Virgo Potens

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 27th 27th Day — The Employments of Heaven His servants shall serve Him. (Apoc. xxii. 3.) 1. While faith and hope will be at an end in heaven, the virtue of charity will remain. There is nothing on earth so sweet as love; nothing that fills the heart with such continual joy; nothing that so occupies the soul and causes men to forget all else. This is the case when the object of our love is a perishable imperfect creature like ourselves. How much more when the object of our love is the God of infinite beauty, containing in Himself every possible earthly perfection, not only multiplied to an in finite degree, but altogether higher in kind, and therefore a source of greater joy than all possible created beauty ! (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 26th 2. Why is this? Because in God are united every perfection and every beauty and every joy and every delight that exist or can exist, and all in an infinite degree. Every other joy is but a shadow as compared with the substance, a grain of dust compared with the loftiest mountains, a drop of water compared with the ocean. O my God, help me to despise the passing joys of earth when I think of the joy of seeingThee! 3. The beatific vision will not convey the same degree of happiness to all who gaze upon it. It will depend upon our union with God on earth, on our faithfulness to grace, on our personal sanctity. One star differs from another star in glory. What folly, then, if we let slip any of the eternal reward for the sake of some perishable trifle or miss any opportunity of adding to our treasure of heavenly delight! Pray that you may appreciate your heavenly treasure, and strive continually to add to it. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 26th 26th Day — The Essential Happiness of Heaven We shall see Him as He is. (1 St. John iii. 2.) 1. The one central source of heaven's happiness will be the vision of God. We shall see Him face to face in all His divine beauty; every thing will be swallowed up in the absorbing delight of gazing on the majesty of the Most High. If the lost in hell could see God for a single instant, hell would at once become heaven to them. (continued)

To the King of ages immortal and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Roman Breviary) An indulgence of 500 days. (S. P. Ap., June 7, 1921 and Dec. 9, 1932) ~ The Raccolta (1943) NOVENA to the INFANT JESUS Begins on December 25th ~ Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

🎄⭐️✯✿ ❀•°⭐️°•❀✿✯⭐️🎄 Glória in excélcis Deo . . . Glory to God in the highest! Blessed and Holy Christmas, dear Readers!!!!!! May the Infant Christ Child shower blessings upon you and your families!!!!! And may the spiritual preparation that you have made during this Advent season just past, in readying your hearts to receive our Infant King, bear the rich fruit of peace, joy and charity in the coming Christmas season and throughout the coming year! May God bless you all wonderfully!!!!!! 🎄⭐️✯✿ ❀•°⭐️°•❀✿✯⭐️🎄

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 25th 2. Whatever God does He does on a scale worthy of Himself. The happiness of heaven will be immeasurable from the fact of its being in union with the God of infinite love and beauty. It will be a joy like the joy of Our Lord Himself, since He will say to each of the redeemed: "Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.". Am I doing what I can to insure those words being addressed to me? 3. In heaven all will be perfectly happy. Even those who have the lowest places will have all that their hearts desire. There will be no unsatisfied wish in heaven, no craving after what we do not possess. Every one will have an overflowing cup of pleasure. Oh, what fools we are not to do more to insure the joy of heaven ! Pray that you may often think of heaven and its joys. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 25th 25th Day — Heaven 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. (1 Cor. i. 9.) 1. These words convey the best idea that the Apostle who had been carried up into the third heaven could give of the happiness of the redeemed. All the loveliest things we have ever seen are as nothing in comparison to the sight of heaven; all the sweetest sounds are discord compared with the music of heaven; all the joys that have made the longest hours only too short do not deserve the name of joy compared with the joys of heaven. One moment of heaven is worth them all! (continued)

2 of 2 GOD FROM ON HIGH HATH HEARD Christmas Eve But O, what sight appears Within the lowly door! Behold a manger rude, A Child and Mother poor. Art Thou the Christ, the Son, Of Light the very Light, Who holdest in thine Hand Earth and the starry height? Yea, faith can pierce the cloud Which veils thy glory now; And hail Thee God and Lord, To Whom all creatures bow. Faith sees the sapphire throne, Where angels evermore Adoring tremble still, And trembling still adore. Jesu, thy silence speaks, And bids us not refuse To bear what flesh would shun, To spurn what flesh would choose. Once born within us, Lord, By that pure love of thine, Keep Thou each contrite heart Thy cradle and thy shrine. Amen. ~ The Catholic Hymnal (1888)

