Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health Vailankanni

Listen to Christ himself: “If a man loves me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him” (Jn 14:23). I have read elsewhere, “The man who fears the Lord will do good” (Sir 15:1). But it is my opinion that more was said of the one who loves, namely that: “He will keep my words”. Where, then, are they to be kept? Without any doubt they are to be kept in the heart, as the prophet says: “I have kept your words in my heart, lest I sin against you” (Ps 119[118]:11). How are we to keep the word in our hearts? Is it sufficient to learn it by heart or keep it in mind? The apostle Paul has this to say about those who keep it like that: “Knowledge inflates pride” (1 Cor 8:1) and forgetfulness quickly wipes out what we have committed to memory. Keep the word of God in the same way as you would preserve food (…) since this word is the “bread of life” (Jn 6:35), the real food of the soul (…). Keep the word of God in that way for “blessed are they who keep it”. Let it pierce deep into your inmost soul and penetrate your feelings and actions. Eat well and your soul will delight and grow. Do not forget to eat your bread or your heart will wither, but let your soul feast richly. If you keep the word of God in this way, without a doubt you will be kept by it. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great prophet who will renew Jerusalem will come and “he will make everything new” (Acts 3:22; Jl 4:1; Rev 21:5).

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Saturday of the Twenty-seventh week in Ordinary Time

Saint Bernard (1091-1153)

"His mother kept all these things in her heart" (Lk 2:51)

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