“Blessed Art Thou, Lord God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, exceedingly to be praised and glorified forever!” (Dan. 3.)
First Prelude: Behold our Divine Saviour saying to His Apostles: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28, 19).
Second Prelude: Grant me the grace, O my God, to glorify Thee in all my thoughts, words and actions.
First Point
The Sign of the Cross, A Means to Honor the Blessed Trinity
The words we use in connection with the Sign of the Cross are an embodiment of a faithful confession of the most Blessed Trinity, for they acknowledge one God in three persons. The Sign of the Cross reminds us of our Father, through Whom all things visible and invisible were made; it reminds us of our redemption, consummated by the Son on the Cross, and of the Holy Ghost, Who is incessantly working at our sanctification and expending unspeakable treasures upon us.
Oh, what comfort in this thought, what strength in our weakness! Holy Church teaches us that the Sign of the Cross, made devoutly and with a lively faith, banishes temptations and merits graces. The Saviour of the world Himself has made the words of the Sign of the Cross bearers of the baptismal grace.
Holy Church uses this Sign at the beginning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and when administering the Sacraments of Confirmation and Penance. In virtue of this sacred Sign the Apostles wrought the greatest miracles. It is related of the first Christians that they signed themselves with this Sign before every occupation. It was their joy to be thus constantly reminded of the greatest benefits of Almighty God,—Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification. They thereby consecrated body and soul, their actions and omissions to the three Divine Persons, and implored God’s grace and assistance for their daily labors. In this Sign they were victorious over all their enemies; in it they sought their honor, their strength and consolation. This Sign is still today the emblem of the victory of the Saviour, an invincible armor. It reminds us that the love of the Saviour, so brilliantly manifested in the Sacrifice of the Cross, requires of us love of the cross in return. How frequently has Holy Church signed us, how often have we signed ourselves, with the Sign of the Cross! What graces and blessings have accrued to us through this holy practice! In imitation of the early Christians let us use it with devotion and confidence, that, like them, we may always experience its beneficial and saving effects.
How often have I made the Sign of the Cross through force of habit, without attention and devotion? Is it not due to my neglect that I have so rarely experienced its power and strength?
Second Point
The “Gloria Patri”: A Prayer of Praise and Glorification of the Blessed Trinity
To the Triune God the highest honor is due from all His creatures, and being our Creator, our Father and Supreme Lord, He demands the same of us. This sacred duty, Mother Church wishes to impress upon us when she so frequently makes use of the words of praise: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.” The same honor be paid to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Thus it was in the beginning when the angels consecrated their love to Him forever. Recognizing their duty, they bowed in all humility before the supreme Lord, whilst the rebellious angels, who in their pride insolently refused Him the honor justly His due, were cast off to eternally glorify His Justice. Thus was it also, in the beginning with our first parents, when in the innocence of paradise with a pure heart, in love and reverence they paid homage to their Creator.
With the same perfection we, too, should consecrate to God our homage and adoration by love and obedience. What a beautiful manner of glorifying God do these words comprise! Our will must steadfastly execute what our lips so often pronounce, but our thoughts and desires may not be in direct contradiction with our prayers. We must aim at making all our actions, as it were, exclaim: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!” Yes, if we daily unite with the millions to praise God; if we so often fancy ourselves among the heavenly spirits, then not only must our whole heart be filled with holy love and reverence, but all our labors, our trials and sufferings must be in advance, thereby, consecrated to the most Blessed Trinity. Let us pronounce this prayer of praise always with the proper devotion and attention. According to the example of Saint Magdalen of Pazzi, let us immolate ourselves to God every time we say these words, that He may dispose of us entirely according to His pleasure and honor. Let us often call to mind that by our holy vows we have declared solemnly to seek and desire nothing further in this world than solely the honor of God.
Do I endeavor to make of every Gloria Patri an act of perfect love, thereby to atone for my defective prayers?
Affections: Adoration and love to Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, most Blessed Trinity, Who in infinite mercy didst deign to manifest Thyself to us! Honor be to Thee, O Father, Who hast created me according to Thy image for heaven; honor to Thee, O Son, Who hast redeemed me by Thy Precious Blood with such expenditure of love; honor to Thee, Holy Ghost, Who hast sanctified and made me a child of God. May my whole life and all my labors praise, magnify and adore Thee incessantly. May all creatures render Thee worthy homage, adoration and thanksgiving. Ever anew we will say with renewed fervor, love, and reverence: “Honor be to Thee, O God, as it was offered to Thee by the angels of heaven in the beginning, so now by us poor mortals and in all eternity, by all the blessed, who, united in the heavenly Jerusalem, rejoice in Thy infinite glory.”
Resolution: I will make the Sign of the Cross with great respect, and always recite the “Gloria Patri” with the utmost reverence and devotion.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!”
