Daily Thought

  Great Possibilities We begin to act differently when we recognize the immensity of our possibilities.  Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen

Always In Debt To The Goodness of God Dear Brothers and Sisters! Each year, on the occasion of Lent, the Church invites us to a sincere review of our life in light of the teachings of the Gospel. This year, I would like to offer you some reflections on the great theme of justice, beginning from the Pauline affirmation: “The justice of God has been manifested through faith in Jesus Christ” (cf. Rm 3, 21-22). Justice: “dare cuique suum” First of all, I want to consider the meaning of the term “justice,” which in common usage implies “to render to every man his due,” according to the famous expression of Ulpian, a Roman jurist of the third century. In reality, however, this classical definition does not specify what “due” is to be rendered to each person. What man needs most cannot be guaranteed to him by law. In order to live life to the full, something more intimate is necessary that can be granted only as a gift: we could say that man lives by that love which only God can communicate s...

  The Gift of Peace There is a marvelous peace that comes into the soul if all trials and disappointments, sorrows and pains are accepted either as deserved chastisement for our sins, or as a healthful discipline which will lead us to greater virtue.  Venerable Fulton J. Sheen 

  Be Dazzled! In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me. St. Augustine

The Seasons of Life & The Cross The presence of God is like His glory as it appeared to Moses; He said, “Thou canst not see My face … and live”; but he passed by, and Moses saw that glory, as it retired, which he might not see in front, or in passing; he saw it, and he acknowledged it, and “made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped” (Ex. 33:20; 34:8). Now consider how parallel this is to what takes place in the providences of daily life. Events happen to us pleasant or painful; we do not know at the time the meaning of them, we do not see God’s hand in them. If indeed we have faith, we confess what we do not see, and take all that happens as His; but whether we will accept it in faith or not, certainly there is no other way of accepting it. We see nothing. We see not why things come, or whither they tend. Jacob cried out on one occasion, “All these things are against me” (Gen. 42:36); certainly so they seemed to be. One son made away with by the rest, another i...

  Striving TO RECEIVE MY PEACE, YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR GRASPING, CONTROLLING STANCE TO ONE OF OPENNESS AND TRUST. Grasping and controlling are your means of trying to feel safe. However, such an approach actually hurts you and works against you: The more you manipulate and maneuver for control, the more anxious you become.  Rather than striving for peace of mind through these means, abandon yourself to Me. My hand is the only thing you can grasp without damaging your soul. Let Me help you open your hands and receive all that I have for you.  What you do with your body can help or hinder what goes on in your soul. When you realize you are grasping for control, become aware of your body language. Intentionally open your hands, releasing your concerns to Me and inviting Me to take charge. Open your heart and mind as well, as you lift your hands to Me. You are now in a good position to receive My many blessings, not the least of which is awareness of My Presence.  Enjoy th...

  The Present Moment O all you who thirst, learn that you have not far to go to find the fountain of living waters; it flows quite close to you in the present moment. Therefore, hasten to find it. Why, with the fountain so near, do you tire yourselves with running about after every little rill? These only increase your thirst by providing you with only a few drops, whereas the source is inexhaustible. If you desire to think, to write, and to speak like the prophets, the apostles, and the saints, you must give yourself up as they did to the inspirations of God. O unknown Love! It seems as if your wonders were finished and nothing remained but to copy your ancient works and to quote your past discourses! And no one sees that your inexhaustible activity is a source of new thoughts, of fresh sufferings and further actions: of new patriarchs, apostles, prophets, and saints who have no need to copy the lives and writings of the others, but only to live in perpetual abandonment to your se...

  Loving Providence “Gaze upward to me, the eternal life. Look up at the angels and those souls who are citizens of the everlasting life won for you by the blood of the Lamb. It is my desire that the reward not be enjoyed alone. You must share my gift with others. This is my will for you. Charity finds perfection and is well-ordered when it is shared: The greater rejoice in the lesser, and the least find their joy in the great. When I speak of the lesser, I refer to their capacity, because each is as full as the other. This I told you in another place, that each one has a measure all its own. “Charity is so unique yet shared! Imagine the unity of these souls with me and with one another. I am the source of all things; they know and acknowledge this with reverent fear. They are immersed in me and within me they find their dignity. Angels converse with humans, that is, with the blessed souls, and the blessed converse with the angels. Each and all lovingly rejoice in the others’ rewar...

