January 7
Daily Gleanings of the Saintly LifeFirst Week in Advent.—Saturday
This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. 1 S. JOHN v. 4.
By Faith S. Bonaventura, being asked in what books he had learned his marvellous wisdom, pointed to his crucifix. Go forth in this spirit, and may God bless you with His choicest blessings. Go forth in Faith to overcome the world, strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and may Christ give you, as He has promised to them that overcome, to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.
Touch Thou our wayward hearts, and let them be In stronger faith to Thy glad service given, Till o'er the margin of time's surging sea We sing the song of heaven!
No sickness is there, no bleak bitter cold, No hunger, debt, prison, or weariful toil; No robbers to rifle our treasure of gold, No rust to corrupt, and no canker to spoil.
My God! and it was but a short hour ago That I lay on a bed of unbearable pains; All was cheerless around me, all weeping and woe, Now the wailing is changed to angelical strains.
Because I served Thee, were life's pleasures all lost? Was it gloom, pain, or blood, that won heaven for me? Ah no! one enjoyment alone could life boast, And that, dearest Lord, was my service of Thee.
I had hardly to give; 'twas enough to receive; Only not to impede the sweet grace from above: And, this first hour in heaven, I can hardly believe In so great a reward for so little a love.