Thought for the Day – 2 January – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
I love the fact that Fr Clarke keeps us with the Divine Infant and His beloved Holy Family and oriantates our entire New Year to where it should be and too, still in Christmastide unlike the rest of the world around us. Alleluia. P.S. I will be back in full swing, on Monday, God willing.
Meditations for Christmastide –
“The Holy Infancy”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
“The New-born Child”
In the cradle before us lies the new -born Infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes and laid in the manger. Let us contemplate Him for a few moments and see what lessons He teaches us.
+I. He teaches us the unspeakable force of Divine charity. How was it possible for the Eternal Word, the co-equal Son of God, to leave the bosom of His Father to clothe Himself with the flesh of sinful man?
It seems an almost extravagant act of love, one unworthy of the dignity of God. Yet, love puts everything aside, except the burning desire to promote the welfare of the loved. The Son of God forgot all else in His Divine compassion for us.
How dearly He must love us
How great should be our confidence in His Love!
+2. He teaches us never to judge by appearances. If we had been told that God had Come to dwell on earth, would not the stable of Bethlehem have been the last place where we should have sought Him In how many a humble cottage there may still be found saints more dear to God than even those who have a worldwide repute for their holiness and virtue!
+3. He teaches us the true dignity of self-abasement. God could not do anything unworthy of Himself when clad in human flesh. It, therefore, was no disparagement to the Divine honour that He should thus infinitely condescend. Nay, it proved that the greatest possible likeness to God is attained by the most complete humiliation of self.
How little I have learned to practice this lesson!
AnaStpaul 
Annie, dear, only if you are ready. How about a lengthy re-run from our good Cardinal Bacci. Through in John Henry Neumann once in a while and rest the eyes.
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Throw in…
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Not enjoying Fr Clarke Hughie?
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of course. I thought you were at the end of his tenure. 😉 Fr Clark is real good. My apology.
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Oh thank goodness dearest Hughie – that’s a relief as I have nothing else really lined up in a “long-term” sort of format.
BUT you are correct in thinking that I am struggling – his way of working is rather different to that which we are used to and oftentimes his meditations are not quite appropriate or are out of order chronologically, for the Season and/or the Feast we are celebrating.
Consequently I am having to jump around a bit and this is what caused the problem with missing days – ho-hum and a big SIGH but I do enjoy his work. The reflections are simple and pure and mostly do hit the spot.
But thank you for the ideas! They are valuable and helpful when I am stuck. Bless you sweet💘
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