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56. Causal Power of the Resurrection

1. Aristotle says (Metaph. iv): "Whatever isthe first in any order, is the cause of what comes after it."The Resurrection of Christ was first in the order of rising fromthe dead: "The first fruits of them that sleep" (I Cor.15:20). Christ's Resurrection is thus the cause of our bodilyresurrection which will take place on the last day.

2. Christ's Resurrection is also the cause of theresurrection of our souls from the death of sin. The divine powerwhich appears in the bodily Resurrection of Christ extends to humansouls. St. Paul (Rom. 4:25) says that our Lord "rose again forour justification." And again he says (Rom. 6:4): "Christis risen from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also maywalk in newness of life."

"Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts."
St Philip Neri

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"He who wishes to be perfectly obeyed, should give but few orders."
St Philip Neri

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"Spiritual persons ought to be equally ready to experience sweetness and consolation in the things of God, or to suffer and keep their ground in drynesses of spirit and devotion, and for as long as God pleases, without their making any complaint about it."
St Philip Neri

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