Bronchain Meditations: Trinity Sunday

The Mystery Of The Day

Preparation. - "Going, teach ye all nations," said our Saviour to the apostles; "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Mat. 28. 19). We shall consider tomorrow, first, how the Church and the saints have loved the great mystery of the adorable Trinity; and secondly, how we should love it. We shall, moreover, resolve to praise God for His grandeurs, and thank Him for His benefits, by often saying with the Church: "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost."

I. Love Of The Church And The Saints For The Adorable Trinity.

Having received from the Redeemer the mission to teach all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that is, in the name of one God in three Persons, the Church undertook to make known this dogma of faith to the world, and to defend it against all heresies. The Apostles' Creed and many Councils determined its meaning, and many Doctors of the Church wrote admirable works on this ineffable mystery.

In the name of one God in three Persons, the Catholic Church baptizes, absolves and confirms the faithful, blesses their marriage, administers extreme unction to the sick and invites the soul of the Christian to leave this world, in order to enter into the dwelling of the elect. All the blessings of the Church are given in the name of the Blessed Trinity, and to the Trinity is daily offered on thousands of altars the most august of sacrifices. "Receive, O holy Trinity."

All human thoughts and aspirations should be referred to this incomprehensible mystery, the final object of our worship. The early Christians confessed it before cruel tyrants; the saints of all ages contemplate it, and wrought miracles in its name. "Would that I could die," often exclaimed St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds, "and give my life in testimony of my faith in the great mystery of the Blessed Trinity! Would that, at the price of my blood, I could cause it to be known and loved by all men!"

This saint never began any of her meditations without reciting the Gloria Patri with a profound bow. The adoration of one God in three Persons was always her first and last act of the day, and she every year prepared for its feast by a novena of prayer, fasting and mortifications. Let us imitate this fervent Franciscan nun in her lively faith in the truth of the thrice holy God dwelling in us, who Himself created, redeemed and sanctified us, and destined us to an eternal reward.

O Trinity, adored by the angels, the saints and their august Queen! I unite with them in praising, blessing, thanking and exalting Thee forever. Enable me to combat in Thy honor the three concupiscences of the world struggling in me: First, pride, by a sincere humility, which will help me to glorify Thee and cheerfully to bear humiliations; secondly, the love of fleeting goods, by detachment from riches, and patience in privations; and thirdly, the yearning after sensual pleasures by the mortification of my senses and all inordinate inclinations. Help me constantly to triumph in this daily combat, so that Thou mayst find in me a pleasing abode.

II. The Love We Owe The Blessed Trinity.

Let us adore, love and exalt the ineffable mystery of one God in three Persons, a mystery which is the object of the beatific vision in the kingdom of heaven. Here below we render homage to this truth by submitting our reason and simply believing what surpasses the powers of our understanding. Yes, Lord, I believe that Thou art one in Essence and three in Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; I believe it on Thy word alone without seeking to understand it.

This sincere faith leads me to love, for in this adorable mystery I find God the Creator who has adopted me as His child, and whom I daily call by the sweet name of Father; I find God the Redeemer, who deigned to raise me to resemble Him and to make me His brother and co-heir; I find God the Sanctifier, who disposed me to receive the first two prerogatives by imparting to my heart a filial and a fraternal love proportionate to such favors.

Who would not love a Father such as God the Father almighty, infinitely noble, rich and bountiful? Who would not irrevocably cling to the Eternal Word, the uncreated Wisdom, become on earth the Child of Bethlehem, the Crucified on Calvary, and the Prisoner in our churches? Who would not love the Spirit of love, the Author of the grand works of divine charity? O burning ardors of the Seraphim, take possession of my affections, so that I may love the thrice holy God. Heavenly hosts, I unite myself with you in order to exalt Him forever.

After the example of St. Alphonsus and so many other saints, let us recite the Gloria Patri in adverse as well as in prosperous circumstances; let us often think that the great God, who fills the universe, delights in dwelling in us as in heaven with all His divine attributes (John 14. 23). We may then at any moment entertain Him and rely on His power, which supported so many martyrs, seek counsel from His wisdom, which guided so many doctors, and ask graces of His goodness which sanctified all the elect.

O my God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, who makest happy those who love Thee; enlighten me concerning Thy grandeurs and Thy infinite loveliness. Make known to me the extent of Thy charity, and Thy countless benefits. Who could, in fact, know Thee without loving Thee? Through the merits of Jesus and Mary, keep me always united to Thee in my inmost heart, that I may therein adore, love and pray to Thee, and allow myself to be directed by Thy light and Thy good pleasure.

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Servant of God

Charles Louis Laurent Bronchain was born of excellent parents, September 4, 1829, at Frameries, near Mons in Belgium. From his early boyhood he was distinguished for his piety. As an altar boy he was modest and recollected, and was wont after serving Mass to remain as close as possible to the priest. Being asked why he acted thus, he replied: "I do this, because I wish to be nearer to the good God." When he saw people going to holy communion, he was filled with a holy envy, and would say to himself: "When shall I also have the happiness of receiving our Lord?" We may easily imagine his joy and happiness when this favor was vouchsafed to him for the first time. When out walking with his playmates, he always managed to bring them near a church and induced them to enter it with him to pay homage to our divine Saviour in the Sacrament of His love.

During the six years he studied at the "Petit Seminaire de Bonne Esperance," he was universally admired and respected for his modesty, piety, charity, and other virtues. Heeding the divine call to a more perfect life, he, with the consent of his parents, renounced the world and the brightest prospects of success, and entered in 1850 the Redemptorist Novitiate at St. Trond. The following year he made his profession and was sent to Wittem to prosecute his studies. As novice and student, Louis Bronchain was a model to his companions in regular observance, charity, love of prayer, and study, and self-denial. After his ordination in 1857, he labored zealously for some years in the ministry and in giving missions.

In 1865 he was appointed Master of Novices. To his novices he was ever a tender and loving father, giving them the example of every virtue. His life was practically a continual prayer. Rising very early every morning to be able to devote more time to it, he would spend hours in meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. Though very severe towards himself and addicted to corporal austerities, he, like a true saint, was always cheerful and full of charity and condescension towards others, and of solicitude in supplying the wants of his novices. His health failing, he was relieved of his heavy burden in 1870. From that time until his death, his life was one of continual suffering, borne with wonderful patience and resignation. As long as he was able he labored for his fellow-religious, and for the salvation of souls. Being an able spiritual director, he enabled his many penitents to make great progress in the spiritual life. As for himself he was an “interior man,” such as he describes in his “Meditations.” He died June 2, 1892, in the odor of sanctity.

Father Bronchain spent his years of suffering in composing spiritual works, which passed through many editions during his lifetime and have done incalculable good to souls. They are, like the works of St. Alphonsus, whose spirit he possessed in a remarkable degree, noted for the solidity of their doctrine, the simplicity and popularity of their language, and especially for that sweet unction which induces the practice of virtue, horror of sin, and especially the love of Jesus and Mary.

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