The young man's guide/Part 1: The Arrow of the Love of God
The Arrow of the Love of God
XXI. Lift up Your Heart
I. IN THE commencement of the last century, Napoleon the Great found himself a solitary prisoner on the island of St. Helena. In order to dispel the ennui which overtook him, he passed in mental review the great men of bygone ages. When he fixed his gaze on Christ, he is said to have exclaimed: "See how He attracted the whole human race to Himself!”
And so indeed it is. The name of Jesus Christ is heard at the cradle of the infant and the grave of the old man, in the cottage and the palace; it is heard by the weak and by the strong; it sounds in the depths and.on the heights, ia water and on dry land, by day and by night.
Thus have been fulfilled those words of Our Lord: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself.”
He has drawn all things to Himself by the sweet bond of charity. He has given to us poor mortals the most convincing proofs of His in- finite love, His divine charity. Let these proofs encourage us; therefore, lift up your heart Lift it up to the holy mountain, up to the cross, up to Heaven!
2. To the holy mountain, to Mount Olivet. There behold amid the shadows of night, faintly illuminated by the light of the moon, beneath the boughs of the olive trees, a man kneeling on the ground, bowed down as if by a heavy burden, convulsively wringing His hands, His countenance pale as death, while a sweat of blood forces itself through the pores of His skin and trickles down His forehead. And His dearest friends, whom He loved as no friend ever loved his friend, no mother her child, leave Him alone in His agony; they have no word of comfort for Him, they are sleeping; they could not watch with Him one hour, although a short time before they had protested that they were ready to go with Him into prison and to death!
3. Yet all is not told. His enemies approach ake ravenous wolves, and out of their midst one steps forward, who had been His friend, His disciple, and imprints the terrible kiss of treachery upon His sacred forehead. : And they bind the innocent Lamb, the incarnate Son of God, and lead Him away to Jerusalem; they mock and blaspheme Him, they scourge Him and crown His head with cruel thorns. Now He climbs the steep ascent of Mount Golgotha. With a heavy cross pressing upon His lacerated shoulders, the Man of Sorrows totters along. Having reached the summit, they tear off His clothes, throw Him down upon the cross, stretch His mangled limbs, drive huge nails through His hands and feet, and then set up the cross. Behold the charity of thy God!
4. Lift up your heart to the cross! There hangs the Lamb of God, suspended upon the tree of shame between heaven and earth. The blood flows from a hundred wounds and trickles down upon the cross. To all this physical torture add the mental anguish which rends His soul at the sight of His beloved Mother standing at His feet. His heart is ready to break with compassion! Furthermore, there is the mockery and blasphemy of the godless bystanders, whose obstinacy, as He knows only too well, will cause all His sufferings to be of no avail as far as they are concerned. And finally, there is the inexpressibly painful dereliction which wrings from His lips the agonizing cry: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Now consider all that we have been passing in review and see “whether there be any sorrow like to this sorrow”; see whether there be any charity like to this divine charity!
5. But lift up your heart still higher, lift it up to heaven. If with mortal eyes you are sot able to behold the full glory of this abode of the blessed, and if you can not draw near to Him, the Eternal One, because He dwells “in the light inaccessible,” do not be discouraged, lift up your heart! For in the light of the bright ray which God will cause to shine upon you, you will be able to form at least some faint conception of the glories of the celestial city.
There in the brilliance of eternal glory, the Son of God sat at the right hand of His Father, not having as yet assumed the nature of man; in the fulness of time the Father sent Him into the world to become man and to die upon the cross. But why did He send His beloved Son to incur humiliation, suffering, and death?
6. Listen, wonder, and adore! He, the crucified, Himself gives the answer. He solves the problem worthy of a God, in the words which He formerly addressed to Nicodemus: “God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting’’ (John iii. 16).
Thus, again, it was charity which impelled God to an action neither heaven nor earth could possibly have foreseen, an action which would of itself have sufficed to justify the words of the apostle of love, ‘God is love !”’
Wherefore, my friend, strive to free your heart from all mere earthly or sinful affection. Lift up your heart to heaven! There alone is an object truly worthy of your love!
Love, all other love transcending,
Love from God’s own throne descending,
Blessings free that love unending
From the cross is ever sending.
St. Francis Xavier's Hymn of Love
O GOD, I love Thee for Thyself
And not that I may heaven gain,
Nor yet that they who love Thee not,
Must suffer hell’s eternal pain.
Thou, O my Jesus! Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails and spear
And manifold disgrace;
And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;
E’en death itself — and all for one
Who was Thine enemy.
Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,
Should I not love Thee well:
Not for the sake of winning heaven,
Or of escaping hell;
Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward: But as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever-loving Lord.
E’en so I love Thee, and will love,
And in Thy praise will sing;
Solely because Thou art my God
And my eternal King.
