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Showing posts from September, 2020

Daily Thought For October 1, 2020

  Miss No Opportunity Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love. St. Therese of Lisieux

Daily Thought For September 30, 2020

Don't Put Off The Joy of Conversion Lectio Luke 9:57–62 Meditatio “But he replied.…” How often do I want to respond to a new or deeper invitation from the Lord to follow him but feel that something holds me back? Maybe he wants me to follow him in greater humility, or through a more constant practice of patience. Maybe he is asking me to let go of the anxiety that can make me try to control everything, or to let go of a bad habit that impedes a more vital relationship with him. I battle with the voices that say: “I want to, but not yet.” “Yes, but I’ve got some things pending.” “Thanks for the invitation, but I need to think about it more.” Luke presents us with Jesus’ personal invitation to follow him today, now! Jesus doesn’t talk around his demands, but clearly tells us what discipleship will entail: living with detachment, insecurity, and the readiness for a total giving of ourselves for the sake of the kingdom. It’s a large task. It’s a call that demands living as Jesus did, i

Daily Thought For September 29, 2020

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart Get used to lifting your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving, many times a day. Because he gives you this and that. Because you have been despised. Because you haven’t what you need or because you have. Thank him for everything, because everything is good.” St. Josemaria Escriva

Daily Thought For September 28, 2020

  Find The Joy No One Can Steal You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want.  Change the focus.  Get a new center.  Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Daily Thought For September 27, 2020

Encouragement from an early Martyr Polycarp and the Elders with him, to the Church of God sojourning in Philippi: all mercy and peace to you, from God Almighty and Jesus Christ our Saviour.   When you welcomed those copies of the True Love and took the opportunity of setting them forward on their road, I rejoiced with you in Jesus Christ. The chains that bound them were the badges of saints, the diadems of men truly chosen by our Lord and God. I rejoiced too that your firmly rooted faith, so well-known since the earliest times, still flourishes and bears fruit for our Lord Jesus Christ. He bore the burden of our sins even as far as suffering death, and God raised him up, releasing him from the pains of the underworld; you did not see him but still you believed in him, in unspeakably glorious joy. Many desire to come into this joy, knowing that you are saved by grace, not by works, – not by your actions but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.   So gird up your loins and serve God i

Daily Thought For September 26, 2020

 The "Stirrings" of the Holy Spirit   We who are reborn through the sacrament of baptism have the greatest joy, as we perceive within us the first stirrings of the Holy Spirit, as we begin to understand mysteries; we gain knowledge of prophecy, speech full of wisdom, security in our hope, gifts of healing, and dominion over the devils made subject to us. These gifts, like drops of liquid, permeate our inner self, and so beginning, little by little produce fruits in abundance. From a treatise on the psalms by Saint Hilary of Poitiers (from the Office of Readings)

Daily Thought For September 25, 2020

  God Will Tend To Everything Jesus: Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that these souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My mercy. I myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity. The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is-trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. St. Faustina Kowalska Divine Mercy In My Soul (Diary) #1578

Daily Thought For September 23, 2020

Avoiding Anxiety Do not worry over things that generate preoccupation, derangement and anxiety. One thing only is necessary: to lift up your spirit and love God. St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Daily Thought For September 22, 2020

  Encouragement When Tired & Trying To Pray Your fatigue and your distractions in adoration are no impediment to My action in the depths of your soul. I have assured you of this before. Come before Me and remain before Me even when you feel that your adoration is no more than a struggle and a failure to remain attentive in love and focused on My Eucharistic Face. Here, your feelings are of no importance. What matters in My sight is your humility and your willingness to endure distractions, fatigue, and even sleepiness while adoring Me from the heart of your heart. Know that even when you feel that your adoration has been a waste of time, in My plan it is something fruitful and it is very pleasing to Me. I do not see things as you see them nor do I measure their value as you measure it.1 Monk, A Benedictine. In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart--The Journal of a Priest at Prayer (pp. 151-152). Angelico Press. Kindle Edition. 

