THE PLACE OF THE MASS IN THE DIVINE PLAN

Continued

B. The external activity of the Blessed Trinity

The Divine Family which the three Persons form in the unity of their nature, is perfectly happy. This communal life is perfect, and no new riches can be added to it. Nothing can be added to God, since in God nothing is lacking: He can neither acquire anything nor be increased. His goodness is self-sufficient, and is the source of all abundance.

Nevertheless, the Trinity, overflowing with joy and love, wills to find outside itself the most adequate possible praise; and to this end degrees first of all the Incarnation of the Son of God.

THE CREATION--GOD'S OUTGOING

In God's plan, it is not man who is the center of the universe; but Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word.

God created all things for Christ.

For the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom the Father already had "placed all His delight"; and for the sake of Mary, His Mother, "full of grace"; God decided to create man and the universe.

To this Son, in whom He is well pleased, friends were to be given--and so man was created. (The race of man represents the "friends of the Bridegroom" mentioned by our Lord in the Gospel.)

To this Son whom He loves, the Father will give a house and garden--and so the universe was created.

Man, created for Christ, is loved in Him.

We thus form, as it were, a "wedding gift" from God the Father to Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom.

In Him, through Him, and for Him, we are pleasing to the heavenly Father. Without Him we are nothing. This last is very important for an understanding of the Mass. Our sacrifices are of value only through their being united with Christ's Sacrifice.

Since all have issued from the Heart of God solely to give pleasure to Jesus, all then are brothers. Creation itself is our kin. "Ah, yes, the swallow twittering in flight; the humble, perfumed violet hiding itself; we can, we should, call them 'sister.' To do so is no mere literary fiction nor poet's fantasy; but a clear vision of reality, as was grasped by St. Francis of Assisi. The universe and I, what are we, if not a delicate thought of the Father toward His Divine Son?

"The creation, launched into existence by God's loving power, will forever have something unfinished about it, until that time when it shall return to the Source of its perfection; there to receive from that same Source its final perfection and beatitude in love.

"Thus the general plan of creation appears to us as an image and prolongation of the fecundity of the Most Blessed Trinity."

The chronological order of the plan is as follows:

Creation of the heavens

Preparation of the earth

Creation of minerals, vegetation, and animals

Creation of man

King though he may be of that creation predating his own existence; man, however, is not creation's final goal.

Man--simple link in a chain that must go back to God--paves the way for the coming of the Queen--of Mary, whose luminous humility God looked upon before the world was. Mary, God's jewel case, in which reposed He who upholds all things, Jesus Christ!

Christ is the center of the universe. He is before all things:

"He is before all creatures." (Col. 1:17)

"The first-born of every creature." (Col. 1:15)

"In the beginning." (John 1:1)

"In Him. . . through Him. . . unto Him. . . all things! (Col. 1:16, 17)

All things are through Him. "Without Him was made nothing that has been made." (John 1:3) "Upholding all things by the word of His power." (Heb. 1:3)

All things are in Him. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ; who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing on high in Christ, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world." (Eph. 1:3-4)

All things are unto Him. "Whom He appointed heir of all things." (Heb. 1:2) "I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Apoc. 22:13)

[From 'Your Mass and Your Life' To be continued]