The Solitude of Jesus in the Stable

The Solitude of Jesus in the Stable

by Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Jesus Chose, at His Birth, the Stable-of-Bethlehem for His Hermitage and Oratory; and for this Purpose, He so-Disposed Events, as to-be Born out-of the City, in a Solitary Cave, in-order-to Recommend-to us, the Love-of Solitude and Silence. Jesus remains in-Silence, in the Manger; Mary and Joseph, Adore and Contemplate Him, in-Silence. It was revealed-to Sister Margaret-of-the-Blessed-Sacrament, a Discalced-Carmelite, who was called the Spouse-of the Infant Jesus, that all that Passed-in the Cave-of Bethlehem, even the Visit-of the Shepherds, and the Adoration-of the Holy Magi, took place in-Silence, and without a Word.

Silence, in other Infants, is Impotence; but in Jesus Christ, it was Virtue. The Infant Jesus does not Speak; but oh! how much His Silence says! Oh, Blessed is he, that Converses-with Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in this Holy Solitude of the Manger. The Shepherds, admitted there but-for a very-Short Time, came-out from the Stable, Inflamed-with Love-to God; for they did nothing but Praise and Bless Him: They returned, Glorifying and Praising God - Luke 2:20. Oh Happy the Soul that Shuts itself up, in the Solitude-of Bethlehem, to Contemplate the Divine Mercy, and the Love that God has Borne, and still Bears-to Men! I will Lead her into the Wilderness, and I will Speak to her Heart - Hosea 2:14. There the Divine Infant will Speak, not to the Ear, but to the Heart, Inviting the Soul to Love a God, Who hath Loved Her so-much. When we see there, the Poverty-of this Wandering Little Hermit, Who remains-in that Cold Cave, without Fire, with a Manger-for a Crib, and a little Straw-for a Bed; when we Hear the Cries and Behold the Tears-of this Innocent Child, and consider that He is our God, how is it Possible-to Think-of anything, but Loving Him! O what a Sweet Hermitage for a Soul that has Faith, in the Stable-of-Bethlehem!

Let us also Imitate Mary and Joseph, who, Burning-with Love, remain Contemplating the Great Son of God, Clothed-in Flesh, and made Subject-to Earthly Miseries ---- Wisdom became an Infant, that cannot Speak ---- the Great One, become Little ---- the Supreme One, become so Abased ---- Rich One, become so Poor ---- the Omnipotent, so Weak. In short, let us Meditate-on the Divine Majesty, Shrouded-beneath the Form-of a Little Infant, Despised and Forsaken-by the World, and Who Does and Suffers everything, in-order-to make Himself Loved by Men, and let us Beseech Him to Admit us into this Sacred Retreat; there Stop, there Remain, and never Leave it again . . . Oh, what a Paradise it is, to Converse alone with the Infant Jesus, in the little Grotto-of-Bethlehem!

There are Two (2) Principal Occupations-of a Solitary ---- to Pray, and to do Penance. Behold the Infant Jesus in the little Grotto-of-Bethlehem, giving us the Example, He, in the Crib, which He chose-for His Oratory upon Earth, never Ceases to-Pray, and to-Pray continually-to the Eternal Father. There, He makes of-Adoration, of-Love, and of-Prayer.

Before this Time, the Divine Majesty had been, it is True, Adored by-Men and by-Angels, but God had not Received-from all these Creatures, that Honor (∞) which the Infant Jesus gave Him, by Adoring Him in the Stable, where He was Born. Let us, therefore, Constantly Unite our Adorations, to those-of Jesus Christ, when He was upon this Earth.

Oh, how Beautiful and Perfect were the Acts-of-Love, which the Incarnate Word made-to His Father, in His Prayer! God had given-to Man, the Commandment to Love Him, with all his Heart and all his Strength; but, this Precept had never been Perfectly Fulfilled-by any Man. The First (1^st) to-Accomplish it amongst Women, was Mary, and amongst Men, Jesus Christ, Who Fulfilled-it in a Degree, Infinitely (∞) Superior-to Mary. The Love-of the Seraphim, may be said to be Cold, in-comparison-with the Love-of this Holy Infant. Let us Learn-from Him, to Love the Lord-our-God as He ought-to-be Loved; and let us Beseech Him, to Communicate-to us, a Spark-of that Pure Love, with-which He Loved the Divine Father, in the Stable-at-Bethlehem.

