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Chapter VIII. Of the Book of Life, Which Is Christ, Wherein Man Learneth to Know God and Man, Himself, and All Things Needful for Man's Welfare
Ye must know, therefore, that this Book of Life is naught else save Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Incarnate Word and the Wisdom of the Father, and He appeared amongst us in order that we might be instructed by means of His life, His death, and His teaching. For which reason it behoveth us to see what was the manner of life and conversation which He did practise whiles He did dwell within this mortal body.
His life is an ensample and a pattern for every mortal who desireth to be saved. But His life was naught save a most bitter penance, which did ever accompany Him throughout His mortal life, so that from the hour wherein the soul of Christ was created and placed in His most holy body within the womb of the Virgin undefiled, until that last most holy hour wherein His soul departed from His body by cruel death upon the Cross, He was never without this companionship of penance. But it was not thus with the other saints, nor with the apostles nor the Blessed Virgin.
The companions which God the Father in the Highest did in His most wise dispensation give unto His Beloved Son in this world were these. Firstly, the most perfect, complete, and continual poverty; secondly, the most perfect, complete, and continual contempt; thirdly, the utmost suffering. These were the companions who did accompany Christ during the whole of His life in order to furnish an ensample unto us, that we may choose, love and endure these same companions until we die. For this is the way whereby the soul must reach unto God, and other direct road is there none. Needful is it, therefore, and seemly that the members of the body should follow the same road which had been taken by the head, and that the same companions which had accompanied the head should likewise accompany the members.
Ye must know, therefore, that this Book of Life is naught else save Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Incarnate Word and the Wisdom of the Father, and He appeared amongst us in order that we might be instructed by means of His life, His death, and His teaching. For which reason it behoveth us to see what was the manner of life and conversation which He did practise whiles He did dwell within this mortal body.
His life is an ensample and a pattern for every mortal who desireth to be saved. But His life was naught save a most bitter penance, which did ever accompany Him throughout His mortal life, so that from the hour wherein the soul of Christ was created and placed in His most holy body within the womb of the Virgin undefiled, until that last most holy hour wherein His soul departed from His body by cruel death upon the Cross, He was never without this companionship of penance. But it was not thus with the other saints, nor with the apostles nor the Blessed Virgin.
The companions which God the Father in the Highest did in His most wise dispensation give unto His Beloved Son in this world were these. Firstly, the most perfect, complete, and continual poverty; secondly, the most perfect, complete, and continual contempt; thirdly, the utmost suffering. These were the companions who did accompany Christ during the whole of His life in order to furnish an ensample unto us, that we may choose, love and endure these same companions until we die. For this is the way whereby the soul must reach unto God, and other direct road is there none. Needful is it, therefore, and seemly that the members of the body should follow the same road which had been taken by the head, and that the same companions which had accompanied the head should likewise accompany the members.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre