THE NEW YORK ASTOR, LENOX AND 19.7 NIHIL OBSTAT. Augustinus Seifert, C. PP. S. IMPRIMATUR. Hermannus Josephus, Copyright 1910 By V. H. Krull, C. PP. S. INTRODUCTION. For the last nineteen hundred years, millions of the best of human hearts have been full of ardent love and fondest affections for Jesus Christ. Witness the worship of Jesus Christ the world over. Early in the morning, frequently during the day, and in the evening, the church bells call countless numbers of devout Christians to the house of God, to adore our dear Savior. In every civilized country and even in the wild forests of Africa, wherever you find true and loyal Christians, Jesus Christ is praised not only at divine service in the church, but on innumerable occasions by pious people, who greet their fellow-Christians with this most appropriate salutation: "Praised be Jesus Christ!" to which the answer is given: "Now and forever. Amen." Rich and poor, young and old, educated and illiterate, men and women of every state of life among all the known races, give homage to Him whom our soul gratefully loves. Grand basilicas, magnificent churches, costly altars, beautiful tabernacles, and monstrances of gold glittering with precious stones among the many burning candles, as well as the cheering chimes of the bells, the organ's deep, majestic melody, the choir's cul 5 tured voices, the heartfelt prayers of the Priests and the faithful at worship in the church or marching in prayerful procession through the streets: all this for the love of Jesus Christ may convince even the enemies of the cross that He is loved more than anyone else in this world. Who would ever think of vowing voluntary poverty, purity, and humble obedience for the love of a merely human being? Such a thing is unheard-of. But for the love of Jesus Christ, thousands of the best men and women have made the triple vow and now lead a life of voluntary poverty, purity, and obedience. Jesus is God. For the love of God, they gladly make a lifelong sacrifice of the things which the world idolizes: riches, pleasures, and independence. What no sane person ever did for a merely human being, not even for an Alexander or a Napoleon or any hero, innumerable Christians have done, and thousands are still doing in every country; they lead a life of voluntary poverty, of holy purity, and humble obedience away from the turmoil of the world in the convents. For the love of Jesus, heroic young men forego the riches and pleasures of life, and though they know positively that many a sacrifice will be demanded of them, the irresistible love of Jesus draws them to the sanctuary. Pure virgins leave their parents' comfortable homes, and bid farewell to the frivolities and fashions of a flattering world to serve Jesus with undivided hearts continually in In the convents. every state of life, good Christians bear their daily crosses with resignation to God's will and with a ready and cheerful heart forgive the insulting enemy, all for the love of Jesus Christ. Innocent hearts are throbbing with burning love for Jesus. Repentant souls, like Mary Magdalen of old, publicly manifest their strong attachment and warmth of affection to their merciful Savior. Those, who by some special grace of God gained knowledge of Him in later years of life, cling to Him with the faith and hope and love of a Saint Paul, so that nothing can ever separate them from the love of Jesus Christ. The whole civilized world gives honor to the day and year of His birth. Historians, very many of them unconsciously, point to Jesus as the central figure of the world's history. If this year is called 1916, we denote by this number that about 1916 years ago Jesus Christ was born. When we speak of things that happened in ancient times, we say: It was so many years before the coming of Christ; as for instance: Alexander the Great was king of Macedon 336-324; it simply means so many years before the coming of Christ. Jesus, the center of historic computation, is pre-eminently the center of safest hope and purest love. That unsurpassable Latin Hymn, which is generally attributed to St. Bernard, "Jesu dulcis memoria," composed in the twelfth century and still sung in every Catholic Church, with its deep devotional melody has brought tears of joy to the eyes of countless fervent Catholics; a sign that the author's tender heart revealed the affections of millions. With an apology to the saintly singer, I cite my imperfect translation of the first stanza: "O Jesus, Thy sweet memory Gives true and heartfelt joy to me; The following pages have been written as a token of love for Jesus, our dear Redeemer. May they inspire the reader with gratitude and love for Him, who redeemed us with His Most Precious Blood. |