January 1, the octave of Christmas is the feast of the Society of Jesus, because it is the day when the name "Jesus" was given to the child born on Christmas day. And our Society is named after Jesus. Hence, today, I find these words from Fr Longhaye very appropriate as matter for reflection:
Love Jesus, strive to love his adorable person passionately everyday more and more even to your last breath. study, scrutinize, dig, bring to light without ceasing both for yourself and for others His unfathomable riches. Gaze upon Him stubbornly until you know Him by heart; better yet, until you become Him, absorbed in Him. may He always be more and more the center of your thoughts, the link between all of your understandings, the practical goal of your studies whatever they may be. Make Him the morally unique aim, the overriding argument, the triumphal arm of your apostolate.
Professor, preacher, writer, missionary, who knows what?... may you have, it please God, a great and noble renown; but, obscure or celebrated, occupied in the greatest of ministries or the most humble, at least be known in your sphere of action as a man filled and possessed by Jesus Christ, as a man who, when it seems appropriate and even when it doesn't - if that is possible - speaks unceasingly of Jesus Christ and speaks of Him out of the abundance of His Heart.
Jesus Christ contemplated, Jesus Christ known, Jesus Christ loved with an ever growing passion; this will be everything for you!
Happy New Year! Happy Feastday!
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