"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" tenth and eleventh meditations.

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the tenth and eleventh of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

X

The Return from Egypt. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, ex Aegypto cum Parentibus in terram Israel reversus, multos labores in itinere perpessus, et in civitatem Nazareth ingressus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who didst return from Egypt to the land of Israel with Thy parents, suffering many hardships in the way, and didst enter into the city of Nazareth, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

XI

At Nazareth, subject  to His parents. J-J Tissot

Iesu Infans dulcissime, in sancta Nazarena domo, subditus Parentibus, sanctissime commoratus, paupertate et laboribus fatigatus, in sapientiæ, ætatis et gratiæ profectu confortatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who didst dwell most holily in the holy house at Nazareth, in subjection to Thy parents, wearied by poverty and toil, didst increase in wisdom, age, and grace, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

Concluding prayer

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

Qui natus es de Virgine

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

All honour, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Eighth and ninth meditations.

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the eighth and ninth of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

VIII

The Flight into Egypt. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, ab iniquo Herode ad mortem quæsitus, a sancto Ioseph in Aegyptum cum Matre deportatus, a crudeli cæde sublatus, et præconiis Martyrum Innocentium glorificatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, sought by wicked Herod to be slain, carried with Thy Mother into Egypt by Saint Joseph, rescued from the cruel slaughter, and glorified by the praises of the martyred Innocents, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

Qui natus es de Virgine

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

All honour, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Christe prope est nobis

R. Venite, adoremus.

V. Christ is near to us.

R. Come let us adore Him.

Pater noster......

Our Father.....

IX

The sojourn in Egypt. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, in Aegyptum cum Maria sanctissima et Patriarcha sancto Ioseph usque ad obitum Herodis commoratus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who didst dwell in Egypt with most Holy Mary and the Patriarch, Saint Joseph until the death of Herod, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

Concluding prayer

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

Qui natus es de Virgine

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

All honour, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

À l'Enfant Jésus : To the Child Jesus

In musing upon the reasons for this series of meditations in preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ our King, I suddenly recalled that Ste Thérèse of Lisieux is known as Ste Thérèse of the Child Jesus. I further recalled the extraordinary circumstances of my birth and of my baptism as a little infant three weeks old in the church of St Teresa of the Child Jesus, in Perry Bar (Birmingham). Casting my eyes over the poems of Ste Thérèse, I found one entitled À l'Enfant Jésus - To the Child Jesus. I found that it is also known as l'Abandon - Abandonment. These considerations impelled me to complete an English translation in fairly quick time. This is presented below, with some minor modifications to the metre and rhyming of the French original.

À l'Enfant Jésus

Jésus, Tu connais mon nom, 
Et Ton doux regard m’appelle …
Il me dit : « Simple Abandon, 
Je veux guider ta nacelle ».
De Ta petite voix d’enfant, 
O quelle merveille!
De Ta petite voix d’enfant, 
Tu calmes le flot mugissant, 
Et le vent.

Si Tu veux Te reposer, 
Alors que l’orage gronde,
Sur mon cœur daigne poser 
Ta petite tête blonde!
Que Ton sourire est ravissant 
Lorsque Tu sommeilles
Toujours avec mon plus doux chant,
Je veux Te bercer tendrement, 
Bel Enfant !

Décembre 1896

To the Child Jesus

Jesus, to Thee I’m known,
Thy gaze calls sweet and clear:
“Abandonment alone -
Thy boat I fain would steer.”
And with Thine infant voice —
O what a thing of wonder!—
And with Thine infant voice,
The wind and waves and thunder
To calm are all restored!
 
If Thou desirest rest
While wind and waves do rage,
My heart will be Thy rest
And infant head’s assuage.
When Thou hast closed Thine eyes,
O sleepy little Child,
I’ll sing sweet lullabies
With gentle cradling mild,
O ever handsome Child!

