE give Thee thanks, O almighty God, for all Thy mercies. Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love Thee above all things, and I desire to receive Thee into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as if Thou wert already there and unite myself wholly to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

BYZANTINE PRAYERS

OPENING PRAYERS

In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Glory be to You, O God; glory be to You.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things. Treasury of Blessings and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.

Holy God, + Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us. (3 times)

Glory be to the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; O Lord, cleanse us of our sins; O Master, forgive our transgressions; O Holy One, come to us and heal our infirmities for Your Name's sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

Glory be to the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and, forever. Amen.

MORNING PRAYERS

Awakening from sleep, I worship You, O blessed God; and offer the Angelic Hymn to You, O powerful Lord: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God! Through the intercession of Your Heavenly Hosts, have mercy on me.

Glory be to the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

O Lord, You have lifted me up from my bed and from sleep; now enlighten my mind, open my heart and my lips that I may sing to You, O Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God! Through the prayers of all Your Saints, have mercy on me.

Now and ever, and forever. Amen.

The Judge shall come suddenly, and the deeds of all shall be brought to light. In fear, I cry out at the break of day: Holy, holy, holy are You, O God! Through the prayers of the Mother of God, have mercy on me.Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

I give thanks to You, O Holy Trinity. Because of Your great goodness and endless patience, You did not become angry with me, a slothful and sinful being; nor did You destroy me because of my transgressions. But, as always, You have shown Your love for us; and have raised me up as I lay in despair, that I might recite these prayers and sing the praises of Your power. Enlighten the eyes of my understanding, that I may meditate upon Your Words, understand Your Commandments, and accomplish Your Will. Open my mouth that I may sing to You in sincere praise; and that I may proclaim Your Most Holy Name, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and, forever. Amen.

Come, let us adore the King, our God.

Come, let us adore Christ, the King and our God.

Come, let us adore and bow down to the only Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God.

The Psalm of Repentance (Psalm 50) or another appropriate Psalm is now recited.

PSALM 50:

O God, have mercy on me in the greatness of Your love; in the abundance of Your tender mercies wipe out my offense. Wash me thoroughly from malice and cleanse me from sin; for I am well aware of my malice, and my sins are before me always. It is You alone I have offended, I have done what is evil in Your sight; wherefore, You are just in Your deeds and triumphant in Your judgment. Behold, I was born in iniquities, and in sins my mother conceived me. But You are the Lover of Truth; You have shown me the depths and secrets of Your wisdom. Wash me with hyssop, and I shall be pure; cleanse me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and feasting; the bones that were afflicted shall rejoice. Turn Your face away from my offenses, and wipe off all my sins. A spotless heart create in me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit in my breast. Cast me not afar from Your face; take not Your blessed Spirit out of me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and let Your guiding Spirit dwell in me. I will teach Your ways to the sinners, and the wicked shall return to You. Deliver me from blood-guilt, O God, my saving God, and my tongue will joyfully sing Your justice. O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. Had You desired sacrifice, I would have offered it, but You will not be satisfied with whole-burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; a crushed and humbled heart God will not spurn. In Your kindness, O Lord be bountiful to Sion; may the walls of Jerusalem be restored. Then will You delight in just oblation, in sacrifice and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer calves upon Your altar.

NICENE CREED:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only-begotten, born of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one substance with the Father, through Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and Mary the Virgin, and became man. He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And He rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead; and of His kingdom there will be no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I profess one baptism for the remission of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF PENANCE:

Remit, pardon, and forgive, O God, our sins committed voluntarily and involuntarily, by word and deed, knowingly and in ignorance, by thought and purpose, by day and night. Forgive all these, for You are gracious and love us all.

ANGELIC SALUTATION:

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb; for thou hast borne Christ, the Savior and Deliverer of our souls.

PRAYERS FOR INTERCESSION:

We fly to your patronage, O Virgin Mother of God. Despise not our prayers in our necessities, but who are alone pure and blessed, deliver us from all danger.

O most glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ our God, receive our prayers and offer them to your Son, our God, that He, for your sake, enlighten and save our souls.

PRAYERS TO THE ANGELS AND SAINTS:

All you heavenly powers, holy Angels and Archangels, beseech God for us sinners.

O holy and glorious Apostles, Prophets, Martyrs, and Saints, beseech God for us sinners.

