Mary’s School of
Sanctity
Lesson #33 The Spiritual Exercises of
St. Ignatius –—ST. IGNATIUS’S ADDITIONAL MEDITATION POINTS ON THE LIFE OF OUR
LORD
This
lesson might be viewed as a kind of appendix.
LIST
OF ALL THE IGNATIAN POINTS FOR THE MYSTERIES OF THE LIFE OF OUR LORD
THE ANNUNCIATION OF OUR
LADY (Luke
1:26-38)
First
Point – The Angel, St. Gabriel, greeted Our Lady and announced to her the
conception of Christ Our Lord. And when the Angel had come to her, he said:
“Hail, full of grace…Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a
son.”
Second
Point— The Angel confirms what he had said to Our Lady by announcing the
conception of St. John the Baptist, saying to her: “And behold, Elizabeth
thy kinswoman also has conceived a son in her old age.”
Third
Point—Out Lady replied to the Angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it
done to me according to thy word.”
THE VISITATION
OF OUR LADY TO ELIZABETH
(Luke 1: 39-56)
First
Point—When Our Lady visited St. Elizabeth, St. John the Baptist, in his
mother’s womb, felt the visitation made by Our Lady. When Elizabeth heard
the greeting of Mary, the babe in her womb leapt. And Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Ghost, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Blessed art thou
among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!”
Second
Point— Our Lady chants the canticle, saying: “My soul magnifies the Lord.”
Third
Point— And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her own
house.
THE BIRTH OF
CHRIST OUR LORD
(Luke 2: 1-14)
First
Point—Our Lady and her spouse, St. Joseph, go from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And
Joseph also went from Galilee to Bethlehem, in obedience to Caesar, with Mary
his espoused wife who was with child.
Second
Point—And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger.
Third
Point—And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host prainsing God
and saying: “Glory to God in the highest.”
THE SHEPHERDS
(Luke 2: 8-20)
First
Point—The birth of Christ Our Lord is made known to the shepherds by an angel:
“I bring you god news of great joy, for today a Savior has been born to
you.”
Second
Point—The shepherds go to Bethlehem. So they went with haste, and they
found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.
Third
Point—And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God.
THE CIRCUMCISION
(Luke 2: 21)
First
Point—They circumcise the Child Jesus.
Second
Point—His name was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he
was conceived in the womb.
Third
Point— They return the Child to His Mother, who felt compassion at the blood
shed by her Son.
THE THREE MAGI
KINGS
(Matt. 2: 1-12)
First
Point—The three Magi Kings, guided by the star, came to adore Jesus, saying: “We
have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
Second
Point—They adored Him and offered Him gifts. And falling down they
worshipped Him, and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Third
Point—And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to
their own country by another way.
THE
PURIFICATION OF OUR LADY AND THE PRESENTATION OF THE CHILD JESUS
(Luke 2: 22-39)
First
Point—They take the Child Jesus to the Temple to be presented to the Lord as
the firstborn, and they offer for Him a pair of turtle doves and two young
pigeons.
Second
Point—Simeon, coming into the Temple, also received Him into his arms,
saying: “Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word, in
peace.”
Third
Point—Anna, coming up at that very hour, began to give praise to the Lord,
and spoke of Him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
THE FLIGHT INTO
EGYPT
(Matt. 2:
13-15)
First
Point—Herod wanted to kill the Child Jesus, and so he slew the Innocents.
Before their slaughter an angel warned Joseph to fly into Egypt: “Arise and
take the child and his mother and flee into Egypt.”
Second
Point—He set out for Egypt. So he arose, and took the child and his mother
by night, and withdrew into Egypt.
Third
Point— There he remained until the death of Herod.
THE RETURN FROM
EGYPT
(Matt. 2:19-23)
First
Point— The angel admonishes Joseph t return to Israel: “Arise, and take the
child and his mother and go into the land of Israel.”
Second
Point—So he arose…and went into the land of Israel.
Third
Point—Since Archelaus, the son of Herod, ruled in Judea, he withdrew to
Nazareth.
