127 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year O Most Holy Aeolus,24 my Jesus! Calm and restrain these raging winds in the grotto of my heart, which You entered today and which I always submit to Your power; turn away hurricanes, calm the waves, restrain the storm of pride, anger, and impatience; because in Your sight and that of all creatures, I am not even a speck of dust suitable for some use, but only a most hideous dog. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Before Holy Communion 1. “Who are you?” (Jn 1:19). Today, my soul, come down to yourself and ask yourself what you are: You are a most remarkable creature of God, although a sinner! You are endowed with innumerable benefits and adorned with ornaments and yet ungrateful! You were granted access to so many Holy Communions! Yet you never produced fruit, because you remain negligent, lacking in humility, a lover of the world instead of God alone. How cold you are, slothful in doing good work, inconstant and wavering in generous undertakings; how much you revel in yourself, how proud and conceited you are. But hark! Do you realize Who is about to come to you? In His presence direct your attention primarily to self-knowledge. At this time discuss, inspect, and question yourself, what you are and what is He, whom you will be allowed to consume, so that — on your part — you may consume Him worthily. You shall consume Him worthily if you completely annihilate yourself in His presence and accuse yourself of your faults. [f.7v] 2. “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Jn 1:23). Be astounded, my soul, upon hearing about such an unheard of humility: He calls himself a voice that cries out not in temples or debate halls, but in the wilderness. The Word of the Father singles him out with the highest praise, affirming that he is more than a prophet and giving him priority over all the men who 24 See footnote 23 (p. 126).
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