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 San
Michele Garicoïts
It has pleased God to make Himself loved, and while
we were still his enemies. He loved us so much that he sent his
only son: He gave Him to us to be the magnet which draws us to
divine love, to be the model which shows us the laws of love, and
to be the means of attaining divine
love: the Son of God became man.
At the moment He entered the world animated by the Spirit
of God His Father, He gave Himself up to all God?s designs
for Him; He took the place of all victims; He said:
"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body
have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin
offerings you have taken no pleasure". Then I said: "Here
I am, I have come to do your will, O my God.
Jesus began His life's work by this great act which he
never discontinued. From this moment onward he remained
always in a state of victim, annihilated before God. He
did nothing on His own; His actions were always directed
by the Spirit of God; His disposition was one of constant
abandonment to the orders of God, to suffer and do
whatever He wanted: He humbled Himself and became obedient
unto death, even death on a cross".
This is how God loves us.......
At the sight of this marvellous spectacle, the priests of
Betharram felt drawn to dedicate themselves to imitating
Jesus, humble and obedient, and to working whole-heartily
to bring the same happiness to others, under the
protection of Mary; she was always disposed to do what God
wanted and was always submissive to what God did.
(St. Michael Garicoïts, Preface to the Constitutions of 1838)
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