Daily Thought

  Overcoming Satan with the Truth of God's Mercy Satan has admitted to me that I am the object of his hatred. He said that "a thousand souls do me less harm than you do when you speak of the great mercy of the Almighty One. The greatest sinners regain confidence and return to God, and I lose everything. But what is more, you persecute me personally with that unfathomable mercy of the Almighty One." I took note of the great hatred Satan has for the Mercy of God. He does not want to acknowledge that God is good. Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina Kowalska #1167

  Beautiful Entrance Antiphon For Mass O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me. Ps 13 (12):6

  From St. Polycarp Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity. St. Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr

  Do Not Be Depressed Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth. St. Peter Damian

  The Process of Healing Today’s Gospel passage tells the story of a healing that didn’t quite work at first. Jesus had to lay his hands on a blind man not once but twice before the man could see. Surely Jesus could have healed him fully the first time, but he didn’t. Why not? And why would Mark include this “two step” healing in his Gospel? Maybe to show us something new about who God is and the way he works with us. God is compassionate. Jesus showed great gentleness in his interaction with this man. He “took the blind man by the hand and led him” away from the scrutiny of the crowds (Mark 8:23). He didn’t just heal him from a distance as he did with the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:8-13). He came close. Close enough to touch his eyes, close enough to ask if he could see, and close enough to listen for his reply. How consoling this human contact must have been! Isolated by his blindness, he must have longed to experience such connection. God is persistent. Jesus surely knew t...

  In Praise of Eternal Wisdom Does Wisdom not call meanwhile?   Does Discernment not lift up her voice? On the hilltop, on the road,   at the crossways, she takes her stand; beside the gates of the city,   at the approaches to the gates she cries aloud, ‘O men! I am calling to you;   my cry goes out to the sons of men. You ignorant ones! Study discretion;   and you fools, come to your senses! ‘I, Wisdom, am mistress of discretion,   the inventor of lucidity of thought. Good advice and sound judgement belong to me,   perception to me, strength to me. (To fear the Lord is to hate evil.)   I hate pride and arrogance,   wicked behaviour and a lying mouth. I love those who love me;   those who seek me eagerly shall find me. By me monarchs rule   and princes issue just laws; by me rulers govern,   and the great impose justice on the world. With me are riches and honour,   lasting wealth and justice. The fruit I give is bett...

  Restored in Christ    Our Lord Jesus Christ, born true man without ever ceasing to be true God, began in his person a new creation and by the manner of his birth gave man a spiritual origin. What mind can grasp this mystery, what tongue can fittingly recount this gift of love? Guilt becomes innocence, old becomes new, strangers are adopted and outsiders are made heirs. Rouse yourself, man, and recognise the dignity of your nature. Remember that you were made in God’s image; though corrupted in Adam, that image has been restored in Christ.   Use creatures as they should be used: the earth, the sea, the sky, the air, the springs and rivers. Give praise and glory to their Creator for all that you find beautiful and wonderful in them. See with your bodily eyes the light that shines on earth, but embrace with your whole soul and all your affections the true light which enlightens every man who comes into this world. Speaking of this light the prophet said: Draw close to...

  Hardships Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny. C.S. Lewis

  The Power of Virtue We must not make the mistake of thinking that this 'bad temper' of ours, which bursts out in very definite circumstances and times, depends on the character of the people around us. The peace of our spirit does not depend on the good nature and kindness of other people. Our neighbors' good nature and kindness are in no way subject to our control or opinion. That would be absurd. The tranquillity of our heart depends on ourselves. The ability to avoid anger, with all its ridiculous effects, has to come from within ourselves and not be dependent on the nature of other people. The power to overcome the evil in our character must not depend on some perfection outside us, but on our own virtue. St. John Cassian Constitutions, 8

A Great Resolution I will never disdain meeting any person, no matter who they may be nor will I show any sign of wishing to avoid them for this earns one the reputation of being proud, haughty, unseeing, arrogant, snobbish, ambitious, and manipulative. . . Above all, I will be careful neither to criticize, nor to mock, nor to make fun of those who have no reason to put up with such treatment. I will show great respect for all, and I will not be pretentious. I will speak little but well, so rather than boring my friends I will whet their appetite for further conversation at a later time.  With either friends or acquaintances, I will be especially careful to observe this rule: Be friendly with all but familiar with few... Therefore in my relationships I will be courteous and not overbearing, friendly and outgoing and not cool and reserved, gentle but not affected, compliant and not contradictory (unless reason requires it), sincere and not deceitful, because people want to have a tr...

  Avoiding Rash Judgments Don't judge without having heard both sides. Even persons who think themselves virtuous very easily forget this elementary rule of prudence. St. Josemaria Escriva

  Smile All the things that are now worrying you can be put into a smile which shows your love of God. St. Josemaría Escrivá

  The Secret To Happiness The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.  St. Gianna Beretta Molla

Remembering God’s Innumerable Blessings Disciple Open my heart to your law, Lord, and teach me to walk in your commandments. Give me the grace to know your will and to remember reverently and diligently all your blessings, the general as well as the particular ones, so that I may always thank you adequately. I realize and I confess that I am incapable of properly thanking you. I am not worthy of the blessings you have granted me. While I consider your majesty, my spirit faints before your greatness. All that we have in soul and body, all that we possess exteriorly and interiorly of the natural or supernatural order, are your gifts, which celebrate your generosity, mercy, and goodness. We have received all good things from you. Although some have received more, others less, all these gifts are yours. Without you not even the least of it would be possible. One who has received more cannot claim the glory, nor could such a one raise himself above others, nor insult those blessed with less...