Daily Thought For September 21, 2020

  Avoiding Bitterness In Suffering After my own spiritual journey in the writing of this book, I find hope and joy in these truths gleaned from the lives of my saints: Whereas in fairy tales all the difficulties come first, then the hero and heroine marry, and they live happily ever after with death never mentioned; in the story of the saints being drawn closer to Christ, first come many years of intense suffering with intense joy in the spiritual marriage, interior peace in the depths of the soul, and a promise of eternal bliss. All the energy I put into running away from pain, the saints put into running toward Christ. As a result, when I want to find joy in Christ, I have to retrace my steps, whereas they dwell in possession of their beloved, finding joy in him in the midst of their trials. In their union with Christ, the saints did not suffer alone. Their suffering was his, and his theirs. Everything for them was more intimate, if inescapable. I can imitate them by longing for that

Daily Thought For September 19, 2020

  The Gift of Life Every human being is an incalculable force, bearing within him something of the future. To the end of time, our daily words and actions will bear fruit, either good or bad; nothing that we have once given of ourselves will perish, but our words and works, handed on from one to another, will continue to do good or harm to remote generations. This is why life is a sacred thing, and we ought not to pass through it thoughtlessly, but to appreciate its value and use it so that, when we are gone, the sum total of good in the world may be greater. Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur

Daily Thought For September 18, 2020

  Great Advice! Learn to defend your convictions without hating your adversaries and love those who think differently from yourselves. Blessed Frédéric Ozanam

Daily Thought For September 17, 2020

  "Mercy"  Lectio Luke 7:36–50 Meditatio Simon the Pharisee bears a striking resemblance to another man in Luke’s Gospel: the Pharisee in the parable who found himself in the Temple with a tax collector. Like the unnamed Pharisee, Simon assumes he knows the other person’s relationship with God. Jesus, as usual, responds to the occasion with a parable, this time about two debtors. If the woman, because she is forgiven much, shows great love, Simon needs forgiveness for his “lesser” debt, too. Simon may not have had any big-ticket items on his debit sheet with God, but as Jesus lists his omissions, one by one, it all seems to add up to a kind of contempt—or at the very least, indifference toward Jesus. Even the fact of the lesser debt is a sign of equal, if not greater, weakness on his part: it is one thing to be incapable of repaying an enormous sum—but to need to have a paltry debt written off? Simon just doesn’t have eyes to see how much God in his mercy has forgiven him. He

Daily Thought For September 15, 2020

  Mary, The Woman Who Loves Finally, Mary is a woman who loves. How could it be otherwise? As a believer who in faith thinks with God’s thoughts and wills with God’s will, she cannot fail to be a woman who loves. We sense this in her quiet gestures, as recounted by the infancy narratives in the Gospel. We see it in the delicacy with which she recognizes the need of the spouses at Cana and makes it known to Jesus. We see it in the humility with which she recedes into the background during Jesus’ public life, knowing that the Son must establish a new family and that the Mother’s hour will come only with the Cross, which will be Jesus’ true hour (cf. Jn 2:4; 13:1). When the disciples flee, Mary will remain beneath the Cross (cf. Jn 19:25–27); later, at the hour of Pentecost, it will be they who gather around her as they wait for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14). 42. The lives of the saints are not limited to their earthly biographies but also include their being and working in God after de

Daily Thought For September 14, 2020

  Important Words on Forgiveness How much suffering, how many wounds, how many wars could be avoided if forgiveness and mercy were the style of our life! Even in families, even in families. How many families are disunited, who do not know how to forgive each other. How many brothers and sisters bear resentment within. It is necessary to apply merciful love to all human relationships: between spouses, between parents and children, within our communities, in the Church, and also in society and politics. Today as we were celebrating the Mass, I stopped; I was touched by a phrase in the first reading from the book of Wisdom. The phrase says, remember your end and stop hating. A beautiful phrase. But think of the end. Just think, you will be in a coffin… and will you take your hatred there? Think that in the end, you can stop hating and resenting. Let’s think of this phrase that is very touching. Remember your end and stop hating. It is not easy to forgive because although in moments of cal

Daily Thought For September 13, 2020

  Control ENTRUST YOUR LOVED ONES TO ME. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands.  Sometimes you confuse loving others with rescuing them. When a loved one has a problem, you often feel responsible to come up with a solution. Then you plunge headlong into problem-solving mode, as if you’re obligated to provide sound advice. I want to help you stop feeling responsible to fix people since that is My role—not yours.  It is My prerogative to bring about change in people’s lives as I choose. You can be part of the process, but remember that I am the Author and Director of the drama. You need to follow My script rather than creating your own. Do not usurp My role in people’s lives, no matter how much you long to help them.  When you feel compelled to rescue a loved one, take a good look at the quality of your love. Learn from Me, because I have all authority in heaven and on earth: I could rescue or control anyone at will. Yet I intentionally created people with the capacity