PRAYER OF THE PUBLICAN:

O God, + be merciful to me, a sinner.

O God, + cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me.

O Lord, + forgive me, for I have sinned without number.

EVENING PRAYERS

Take the opening prayers up to For Thine is the kingdom... Amen.

Have mercy on us, O God, have mercy on us. Since we have no defense, we sinners offer this supplication to You, our Master; have mercy on us.

Glory be to the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

Lord, have mercy on us; for in You we place our hope. Be not exceedingly angry with us, nor mindful of our transgressions; but look upon us even now with mercy, and deliver us from our enemies. For You are our God, and we are Your people; we are all the work of Your Hands, and we call upon Your Name.

Now and ever, and forever. Amen.

Open unto us the doors of mercy, O blessed Mother of God; that we, who place our trust in you, may not perish; but that through you we be delivered from misfortune. For you are the salvation of all Christians.

Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

O eternal God, and Ruler of all creation, You have allowed me to reach this hour. Forgive the sins I have this day committed by word, deed, or thought. Purify me from every spiritual and physical stain. Grant me to rise from this sleep to glorify You by my deeds throughout the remainder of my life, and that I be victorious over every spiritual and physical enemy which fights against me. Deliver me, O Lord, from all vain thoughts and evil desires. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever. Amen.

O loving mother of our most gracious King, O pure and blessed Virgin Mary, pour forth into my restless soul the grace of your Son, our God. Lead me by your prayers to salutary deeds, that I might spend the remainder of my life without fault, and attain paradise through you, O Virgin Mother of God. For you are pure and blessed forever.

O Guardian Angel, protector of my soul and body, to your care I have been entrusted by Christ. Obtain for me the forgiveness of the sins committed by me this day. Pray for me, your sinful and unworthy servant, that I may become worthy of the grace and mercy of the Most Holy Trinity and the Mother of our Lord God, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We are yours, O Mother of God. Since you have delivered us from all tribulation, we give thanks to you by dedicating our songs of victory to you, O Saving Champion. In your invincible might, deliver us from all dangers that we may exclaim to you: Hail, Full of Grace!

O most glorious, ever-virgin Mother of Christ our God, offer up our prayers to your Son and our God, so that through you, O Mother of God, He may save our souls. I place all my hope in you, Mother of God. Do not turn away from me, a sinner, for I need your help and intercession. Have mercy on me, for my soul hopes in you.

The Father + is my hope! The Son + is my refuge! And the Holy Spirit + is my protection! O Most Holy Trinity +, glory be to You!

It is truly proper to glorify you, who have borne God; the ever-blessed, immaculate, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare, more glorious than the Seraphim; who, a virgin, gave birth to God, the Word. You, truly the Mother of God, we magnify.

HYMN OF THE EVENING:

O Joyful Light! Light and Holy Glory of the Father immortal; the heavenly, holy, the blessed One, O Jesus Christ. Now that we have reached the setting of the sun, and see the evening light, we sing to God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to raise a song of praise in measured melody to You, O Son of God, the Giver of Life. Behold, the universe sings Your glory

Prayer to the Virgin

O spotless, unstained, incorruptible, undefiled, pure Virgin, Lady Bride of God, who through your wondrous birth-giving united God the Word with mankind, and linked the fallen nature of our human race with the heavenly; the only hope of the hopeless and the help of the persecuted; the ready support of those who seek refuge in you, and the shelter of all the Christians: do not despise me, the wretched sinner who have defiled myself with shameful thoughts and words and deeds, and through negligence of thought have become slave to the pleasures of life.

But as the Mother of our compassionate God, and a friend of man, have compassion on me the sinner and prodigal, and accept this prayer from my impure lips; and using your motherly standing, entreat your Son and our Master and Lord to open unto me the depths of his loving goodness and, overlooking my innumerable faults, to return me to repentance and make me a worthy servant of his commandments.

Stand by me forever; in this life as a merciful and compassionate and good and lovingly warm protector and helper, by repulsing the assaults of the adversary and leading me toward salvation; and at the time of my death, by embracing my miserable soul and driving far away from it the dark fares of the evil demons; and at the awesome day of judgment by redeeming me from eternal hell, and proclaiming me an heir of the ineffable glory of your Son and our God.

