Holiness and the Word of God
With great strength and deep conviction, Joseph Allamano exhorted the Missionaries to take the Word of God to heart. He said to them: “Consider the importance of the Sacred Scripture for us and for others! Everything is there; it is the Word of God, a living and warm word. – And he used to recall what St. Jerome said – ‘Never let the Holy Bible depart from your hands, so that sleep may always surprise us with the book in our hands.’ The Sacred Scripture! The more you read, the more you study and the more you love it and delight in it. This is a school that never ends. Let us love the Holy Scripture very much, especially the Gospels and the letters of St. Paul. I want you to become fond of the Holy Scripture!” (Cfr. This I want you to be, ns. 171-174).
There is only one great reality: the Word-Person who is Jesus Christ. The words He said are Himself. To receive the word is to receive Christ. The book of the Bible is alive like Christ: it still acts today; it has perennial youth. It is alive because it contains the Spirit who gives it the breath of life.
Invocations
I believe, Lord, but grant that I may believe more firmly. I hope, Lord, but grant that I may hope with greater confidence. I love you, Lord, but let me love you with more ardent affection.
- Guide me with your wisdom, comfort me with your goodness, protect me with your power.
Let my thoughts be yours, my words yours, my sufferings yours, my actions according to your law.
- Enlighten my intellect, inflame my will, purify my body, sanctify my soul.
Make me prudent in counsel, courageous in dangers, patient in adversity, humble in prosperity, assiduous in prayer, sober in food, diligent in work, constant in my resolutions.
- Make me understand, O good God, how small is what is earthly, how great is what is divine; how short is what is temporary, and how certain is what is eternal.
Let us pray:
In your Word, O Father,
you come to meet us with love,
you overcome silence and distance and reveal yourself
as the God who takes the initiative in dialogue.
Forgive us if we do not always know
how to rejoice in your Word
and if at times we have not listened to you
and guide us to discover your love
that you reveal to us in Scripture.
Through Christ our Lord himself. Amen