1 of 2 GOD FROM ON HIGH HATH HEARD Christmas Eve God from on high hath heard; Let sighs and sorrows cease; Lo, from the opening Heaven . . . . Descends the promised Peace! Hark, through the silent night Angelic voices swell: The hosts of heaven proclaim God, born on earth to dwell. Now with the shepherd band Speed on with eager feet: Come seek the hallowed cave The holy Babe to greet. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 24th 2. They will also be amazed and astonished at the reward given to them. What have I done, O Lord, to deserve all this? When did I minister to Thee as Thou sayest? When did I do anything to earn Thy words of gratitude? Who am I that Thou shouldst thus exalt me? All the little that I did came from Thee, and now Thou rewardest me as if it was my own. We bless Thee, we praise Thee, for Thy great goodness, Thine unspeakable generosity. 3. They will also look back with wonder on their earthly life. While it lasted it seemed so long, so tedious, perhaps so miserable, and now it is like a moment in the past, like a shadow that flitted by. How infinitesimal all its sorrows and pains will then seem, all compensated by that first moment of ineffable delight! Seek to bear that day in mind when earthly sorrows press heavily. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 24th 24th Day — The End Attained Then shall the King say to them that shall be on His right hand, Come ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (St. Matt. xxv. 34.) 1. What will be the sentiments of those who at the General Judgment will find themselves on the right hand of the Judge, and listen to His words of love? First of all they will overflow with a delicious sense of happiness and peace; they will scarcely be able to contain themselves with delight; unmixed and unalloyed will be their cup of joy, unlike any of the joys of earth, intoxicating them with its ineffable sweetness. (continued)

🌲⭐️🌲Merry and Blessed Christmas Eve!!!! 🌲⭐️🌲

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye peoples. For His mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever. (Psalm 116) 300 Days, once a day (S. P. Ap., Dec. 22, 1936) ~ The Raccolta (1943) NOVENA IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST December 23rd – DECEMBER 31st Feast of the Circumcision ~ January 1st Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye peoples. For His mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever. (Psalm 116) 300 Days, once a day (S. P. Ap., Dec. 22, 1936) ~ The Raccolta (1943) NOVENA IN PREPARATION FOR THE FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST December 23rd – DECEMBER 31st Feast of the Circumcision ~ January 1st Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 23rd 2. The sentence will be not only just but merciful. All the lost will acknowledge that their punishment is less than they deserved. They will recognize an element of mercy, and will be forced amid their despair and hatred of Go, amid their curses and blasphemies, to confess that they have been leniently dealt with in comparison with their sins. 3. The sentence will be irrevocable. Even at the Particular Judgment the soul will know its final destiny. But at the General Judgment the sentence will be confirmed and ratified in the presence of the holy angels and the assembled crowd. How strange it is, then, that in view of this we take so little trouble to secure a favorable sentence! Pray that to you may be addressed the gracious words: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 23rd 23rd Day — The Final Sentence The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment, but the just into life everlasting. (St. Matt. xxv. 46.) 1. The sentence pronounced at the Last Judgment will be one of perfect justice. Every little circumstance will be taken into account; inherited character, natural disposition, fierce passions, favorable or unfavorable circumstances, early training, opportunities of grace, sacraments, temptations, everything. All who are lost will confess that they have been treated with perfect justice, that it was their own fault, that it was they who condemned themselves to eternal separation from God. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 22nd 2. On that day what a complete reverse there will be of all the world's unjust verdicts! How many, now ridiculed, despised, condemned, will then be glorious and honored before men and angels! What will my sentiments be on that day when the thoughts of all hearts will be revealed? 3. On the right of the Judge will be the sheep, left, the goats; the one overflowing with celestial delights, the other already filled with the despair of hell. What will distinguish between them ? Simply this, whether they have shown charity to others for Christ's sake. This and nothing else will be the test— " In as much as you have done it to one of My least brethren you have done it tonMe." How shall I stand this test? Ask God to teach you how to secure a place on the right hand of the Judge. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 22nd 22nd Day — The General Judgment Behold He cometh with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also that pierced Him. (Apoc. i. 7.) 1. At the General Judgment Christ as man will be the Judge of men, because He is at once God and man. He will therefore have not only the most intimate knowledge of all our lives, but a sympathy with us, an understanding of our nature from experience, that will give Him in the natural order the highest qualifications for being our Judge. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 21st 2. We shall then stand face to face with Jesus Christ, no longer as our Advocate, but as our Judge; no longer pleading for us, but dealing out strict justice, according to our deserts. He will be clothed with a divine glory that will attract us and at the same time fill us with dismay at the thought of having offended Him. St. Teresa said that what struck her most forcibly in the vision she had of Him was how awful would be the anger of one so full of divine sweetness. 3. Yet we need not fear the judgment if we make Christ our friend now. If we earn His gratitude by doing all we can to please Him, He will not remember our former sins. He will look to what we are, not what we have been. He will not remember the sins of those who love Him with all their hearts. The same St. Teresa said: "Why should I fear the judgment when my Judge will be my best friend?" Pray that you may forestall the judgment by a careful examination of your conscience now, and an earnest desire to please your Judge. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 21st 21st Day — The Particular Judgment We must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ. (2 Cor. v. 10.) 1. At the Particular Judgment we shall see our lives as they never appeared to us before. In an instant we shall live them over again. Each thought, word, act, will be clear and distinct, with its true character no longer hidden by our own wilful blindness, but in all its foulness, baseness, ingratitude, revealed to us in the bright light of God. (continued)