  St. Maximilan Kolbe Precisely for this reason the death of Maximilian Kolbe became a sign of victory. This was victory won over all systematic contempt and hate for man and for what is divine in man-a victory like that won by our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. "You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). The Church accepts this sign of victory-won through the power of Christ's redemption-with reverence and gratitude. She seeks to discern its eloquence with all humility and love. As ever when the Church proclaims the holiness of her sons and daughters, as also in the present case, she seeks to act with all due exactness and responsibility, searching into all the aspects of the life and death of the Servant of God. Yet at the same time the Church must be careful, as she reads the sign of holiness given by God in his earthly Servant, not to allow its full eloquence and definitive meaning to go unnoticed. And so, in judging the cause of Blessed Maximilian ...

  Pray & Don't Lose Heart If God seems slow in responding, it is because He is preparing a better gift. He will not deny us. God withholds what you are not yet ready for. He wants you to have a lively desire for His greatest gifts. All of which is to say, pray always and do not lose heart. St. Augustine

  Forgiveness Is A Process Lectio Matthew 18:21–19:1 Meditatio “… how often must I forgive …?” While studying abroad, I met a student who came from a culture and religion unfamiliar to me. This student had been offended by someone. In discussing the issue with me, it became clear that the student could not conceive of forgiving that individual. The concept of forgiveness had not been a common belief in that student’s religion. The incident confirmed for me that forgiveness is one of the radical concepts of Christianity. That doesn’t mean that Christians can easily forgive hurts and wrongdoing, especially when they affect us personally. Forgiveness of others and letting go of resentment can be difficult, and it becomes possible through the gift of grace that Christ won for us by his teaching, example, suffering, death, and resurrection. In today’s parable, Jesus tells the story of a man who is forgiven a large debt, and then refuses to forgive another man for a much smaller offense....

  A Point of Goodness In every young person, a point of goodness is accessible and it is the primary duty of the educator to discover that sensitive cord of the heart so as to draw out the best in the young person. St. John Bosco

 Let Go! Let God! “Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God.” St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross 

  Renewing Our Minds PEOPLE OFTEN CONSIDER THOUGHTS TO BE FLEETING AND WORTHLESS, BUT YOURS ARE SO PRECIOUS TO ME THAT I READ EACH ONE. My ability to read your every thought may be disconcerting to you. You’re able to interact with other people while keeping your secret thoughts to yourself, but not so with Me! However, since secretiveness breeds loneliness, isn’t it a relief that there is Someone from whom you cannot hide? Moreover, the fact that I care about every aspect of you—even all your thoughts—demonstrates how important you are to Me.  I know how difficult it is for you to control what courses through your brain. Your mind is a battleground, and evil spirits work tirelessly to influence your thinking. Your own sinfulness also finds ample expression in your thought life. You need to stay alert and fight against evil! I fought and died for you, so remember who you are and Whose you are—putting on the helmet of salvation with confidence. This helmet not only protects you...

  Love Is Stronger Than Death! Death is strong: it has the power to deprive us of the gift of life. Love is strong: it has the power to restore us to the exercise of a better life. Death is strong, strong enough to despoil us of this body of ours. Love is strong, strong enough to rob death of its spoils and restore them to us. Death is strong; for no man can resist it. Love is strong; for it can triumph over death, can blunt its sting, counter its onslaught and overturn its victory. A time will come when death will be trampled underfoot; when it will be said: ‘Death, where is your sting? Death, where is your attack?’ ‘Love is strong as death,’ since Christ’s love is the death of death. For this reason he says: ‘Death, I shall be your death; hell, I shall grip you fast.’ The love, too, with which Christ is loved by us is itself strong as death, since it is a kind of death, being the extinction of our old life, the abolition of vice, and the putting aside of dead works. This love of ...

  Words of Comfort & Hope          LORD, be gracious to us; for you we wait.           Be our strength every morning,           our salvation in time of trouble!           At the roaring sound, peoples flee;           when you rise in your majesty, nations are scattered.           Spoil is gathered up as caterpillars gather,           an onrush like the rush of locusts.           The LORD is exalted, enthroned on high;           he fills Zion with right and justice.           That which makes her seasons certain,           her wealth, salvation, wisdom, and knowledge,           is the fear of the LORD, her treasure.  New Ame...

Faith and Perspective In Our Battles If I did not believe, if I did not make what is called an act of faith (and each act of faith increases our faith, and our capacity for faith), if I did not have faith that the works of mercy do lighten the sum total of suffering in the world, so that those who are suffering on both sides of this ghastly struggle somehow mysteriously find their pain lifted and some balm of consolation poured on their wounds, if I did not believe these things, the problem of evil would indeed be overwhelming. Servant of God Dorothy Day

  Amazing Love! He seeks us before we dream of seeking him; he knocks before we invite him in; he loves us before we respond.  Venerable Fulton Sheen