Iesu, Rex admirabilis
Et triumphator
nobilis,
Dulcedo ineffabilis,
Totus desiderabilis.
Iesu, dulcedo cordium
Fons vivus, lumen
mentium
Excedens omne gaudium
Et omne desiderium.
(Hymn to Christ the
King)
O Sapientia!
O Adonai et Dux
domus Israel!
O Radix Iesse!
O Clavis David!
O Oriens!
O Rex gentium!
O Emmanuel!
(From the antiphons
of the last seven days of Advent)
"And Jesus ... sighed deeply, and distressed himself over it... Then Jesus wept." (Jn 11:33, 35) [...fremuit spiritu et turbavit seipsum...Lacrimatus est Iesus.]
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remain on the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. He who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing." (Jn 15:4-5)
"Let yourselves be
charmed by Christ, the Infinite who appeared among you in visible and imitable
form.
"Let yourselves be
attracted by his example, which has changed the history of the world and
directed it toward an exhilarating goal.
"Let yourselves be
loved by the love of the Holy Spirit, who wishes to turn you away from
worldly things to begin in you the life of the new self, created in God's
way in righteousness and true holiness.
"Fall in love with
Jesus Christ, to live his very life, so that our world may have life in
the light of the Gospel." (John Paul II, 1 Nov 91, Annual World Day Prayer
for Vocations)
"I want to invite you
this year to fix your eyes on Jesus, Teacher and Lord of life, with the
help of the words recalled in John's Gospel: 'Teacher, where are you staying?
Come and see. (cf 1:38,39)
"Out of curiosity
they decided to follow him at a distance. They were shy almost and embarassed,
until turning round, he asked them: 'What do you seek?' So he began the
dialogue that would give rise to the adventure of John, Andrew, Simon 'Peter'
and the other Apostles (cf Jn 1:19-51)....
"Dear young people,
like the first disciples, follow Jesus! Do not be afraid to draw
near to him, to cross the threshold of his dwelling, to speak with him,
face to face, as you talk with a friend (cf Ex 33:11).....
"It is true: Jesus
is a demanding friend. He points to lofty goals; he asks us to go
out of ourselves in order to meet him, entrusting to him our whole life....
"...talk with Jesus
in prayer and while listening to the Word; experience the joy of reconciliation
in the Sacrament of Penance; receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the
Eucharist; welcome and serve him in your brothers and sisters. You will
discover the truth about yourselves and your inner unity, and you will
find a 'Thou' who gives the cure of anxieties, for nightmares and for the
unbridled subjectivism that leaves you no peace." (John Paul II, Message
for the 12th World Youth Day, 15 Aug 97)
"If we take a close look at what contemporary men and women expect from priests, we will see that, in the end, they have but one great expectation: they are thirsting for Christ" (John Paul II, Gift and Mystery), p 85
"There is only one person who can love God adequately, who can adore God properly, who can serve God exactly as he should be served: and that is Christ. Our work ... is to put on Christ, to form him in ourselves and in those committed to our care." (Eugene Boylan, The Priest's Way to God, p 180)
"My son, where do men find in you the Christ they are looking for? In your pride? In your desire to impose yourself on others? In those little defects of character which you don't wish to overcome? In your stubbornness? ... Is Christ to be found there?" (Bl Josemaria Escriva, The Forge 468)
"And they who belong to Christ have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. Let us not become desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Gal 5:24-26)
The Gospel has to find
its way into our prayer, and from there to our life.
Do send in your contributions!
