After three days Jesus’ parents found him in the temple,

   sitting in the midst of the teachers,

   listening to them and asking them questions,

   and all who heard him were astounded

   at his understanding and his answers.

When Jesus’ parents saw him,

   they were astonished,

   and his mother said to him,

   “Son, why have you done this to us?

Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

And Jesus said to them,

   “Why were you looking for me?

Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

But his parents did not understand what he said to them.

Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth,

   and was obedient to them;

   and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

 

 

You know that God is not found in luxuries and pleasures. We perceive that when Our Saviour was lost in the Temple, going to the Feast, Mary could not find Him among friends or relatives, but found Him in the Temple disputing with the doctors. And this He did to give us an example—for He is our Rule, and the Way we should follow. Notice that it says that He was lost when going to the Feast. Know, most beloved sister, that, as was said, God is not found at feasts or balls or games or weddings or places of recreation. Nay, going there is a very sure means of losing Him, and falling into many sins and faults, and inordinate frivolous self- indulgence. Since this is the reason that has made us lose God by grace, is there any way to find Him again? Yes; to accompany Mary. Let us seek Him with her, in bitterness and pain and distaste for the fault committed against our Creator, to condescend to the will of men. It befits us then to go to the Temple, and there He is found. Let our hearts, our minds, and

desires be lifted up with this Company of Bitterness, and let us go to the Temple of our soul, and there we shall know ourselves. Then the soul, recognizing itself not to be, will recognize the goodness of God towards it, who is He who is.  Then the will shall be uplifted with zeal, and shall love what God loves and hate what God hates. Then, as it enters into reason with itself, it will rebuke the memory which has held in itself the gaieties and pleasures of the world, and has nor held nor retained the favours and gifts and great benefits of God, who has given Himself to us with so great fire of love. It will rebuke the mind, which has given itself to understand the will of fellow-creatures, and the shows and observances of the world, rather than the will of its Creator, and therefore will and fleshly love have turned them to love and desire those gross things of sense, which pass like the wind. The soul should not do thus, but should note and know the will of God, which seeks and wants naught but our sanctification, and has therefore given us life.

 

 

 

O Heart of Mary, pure and fair,

There is no stain in thee.

In Adam's fall thou hadst no share,

From every sin thou’rt free.

O Heart of Mary, pure and fair,

No beauty can compare!

 

From every stain of sin thou’rt free,

O make us pure like thee.

As some fair lily ‘midst the thorns,

Thou ‘mongst Eve’s daughters art:

Celestial purity adorns thy chaste and loving Heart.

 

 

Lord our God,

you prepared a worthy dwelling-place for the Holy Spirit

in the heart of the blessed Virgin Mary;

grant through her intercession

that we too may become

the living temple of your glory.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever. Amen. (Immaculate Heart; Saturday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost )