"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. S.) 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 ourselves 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."
