The Miracle of the Hay
"The hay that had been placed in the manger at Greccio was kept, so that the Lord might save beasts of burden and other animals through it. And in truth it happened that many animals throughout that region, beasts of burden and others with various illnesses, were freed from their ailments after eating of this hay. Indeed, even some women who had been laboring for a long time in a difficult birth delivered their children easily when some of this hay was placed upon them; and a large number of persons of both sexes, suffering from various illnesses, obtained the health they sought in the same way.
Today, the place on which the manger stood is consecrated to the Lord by a church, and over the manger there is an altar dedicated to St. Francis, so that where once the animals ate the hay, now people eat to health of soul and body the flesh of the Lamb without blemish and without spot, our Lord Jesus Christ, who in highest and ineffable love gave himself to us, and lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God eternally glorious, forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia." --Celano, First Life, 87
The words "gave himself to us" stand out to me because I just wrote about seeking God Himself rather than His blessings. Now I understand why--it is because in dying on the cross FOR us He was giving Himself TO us in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is Himself that we seek--have sought all along in our search for meaning and purpose. Once we have the Holy Spirit, there is nothing else we need.
"The hay that had been placed in the manger at Greccio was kept, so that the Lord might save beasts of burden and other animals through it. And in truth it happened that many animals throughout that region, beasts of burden and others with various illnesses, were freed from their ailments after eating of this hay. Indeed, even some women who had been laboring for a long time in a difficult birth delivered their children easily when some of this hay was placed upon them; and a large number of persons of both sexes, suffering from various illnesses, obtained the health they sought in the same way.
Today, the place on which the manger stood is consecrated to the Lord by a church, and over the manger there is an altar dedicated to St. Francis, so that where once the animals ate the hay, now people eat to health of soul and body the flesh of the Lamb without blemish and without spot, our Lord Jesus Christ, who in highest and ineffable love gave himself to us, and lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God eternally glorious, forever and ever. Amen. Alleluia, Alleluia." --Celano, First Life, 87
The words "gave himself to us" stand out to me because I just wrote about seeking God Himself rather than His blessings. Now I understand why--it is because in dying on the cross FOR us He was giving Himself TO us in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is Himself that we seek--have sought all along in our search for meaning and purpose. Once we have the Holy Spirit, there is nothing else we need.
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