May I enjoy such fate, my Lady, most-holy Theotokos, through your intercession and protection; through the grace and love for mankind of your only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. To whom belong all glory, honor and worship, together with his beginningless Father, and the all holy and good and life giving Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ

And grant to us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest of body and soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal pleasure. Arrest the drives of passion; extinguish the burning arrows of the Evil One which insidiously fly in our direction; suppress the rebellions of our flesh, and calm our every earthly and material thought. And grant to us, O God, alert mind, prudent thinking, sober heart, light sleep free of any satanic fantasy. Awaken us at the time of prayer rooted in your commandments and having unbroken within us the remembrance of your ordinances. Grant that we may sing your glory through the night by praising and blessing and glorifying your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Final Prayer

Lord, forgive those who hate us and those who wrong us; do good to those who do good; to our brethren and relatives, grant their requests for salvation and eternal life; visit the sick and grant them healing; govern those at sea; accompany the travelers; to those who serve us and those who help us grant remission of sins; forgive those who have asked us to pray for them and have mercy on them according to Your great mercy.

Remember, Lord, all our fathers and brethren departed this life and rest them where the light of Your face shines.  Remember, Lord, our brethren, the captives, and spare them from every tribulation. Remember, Lord those who labor and bring forth fruit in Your holy Churches, and grant to them all requests for salvation and eternal life. Remember us, as well, Lord, Your humble and sinful servants and illumine our mind with the light of your knowledge and guide us in the way of Your commandments; through the intercessions of Your most sacred Mother, our Lady Theotokos and ever virgin Mary, and all Your Saints; for You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Contents

1.Easter Sunday

2.Monday in Easter Week

3.Tuesday in Easter Week

4.Wednesday in Easter Week

5.Thursday in Easter Week

6.Friday in Easter Week

7.Saturday in Easter Week

8.Low Sunday

9.Monday After Low Sunday

10.Tuesday After Low Sunday

11.Wednesday After Low Sunday

12.Thursday After Low Sunday

13.Friday After Low Sunday

14.Saturday After Low Sunday

15.Second Sunday After Easter

16.Monday – Third Week After Easter

17.Tuesday – Second Week After Easter

18.Wednesday – Second Week After Easter

19.Thursday – Third Week After Easter

20.Friday – Third Week After Easter

21.Saturday – Third Week After Easter

22.Third Sunday After Easter

23.Monday – Fourth Week After Easter

24.Tuesday – Fourth Week After Easter

25.Wednesday – Fourth Week After Easter

26.Thursday – Fourth Week After Easter

27.Friday – Fourth Week After Easter

28.Saturday – Fourth Week After Easter

29.Fourth Sunday After Easter

30.Monday – Fifth Week After Easter

31.Tuesday – Fifth Week After Easter

32.Wednesday – Fifth Week After Easter

33.Thursday – Fifth Week After Easter

34.Friday – Fifth Week After Easter

35.Saturday – Fifth Week After Easter

36.Fifth Sunday After Easter

37.The Rogation Days — Monday

38.The Rogation Days – Tuesday

39.Rogation Days – Wednesday

40.Feast of the Ascension

41.Friday After Ascension

42.Saturday After Ascension

43.Sunday Within the Octave of Ascension

44.Monday Within the Octave of Ascension

45.Tuesday Within the Octave of the Ascension

46.Wednesday Within the Octave of Ascension

47.Thursday Within the Octave of Ascension

48.Friday Within the Octave of Ascension

49.Saturday – Vigil of Pentecost

Easter Sunday

Morning Meditation

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.

Let us rejoice at seeing in His risen glory our Savior, our Father, the best Friend we possess. Let us rejoice, too, for our own sakes, because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is for us a sure pledge of our own resurrection and of the glory we hope one day to have in Heaven in our soul and body.

I.

Jesus came into the world not only to redeem us, but by His example to teach us all virtues, and especially humility, and holy poverty which is inseparably united with humility. For this it was, He chose to be born in a cave; to live as a poor man in a workshop for thirty years; and at last to die, poor and naked, on a Cross, seeing His garments divided amongst the soldiers before He breathed His last; while, after His death, He receives the winding-sheet for His burial as an alms from others.

