WEDNESDAY.

The Expectation of Delivery. I.

I. The infant Jesus, shut up in His mothers womb,
earnestly desired that hour in which He was to appear to
the world and commence the work of our salvation. He
might have then said, as He afterwards did, " I have a
baptism wherewith I am to be baptized; and how am I
straitened until it be accomplished !" (Luke xii. 50.)
He remained in this state, however, for nine months, and
would not exempt Himself for one day. He had embraced
our common nature, and He would not refuse any
of the inconveniences or sufferings which were attached
to it. What man would suffer himself to be so long imprisoned
when he could avoid it? Christ suffered it, and
for your sake. Be ashamed, then, to complain of small
inconveniences, when God suffered so much.

II. The desire of the blessed Virgin to see her Son,
whom she knew to be " God of God," increased in proportion
as the happy moment approached. She might
well apply to herself those words of the Canticle: "Who
shall give thee to me, that I may find thee and kiss
thee." (Cant. viii. i.) In the mean time, whilst her
heart was filled with the most ardent affections of love,
she resigned herself with perfect conformity to the will
of God, in regard to the time, place, and manner of her
delivery, because she was convinced that " God hath
care of us." (i Pet. v. 7.) Imitate her example, and
"cast all your solicitude upon God."

III. How well the divine Infant rewarded His mother
whilst He remained shut up in her womb! If at the first
moment of His conception He bestowed upon her such
extraordinary grace and favor, what increase of these
did He not give her throughout the nine months during
which she carried Him in her womb. He illuminated her
understanding with an infused light and knowledge of
the mysteries of faith; He inflamed her will with more
than seraphic affections of love. He was no burden, no
pain, no trouble to her; but a most welcome guest, and
an effectual comforter on all occasions. He would be
so to you, with due proportion, in the sacrament, if you
would give Him a similar entertainment and not immediately
distract your mind with other affairs.

THURSDAY.

The Expectation of Delivery. II.

I. This expectation existed on the part of the Fathers
in Limbo; they prayed and cried out continually with
Isaias: "Drop dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the
clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud
forth a saviour." (xlv. 8.) They longed to be set free
from bondage in order that they might enjoy the beatific
vision. "Shine forth," they exclaimed from their
prison-house, " before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasses.
Stir up thy might, and come to save us." (Ps. Ixxix. 3.)
Rouse your sluggish mind with these inflamed desires.
"Be ashamed" (it was the reflection of St. Bernard),
" that the display of so much kindness does not cause in
you a joy corresponding to that inflamed desire, which
the mere promise excited in the hearts of the ancient
Saints."

II. What expectation a devout soul ought to entertain
of having Christ spiritually born in itself by grace !
"What is my hope? is it not the Lord?" (Ps. xxxviii.
8.) In this expectation we ought to employ all the
faculties of our souls: our memories and understandings
should attentively consider His admirable virtues and
perfections: our wills should be exercised in ardent affections
of love, and in desires of representing in our
selves what we behold in Him, in order that we may
with the Apostle " behold the glory of the Lord with face
uncovered, and be transformed into the same image."
(2 Cor. iii. 18.)

III. We ought not to content ourselves with mere affections
and desires, for by these we only conceive
Christ; but we must bring Him forth by actions. We
must labor in the exercise of Christian perfection "till
Christ be formed in us." (Gal. iv. 19.) If our desires
do not display themselves in acts of virtue, they will only
torture our consciences and prove our ruin. "Desires,"
says the Wise Man, "kill the slothful." (Prov. xxi. 25.)
Encourage yourself, therefore, and inflame your heart
with the antiphons of the Church used during this holy
time. " O wisdom, which issued from the mouth of the
Most High, extending from end to end mightily, and
sweetly disposing all things, come and teach us the way
of prudence, etc."

FRIDAY.

The Journey to Bethlehem.

I. " In those days there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled."
(Luke ii. i.) The disposition of divine Providence was
most wonderful. Christ might have been born where,
and when, and in whatever circumstances He pleased, but
He refused every convenience for Himself, in order to
teach us that the spirit of poverty was His favorite virtue.
He was born in the middle of winter, when His
parents, in consequence of Caesar s edict, were far from
Nazareth, in order that He might deprive Himself of
those small conveniences which their house might afford
Him. " Oh the depth of the riches, of the wisdom,
and of the knowledge of God!" (Rom. xi. 33.) Reflect
upon this, you who are constantly employed in seeking
your own ease and conveniences, and learn what ought
to be your practice. Speaking upon this, St. Bernard
observes: " Either God is deceived or the world is in an
error," because their manners of acting are diametrically
opposite. Examine which it is better to follow.

II. St. Joseph and the Virgin obeyed the edict, though
the motive of the Emperor was not the best, and though
their obedience was attended with inconvenience. View
the holy travelers: they present an object worthy of the
divine approbation and of the admiration of men, in consequence
of their conformity to the will of God, their patience,
and their modesty. Imagine the divine entertainment
which the Virgin received from her Son; respect
the holy travelers, and venerate that divine poverty
which rendered them so pleasing to God.

III. When they arrived at Bethlehem, they went from
one inn to another, but they could not find any entertainment.
Good God ! there was a place for every other
kind of character; but there was no room to be found
for the Son of God. "He came unto His own; and His
own received Him not." (John i. n.) Observe with
what patience they support this trial, and retire into a
stable. " The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air
nests: but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His
head." (Matt. viii. 20.) Pity, admire, adore. How often
have you denied Him entertainment, when your heart
was occupied with worldly vanities and earthly follies!

CHRISTMAS DAY.
(this lands on Saturday in the book, so there's no Saturday meditation, since Christmas this year is on Sunday.)

Christ a Little One.

" Whoever is a little one, let him come to me." (Prov. ix. 4.)

I. Consider the words of the prophet Isaias: " A little
one is born to us, and a son is given to us" (Is. ix. 6); and
the corresponding words of the gospel: "You shall find
the infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes, and laid in a
manger." (Luke ii. 12.) Thus does the Lord of majesty
delight in the name of a little one; and, that He might
gratify this delight, He reduced Himself almost to nothing.
Contemplate this little one in His crib; and remember
that it is that Being "who hath measured the waters
in the hollow of His hand, and weighed the heavens with
a span; who hath poised with three fingers the bulk of
the earth, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the
hills in a balance." (Is. xl. 12.)

II. This little one will be spiritually born in your soul
this day, by holy communion, if you will prepare Him a
crib in Bethlehem, that is, " in the house of bread." He
appeared to mankind first clothed in flesh; but now He
communicates Himself to you under the form of bread,
in order to impart to your soul the living bread of immortality.
Approach, then, this divine mystery in such
a manner that this little one may again be born in your
heart; and convince yourself that this will be the case, if
you begin to lead a life conformable to His own; if you
love nothing but what He loved, so that you may be able
to say, with the Apostle, " I live, now not I; but Christ
liveth in me." (Gal. ii. 20.)

III. In order that you may enjoy this little one, you
must become such a one yourself. " Amen, I say to
you, unless ye be converted, and become as little children,
ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
(Matt, xviii. 13.) "Be little in your own eyes," that you
may be the "head of the tribes of Israel" (i Kings xv.
17), that is, great among the Saints. To such as these
only God communicates the secrets of His wisdom. "I give
thanks to Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,"
says Christ Himself, " because Thou hast hidden these
things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed
them to little ones." (Matt. xi. 25.) And David says:
" The testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom
to little ones." (Ps. xviii. 8.)