Daily Thought For September 11, 2020

  For Good Measure (from the Magnificat of September 10, 2020) We have a tendency to become obsessed by the faults of those around us. That is understandable: it is their faults which make us suffer and this suffering in turn reminds us of them continually…. Faults are ugly. Why not look at the virtues which are beautiful?… The good intentions of others so often escape our notice. Do not judge intentions. I assure you, it has happened to me that, having ascribed a bad intention to someone, I have later had proof, neat and clear, that I was wrong, that he had something completely different in mind than what I thought. What a lesson! As much as you can, ascribe good intentions to your neighbor. (I say “as much as you can,” because at times, of course, the contrary is as plain as daylight.)… Little Thérèse wrote, “When I want to increase in myself my love of neighbor, especially when the devil tries to put before the eyes of my soul the faults of this or that sister who is less appealing

Daily Thought For September 10, 2020

  Up For The Challenge? Lectio Luke 6:27–38 Meditatio “Do good … pray for … give … love … forgive.…” When I read this section of Jesus’ teachings, I always seem to snag on the part where Jesus says, “the measure with which you measure will … be measured out to you.” It makes me shiver when I imagine the half plateful that would be placed in front of me! Jesus’ words make me reflect on how generous I am to others. He is giving us a way of life based on honesty, lending, gentility, loving concern, and selfless giving. Am I up to the challenge? I imagine that Jesus is speaking to a large group of people who want to hear what he is teaching, people who are more interested in the trials and challenges of everyday life than in the intricacies of the Law. Jesus is sharing his view of a life lived as God’s child, and it is a picture of light, goodness, reaching out, mercy—all done with the great courage that comes from believing the best about one another. Jesus is asking me to live that life.

Daily Thought For September 9, 2020

  Hope & Courage Go Hand In Hand HOPE AND COURAGE GO HAND IN HAND. When you are waiting, waiting, waiting for longed-for answers to prayer, it takes courage to continue hoping in Me. The world, the flesh and the devil all tell you it's easier to just give up and give in to dull disappointment. In a sense this is true. To keep praying with positive expectation requires a lot of effort and perseverance; giving up is momentarily easier. However, a resigned, I-give- up attitude is always hurtful in the long run. Often, this leads to cynicism—and eventually to despair. So it's well worth the effort to keep your hopefulness alive.  Courage comes from the French word for "heart." Since I live in your heart, you can call upon Me to help you live courageously — facing adversity or danger with confidence and determination. I am well aware of your circumstances, and I take pleasure in helping you cope with them. So stand firm in My strength, beloved, refusing to give in or g

Daily Thought For September 8, 2020

  Approach God Plainly & Simply Lord, I am here.  Tell me what you would have me do. If He gives me some task I am content and I thank Him. If he gives me nothing, I still thank Him Since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that, and then I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and my joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you. For with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply. Saint Catherine Labouré

Daily Thought For September 6, 2020

  One Step At A Time Let us go in simplicity where merciful Providence leads us, content to see the stone on which we should step without wanting to discover all at once and completely the windings of the road. Blessed Frédéric Ozanam

Daily Thought For September 4, 2020

  Bridging The Gap & Bringing Christ To Everyone Yours must be a work of love, of kindness, you must give your time, your talents, yourselves. The poor person is a unique person of God’s fashioning with an inalienable right to respect. You must not be content with tiding the poor over the poverty crisis; You must study their condition and the injustices which brought about such poverty, with the aim of a long term improvement. Blessed Frédéric Ozanam

Daily Thought For September 3, 2020

  Living Life Correctly Our lives are of great worth if we accept with good grace the situation Providence places us in, and go on living lovingly. Takashi Nagai

Daily Thought For September 2, 2020

  Keeping Focused & On Track  Lectio Luke 4:38–44 Meditatio “The crowds went looking for him.…” Today they’re looking for you, Jesus, to try “to prevent [you] from leaving them.” A dozen verses earlier (in Monday’s Gospel reading) the crowd was so incensed that they were going to throw you headlong off a cliff. That was Nazareth; now you’re back in Capernaum and they’re hanging on your every word. Tomorrow you’ll overwhelm Peter, who will ask you to leave him because you’re out of his league and he knows it. On Friday the Pharisees are going to start sticking you under the microscope. They love you. They hate you. They love you. They hate you.… And there you are in the midst of contradictory expectations and reactions, holding fast to the Father’s plan of revealing the good news of the Kingdom of God. Where am I in this Gospel narrative? I, too come looking for Jesus. Here I am making space to meditate on his Word given to us in the liturgy. What am I really doing here? What do I d

Daily Thought For September 1, 2020

  Power In Weakness Although temptations are strong, a whole wave of doubts beats against my soul, and discouragement stands by, ready to act. The Lord, however, strengthens my will, against which all attempts of the enemy are shattered as if against a rock. I see how many actual graces God grants me; these support me ceaselessly. I am very weak, and I attribute everything to the grace of God. St. Faustina Kowalska