Ave Maria Meditations
We must also forgive…as we are forgiven:
Engraft yourself onto the tree of the cross. Bind yourself by love, by measureless, infinite charity, to the slain lamb who pours out his blood from every part of his body let these hearts of ours be broken open! No more hardness, no more carelessness – for time does not sleep but runs its course relentlessly! Let us make our dwelling place with him in love and holy desire, and we need never be afraid again.
Here is the sweet holy remedy for fear: that we creatures recognize that of ourselves we are nothing, that we are moreover constantly doing that nothingness which is sin, and that everything else we have is from God. Once we have come to know ourselves we come to know also God’s goodness to us. And knowing that, we love God and hate ourselves – not the self that is God’s creation, but the self we see rebelling against our Creator. If we walk in this true and holy knowledge, we will not stray from the path but will go forward courageously, because we are united with and transformed into the one who is way and truth and life. And he has made us so strong that neither the devil nor anyone else can take away our strength, so completely one with God are we.
This is what I want for you: to see you bound fast in that firm yet gentle bond. I will see that you are so bound – and this is one of the chief signs we have to show that we are disciples bound to Christ – if we are returning good for evil…
Certainly we must consider the offense we offer the infinite God by our sins greater than any offense a finite person could offer us. Nevertheless we want God to pardon us and make peace with us; we would like him to pretend not to see our offenses. Well, we ought to do the same for our enemies. I beg you – I charge you – in the name of Christ crucified, to do just that for God’s honor and your own salvation.
St. Catherine Siena