JESUS COMES TO
THE TEMPLE AT THE AGE OF TWELVE
(Luke 2:41-50)
First
Point—When Christ Our Lord was twelve years old, He went up from Nazareth to
Jerusalem.
Second
Point—Christ Our Lord remained in Jerusalem and His parents did not know it.
Third
Point—After three days had passed, they found Him in the Temple, seated in the
midst of the doctors and disputing with them. When His parents asked where had
he been, He replied, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s
business?”
THE LIFE OF OUR
FROM THE AGE OF TWELVE TO THE AGE OF THIRTY
(Luke 2: 51-52)
First
Point—He was obedient to His parents.
Second
Point—Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace.
Third
Point—He seems to have practiced the trade of a carpenter, as St. Mark seems to
indicate in Chapter VI: “Is not this the carpenter?”
THE BAPTISM OF
CHRIST
(Matt. 3:
13-17)
First
Point—After He took leave of His Blessed Mother, Christ Our Lord, went from
Nazareth to the River Jordan where St. John the Baptist was.
Second
Point—St. John baptized Christ Our Lord. When he wanted to excuse himself,
considering that he was unworthy to baptize Him, Christ said to him: “Let it
be so now, for so it becomes us to fulfill all justice.”
Third
Point—The Holy Ghost descended upon Him, and the voice of the Father testified
from Heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”
THE TEMPTATION
OF CHRIST
(Luke 4: 1-13;
Matt. 4:1-11)
First
Point—After Jesus was baptized, He went to the desert where he fasted for forty
days and nights.
Second
Point—He was tempted by the enemy three times. And the tempter came and said
to Him, “If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of
bread….Throw thyself down, …All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt
fall down and worship me.”
Third
Point—Angels came and ministered to Him.
THE VOCATION OF
THE APOSTLES
First
Point—It appears that St. Peter and St. Andrew were called three times. They
were first called to some knowledge, as is shown in the first chapter of St.
John [35-42]. They were called a second time to follow Christ in some way,
with the intention of returning to the possessions which they had left, as St.
Luke relates in Chapter 5: 10-11. The third time they were called to follow
Christ Our Lord forever, in St. Matthew 4: 18-22 and St. Mark, 1:16-18.
Second
Point—He called Philip, as described in the first chapter of St. John [43], and
Matthew, as Matthew himself relates in Chapter 9:9.
Third
Point— He called the other Apostles of whose particular vocation no mention is
made in the Gospel.
Three
other points are also to be considered:
1.
The Apostles were uneducated men, from a low station of life.
2.
The dignity to which they were so gently called.
3.
The graces and gifts by which they were raised above all the Fathers of
the Old and New Testament.
THE FIRST
MIRACLE, PERFORMED AT THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF CANA IN GALILEE
(John 2: 1-11)
First
Point—Christ Our Lord and His disciples were invited to the marriage feast.
Second
Point— The Mother calls her Son’s attention to the lack of wine, saying: “They
have no wine,” and she tells the attendants: “Do whatever He tells you.”
Third
Point—He changed the water into wine…and He manifested His glory, and His
disciples believed in Him.
CHRIST DRIVES
THE SELLERS OUT OF THE TEMPLE
(John 2: 13-16)
First
Point—He drove all of the sellers from the temple with a scourge made of cord.
Second
Point—He overturned the tables and scattered the money of the rich money
changers that were in the temple.
Third
Point—To the poor who were selling doves, He gently said: “Take these things
away, and do not make of the house of My Father a house of business.”
THE SERMON
CHRIST DELIVERED ON THE MOUNT
(Matt. 5)
First
Point—He speaks apart to His beloved disciples, about the eight beatitudes: “Blessed
are the poor in spirit…the meek…the merciful… they who mourn…they who hunger
and thirst for justice…the clean of heart…the peacemakers…they who suffer
persecution.”
Second
Point—He exhorts them to use their talents well: “Even so let our light
shine before men, in order that they may see your good works and give glory to
your Father in heaven.”
Third
Point—He shows that He is not a transgressor of the law but a fulfiller. He
explains the precept not to kill, not to commit adultery, not to swear falsely,
and to love our enemies; “ I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you.”