Notes

abandonment: from abandon (v.) late 14c., "to give up (something) absolutely, relinquish control, give over utterly;" also reflexively, "surrender (oneself), yield (oneself) utterly" 

Jesus asleep in the boat: see Matthew viii:

[23] Et ascendente eo in naviculam, secuti sunt eum discipuli ejus : [24] et ecce motus magnus factus est in mari, ita ut navicula operiretur fluctibus, ipse vero dormiebat. [25] Et accesserunt ad eum discipuli ejus, et suscitaverunt eum, dicentes : Domine, salva nos, perimus. [26] Et dicit eis Jesus : Quid timidi estis, modicae fidei? Tunc surgens imperavit ventis, et mari, et facta est tranquillitas magna. [27] Porro homines mirati sunt, dicentes : Qualis est hic, quia venti et mare obediunt ei?

 

[23] And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him: [24] And behold a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but he was asleep. [25] And they came to him, and awaked him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. [26] And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up he commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. [27] But the men wondered, saying: What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey him?

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Seventh meditation.

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the seventh of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

VII

The Presentation in the Temple. J-J Tissot. 

Iesu Infans dulcissime, in templo a Matre Virgine præsentatus, 

inter brachia a Simeone amplexatus, 

et ab Anna prophetissa Israeli revelatus, 

miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, presented in the temple by Thy Virgin Mother, taken up in Simeon's arms, and revealed to Israel by Anna, a prophetess, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri.

Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary...

Concluding prayer

Iesu, tibi sit gloria,

Qui natus es de Virgine

Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,

In sempiterna saecula. Amen.

All honor, laud, and glory be,

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;

All glory, as is ever meet,

To the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Sixth meditation.

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the sixth of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

VI

The Adoration of the Magi. J-J Tissot  Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, 

stella duce tribus Magis demonstratus, 

in sinu Matris adoratus, 

et mysticis muneribus, auro, thure, et myrrha donatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, manifested by the leading of a star to the Three Wise Men, worshiped in the arms of Thy Mother, presented with the mystic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri.

Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary...

Concluding prayer

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Fifth meditation.

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the fifth of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

V

Rembrandt van Rijn The Circumcision, 1661, Widener Collection

Iesu, Infans dulcissime, in circumcisione post dies octo vulneratus, glorioso Iesu nomine vocatus, et in nomine simul et sanguine Salvatoris officio præsignatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, wounded after eight days in Thy circumcision, called by the glorious Name of Jesus, and at once by Thy Name and by Thy Blood foreshown as the Savior of the world, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri.

Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary...

 

Concluding prayer

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Fourth meditation

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the fourth of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

IV

The Adoration of the Shepherds. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, in Bethlehem ex Virgine Maria natus, pannis involutus, in præsepio reclinatus, ab Angelis annuntiatus et pastoribus visitatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lain in a manger, announced by Angels and visited by shepherds, have mercy on us.

R. Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri.

Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us.

Hail Mary...

Iesu, tibi sit gloria
Qui natus es de Virgine
Cum Patre et almo Spiritu,
In sempiterna sæcula. Amen.

All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To the Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

V. Christe prope est nobis

R. Venite, adoremus.

V. Christ is near to us.

R. Come let us adore Him.

Pater noster......

Our Father.....

Concluding prayer

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Third meditation

We continue today with our preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Little Lord Jesus, Christ Our King, at Candlemas.

Here is the opening prayer, followed by the third of the twelve meditations:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

III

The Presentation in the Temple. J-J Tissot. 

Iesu Infans dulcissime, novem mensibus in utero clausus, summis votis a Maria Virgine et a sancto Ioseph expectatus, et Deo Patri pro salute mundi oblatus, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who, enclosed for nine months in Thy Mother's womb, wast looked for with eager expectation by the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, and wast offered to God the Father for the salvation of the world, have mercy on us.

Concluding prayer

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R. Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine cæli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum cælorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

"The more you honour Me, the more I will bless you:" Introduction

A statue of the Holy Infant was given to my family in the 1980's by Father H.D., former parish priest of Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, in London's Covent Garden. The statue had for long been on a pedestal in front of the Lady altar of the church but was being replaced by another one recently donated. The Holy Infant became for a short while the focal point of our family prayer, situated in a place of honour in our home. After the great troubles, I retained the statue which has for several years been near me in my office at home. But I paid little attention to the Holy Infant, apart from dusting and a slight retouching of the paint. All this was to change in 2020.

