examination of the heart 128 preceded Him (cf. Mt 11:11). Indeed, such great humility was worthy of so great a Eulogist.25 Hence, understand to what place self-contempt can attain and how necessary it may be for lifting the soul up to the regions of the happiest eternity. For indeed, if humility and self-contempt make us dear to God — the heavenly Love — then thanks to them we shall also be endowed with the heavenly Kingdom, and we shall live forever with the Most High God. 3. “Make straight the way of the Lord” (Jn 1:23). Consider that conforming our will to the will of God opens for Him a clear and royal road to us. Without this, even the Son of God could not have descended into the Immaculate Virgin’s womb. If conformation to the will of God and resignation from one’s own will caused God to become man and opened for Him the way to the human heart, then it will also make ready and open for Him the way to your heart. Thus it is, O Eternal Father, that no heavenly gift, no grace, almost no virtue will be able to enter into my soul, unless I resign frommy own will. Therefore, I submit to You all my senses; I surrender my heart: Govern them so that through true resignation I may attain a true and free rule of my spirit. My heart is ready for You (cf. Ps 108:1). May Your will be done (cf. Mt 6:10). Here I am, Your servant (cf. Ps 116:16); what do You want me to do? (cf. Acts 9:6).26 After Holy Communion 1. “Are you the prophet? And he answered, ‘No’” (Jn 1:21). Reflect on how the Precursor of Christ, because of his great humility and penance, was [f.8r] preferred over the prophets 25 Note here that the word “eulogist” must be understood in its primary etymological signification, which is that it is a direct transliteration of the Greek verb εὐλογέω, which means literally “to speak well of ” or “to praise.” The common use of the word “eulogist” in English refers to the specific context of someone who “eulogizes” or “speaks well of ” of a deceased person at their funeral, but this is not the meaning intended here. 26 DRB: “And he [i.e., Saul/Paul] trembling and astonished, said: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). This particular verse is not found in the RSV.
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