CHRIST CALMS
THE STORM AT SEA
(Matt. 8:
23-27)
First
Point—While Our Lord was sleeping in the boat a great storm arose.
Second
Point—His terrified disciples awakened Him; He reproved them for their little
faith, saying to them: “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
Third
Point—He commanded the winds and the sea to cease, at once the wind ceased and
the sea became calm. The men marveled at this, saying: “What manner of man
is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
CHRIST WALKS
UPON THE SEA
(Matt.
14:22-33)
First
Point—While Christ Our Lord remained upon the mountain He made His disciples
get into the boat, and when He had dismissed the crowd He began to pray
alone.
Second
Point—The boat was buffeted by the waves, Christ came to them walking upon the
water, and the disciples thought it was an apparition.
Third
Point—And Christ said to them: “It is I, fear not.” St Peter, at His
command, came to Him, walking upon the waters, but when he doubted, he began to
sink, and Christ Our Lord saved him, and reproved him for his little faith.
Afterwards, when He entered the boat, the wind ceased.
THE APOSTLES
ARE SENT FORTH TO PREACH
(Matt. 10:
1-16)
First
Point—Christ calls His beloved disciples and gives them power to cast out
devils from the bodies of men and to cure all infirmities.
Second
Point—He instructs them in prudence and patience. “Behold, I am sending you
forth like sheep in the midst of wolves. Be therefore wise as serpents and
guileless as doves.”
Third
Point—He tells them how they are to go: “Do not keep gold nor silver.
Freely you have received, freely give.” And He tells them what they are to
preach: “And as you go, preach the message, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at
hand.’ ”
THE CONVERSION
OF MAGDALENE
(Luke 7: 36-50)
First
Point—Magdalene enters the house of the Pharisee where Christ Our Lord is
reclining at table. She is carrying an alabaster vessel full of ointment.
Second
Point—Standing behind the Lord near His feet, she began to bathe them with her
tears and to wipe them with her hair. And she kissed His feet and anointed
them with ointment.
Third
Point—When the Pharisee accused Magdalene, Christ defended her, saying: “I
say to thee, her sins, many as they are, shall be forgiven her, because she has
loved much”…and he said to the woman: “Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.”
CHRIST FEEDS
FIVE THOUSAND MEN
(Matt.
14:13-21)
First
Point—The disciples asked Christ to dismiss the multitude who were with Him,
since it was now late.
Second
Point—Christ Our Lord commanded them to bring the loaves to Him, and ordered
the multitude to sit down to eat. He blessed and broke the loaves and gave
them to His disciples and they gave them to the multitude.
Third
Point—And all ate and were satisfied; and they gathered up what was left
over, twelve baskets full of fragments.
THE
TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST
(Matt. 17: 1-9)
First
Point—Christ Our Lord took with Him His beloved disciples Peter, James, and
John. And He was transfigured before them and His face shone as the sun and
His garments became white as snow.
Second
Point—He spoke with Moses and Elias.
Third
Point—While St. Peter was saying that they should build three tabernacles, a
voice from heaven was heard, saying: “This is my beloved Son…hear him.”
When the disciples heard this voice, they fell on their faces in great fear.
Jesus came and touched them, and said: “Arise and do not be afraid… Tell the
vision to no one till the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
THE
RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS
(John 11:1-45)
First
Point—Martha and Mary make known to Christ Our Lord the illness of Lazarus. After
Jesus heard of this He remained two days longer in the place where He was, that
the miracle might be more evident.
Second
Point—Before He raises Lazarus, He asks Martha and Mary to believe, saying : “I
am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he die, shall
live.”
Third
Point—He raises Lazarus after He had wept and said a prayer. The manner of
raising him was by the command, “Lazarus, come forth.”
THE SUFFER IN
BETHANY
(Matt. 26:
6-13)
First
Point—Our Lord takes supper in the house of Simon the leper together with
Lazarus.
Second
Point—Mary pours the precious ointment upon the head of Christ.
Third
Point—Judas murmurs, “To what purpose is this waste of ointment?” But
Jesus again excuses Magdalene saying: “Why do you trouble the woman? She has
done me a good turn.”