Let the poor be consoled at seeing Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven and earth, thus living and dying in poverty to enrich us with His merits and gifts. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you might be rich (2 Corinthians viii. 9). For this cause the Saints, to become like unto Jesus in His poverty, despised all earthly riches and honors, so that one day they might go to enjoy with Jesus Christ the riches and honors prepared by God in Heaven for them that love Him. And speaking of these blessings the Apostle St. Paul says that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 9).

O my Jesus, I beseech Thee by Thy Resurrection, make me rise glorious with Thee on the last day, to be always united with Thee in Heaven, to praise Thee and to love Thee forever.

II.

Jesus Christ, then, rose from the dead with the glory of possessing all power in Heaven and on earth, not only as God, but as Man. All the angels and all men are therefore subject to Him. Let us rejoice in thus seeing in glory our Savior, our Father, and the best Friend we possess.

And let us rejoice for ourselves, because the Resur-rection of Jesus Christ is for us a sure pledge of our own Resurrection, and of the glory that we may hope one day to have in Heaven in our soul and in our body. This hope gave courage to the Martyrs to suffer with gladness All the evils of life, and the cruelest torments of tyrants. We must rest assured, however, that none will rejoice with Jesus Christ but they who are willing to suffer in this world with Him; nor will he obtain the crown who does not fight as he ought to fight. He that strives for the mastery is not crowned except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy ii. 5). At the same time let us be assured by what the same Apostle says: that all the sufferings of this life are short and light in comparison with the boundless and eternal joys we hope to enjoy in Paradise. (2 Corinthians iv. 17). Let us labor the more to continue in the grace of God, and continually to pray for perseverance in God's friendship. Without continual prayer we shall not obtain perseverance, and without perseverance we shall not be saved.

O sweet Jesus, worthy of all love, how hast Thou so loved men that, in order to show Thy love, Thou hast not refused to die wounded and dishonored on an infamous tree! O my God, how is it there are so few among men who love Thee with their whole heart? O my dear Redeemer, I wish to be one of these few. Miserable that I am to have forgotten Thy love in the past and given up Thy grace for miserable pleasures! I know the evil I have done. I grieve over it with my whole heart and would wish to die of grief. O my beloved Redeemer, I love Thee now more than myself and am ready to die a thousand deaths rather than lose Thy friendship. Jesus, I thank Thee for the light Thou hast given me. O Jesus, my Hope, leave me not in my own hands. Help me until death.

O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.

Spiritual Reading

THE HEAVEN GOD HAS WON FOR US.

The bliss of Heaven consists in seeing and loving God face to face. Everything we expect, says St. Augustine, is expressed in a word of one syllable, namely, God. The reward God promises to us does not consist altogether in the beauty, the harmony, and other advantages of the city of Paradise. God Himself, Whom the Saints are allowed to behold, is, according to the promises made to Abraham, the principal reward of the just in Heaven. I am thy reward exceeding great. (Genesis xv. 1). St. Augustine asserts that were God to show His face to the damned, hell would be instantly changed into a paradise of delights. And he adds that were a departed soul allowed the choice of seeing God and suffering the pains of hell, or of being freed from these pains and deprived of the sight of God, it would prefer to see God, and to endure those torments.

The delights of the soul infinitely surpass all the pleasures of the senses. Even in this life, Divine love infuses such sweetness into the soul when God communicates Himself to it that the body is raised from the earth. St. Peter of Alcantara once fell into such an ecstasy of love that, taking hold of a tree, he drew it up from the roots, and raised it with him on high. So great is the sweetness of Divine love, that the holy Martyrs, in the midst of their torments, felt no pain, but were on the contrary filled with joy. Hence St. Augustine says that when St. Laurence was laid on a red-hot gridiron, the fervor of Divine love made him insensible to the burning heat of the fire. Even on sinners who weep for their sins, God bestows consolations which exceed all earthly pleasures. Hence St. Bernard says: If it be so sweet to weep for Thee, what must it be to rejoice in Thee!

How great is the sweetness which a soul experiences when, in the time of prayer, God, by a ray of His own light, reveals to it His goodness and His mercies towards it, and particularly the love Jesus Christ has borne to it in His Passion! It feels its heart melting and, as it were, dissolved through love. But in this life, we do not see God as He really is: we see Him, as it were, in the dark. We see now through a glass in a dark manner, but then face to face. (1 Corinthians xiii. 12). Here below God is hidden from our view; we can see Him only with the eyes of Faith. How great shall be our happiness when the veil is raised, and we are permitted to behold God face to face! We shall then see His beauty, His greatness, His perfection, His amiableness, and His immense love for our souls.