Oh, how Beautiful, how Perfect, and Dear-to God, were the Prayers-of the Infant Jesus! At every Moment, He Prayed-to His Father, and His Prayers were All for us, and for Each One-of us, in Particular. All the Graces that each One-of us has Received-from the Lord, and:

our being Called-to the True Faith,

our having had Time given us, for Repentance,

the Lights,

the Sorrow for Sins,

the Pardon of them,

the Holy Desires,

the Victory-over Temptations,

all the other Good Acts that we have-made, or shall-make,

of Confidence,

of Humility,

of Love,

of Thanksgiving,

of Offering,

of Resignation ----

All these, Jesus has Obtained-for us, and All has been the Effect-of the Prayers-of Jesus. Oh, how much do we Owe Him! And how much we ought to-Thank Him and to-Love Him!

- End of Liguori Discourse -

Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church, at the Grotto/Stable-of-Bethlehem

Saint Jerome - by BAROCCI, Federico Fiori - from Galleria Borghese, Rome.

Prayers of Affection

My Dear Redeemer! How much do I Owe Thee! If Thou hadst not Prayed for me, in what a State-of-Ruin, should I find myself! I Thank Thee, O my Jesus; Thy Prayers have Obtained for me the Pardon-of my Sins, and I Hope that they will also Obtain-for me, Perseverance unto Death. Thou hast Prayed for me, and I Bless Thee with my Whole Heart for it; but I Beseech Thee not to Leave-off Praying. I know that Thou dost Continue, even in Heaven, to be our Advocate: We have an Advocate, Jesus Christ; and I know that Thou dost Continue-to Pray for us: Who also maketh Intercession for us. Continue therefore to Pray; but Pray, O my Jesus, more-Particularly for me, who am so in Want-of Thy Prayers. I Hope that God has already Pardoned me, through Thy Merits; but as I so often Fall, I may Fall again. Hell does not Cease and will not Cease, to Tempt me, in-order-to make me again Lose Thy Friendship.

Ah, my Jesus, Thou art my Hope; it is Thou that must give me Fortitude to Resist, from Thee I Seek it, and of Thee I Hope for it! I Desire also the Grace to Love Thee Exceedingly. My Death approaches. If I were to Die now, I should indeed Hope to be Saved; but I should Love Thee so-little in Paradise, because I have hitherto Loved Thee so-little. I will Love Thee much in the days that Remain-to me, that I may love Thee still more, in Eternity.

My Dearest Savior, Thou art the King of Heaven, the King of kings, the Son of God; I see Thee in this Cave, Forsaken-by all! I see no Assisting Thee, but Joseph and Thy Holy Mother. I Desire to Unite myself also, in keeping Thee company. Do not Reject me. I do not Deserve it, but I feel that Thou dost Invite me by Thy Sweet Voice, speaking to my Heart.

Yes, I come, O my Beloved Infant! I will leave all things to Pass my Whole Life alone with Thee, my Dear Little Hermit, the only Love-of my Soul. Fool that I was, I have hitherto Forsaken Thee, and left Thee alone, O my Jesus, whilst I was Seeking Miserable and Empoisoned Pleasures from Creatures; but now, Enlightened-by Thy Grace, I Desire nothing, but to Live-in Solitude, on this Earth. Oh, Bind me, I Pray Thee! Ah, by the Merits of Thy Solitude in the Cave-of-Bethlehem, give me a constant Interior Recollection, so that my Soul may become a Solitary Little Cell, where I may Attend-to nothing but Conversing-with Thee; where I may always Love Thee.

I Love Thee, O Infinite Goodness, and I Hope always to Love Thee, in Time and in Eternity.

O Mary, thou who canst do all things, Pray to Him to Enchain me with His Love, and not to Permit me ever again to Lose His Grace. O Mary, my Mother! thy Prayers are all-Powerful with thy Son, Who Loves thee so much. Thou dost so much Desire that He should be Loved, Beseech Him to give me a Great Love for His Goodness, and let this Love be Constant and Eternal.