12 Vol. LIX, No. 1 Magnificat sinner who has this disposition in his heart is a true wise man: “I am disposed to do whatever You want of me, my God. Come to my assistance, I am only a little child. My God, help me, rescue me! I ask Your forgiveness for all that is not perfect under Your divine gaze, but I want what You want from me.” Then he applies himself and does violence to himself. My dear friends, let us ask God for this disposition of the heart, each one according to his state, to be ready for anything for God – anything, without any limits. That is wisdom. God does not like those who set limits. That is what this parable teaches us. I do not know you. And yet, the foolish virgins had also been invited. 4th Centennial of the Consecration of Canada to Saint Joseph We declare 2024 a holy year to mark the 800th anniversary of the stigmata of Saint Francis and the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Canada to Saint Joseph. We make it a holy year not by formulas, but by this desire, this application, this gracious violence – which may seem contradictory – to accomplish the expectation of God in the life of each one of us. Let each one do this under the eye of God, without looking at his neighbor. The superiors must be attentive and encourage you: “Brother, haven’t you been neglecting yourself a little? Haven’t you been straying from your ideal of perfection?” However, let the brother not look at his brother, let the sister not look at her sister. Each one of you must look at God’s expectation upon yourself. Do it graciously. This is the grace I wish for you. We are going to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, asking God to increase your desire, this vehement desire. May He put in you an aching desire to conform to Him. Jesus will console you. You will experience the sweetness of His yoke. That is the grace I wish for you. That is the intention I will have during this first Mass of the year, for you, my brothers, my sisters, for all souls of good will. I ask God to put in your hearts this hunger and thirst to conform to Him, and to take the means that are painful to our nature. I wish for you this hunger, this thirst. You will be satisfied. The word of Jesus is infallible. Remember well that the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary. Nothing more violent has ever happened on this earth. The Sacrifice of Calvary will now be renewed for the first time this year on this altar. Let us be attentive to it. We can obtain anything we want through the Mass. I offer it for all of you. Happy feast day to our Heavenly Mother also, for She is the Daughter of the Eternal Father and the Spouse of Saint Joseph. Virgin Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our Mother, sustain us! p This year there is another centennial I would like to mention. Canada was consecrated to Saint Joseph 400 years ago. In 1624, Father Le Caron, a Franciscan, consecrated Canada to Saint Joseph in the presence of a few of his colleagues in religion, of Samuel de Champlain, the governor of New France, and of a few French and Aboriginal people. This took place on the banks of the St. Charles River in Quebec City, at the beginning of the colony.
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