XXII. All for the Love of Jesus
I. Love is a necessity to every human heart. Man is swayed by love either for good or for evil. Hence it is of the highest importance for every man, and especially for the young man, that an active, practical, abiding, unswerving love of God should dwell within his heart — of the highest importance for the young man, since it is in youth that the war against the threefold enemy — the devil, the world, and the concupiscence of the flesh—is the fiercest and most decisive.
If you, my dear young man, while you are rejoicing in the golden days of youth, fail to gain a mastery over the devil, the world, and the concupiscence of the flesh, the victory will at a later period become very difficult, perhaps even impossible, and in this case you will never win the heavenly crown which is the reward of him who conquers.
But how, and by what means shall you conquer? Solely and wholly through the power of love. For of love the poet sings:
Love is like the orb of day,
Love in every heart holds sway;
Who no more can tune his lay
To love, may cast his lyre away.
"Love is your master; for he masters you."
— Shakespeare.
"Love aids the hero, bids ambition rise To nobler heights, inspires immortal deeds, E'en softens brutes, and adds a grace to virtue." — Thomson.
"Love's reign is eternal, The heart is his throne, And he has all seasons Of life for his own." — Morris.
"'There is a comfort in the strength of love 'Twill make a thing endurable, which else Would overset the brain, or break the heart."
— Wordsworth.
"Love is strong as death. Many waters can not quench charity; neither can the floods drown it." — Solomon (Cant. viii. 6, 7).
But only true love, love to God, has power to conquer the devil, the world, and the concupiscence of the flesh. Wherefore let a true, practical, abiding love of God and of Christ be your guiding star; let it be the mainspring of your life; let it animate and strengthen you.
2. You must learn to say from your heart with the apostle St. Paul: "The charity of Christ presseth us" (2 Cor. v. 14), for then only will you be able to speak of victory. Without love no victory whatever can be achieved, and on no domain. We learn this from sacred and profane history, from the history of the world, from the history of each individual man. Love, as generally understood, conquers in good as well as in evil.
What, for instance, inspired and animated many a patriot to march fearlessly to battle, and to perform those immortal deeds of heroism which are read of in the pages of history? It was love, love of their native land.
What induced Napoleon the Great to give himself no rest, but to drive his triumphal chariot through all the countries of Europe? It was love, the love of fame.
What Induces the miser to resist the most powerful of all instincts, the desire for food and drink, and literally to starve himself to death, with a chest full of gold in his possession? It is love, the love of money.
3. What leads an invalid to conquer Tea? and anguish, and to submit to a most painful and dangerous operation? It is love, the love of his own life, which makes him risk everything.
What causes a mother so often to give up her own ease and comfort, and sacrifice money, time, sleep, health, and everything she can call her own, for the sake of a sick child? It is love, her great love for her offspring. And what enables pious married people to conquer their selfish desires? It is love, the love which ought to exist between husband and wife.
What induced St. Vincent de Paul to achieve so heroic a victory over himself, and allow himself to be shut up in prison with the dregs of mankind, with unhappy convicts condemned to the galleys? It was love, love for their immortal souls.
4. How would it have been possible that untold numbers of holy martyrs, amongst whom were tender virgins and young children, should renounce not only honor, freedom, fortune, health, the joys of family life, but should give up their lives amid terrible torture? It was only possible through the power of love, love for their Redeemer; they said with the Apostle: "The love of Christ presseth us."
And how was the greatest and most glorious victory recorded in the annals of the human race obtained, the victory over sin, death, and hell, the divine victory of the Saviour when He expired upon Mount Calvary? This was indeed the supremest victory of love, the victory of divine and infinite charity in regard to the poor sons of Adam.
5. Such, my youthful reader, is the all-conquering might of love. And if you know that it is imperatively necessary for you to overcome the lust of the eyes, the concupiscence of the flesh, and the pride of life, in order to win and wear the victor's crown in heaven, how consoling, is the thought that you will be able to conquer through the might of love, through the love of Christ!
And He, the Saviour of the world, has made it so easy for us to love Him, because He first loved us, and has done so very much for as. Ought it not rather to be difficult not to love this divine Redeemer?
6. Wherefore let a true and all-absorbing love of God enter into your heart and dwell there. This love streams forth from the tabernacle, from the Sacrament of Love. At this moment the Saviour is knocking at the door of your heart. Open to Him; let Him enter in, that He may inflame you with His love. Pray, pray: Heart of Jesus inflamed with love of me, inflame my heart with love of Thee!
Thus shall you conquer through the power of love; conquer your impure and evil passions; this unholy fire will be subdued by the holy fire of a true love of God.
Darkness shrouds your future; who can lift the veil which conceals it? Perhaps it is thick with storms and strife; but if love of Christ reigns in your heart, you will pass in safety through life's long day and death's dark night. Wherefore pray frequently and fervently to your Redeemer in some such words as these:
O Christ, whose life on earth was love,
Our hearts with charity inspires Draw all our thoughts to Heaven above,
Where love fulfils the soul's desire.
All for Thee, O Heart of Jesus
HOW sweet it is to feel, dear Lord
That Thou wilt surely see
Each work, or thought, or act of mine
That may be done for Thee!
That when I try with pure intent
To serve, to please, to love Thee,
Thy watchful Heart each effort knows.
Thy blessing rests above me.
Empty my soul of all desire
Man's idle praise to seek,
Hide me in Thee, for Thou dost know
How frail I am — and weak.
Take Thou my all, since for so long
Thy providence has sought me,
Make me Thine own since at such cost
Thy precious blood has bought me.
Live, Jesus, live, so live in me,
That all I do be done by Thee,
And grant that all I think and say
May be Thy thoughts and words to-day.
— Leaflets,
XXIII. The Pearl of Life
I. ST. JOHN the Evangelist writes thus: " Before the festival day of the Pasch, Jesus, knowing that His hour was come that He should pass out of this world unto the Father; having loved His own who were in the world He loved them unto the end" (John xiii. i). Thereupon, as the other evangelists tell us, Jesus instituted the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. This was therefore the token that Jesus loved His own unto the end. The Most Holy Eucharist is indeed the Sacrament of Love; it is in truth a miracle of love. Simply for love of us poor human beings is Jesus Christ really and truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. From the Tabernacle therefore does He unceasingly call to us: "Come unto me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you!"
2. It is especially necessary that you, my youthful reader, should keep your belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament ever alive within your soul. For this re? son call to mind the principal foundations of this belief.
The first foundation rests upon the promise of Him who is the Eternal Truth. When Jesus Christ, the God-Man, promises anything, He fails not to fulfil that promise. He solemnly promiser to institute the Most Holy Sacrament. When upon one occasion, after the miraculous multiplication of the loaves, the people came to Him in the hope of obtaining a further supply of bread, He referred them to another kind of bread, which He would bestow upon them. And what kind of bread did He mean? He said : " The bread that I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world," that is to say, the selfsame flesh which He offered up on the cross in order that the world, all mankind, should have eternal life. Thus plainly and definitely did Jesus promise that He would really and truly give His flesh to be our food. 3. But Holy Scripture proceeds to say: "The Jews therefore strove among themselves." And why did they thus strive? Because they deemed it to be absolutely impossible that Jesus would really give them His flesh to eat.
Now consider for a moment: if Jesus had not intended to give His flesh — His real body, but merely bread as an emblem of His body, what would He undoubtedly have answered the Jews? He would certainly have given them the necessary explanation, and said something as follows: "You must not misunderstand Me, good people; I will only give you an emblem or My flesh, only bread to eat." But did Jesus speak in this manner? No I On the contrary, He repeated His former words, and confirmed them with a sort of oath: "Amen, Amen, I say unto you! Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed."
4. And what Jesus promised in this definite and certain manner He has not failed to perform. At the last supper He truly changed bread and wine into His most sacred body ,and blood. He expressly said in reference to the bread which He took into His hands, "This is My body," and not, "This bread signifies My body," or, " It will become My body." And at the same time He commanded His apostles: " Do this in commemoration of Me! "
5. And remark yet a third proof : ever since the apostolic ages the Holy Catholic Church has understood the words of Jesus in the very same sense. For example, one of the earliest Fathers of the Church, St. Justinian, who died in the year 166, expressed in the clearest terms the belief of the Church, which had been handed down to him by the apostles. The following are his words: "We have been taught that this sacred food is the flesh and blood of the Son of God become man."
6. Therefore, enter every church where a lamp glimmers before the tabernacle both by day and night, with ever-renewed and lively faith. There contemplate the love of Jesus, the pearl of our life here below. Be not cold and unmoved like the stone floor, but adore your God with fervor and pray with the deepest reverence. Pierce with the eye of faith the veils of the Blessed Sacrament, and pray with heart and lips :
Jesus, dearest Lord, I love Thee,
Because Thou first hast loved me;
All other love I will resign,
Conform me to Thy love divine.
Pange Lingua Gloriosi
SING, my tongue, the Saviour's glory,
Of His flesh the mystery sing;
Of the blood, all price exceeding,
Shed by our immortal King,
Destined, for the world's redemption,
From a noble womb to spring.
Of a pure and spotless virgin
Born for us on earth below,
He, as man with man conversing,
Stay'd, the seeds of truth to sow?
Then He closed in solemn order
Wondrously His life of woe.