Prayer: Our Father . . .
First Prelude: Behold our Divine Saviour saying to His Apostles: “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28, 19).
Second Prelude: Grant me the grace, O my God, to glorify Thee in all my thoughts, words and actions.
First Point
The Sign of the Cross, A Means to Honor the Blessed Trinity
The words we use in connection with the Sign of the Cross are an embodiment of a faithful confession of the most Blessed Trinity, for they acknowledge one God in three persons. The Sign of the Cross reminds us of our Father, through Whom all things visible and invisible were made; it reminds us of our redemption, consummated by the Son on the Cross, and of the Holy Ghost, Who is incessantly working at our sanctification and expending unspeakable treasures upon us.
Oh, what comfort in this thought, what strength in our weakness! Holy Church teaches us that the Sign of the Cross, made devoutly and with a lively faith, banishes temptations and merits graces. The Saviour of the world Himself has made the words of the Sign of the Cross bearers of the baptismal grace.
Holy Church uses this Sign at the beginning of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and when administering the Sacraments of Confirmation and Penance. In virtue of this sacred Sign the Apostles wrought the greatest miracles. It is related of the first Christians that they signed themselves with this Sign before every occupation. It was their joy to be thus constantly reminded of the greatest benefits of Almighty God,—Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification. They thereby consecrated body and soul, their actions and omissions to the three Divine Persons, and implored God’s grace and assistance for their daily labors. In this Sign they were victorious over all their enemies; in it they sought their honor, their strength and consolation. This Sign is still today the emblem of the victory of the Saviour, an invincible armor. It reminds us that the love of the Saviour, so brilliantly manifested in the Sacrifice of the Cross, requires of us love of the cross in return. How frequently has Holy Church signed us, how often have we signed ourselves, with the Sign of the Cross! What graces and blessings have accrued to us through this holy practice! In imitation of the early Christians let us use it with devotion and confidence, that, like them, we may always experience its beneficial and saving effects.
How often have I made the Sign of the Cross through force of habit, without attention and devotion? Is it not due to my neglect that I have so rarely experienced its power and strength?
Second Point
The “Gloria Patri”: A Prayer of Praise and Glorification of the Blessed Trinity
To the Triune God the highest honor is due from all His creatures, and being our Creator, our Father and Supreme Lord, He demands the same of us. This sacred duty, Mother Church wishes to impress upon us when she so frequently makes use of the words of praise: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.” The same honor be paid to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. Thus it was in the beginning when the angels consecrated their love to Him forever. Recognizing their duty, they bowed in all humility before the supreme Lord, whilst the rebellious angels, who in their pride insolently refused Him the honor justly His due, were cast off to eternally glorify His Justice. Thus was it also, in the beginning with our first parents, when in the innocence of paradise with a pure heart, in love and reverence they paid homage to their Creator.
With the same perfection we, too, should consecrate to God our homage and adoration by love and obedience. What a beautiful manner of glorifying God do these words comprise! Our will must steadfastly execute what our lips so often pronounce, but our thoughts and desires may not be in direct contradiction with our prayers. We must aim at making all our actions, as it were, exclaim: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!” Yes, if we daily unite with the millions to praise God; if we so often fancy ourselves among the heavenly spirits, then not only must our whole heart be filled with holy love and reverence, but all our labors, our trials and sufferings must be in advance, thereby, consecrated to the most Blessed Trinity. Let us pronounce this prayer of praise always with the proper devotion and attention. According to the example of Saint Magdalen of Pazzi, let us immolate ourselves to God every time we say these words, that He may dispose of us entirely according to His pleasure and honor. Let us often call to mind that by our holy vows we have declared solemnly to seek and desire nothing further in this world than solely the honor of God.
Do I endeavor to make of every Gloria Patri an act of perfect love, thereby to atone for my defective prayers?
Affections: Adoration and love to Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, most Blessed Trinity, Who in infinite mercy didst deign to manifest Thyself to us! Honor be to Thee, O Father, Who hast created me according to Thy image for heaven; honor to Thee, O Son, Who hast redeemed me by Thy Precious Blood with such expenditure of love; honor to Thee, Holy Ghost, Who hast sanctified and made me a child of God. May my whole life and all my labors praise, magnify and adore Thee incessantly. May all creatures render Thee worthy homage, adoration and thanksgiving. Ever anew we will say with renewed fervor, love, and reverence: “Honor be to Thee, O God, as it was offered to Thee by the angels of heaven in the beginning, so now by us poor mortals and in all eternity, by all the blessed, who, united in the heavenly Jerusalem, rejoice in Thy infinite glory.”
Resolution: I will make the Sign of the Cross with great respect, and always recite the “Gloria Patri” with the utmost reverence and devotion.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost!”
Prayer: Our Father . . .
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