We cannot see Christ and remain as we are. We cannot exchange a look with Christ and not be overcome with a total conversion.
Christ is all in all. Through him, all is made; through him, all comes to us.
Therefore, we must see Christ. I stress this point: we must truly see Christ.
I sometimes think that we should define the term Christian as “someone who has seen Christ.” There are only a few genuine Christians because only a few souls have seen Christ.
Countless baptized persons, including even ordained priests and professed religious, remain lukewarm in spirit. Such tepid souls do not pulsate with life, nor are they enthusiastic enough to give their life for Christ. They have never seen Christ. Their knowledge of the Lord is verbal, not vital.
However, we must strive to love Christ passionately and prepare to see him face to face when we die. The soul that neither misses Christ now nor longs to see him at life’s end does not honestly love him. To make such a claim would be a lie.
When we love someone, we long to see that person, even at the risk of death. All the more so, given his limitless love, we want to long to see Christ, face to face.
Servant of God Père Jacques de Jésus
Conference 3, To See Christ
Retreat for the Carmel of Pontoise
Tuesday Morning, 7 September 1943
Jacques, P 2005, Listen to the silence: a retreat with Père Jacques, translated from the French and edited by Murphy F, ICS Publications, Washington DC.
Featured image: Photographer Jeffrey Bruno captures the face of a Vatican pilgrim (Some rights reserved)
Carmelite Quotes 
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