This is part 8 of a nine part series of meditations on the Word of God with reflections from the writings of Venerable Mother Thecla Merlo and Blessed James Alberione.
This theme coincides with Mother Thecla’s spiritual experience at the end of her life. Her dominant characteristics in this period were total acceptance of the will of God, intimate union with Christ, and participation in his life to the point of union of life with him.
Meditating the Word
I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. The life that I am now living, subject to the limitation of human nature, I am living in faith, faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2: 19-20).
Since you have been raised up to be with Christ, you must look for the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on things above, not on the things that are on earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ, in God. But when Christ is revealed—and he is your life—you, too, will be revealed with him in glory (Col.3:1-4).
Meditating the Word with Mother Thecla
In her spiritual notes, Mother Thecla reveals to us the degree of her intimacy with God. Her spiritual journey led her to the heights of the Christian life. Acknowledging the heroic quality of her virtues, the Church offers her to the world as “Venerable.”
Faced with this mystery of grace, our “comparison” of ourselves with her is transformed into a prayer of supplication.
May Jesus work in our souls. Perfection lies in total surrender to God. Jesus Christ lives in me: it is no longer I who live….Two persons in a single spirit: our soul is transformed in Christ…Shed your ego and put on Christ (1956).
To live in intimate union with the Divine Master: mind, will, heart and works, senses, hands, feet, sight, hearing—everything for him and in him. To reach the point of “It is no longer I who live, but Jesus who lives in me. Jesus, Divine Master, what more could you have done for human beings? For me? (September 2, 1961).
When will I reach the point of: “It is no longer I who live: it is Jesus who lives in me”? To remain united to Jesus; to make quick “telephone calls to him throughout the day…To turn to Jesus for all my needs of heart and soul….(1962)
I surrender myself to Jesus in all things. I want to console him, never displease him (1962).
To endure (whatever God permits) not seeking human comfort, in such a way that no one knows, no one sees….To imitate the silence of Jesus….May I become a saint, but a hidden saint—one noticed only by God.
To arrive at transforming my entire life in Christ….Uniformity with his will. (November 20, 1962).
I want to live my Communion. To remain united to Jesus. May my thoughts be his; my will his. To love God and sacrifice myself for souls as he did (April 17, 1963).
Blessed James Alberione’s Thought
Mother Thecla was an example:
“in her continual union with God; in her serenity of spirit regarding the events of life; in her knowledge of and affection for each Daughter of St. Paul; in her spirit and docility to the dispositions of God; in desiring, contemplating and synthesizing her life of faith, hope and charity.
She was a docile instrument in the hands of God: many steps were taken as a result of her cooperation and charity. Look on high! From there, she continues to keep watch over us, helps us to follow our vocation, and invites us to heaven.”
Alberione, in Regina Apostolorum, 1(1965) 1