On the night of that last supper
Seated with His chosen band,
He the paschal victim eating,
First fulfils the Law's command;
Then, as food to His apostles
Gives Himself with His own hand.
Word made flesh, the bread of nature
By His word to flesh He turns;
Wine into His blood He changes —
What though sense no change discerns
Only be the heart in earnest,
Faith her lesson quickly learns.
Tantum Ergo Sacramentum
DOWN in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail;
Lo I o'er ancient forms departing,
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith, for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail
To the Everlasting Father,
And the Son who reigns on high,
With the Holy Ghost proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might, and endless majesty.
XXIV. In the Bright Days of Youth
I. PERHAPS you know from your own experience what homesickness is, the indescribable longing for home, for your dear ones. The saints also knew what homesickness is, but their longing was not for creatures, for earthly goods and possessions. They longed for the heavenly country, the land of everlasting joy, of peace and blessedness, the home of the saints; they longed for that heavenly fatherland, concerning which the Apostle writes : " 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!" Their longing for heaven was so ardent, that they awaited with holy impatience the hour of their death.
God does not require of us that we should feel homesickness of such a kind as this, but what He does require of all men, and especially cf the young, therefore of you, my youthful reader, is that we should love Him and serve Him faithfully. I say that God expects this from young people more especially, since Holy Scripture thus exhorts them, "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Wherefore love God and serve Him faithfully in the bright days of youth.
2. It was a blessed, a golden day when your pious sponsors, full of joyous hopes, brought you back from the baptismal font to your parents' house. From that hour, warmed by the sun of divine grace, you grew like a lily among thorns; indeed you knew nothing of the thorns of evil, in the blissful ignorance of your childish innocence. Your soul was like an untarnished mirror; your heart was the abode of celestial peace; you! understanding a clear, bright flame. Your will was open to receive all that is good; the frank expression of your eyes reflected the purity of your soul. Your ear had not as yet been polluted by the voice of the tempter; your lips had not tasted the poisonous cup of sin. Your hands were pure and clean; your feet had not walked in the way of transgressors; innocence was depicted in your countenance.
3. Therefore it is not wonderful that you, endowed as you were with all the qualities of a good child, with obedience, innocence, love of learning, modesty, and with harmless merriment, should have been the joy and delight of your parents and teachers, a spectacle to God, to angels, and to men! Yes, fair and golden were the days of your first youth, which you spent under the parental roof, beneath an unclouded sky.
And how is it with you at present? I do pot know, but I hope for the best, and therefore I entreat you to continue to serve God faithfully in the bright days of youth which yet remain to you!
4. You will understand some day, what you perhaps fail to perceive now, what an unspeakable advantage it is to consecrate the bright days of youth to God; strive to preserve your innocence unsullied to old age - ave, to the grave. What a happiness, what a joy, to be able to say to God, when this mortal life is ended, in the words of the young man in the Gospel: "All these (the commandments) have I kept from my youth" (Matt. xix. 20).
Wherefore never agree with the fools who say: "The time of our life is short. Come, therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth. Let us crown ourselves with roses before they be withered."
No, never say: "When I am old I will think of God, work for Him, and serve Him. The time to do this has not yet come!" That would be a very presumptuous, foolhardy way of speaking, and one which might cause you bitter repentance at a later period.
5. Hear what St. John Chrysostom, an illustrious Doctor of the Church, said upon this subject to his audience in a sermon delivered with wonderful eloquence: "Since no one likes to have a decrepit old servant, how much more does God desire and look for the service of the young, in order that He may receive the first-fruits of life. Is it right that any one should spend his youth in the service of sin, and keep his feeble old age, and the dregs of his life for God? To act thus is to offer the pure gold to Satan, and the dross to God; to give the costly pearls to Satan, and to leave the empty shells for God; to bestow the pure wheaten flour upon Satan, and to give the chaff to God; to offer the earliest roses of spring to Satan, and to make a present of the withered leaves to God, to lay the first, best, and rarest fruits on the altar of Satan, and to offer to God those which have lain long under the tree, have been devoured by insects, and allowed to rot."
6. What an awful punishment is on this account to be dreaded for the dissolute young man! Do you, therefore, make better resolutions, and say to yourself: "I am still young, and I will adorn the bright days of youth with virtues. I will give my heart to Him, to whom alone it belongs, and who asks so earnestly for it in these words: 'My Son, give Me thy heart.' "
The heart of childhood is all mirth,
We frolic to and fro
As free and blithe, as if on earth
Were no such thing as woe.
But if too soon with reckless faith
We trust the flattering voice
Which whispers: "Take thy fill ere death
Indulge thee and rejoice,"
Too surely each succeeding day
Some lost delight we mourn;
The flowers all fade along our way
Till we, too, die forlorn.
— Keble