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174. Saint Ambrose recommended drinking deeply of Christ, %u201cin order that the spring of waterwelling up to eternal life may overflow in you%u201d. [171] Marius Victorinus was convinced that the HolySpirit has given of himself in such abundance that, %u201cwhoever receives him becomes a heart thatpours forth rivers of living water%u201d. [172] Saint Augustine saw this stream flowing from the believeras benevolence. [173] Saint Thomas Aquinas thus maintained that whenever someone %u201chastensto share various gifts of grace received from God, living water flows from his heart%u201d. [174]175. Although %u201cthe sacrifice offered on the cross in loving obedience renders most abundant andinfinite satisfaction for the sins of mankind%u201d, [175] the Church, born of the heart of Christ, prolongsand bestows, in every time and place, the fruits of that one redemptive passion, which lead menand women to direct union with the Lord.176. In the heart of the Church, the mediation of Mary, as our intercessor and mother, can only beunderstood as %u201ca sharing in the one source, which is the mediation of Christ himself%u201d, [176] thesole Redeemer. For this reason, %u201cthe Church does not hesitate to profess the subordinate role ofMary%u201d. [177] Devotion to the heart of Mary in no way detracts from the sole worship due the heartof Christ, but rather increases it: %u201cMary%u2019s function as mother of humanity in no way obscures ordiminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power%u201d. [178] Thanks to theabundant graces streaming from the open side of Christ, in different ways the Church, the VirginMary and all believers become themselves streams of living water. In this way, Christ displays hisglory in and through our littleness.Fraternity and mysticism177. Saint Bernard, in exhorting us to union with the heart of Christ, draws upon the richness ofthis devotion to call for a conversion grounded in love. Bernard believed that our affections,enslaved by pleasures, may nonetheless be transformed and set free, not by blind obedience to acommandment but rather in response to the delectable love of Christ. Evil is overcome by good,conquered by the flowering of love: %u201cLove the Lord your God with the full and deep affection of allyour heart; love him with your mind wholly alert and intent; love him with all your strength, so muchso that you would not even fear to die for love of him%u2026 Your affection for the Lord Jesus should beboth sweet and intimate, to oppose the sweet enticements of the sensual life. Sweetnessconquers sweetness, as one nail drives out another%u201d. [179]178. Saint Francis de Sales was particularly taken by Jesus%u2019 words, %u201cLearn from me; for I amgentle and humble in heart%u201d ( Mt 11:29). Even in the most simple and ordinary things, he said, wecan %u201csteal%u201d the Lord%u2019s heart. %u201cThose who would serve him acceptably must give heed not only tolofty and important matters, but to things mean and little, since by both alike we may win his heartand love%u2026 I mean the acts of daily forbearance, the headache, the toothache, the heavy cold; thetiresome peculiarities of a husband or wife, the broken glass, the loss of a ring, a handkerchief, aglove; the sneer of a neighbour; the effort of going to bed early in order to rise early for prayer or41