I had made a gift of Sanctuary Lamps to the Sons of the Holy Redeemer on the Orkney Island of Papa Stronsay, in time for Advent. Delivery of the gift, however, proved to be beset with difficulties and is a story worth telling in its own right, but not here. 

Suffice it to say that the story ended well and the devil's best efforts to hinder the delivery were thwarted. I was delighted to receive a thank-you card from the Reverend Fathers and Brothers.

The image on the front of their card is shown on the left. It is the Holy Infant. I placed it next to my statue. 

Inside the card were some printed words, including the following:

The effect of the card, and of those intriguing words, was not felt immediately; but slowly, it would seem, a thought started to form in my head about wanting to honour the Holy Infant who had been by my side for so long, but scarcely acknowledged. This thought received a massive boost when a small parcel arrived out of the blue from Papa Stronsay. It was an Epiphany package. I could hardly believe what I found inside: Holy Water, Chalk, Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh blessed on the Epiphany; and "the Love of St. John," a little bottle of wine blessed in honour of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist. These items were accompanied by beautifully illustrated leaflets. 

I remembered that their card had included a reference to gold, frankincense and myrrh, in connection with the Holy Infant. I now had my own gold, frankincense and myrrh; I could offer these to the Holy Infant...

The thought slowly started to form within me that I should make a special effort to honour the Holy Infant. In keeping with practices common to other acts of devotion, I decided to spend a period of preparation for the installation of the Holy Infant as Christ our King. A year or so ago, I adopted as my motto the following words, which I adapted from those associated with Pope John Paul II:

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Ad Jesum per Mariam: to Jesus through Mary. Yet again, as she did with me through the Rosarium Aureum and the Little Office, it seems that Our Blessed Mother invariably draws us to her divine Son. I am sure, for instance, that she it was who moved me to produce a Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ. How fitting, therefore, that she should move me to honour the Holy Infant: after all, did not the Infant Himself say:

"The more you honor Me, the more I will bless you."

The date I have appointed for the installation ceremony of the Holy Infant is the Feast of the Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple. Now this feast also recalls the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Our Lord. Mother and Son are found to be on this day as inseparable as ever.

The devotions include a primary intention of asking for the Holy Infant's grace to heal family wounds and protect family members* so as to draw them all safely to the Holy Infant's heavenly court.

*EEKPTEE &EA

++++++++++++

I have noted that the chaplet of the Holy Infant has twelve beads (+3). 

These beads in our preparation will correspond to each of a series of twelve meditations on the Our Lord's infancy. 

I propose, Deo volente, to post these meditations as we approach Candlemas.

First two meditations

Here is the opening prayer:

V. Deus in adiutorium meum intende.

R. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.

V. O God, come unto my assistance!

R. O Lord, make haste to help me!

V. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto,

R. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pater noster...

Our Father.....

I

The Adoration of the shepherds. J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Meseum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, e sinu Patris propter nostram salutem descendens, de Spiritu Sancto conceptus, Virginis uterum non horrens, et Verbum caro factum, formam servi accipiens, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who didst come down from the bosom of the Father for our salvation, who wast conceived by the Holy Spirit, who didst not abhor the Virgin's womb, and who, being the Word made flesh, didst take upon Thee the form of a servant, have mercy on us.

R Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

II

The Visitation . J-J Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

Iesu Infans dulcissime, per Virginem Matrem tuam visitans Elisabeth, Ioannem Baptistam Præcursorem tuum Spiritu Sancto replens, et adhuc in utero matris suæ sanctificans, miserere nostri.

Jesu, sweetest Child, who by means of Thy Virgin Mother didst visit Saint Elizabeth, who didst fill Thy forerunner, John the Baptist, with Thy Holy Spirit and didst sanctify him in his mother's womb, have mercy on us.

