Our Lord could have ordered the angels to embellish the
Holy Grotto with the most delicate silks, the most aromatic
perfumes, and the most celestial symphonies. He could have
enjoyed every legitimate material delight from the first
moment of His human life.
Instead, He chose the very opposite. His delicate body lay
not on soft silk, but on coarse straw. His crib was a feeding
trough which, however diligently scoured by Our Lady, did not
exude the sweet smells of exquisite perfumes. Born at midnight
in the middle of winter, the Holy Infant trembled in the cold
night air, warmed only by the breath of beasts. His cradle song
was the lowing of cows.
Thus, Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us how foolish it is
to make this world’s delights the end of our lives. To the
contrary, Christ taught us to disdain them for the glory of
God and the good of souls, in the measure that they distract
and even deviate us from our ultimate end — the eternal
delight of unending life with Him.
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
Holy Grotto with the most delicate silks, the most aromatic
perfumes, and the most celestial symphonies. He could have
enjoyed every legitimate material delight from the first
moment of His human life.
Instead, He chose the very opposite. His delicate body lay
not on soft silk, but on coarse straw. His crib was a feeding
trough which, however diligently scoured by Our Lady, did not
exude the sweet smells of exquisite perfumes. Born at midnight
in the middle of winter, the Holy Infant trembled in the cold
night air, warmed only by the breath of beasts. His cradle song
was the lowing of cows.
Thus, Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us how foolish it is
to make this world’s delights the end of our lives. To the
contrary, Christ taught us to disdain them for the glory of
God and the good of souls, in the measure that they distract
and even deviate us from our ultimate end — the eternal
delight of unending life with Him.
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira
No comments:
Post a Comment