Man knows not whether he be worthy of love or hatred. (Ecclesiasticus ix. 1). The fear of not loving God, and of not being loved by Him, is the greatest affliction which souls that love God endure on the earth; but in Heaven the soul is certain that it loves God and that He loves it; and sees that the Lord embraces it with infinite love, and that this love shall not be dissolved for all eternity. The knowledge of the love Jesus Christ has shown it in offering Himself in sacrifice for it on the Cross, and in making Himself its Food in the Sacrament of the Altar, shall increase the ardor of its love. It shall also see clearly all the graces God has bestowed upon it, all the helps which He has given it, to preserve it from falling into sin, and to draw it to His love.

It shall see that all the tribulations, the poverty, the infirmities and persecutions which it regards as misfortunes, have all proceeded from love, and have been the means employed by Divine Providence to bring it to glory. It shall see all the lights, loving calls, and mercies which God had granted to it after it had insulted Him by its sins. From the blessed mountain of Paradise, it shall see so many souls damned for fewer sins than it had committed and shall see that it is saved and secured against the possibility of ever losing God. Justly, then, has St. Augustine said that to gain the eternal bliss and peace of Paradise, we should embrace eternal labor.

Evening Meditation

YOUR SORROW SHALL BE TURNED INTO JOY.

I.

Oh, happy are we, if we suffer with patience on earth the troubles of this present life! Distress of circumstances, fears, bodily infirmities, persecutions, and crosses of every kind will one day all come to an end; and if we be saved, they will all become for us subjects of joy and glory in Paradise: Your sorrow, says the Savior to encourage us, shall be turned into joy. (John xvi. 20). So great are the delights of Paradise that they can neither be explained nor understood by us mortals: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians ii 9). Beauties like to the beauties of Paradise, eye hath never seen; harmonies like unto the harmonies of Paradise, ear hath never heard; nor hath ever human heart gained the comprehension of the joys God hath prepared for those that love Him. Beautiful is the sight of a landscape adorned with hills, plains, woods, and views of the sea. Beautiful is the sight of a garden abounding with fruits, flowers, and fountains. Oh, how much more beautiful is Paradise!

To understand how great the joys of Paradise are, it is enough to know that in that blessed realm resides a God omnipotent, Whose care it is to render happy His beloved souls. St. Bernard says that Paradise is a place where there is nothing thou wouldst not, and everything thou wouldst. There thou shalt not find anything displeasing to thyself, and everything thou dost desire thou shalt find: There is nothing thou wouldst not. In Paradise there is no night; no seasons of winter and summer; but one perpetual day of unvaried serenity, and one perpetual spring of unvaried delight. No more persecutions or jealousies are there; for there all sincerely love one another, and each rejoices in each other's good as if it were his own. No more bodily infirmities or pains are there, for the body is no longer subject to suffering; no poverty is there, for everyone is rich to the full, not having anything more to desire; no more fears are there, for the soul being confirmed in grace can sin no more, nor lose that supreme good which it possesses.

II.

There is everything thou wouldst. In Paradise thou shalt have whatsoever thou desires. There the sight is satisfied in beholding that city so beautiful, and its citizens all clothed in royal apparel, for they are all kings of that everlasting kingdom. There shall we see the beauty of Mary, whose appearance will be more beautiful than that of all the Angels and Saints together. We shall see the beauty of Jesus, which will immeasurably surpass the beauty of Mary. The smell will be satisfied with the perfumes of Paradise. The hearing will be satisfied with the harmonies of Heaven, and the canticles of the Blessed, who will all with ravishing sweetness sing the Divine praises for all eternity. Ah, my God, I deserve not Paradise, but hell; yet Thy death gives me a hope of obtaining it. I desire and ask Paradise of Thee, not so much in order to enjoy as in order to love Thee forever, secure that it will never more be possible for me to lose Thee. O Mary, my Mother, O Star of the Sea, it is for thee, by thy prayers, to conduct me to Paradise.