R Miserere nostri, Iesu Infans, miserere nostri. Ave Maria...

R. Have mercy on us, Child Jesus, have mercy on us. Hail Mary...

Concluding prayer

V. Verbum caro factum est.

R Et habitavit in nobis.

V. The Word was made flesh.

R  And dwelt among us.

Oremus:

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, Domine caeli et terræ, qui te revelas parvulis; concede, quæsumus, ut nos sacrosancta Filii tui Infantis Iesu mysteria digno honore recolentes, dignaque imitatione sectantes, ad regnum caelorum promissum parvulis pervenire valeamus. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, Lord of heaven and earth, who dost reveal Thyself to little ones; grant we beseech Thee, that we, venerating with due honour the sacred mysteries of Thy Son, the Child Jesus, and copying them with due imitation, may be enabled to enter the kingdom of heaven which Thou hast promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

The Psalms of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

William Vrelant, Flemish, 15th century. Getty Museum.

From the 18th of November until the 18th of January 2021, we have been using the Rosarium blog to follow  St. Robert Bellarmine's commentaries on the Seven Penitential Psalms. I have decided to continue with Bellarmine's excellent commentaries but focusing now on the Psalms of the Little Office of Our Lady. These will be posted, Deo volente, on the blog of the Little Office website and also stored on a dedicated page on that site.

Here are the Little Office Psalms, in numerical order. 

8, 18, 23, 44, 45, 53, 62, 84, 86, 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 109, 112, 116, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 147, & 148.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Bellarmine on Psalm 142: Verses 12-14

Today we conclude St Robert Bellarmine's commentary on Psalm 142, the last of the Seven Penitential Psalms.

Where footnotes are included, the text follows each section.

The Latin is reproduced courtesy of the Digital Collection site  - UANL and is accompanied by my fairly literal translation. The Scripture excerpts (Douay Rheims/Vulgate) are taken from the DRBO site but the verse numbering follows that of Bellarmine’s Latin text.

Verse 12

Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land: for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. 

Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam : Propter nomen tuum, Domine, vivificabis me in aequitate tua,

He asked for wisdom, which pertains to the intelligence; now he asks for charity, which pertains to the will; for we truly walk in the path of righteousness when we know how to act well and will to do so. “Thy good spirit,” that is, not

my spirit but Thine, which is good, and of which the Saviour speaks in Luke vi: “How much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him?”[1] The good spirit is the Holy Spirit, essentially good, through whom is diffused “charity… in our hearts;”[2] and He does this that we may will and do the works we will to do; and of this, it says in Ezech xxxvi: “I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause you to walk in my commandments.”[3] This Spirit  “shall lead me into the right land,” that is, in that plain and direct path, which is the law of the Lord, most straight and most plain. Right land may be understood as our heavenly home, which is the land of the living, in which justice dwells, and which has no space for the crookedness of vices. It continues: “for thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice,” so that he may show that justice, which is indeed a certain spiritual quickening, not derived from personal  merits, is contingent upon the gift of God’s grace to us. “For thy name's sake,” he says, that is, on account of Thy glory through Thy grace “Thou wilt quicken me in Thy equity (justice),” that is, in Thy justice, for thus it is in the Hebrew. By justice may be understood truth, of faithfulness in keeping promises; it can also be understood as justice, which justifies us; finally, it may be understood as the most just law of the Lord, in the way we understand Psalm cxviii, 40: “Quicken me in thy justice.”[4]

[1] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him? Si ergo vos, cum sitis mali, nostis bona data dare filiis vestris : quanto magis Pater vester de caelo dabit spiritum bonum petentibus se? [Luc. vi. 13]
[2] And hope confoundeth not: because the charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost, who is given to us. spes autem non confundit : quia caritas Dei diffusa est in cordibus nostris per Spiritum Sanctum, qui datus est nobis. [Rom. v. 5]
[3] And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them. Et spiritum meum ponam in medio vestri : et faciam ut in praeceptis meis ambuletis, et judicia mea custodiatis et operemini. [Ezech. Xxxvi. 27]
[4] Behold I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy justice. Ecce concupivi mandata tua; in aequitate tua vivifica me. [Ps. Cxviii. 40]

Verse 13-14

Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: and in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Educes de tribulatione animam meam et in misericordia tua disperdes inimicos meos, et perdes omnes qui tribulant animam meam, quoniam ego servus tuus sum.

