249 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year the plank for the shipwrecked) and who embraces and firmly clings to it, will undoubtedly reach the port of Eternity. You reached out to that last resort today when, having your conscience properly purified, you also received the food for the journey of those who sail over the stormy seas of the world. God grant that you hold on and do not let go of this plank, that you may see yourself safely in the heavenly harbor! 2. “in the name of the Father, and of the Son,” etc. (Mt 28:19). Consider that God, triune in Persons, one in Essence, exists from all eternity. After the creation of the universe, you were formed, or rather the forefather of us all was formed, from whom our present existence emerges. And indeed, to him and to his posterity the ample and pleasant region of Paradise was given to be populated, and the universe to be possessed, and all living beings to be ruled. Death’s power over him was taken away, if only, in obedience to the Creator’s command, he would not taste the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (cf. Gen 2:17). The Most Holy Trinity granted these first benefits to man, although the creation of things is attributed in a special way solely to the Father. Think also now about the work of redemption. Consider the compassion by which the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, namely, the Son of God, was led when He took human flesh [f.62v] so that He would annihilate with His Blood not only original sin, but all the sins of men, and thus would open the gate of Heaven that was closed both to our first father (driven away from the Kingdom of Paradise for disobeying the divine command) and to all of us, His posterity. Finally, prepare your mind to consider the benefits of the Holy Spirit. His office is to bring us to embrace the true faith, to recognize the Truth, to give us the knowledge of and aversion to our sins, to urge us to improve our life, to illumine our hearts with a special light, to turn the lodging of a demon into the dwelling of God, to infuse holy inspirations, to help us make and carry out good resolutions, and also to accomplish in man’s
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