(DOWNLOAD) "Fifty Meditations on the Passion" by Archbishop Alban Goodier # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Fifty Meditations on the Passion
- Author : Archbishop Alban Goodier
- Release Date : January 14, 2019
- Genre: Bible Studies,Books,Religion & Spirituality,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 76 KB
Description
In the Passion, even more than anywhere else, one craves to get at the root of things; craves, and yet human nature turns aside and refuses to look. Hence that sense of discontent which so often accompanies meditation on the Passion, and which drives some to look only at the “beautiful” side of the tragedy. Indeed one is tempted to make a distinction between souls according to this criterion those who can “enjoy” the Passion, and those to whom it is too real to be anything but an intense agony, and who find their fascination in it even as a mother finds her child’s sickbed fascinating, or a friend finds agonizing fascination in the dying look of a friend. These meditations try to be real; no more, no less. But the essence of reality is full understanding; and understanding can only be “attained in one of two ways either by personal experience of one’s own, or by such sympathy with the suffering of others as virtually makes it one’s own. Hence the value of every little pang of suffering; but particularly of that which is least in accordance with our taste or desire, which, even at the time, seems to draw us away from rather than towards the supernatural. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” is perhaps an echo of the greatest agony in the Passion; certainly it is a cry which reminds us in what our deepest practical sympathy can consist.
Though these meditations are written in the form of points, still they need not necessarily be used according to any systematic method. To those who find such a method of use for the end of meditation they may suffice as they stand; to others, as to the writer, they will serve rather as starting points for such affections as may seem naturally to belong to sympathy with the Passion; or as a coloring to any affections arranged according to a system; or to any prayer or prayers dwelt upon and used by what is called the second method. We read; we think; we orientate the mind; we draw the heart, making it speak, not reflectingly to itself, but affectively to God; that is enough.
What is desired in these points is an intense realization of our Lord’s own thoughts and feelings. Throughout, then, one tries to keep in the presence of “God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” making acts of faith that he is here, telling him so, and asking him to make our living faith deeper. Next one turns to the Son, in faith, and hope, and love, speaking to him to the oblivion of all else, and, by love, growing to a knowledge of his Heart, his thoughts, even of the very look in his eyes. And when one has reached thus far, then, ever in the manner of conversation, speaking to him, and letting him speak, one passes from point to point, when a change of thought is needed.
 "Fifty Meditations on the Passion" by Archbishop Alban Goodier # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free){kind=link}