The grace of the first coming and the glory of the last

[Rich]

The grace of the first coming and the glory of the last

In the interval of time between the Lord's first coming and his
last, the Lord often visits each one of us in accordance with our
merits and desires, conforming us to the likeness of his first advent,
and preparing us for his advent at the end of time. He comes to us now
to make sure that his first coming shall not have been wasted, and
that his last coming may not have to be in anger.
His purpose now is to convert the pride of our hearts into the
humility of heart he showed when he first came, so that hereafter he
may refashion our lowly bodies too into the likeness of that glorious
body which he will manifest when he comes again. Eagerly then we long
for this intimate coming in our present life, and seek it with all our
might, for it brings us the grace of his first coming and promises us
the glory of his last.
--By Guerric of Igny

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December 7th - Saint Mary Joseph Rossello
(Also known as Maria Giuseppe Rossello)

It was in the little seaport of Albissola that Mary Joseph came into
this world on May 27, 1811, in a truly Christian family and one richly
blessed with children. When she was but sixteen years of age, she
entered the Third Order.

She had spent seven years in the service of a wealthy but childless
couple, when she earnestly desired to enter a convent. But she was
refused admission because she had no dowry. The couple for whom she
worked hesitated to furnish the dowry, because they were unwilling to
give up the girl whom they loved and intended to make their heir.
Divine Providence came to her assistance.

The bishop of Savona knew of the special talent Mary Joseph possessed,
of gathering young girls about her and instructing them in their
religion. So he purchased a house, furnished two rooms as classrooms,
and entrusted the work of teaching to Mary Joseph and a few other
young women who were similarly qualified. And so, in the year 1837,
there was organized the Institute of the Daughters of Mercy. A few
years later the little band of teachers pronounced their vows.

Mary Joseph administered the office of superior during the space of
forty years. She placed her community under the protecting care of Our
Lady of Mercy and of St Joseph. A favorite motto of hers, which she
was often heard to repeat, was, “The hands should be at work, the
heart with God.”

Her own experience taught her a lesson, and so she received good girls
into her community without a dowry. Her love for the sick sisters was
expressed in the statement: “We must look upon our sick sisters as our
most reliable support. They, by their patience, their suffering, and
their prayers, maintain the house and, in fact, the whole institute,
since they seek and obtain for us from the Father of Mercy the
blessing of heaven.”

The community has grown in a remarkable manner. There are more than
three thousand sisters in two hundred houses spread over Italy,
Argentina, and the United States. Mother Mary Joseph departed from
this life on December seventh in the year 1880. She was beatified in
1938, and canonized in 1949.
From: The Franciscan Book of Saints, Marion A. Habig, OFM


Saint Quote:
He who read much and understands much, receives his fill. He who
is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: “If the clouds are full,
they will pour rain upon the earth.”
"Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that
you may charm the ears of people. And by the grace of your words win
them over to follow your leadership. Solomon says: “The weapons of the
understanding are the lips of the wise”; and in another place he says:
“Let your lips be bound with wisdom.” That is, let the meaning of your
words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. Let no word escape
your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.”
--Saint Ambrose

Bible Quote
From the beginning, and before the world, was I created,
and unto the world to come I shall not cease to be,
and in the holy dwelling place I have ministered before him.
And so was I established in Zion, and in the holy city likewise I rested,
and my power was in Jerusalem. And I took root in an honourable people,
and in the portion of my God his inheritance, and my abode is in the full
assembly of saints. [Ecclesiasticus(Sirach) 24:14-16] DRB)


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We read in history of a proof of love so prodigious that it will be
the admiration of all ages.

There was once a king, lord of many kingdoms, who had one only son, so
beautiful, so holy, so amiable, that he was the delight of his father,
who loved him as much as himself. This young prince had a great
affection for one of his slaves; so much so that, the slave having
committed a crime for which he had been condemned to death, the prince
offered himself to die for the slave; the father, being jealous of
justice, was satisfied to condemn his beloved son to death, in order
that the slave might remain free from the punishment that he deserved:
and thus the son died a malefactor's death, and the slave was freed
from punishment.

This fact, the like of which has never happened in this world, and
never will happen, is related in the Gospels, where we read that the
Son of God, the Lord of the universe, seeing that man was condemned to
eternal death in punishment of his sins, chose to take upon Himself
human flesh, and thus to pay by His death the penalty due to man: He
was offered because it was His own will (Is. 53:7). And his Eternal
Father caused him to die upon the cross to save us miserable sinners:
He spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all (Rom.
8:32). What dost thou think, O devout soul, of this love of the Son
and of the Father?

Thou didst, then, O my beloved Redeemer, choose by Thy death to
sacrifice Thyself in order to obtain the pardon of my sins. And what
return of gratitude shall I then make to Thee? Thou hast done too much
to oblige me to love Thee; I should indeed be most ungrateful to Thee
if I did not love Thee with my whole jwill at least spend that period
of my life that remains to me only in loving Thee, obeying Thee, and
pleasing Thee.

O men, men! let us love this our Redeemer, who, being God, has not
disdained to take upon Himself our sins, in order to satisfy by His
sufferings for the chastisement which we have deserved: Surely He hath
borne our infirmities, and carried our sorrows (Is. 53:4)

St. Augustine says that our Lord in creating us formed us by virtue of
His power, but in redeeming us He has saved us from death by means of
His sufferings: "He created us in his strength; he sought us back in
his weakness."

How much do I not owe Thee, O Jesus my Saviour! Oh, if I were to give
my blood a thousand times over,--if I were to spend a thousand lives
for Thee,--it would yet be nothing. Oh, how could anyone that
meditated much on the love which Thou hast shown him in Thy Passion,
love anything else but Thee? Through the love with which Thou didst
love us on the cross, grant me the grace to love Thee with my whole
heart. I love Thee, infinite Goodness; I love Thee above every other
good; and I ask nothing more of Thee but Thy holy love.
--From The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, by Saint Alphonsus Liguori: