MEDITATION VI The Vine and the Branches
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Ignatius, of Loyola, Saint and Coppens, Charles
1st Prelude. Imagine that Christ speaks to you from the altar, and says: “I am the vine, you the branches; he that abideth in me and I in Him, the same beareth much fruit” (St. John xv, 5).
2nd Prelude. Beg to acquire an intimate union with Christ.
POINT I. Consider how powerless we are of ourselves to save our souls, and those of other men. For Christ says: “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me” (Ib. xv, 4). The dogma is this: we can do nothing profitable for Heaven, unless we possess sanctifying grace and be helped by actual grace. Now both of these come to us from Christ, who is like the vine that sends forth its sap into the branches and thus gives life and fertility. So too we cannot save the souls of others by human learning or skill, unless Christ co-operates with us by His grace. Otherwise we are but like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. If we do not constantly foster this union with God, we waste much labor, as we shall, no doubt, find at our death we have often done.
POINT II. Consider on the other hand how powerful we are when assisted by the grace of God. For Christ says: “He that abideth in me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit.” How so? By the Divine power which then makes use of us to do its peculiar work of sanctification for ourselves and others. Christ adds: “In this is my Father glorified, that you bring forth very much fruit” (ib. xv, 8). “I have chosen you and have appointed you, that you should go and should bring forth fruit and your fruit should remain” (ib. v, 16).
Our labors thus become His labors, as the sap of the vine produces the fruit in the branches. Besides, when our will is one with Christ’s will, our prayers become most powerful, as He adds, saying: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you” (ib. xv, 7).
POINT III. How do we strengthen this supernatural union with Christ? He has deigned to tell us this also, saying: “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in his love” (xv, 10).
How consoling all this doctrine is! He adds again: “You are my friends if you do the things that I command you” (xv, 14). All we need do then to achieve the most glorious results for our salvation and that of others is to be obedient to His voice.
POINT IV. Consider the absolute necessity of this union with Christ. For He assures us of this, saying: “If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither; and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire, and he burneth.” This is the lot of all who die in mortal sin, no matter how holy they may have been before. Read the 15th chapter of Ezechiel.
Colloquy. O Jesus, may this triduum unite me more firmly with Thee. What wilt Thou have me do?