PALM SUNDAY
(Matt. 21:
1-11)
First
Point—Jesus sends for the ass and the colt, saying: “Loose them and bring
them to me , and if anyone say anything to you, you shall say that the Lord
hath need of them and immediately he will sent them.”
Second
Point—He mounts the ass which is covered with the garments of the Apostles.
Third
Point—The people come forth to meet Him, spreading their garments and branches
along the way, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.”
JESUS PREACHES
IN THE TEMPLE
(Luke 19:47)
First
Point—And He was teaching daily in the Temple.
Second
Point—After His teaching, since there was no one to receive Him in Jerusalem,
He returned to Bethany.
THE LAST SUPPER
(Matt.
26:17-30; John 13:1-30)
First
Point—Jesus ate the Paschal Lamb with His twelve Apostles, to whom He foretold
His death: “Amen I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
Second
Point—He washed the feet of His disciples, even those of Judas. He began with
St. Peter, who, considering the majesty of the Lord and his own lowly estate,
would not permit it. He said, “Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” Peter did
not understand that Jesus was giving them an example of humility by this.
Jesus therefore said to him, “I have given you an example, that as I have
done for you, so you also should do.”
Third
Point—He instituted the most Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist, as the greatest
proof of His love, saying, “Take and eat.” When the supper was finished,
Judas went forth to sell Our Lord.
FROM THE SUPPER
TO THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, INCLUSIVE
(Matt.
26:30-46; Mark 14:26-42)
First
Point—After they had finished supper and sung a hymn, Our Lord went to Mount
Olivet with His disciples, who were full of fear. He left eight of the in
Gethsemane, saying to them: “Sit down here while I go yonder and pray.”
Second
Point—Accompanied by Peter, James, and John, He prayed to the Father, saying, “Father,
if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; yet not as I will, but as
thou willest.” And falling into an agony he prayed the more earnestly.”
Third
Point—So great was the fear that possessed Him, that He said: “My soul is
sad, even unto death” and He sweated blood so copiously that St. Luke says:
“His sweat became as drops of blood running down upon the ground.” This
supposes that His garments were now saturated with blood.
FROM THE AGONY
IN THE GARDEN TO THE HOUSE OF ANNAS, INCLUSIVE
(Matt. 26:
47-56; Luke 22: 47-53; Mark 14:43-52; John 18: 1-23)
First
Point—Our Lord allows Himself to be kissed by Judas, and to be seized like a
thief. He says to the crowd: “As against a robber you have come out, with
swords and clubs, to seize me. I sat daily with you in the temple teaching,
and you did not lay hands on me.” And when He said: “Whom do you seek?”
His enemies fell to the ground.
Second
Point—St. Peter wounded a servant of the high priest. The meek Lord said to
him: “Put back thy sword into its place.” And He healed the servant’s
wound.
Third
Point—Jesus is abandoned by His disciples and dragged before Annas. There St.
Peter, who had followed him at a distance, denied Him the first time. Then a
servant struck Christ in the face, saying to Him: “Is that the way thou
answer the high priest?”
FROM THE HOUSE
OF ANNAS TO THE HOUSE OF CAIPHAS, INCLUSIVE
(Matt. 26:
57-75; Mark 14: 53-72; Luke 22: 54-65)
First
Point—Jesus is led bound from the House of Annas to the House of Caiphas where
Peter denied Him twice. And when Jesus looked upon Peter, He went out and
wept bitterly.
Second
Point—Jesus was left bound the entire night.
Third
Point—And those who held Him prisoner blindfolded Him, and struck Him and
buffeted Him, and asked Him, “Prophesy, who is it that struck thee?” And
in like manner they continued to blaspheme Him.
FROM THE HOUSE
OF CAIPHAS TO THE HOUSE OF PILATE, INCLUSIVE
(Matt. 27:
1-26; Luke 23:1-5; Mark 15:1-15)
First
Point—The whole multitude of the Jews brought Him before Pilate and accused
Him, saying: “We have found this man perverting the nation, and forbidding
the payment of taxes to Caesar.”
