323 part ii: meditations for more solemn feasts mind the person receiving and also the Person giving, as well as the excellence of the received food, so that you may comprehend the value of the Living Bread. 3. “Before [H]e was conceived in the womb” (Lk 2:21). Consider how Divine Providence acts: the name was assigned to the Savior of the world even before His conception (cf. Lk 1:31). In the same way, certain graces had been arranged for the salvation of your soul before you were born: the endowments to be at your disposal and the vocation, especially to your present state, God determined for you once, before your birth. O how greatly you should admire and esteem God’s concern for you, the all-good Father, in anticipation of your birth! With what zeal you should compensate for it! With what conformity of the will you should repay it! At least apply yourself to it so that you do not desist willingly and with deliberation from anything that was arranged for your salvation, and [so that you] zealously cooperate, both with your vocation and with every divine grace! [f.97v] FOR THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Before Holy Communion 1. “For we observed [H]is star at its rising, and have come to pay [H]im homage” (Mt 2:2). Consider that God did not send an angel to summon the Magi to pay honors to Christ, but showed them a new and unheard of star. Understand, however, that it was done so because in His supreme wisdom God knew that a star would summon them more easily than a different heavenly messenger because they were star experts, and indeed anyone is attracted more easily by something familiar to him than by an unknown thing. Hence, God usually manifests His will to you through your Superiors because He knows that you more easily believe them than the angels. Therefore, you ought to follow the command of
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