Christus surrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia !
These words of joy are now resounding in our churches, in the souls of all fervent Catholics. Christ is risen. Gone are all his sorrows, his excruciating pains. His terrible Passions has vanished forever, and Jesus our beloved Master is now plunged in an abyss of heavenly joy. Gaudete, iterum dico vobis gaudete! Let us rejoice, yes, rejoice, heart and soul, with Christ. We have mourned in loving sympathy during the sad days of Lent, and more still during the dreary days of Holy Week, of Jesus' frightful Passion. Let us now also commune lovingly with His beatitude. Oh yes. Alleluia. We should often think with joy of the infinite, immutable felicity of Jesus as He is now actually in heaven. We should also often think of that ocean of happiness which is God, our heavenly Father, and lovingly share in that beatitude which the contemplation of His divine perfections gives Him. Alas, we have perhaps rarely, perhaps even never, spent a full meditation trying to rejoice lovingly at the infinite joy of God. Many fervent souls, when asked whether they often think of the felicity of God, whether His happiness fills them with joy, whether it plays a great part in their spiritual life, feel somewhat ashamed and have to answer: “I am sorry, I very rarely think of it.” How strange! Since love makes us share in all goods and perfections, and especially in the happiness, of those whom we love, should we not share intensely in the ineffable beatitude of the God whom we love? We should live much less in ourselves, much more in God whom we love. If our love were pure enough from all selfishness we would exclaim with delight: ”My God and my all is absolutely perfect, perfectly happy.” Is this not supreme happiness? What do I matter, I, a little atom? What do my trivial, selfish joys of sorrows matter?
God is God. Deus est Deus. Hoc mihi sufficit
— Fr. Therasian Xavier