Second
Point—After Pilate had examined Him several times, he said: “I find no crime
deserving of death in Him.”
Third
Point—Barabbas the robber was preferred to Him. The whole mob cried out
together saying, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!”
FROM THE HOUSE
OF PILATE TO THE HOUSE OF HEROD
(Luke 23: 6-10)
First
Point—Pilate sent Jesus the Galilean to Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee.
Second
Point—Herod, through curiosity, asked Jesus many scribes and priests
unceasingly accused Him.
Third
Point—Herod and his entire court mocked Jesus, clothing Him in a white garment.
FROM THE HOUSE
OF HEROD TO THAT OF PILATE
(Matt. 27:
24-30; Luke 23: 12-23;Mark 15: 15-19; John 19: 1-11)
First
Point—Herod sent Him back to Pilate. Because of this, they became friends,
although before this they were enemies.
Second
Point—Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him, and the soldiers mad a crown of
thorns and placed it upon His head. They put a purple cloak about Him, and
came before Him, saying: “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck Him.
Third
Point—Pilate had Him brought forth before all the people; Jesus came forth,
wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And Pilate said to them:
“Behold the man.” When they saw Him, the chief priests cried: “Crucify
Him! Crucify Him!”
FROM THE HOUSE
OF PILATE TO THE CROSS, INCLUSIVE
(John 19:12-24)
First
Point—Pilate, sitting as judge, delivered Jesus to the Jews to be crucified,
after they had denied that He was their king, saying: “We have no king but
Caesar.”
Second
Point—He carried the cross upon His shoulders, and as He could not carry it,
Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry it after Jesus.
Third
Point—They crucified Him between two thieves placing this title above Him: Jesus
of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.
JESUS UPON THE
CROSS
(John 19:
23-37; Matt. 27: 35-39; Mark 15: 24-38; Luke 23: 34-46)
First
Point—He spoke seven words on the Cross. He prayed for those who crucified
Him; He pardoned the thief; He entrusted His Mother to St. John; He said in a
loud voice: “I thirst,” and they gave Him gall and vinegar; He said that
He was forsaken; He said: “It is consummated!”; He said, “Father, into
Thy hands I commend my spirit.”
Second
Point—The sun was darkened; rocks rent, graves opened; the veil of the temple
was torn in two from top to bottom.
Third
Point—They blasphemed Him, saying: “Thou who destroyed the Temple…come down
the Cross.” His garments were divided; His side was pierced with a lance,
and blood and water flowed forth.
FROM THE CROSS
TO THE SEPULCHER, INCLUSIVE
(John 19:
38-42)
First
Point—He was taken down from the Cross by Joseph and Nicodemus in the presence
of His sorrowful Mother.
Second
Point—His body was carried to the sepulcher, and buried with aloes placed
around it.
Third
Point—Guards were set.
THE
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST OUR LORD AND HIS FIRST APPARITION
First
Point—He appeared to the Virgin Mary. Although this is not mentioned in
Scripture, it is considered as mentioned when the Scripture says that He
appeared to so many others, for the Scripture supposes that we have
understanding, as is written “Are you also without understanding?”
THE SECOND
APPARITION
(Mark 16: 1-11)
First
Point—Very early in the morning Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and
Salome go to the tomb. They say to one another: “Who will roll the stone
back from the entrance of the tomb for us?”
Second
Point—They see the stone rolled back and an angel who says: “You are looking
for Jesus of Nazareth… He has risen, He is not here.”
Third
Point—He appeared to Mary, who remained near the tomb after the others had
departed.
THE THIRD
APPARITION
(Matt. 28:
8-10)
First
Point— The other two women go from the tomb with great fear and joy. They want
to announce the resurrection of the disciples.
Second
Point—Christ Our Lord appeared to them on the way, and said to them, “Hail!”
and they came up to Him, and prostrated themselves at His feet, and adored Him.
Third
Point—Jesus said to them: “Do not be afraid; go, take word to my brethren
that they are to set out Galilee: there they shall see Me.”
THE FOURTH
APPARITION
(Luke 24:10-12;
and 33-34)
First
Point—When Peter heard from the women that Christ had risen, he hastened to the
tomb.
