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FEAST OF THE PURIFICATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ( February 2nd )

After the days of her purification were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (Luke ii, 22.)

CONSIDER FIRSTLY that when the time had come when according to the law Mary should go up to the temple to be purified, and to present Jesus to the divine Father, she departed with Joseph. Mary took her dear infant, the divine Lamb, to offer Him to God, in token of that great sacrifice that one day this Son was to accomplish upon the Cross.

APPLICATION:  O my God, with Mary’s offering I also unite my own. I offer Thee Thy Son made Man, and by His merits I pray Thee to give me Thy grace. I do not indeed deserve it, but Jesus sacrificed Himself to obtain it for me. For the love of Jesus then have mercy on me.

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ. (Ps. lxxxiii, 10.)

CONSIDER SECONDLY that Mary entered the temple and there makes the offering of her Son in the name of the whole human race. On this day Jesus also offered Himself to the Eternal Father, (Behold Me,” He says, “O My Father; to You I consecrate all my life: You have sent Me into the world to save it, behold my body, My blood and My life. I offer all to Thee for the salvation of the whole world.”

APPLICATION: Wretched indeed should I have been, my Saviour, if Thou hadst not satisfied the divine justice for me! I thank Thee intensely, I love Thee with all my heart. Whom indeed should I love, if I did not love a God Who has sacrificed His life for me?

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire: Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require: then, said I, Behold I come. (Ps. xxxix, 7, 8.)

CONSIDER THIRDLY that this sacrifice was more acceptable to God than any other could possibly have been , even that of all the angels and all men if they had offered Him themselves and their lives. For in this one offering of Jesus the Eternal Father received infinite honour and an infinite satisfaction. And, furthermore, the reason for this sacrifice is clearly expressed in the words of our Lord, Who said one day to Blessed Angela da Foligno: I offered myself for thee so that you might offer yourself to Me.

APPLICATION: Yes, my Jesus, because You offered Your life to Your Father for me, I offer myself and all my life to Thee. In the past I have treated Thee with much ingratitude, but Thou hast promised to forget the injuries of a sinner who repents of having offended Thee. My Jesus, I am sorry and I would wish to die of grief. I was dead in my sins, but now I hope for life from Thee, and all my life shall be to love Thee, O infinite Good. Make me to love Thee, and I ask Thee nothing more. Give all the things of this earth to those who desire them; for myself I desire nothing but the gift of Thy love. My Jesus, Thou alone canst satisfy me. O Mary, my Queen and Mother, through Thy intercession I hope to obtain everything I ask. 

AFFECTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS: My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the living God. (Ps. lxxxiii, 3.)

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