He concludes by foretelling his salvation and deliverance, and the perdition of all his enemies; this will be fulfilled without doubt at the Last Judgement; and what David says of himself can also be said of all true servants of God, who either have kept safe their innocence or have through true repentance returned to the path of righteousness.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Bellarmine on Psalm 142: Verses 10-11

We continue with St Robert Bellarmine's commentary on Psalm 142, the last of the Seven Penitential Psalms.

Where footnotes are included, the text follows each section.

The Latin is reproduced courtesy of the Digital Collection site  - UANL and is accompanied by my fairly literal translation. The Scripture excerpts (Douay Rheims/Vulgate) are taken from the DRBO site but the verse numbering follows that of Bellarmine’s Latin text.

Verse 10

Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee.

Notam fac mihi viam in qua ambulem, quia ad te levavi animam meam.

The repentant David, having received justification but fearing lest he should again fall, anxiously seeks in this

closing part of the Psalm the grace of discerning and walking along the way of justice. Now this is also the mark of a true penitent, when after reconciliation he applies himself to instituting a way of life that befits a friend and son of God. “Make known,” he says, “the way to me, wherein I should walk,” that is, illumine my mind so that I may recognize the way of justice which I ought to walk so that I may come to Thee. For indeed “I have lifted up my soul to thee,” that is, I have set my course towards Thee, I have renounced my worldly desires, I desire Thee alone; therefore I seek the light of wisdom so that I may not stray from Thee. The words I have lifted up my soul to thee may also be understood, following Chrysostom, as referring to hope, so that the sense is: I depend on Thee, in Thee I trust.

Verse 11

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled:

Eripe me de inimicis meis, Domine; ad te confugi.

Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. 

Doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu

He persists with this request, asking to be delivered from the temptations of the devil, who often tries to darken the mind so that it no longer sees the path of justice. Concupiscence is indeed aroused by the devil, so that things appear other than they truly are, and from this arise errors of judgement. “Deliver me,” he says, “from my enemies,” that is, deliver me from the temptations of the enemy, for to Thee have I fled and him have I renounced.” “Teach me to do thy will,” that is, help me with Thy light, so that having fought back temptations I may find the true way, so that I may understand what Thy good will may be, pleasing Thee and perfect. “For thou art my God,” that is, my duty and my desire is to serve Thee alone, for Thou art my God, the beginning and the end of all the good things I have, from whom I have received my nature and other good things of the soul and body, and from whom I look forward to everlasting beatitude and glory.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Bellarmine on Psalm 142: Verses 7-9

We continue with St Robert Bellarmine's commentary on Psalm 142, the last of the Seven Penitential Psalms.

Where footnotes are included, the text follows each section.

The Latin is reproduced courtesy of the Digital Collection site  - UANL and is accompanied by my fairly literal translation. The Scripture excerpts (Douay Rheims/Vulgate) are taken from the DRBO site but the verse numbering follows that of Bellarmine’s Latin text.

Verse 7

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away.

Velociter exaudi me, Domine; defecit spiritus meus. 

The turpitude of his sin, which he acknowledges, and the desire for grace, impel the penitent’s soul so that he cannot endure any delay in reconciliation. It is a mark of true contrition when the sinner does not put off confession and other remedies from day to day but quickly runs to the soul’s physician, like a sick man in danger quickly summons the presence[1] of a physician, or a thirsty man quickly runs to waters. “Hear me,” he says, “speedily;” I can  no longer support my turpitude, wash me quickly of my iniquity, heal speedily my illness, because “my spirit hath fainted away,” that is, I am at my last extremity, I can scarcely draw breath: he uses the past tense for the present, increasing the grace.

[1]  accersiri: seems to be a misprint for arcessiri, present passive infinitive of arcessiō, or arcesso: arcessō, īvī, ītus, 3, a.: to cause to come; send for, summon.

Verse 8

Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Non avertas faciem tuam a me, et similis ero descendentibus in lacum.

He seeks the same using different words: “Turn not away thy face from me,” that is, do not refuse to be reconciled to me, do not be unrelenting, turn the face of Thy kindness so as to look mercifully upon me, lest I become as those who perish and go down into the deepest pit of hell. For God does not pardon these, neither does he give them the life of grace; they are lost eternally. The et / and [translated in Douay Rheims as lest] may be taken for quia / because as we have often noted, and the sense is: “Turn not away thy face from me,” because if Thou dost turn away, “I shall be like unto them that go down into the pit."

Verse 9

Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped.

 

Auditam fac mihi mane misericordiam tuam, quia in te speravi.

He returns to the same subject but in another manner: “Cause me to hear ... in the morning,” that is, quickly, speedily, at the beginning of the day, “thy mercy;” or by in the morning he understands the light of grace which dawns in reconciliation after the dark night of sin, as though he might say: I have been too long in the dark night of sin, angering Thee; may Thy mercy make grace to dawn, and may I hear in my heart Thy voice telling me: “I am thy salvation.”[1] “For in thee have I hoped,” that is, may the grace of hope, which I have already received, merit the grace of forgiveness; for although a sinner may not in his own behalf merit anything from God, yet grace itself can merit being increased, so that, being increased, it may merit being perfected, as St. Augustine says in his Epistle 106; and with regard to this text, St. Augustine says that justification is obtained through faith and the same can be said of hope, which obtains justification.

[1]  Bring out the sword, and shut up the way against them that persecute me: say to my soul: I am thy salvation. Effunde frameam, et conclude adversus eos qui persequuntur me; dic animae meae : Salus tua ego sum. [Ps. Xxxiv. 3]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Bellarmine on Psalm 142: Verses 5-6

Today, we continue with St Robert Bellarmine's commentary on Psalm 142, the last of the Seven Penitential Psalms.

Where footnotes are included, the text follows each section.

The Latin is reproduced courtesy of the Digital Collection site  - UANL and is accompanied by my fairly literal translation. The Scripture excerpts (Douay Rheims/Vulgate) are taken from the DRBO site but the verse numbering follows that of Bellarmine’s Latin text.

Verse 5

I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands.

Memor fui dierum antiquorum : meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis, in factis manuum tuarum meditabar.

He explains now how he was able to breathe again after such great anguish and shows us by his example the way to recovery after his fall. “I remembered,” he says, “the days of old,” that is, I started to reflect upon Thy mercy, which from the world’s beginning Thou didst show to our fathers, bearing their infirmities, healing illnesses and sparing their iniquities. I did not simply remember these in passing, but “I meditated on all thy works,” that is, I studied diligently all Thy works, whether of nature or of grace, and in all of them I saw Thy mercy predominated. And repeating this, he adds: “I meditated upon the works of thy hands,” that is, I applied myself to studying Thy works. These can be referred (following St. Gregory) to  ancient times, in which man in a state of innocence enjoyed the delights of paradise; thence may be better understood the misery of his servitude; but the previous explanation, in which we followed Chrysostom, seems to adhere more closely to the text.

Verse 6

I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee.

Expandi manus meas ad te; anima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.

Having conceived hope from a consideration of God’s mercy, he begins to sigh and look up to God: “I stretched forth,” he says, “my hands” in prayer “to Thee,” since my soul thirsts for Thy grace as the arid earth craves rain. This is a most fitting comparison. For just as the earth without water does not hold together, is not clothed in plants, is not bedecked with flowers and does not produce fruit, but is empty and barren; so a soul without the grace of God does not resist temptations; but like dust it is carried before the face of 

the wind, it is not clothed with justice, it is not bedecked with wisdom and it does not produce the fruits of good works; the penitent understands all this from his own experience and he therefore thirsts all the more because he appreciates this more.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.