Second
Point—He entered the tomb and saw nothing but the linen cloths with which the
Body of Christ Our Lord had been covered.
Third
Point—While Peter was thinking about these things, Christ appeared to him.
Therefore the Apostles said: “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to
Simon.”
THE FIFTH
APPARITION
(Luke 24:
13-35)
First
Point—He appeared to the disciples, who were on the way to Emmaus and were
talking of Christ.
Second
Point—He reproaches them, and shows them by the Scriptures that Christ had to
die and rise again: “O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe in all that
the prophets have spoken! Did not Christ have to suffer these things before
entering into His glory?”
Third
Point—At their entreaties, He remained with them until He gave them Communion;
then He disappeared. And they returned to the disciples and told them how they
had known Him in the Communion.
THE SIXTH
APPARITION
(John 20:
19-23)
First
Point—The disciples, except Thomas, were gathered together, “for fear of the
Jews.”
Second
Point—Jesus appeared to them, the doors being closed, and standing in their
midst said: “Peace be to you.”
Third
Point—He gives them the Holy Ghost saying to them: “Receive the Holy Ghost;
Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them, and whose sins you shall
retain, they are retained.”
THE SEVENTH
APPARITION
(John 20:
24-29)
First
Point—Thomas was incredulous since he had not been present at the preceding
apparition, and said: “Unless I see…I will not believe.”
Second
Point—Eight days later Jesus appeared to them, the doors being shut, and said
to Thomas: “Bring here thy finger and see… and be not unbelieving, but
believing.”
Third
Point—Thomas believing, said: “My Lord and my God.” And Christ said to
him: “Blessed are they who have not seen, and have believed.”
THE EIGHTH
APPARITION
(John 21: 1-17)
First
Point—Jesus manifested Himself to seven of His disciples who were fishing.
They had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. At His command they
cast forth the net and now they were unable to draw it up the great number
of fishes.
Second
Point—John recognized Him by this miracle, and said to Peter “It is the Lord.”
Peter cast himself into the sea and came to Christ.
Third
Point—He gave them part of a broiled fish and bread to eat. After he had
questioned Peter three times on his love for Him, He commended His sheep to
him, saying: “Feed My sheep.”
THE NINTH
APPARITION
(Matt. 28:
16-20)
First
Point—At the command of the Lord, the disciples went to Mount Thabor.
Second
Point—Christ appeared to them, and said: “All power in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.”
Third
Point—He sent them to preach throughout the world, saying: “Go, therefore,
and make disciple of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
THE TENTH
APPARITION
(1 Corinth 15:
6)
Then
He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at one time.
THE ELEVENTH
APPARITION
(1 Corinth
15:7)
After
that He was seen by James.
THE TWELFTH
APPARITION
He
appeared to Joseph of Arimathea,as may be piously thought, and as we read in
the Lives of the Saints
THE THIRTEENTH
APPARITION
(1 Corinth
15:8)
After
His Ascension He appeared to St. Paul:— And last of all, as by one born out
of due time, He was seen also by me.
He
appeared also in soul to the holy fathers in Limbo, and after He had freed them
and take His Body again, He appeared many times to the disciples and discoursed
with them.
THE ASCENSION
OF CHRIST OUR LORD
(Acts 1:1-11)
First
Point—After Christ Our Lord had manifested Himself for forty days to His
Apostles, giving them many proofs and signs, and speaking of the Kingdom of
God, He commanded them to await in Jerusalem the Holy Ghost that He had
promised them.
Second
Point—He led them to Mt. Olivet And He was lifted up before their eyes, and
a cloud took Him out of their sight.
Third
Point—While they were looking up to heaven, angels said to them: “Men of
Galilee why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus Who has been taken up
from you into heaven, shall come in the same way as you have seen Him going up
to heaven.”
This
work has been a labor of love brought to our readers by the staff of Catholic
Candle. It is our desire that many will draw spiritual fruit from St.
Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises. For this reason we have tried to
preserve them for the future. These Exercises have had a huge impact on
the lives of many including many of the Church’s saints and our staff longed to
make them available to the public.
