Saturday, May 28, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
On Working Purely for the Love of God - St. Philip Neri
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| St. Philip Neri by Giaquinto Corrado |
Picture source
"...He who works purely for the love of God desires nothing but His honor, and thus is ready in everything either to act or not to act, and that not in indifferent matters only but even in good ones; and he is always resigned to the will of God. The Lord grants in a moment what we may have been unable to obtain in dozens of years.
To obtain perfectly the gift of humility, four things are required: to despise the world, to despise no person, to despise one's self, to despise being despised.
perfection consists in leading captive our own will, and in playing the king over it.
A man ought to mortify it in great ones, and to advance in the way of virtue. Without mortification nothing can be done. We ought to hope for and love the glory of God by means of a good life."
- St. Philip Neri May 26 Meditation, Magnificat 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
On Accepting Our Weaknesses and Imperfections- St. Therese of Lisieux
The following is from an excellent book entitled the Complete Spiritual Doctrine of St. Therese of Lisieux by Father Francois Jamart. Unless noted, quotes are by Fr. Francois Jamart.
"...If, after committing a fault we accept the humiliation that follows it, this merits for us an increase of love."
On the weaknesses of saints: "They accept themselves the way they are and make use of their imperfections to raise themselves nearer to God."
"I have many weaknesses...but I am never astonished because of them...for example, I might be inclined t worry about some silly thing I have said or done. I then recollect myself for a moment and say 'alas, I am still at the point from which I started.' but I say this with great peace and without sadness." - St. Therese
"...If I am humble, I am entitled without offending the good Lord, to do small foolish things until I die."
"What would become of me? What would I be able to accomplish if I were to rel on my own powers alone."..."do what you can to detach your heart from earthly cares and especially from creatures, and then feel certain that Jesus will do the rest." - St. Therese
St. Therese affirms that God always grants the graces that are necessary to overcome all obstacles when we have recourse to Him.
Vacation Rerun: Saints Alive! Padre Pio and the Stigmata: Sanctity on Trial
Picture source
Father Gordon MacRae is reposting some of his popular posts. Since today would have been Padre Pio's birthday, Father posted this one.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
World Day Prayer for the Church in China - Our Lady of Sheshan
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| Our Lady of Sheshan prayer card from the Cardinal Kung Foundation |
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SHESHAN
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Incarnate Word and our Mother,
venerated in the Shrine of Sheshan under the title “Help of Christians”,the entire Church in China looks to you with devout affection.
We come before you today to implore your protection.
Look upon the People of God and, with a mother’s care, guide them along the paths of truth and love, so that they may always be
a leaven of harmonious coexistence among all citizens.
When you obediently said “yes” in the house of Nazareth,
you allowed God’s eternal Son to take flesh in your virginal womb
and thus to begin in history the work of our redemption.
You willingly and generously cooperated in that work,
allowing the sword of pain to pierce your soul,
until the supreme hour of the Cross, when you kept watch on Calvary, standing beside your Son, who died that we might live.
From that moment, you became, in a new way,
the Mother of all those who receive your Son Jesus in faith
and choose to follow in his footsteps by taking up his Cross.
Mother of hope, in the darkness of Holy Saturday you journeyed
with unfailing trust towards the dawn of Easter.
Grant that your children may discern at all times,
even those that are darkest, the signs of God’s loving presence.
Our Lady of Sheshan, sustain all those in China,
who, amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love.
May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world,
and of the world to Jesus.
In the statue overlooking the Shrine you lift your Son on high,
offering him to the world with open arms in a gesture of love.
Help Catholics always to be credible witnesses to this love,
ever clinging to the rock of Peter on which the Church is built.
Mother of China and all Asia, pray for us, now and for ever. Amen!
Prayer Source: Carlos of Caput Mundi
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| Our Lady of China Prayer Card in Chinese from my friend Menna |
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| Our Lady of China Rosary Prayer Card in Chinese by my friend Menna |