He who through faith is righteous shall live (Romans 1:17). For a Christian, faith ought to be the light that illuminates not only the times of prayer, but the whole of life.
During prayer it is not difficult to say "I believe in God the Father almighty"; but a few minutes afterwards, when faced with some difficult tasks, a tiresome person, or some circumstance that is painful or upsets our own plans, we easily forget that all this has been arranged by God for our sanctification; that God is our Father and is more concerned about the welfare of each of us than we are ourselves, even though we are the interested parties; that God is all-powerful and can help us in every difficulty.
If we lose sight of the light of faith, we shall get lost in merely human considerations and protests, or in discouragement, like that of people who have no faith. We believe in God the Father almighty, but we do not believe strongly enough to recognize his will or at least his permission in every event, nor do we turn to him in every circumstance.
Until the light of faith so penetrates us that it makes us see all things in relation to God and as dependent on him, it cannot be said that faith enlightens our entire life.
Divine Intimacy
Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD
02 August 2009
28 July 2009
Anais Nin
"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
"Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them."
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."
"Dreams are necessary to life."
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
"People living deeply have no fear of death."
"I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing."
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not possibly born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
"Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terror, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them."
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing."
"Dreams are necessary to life."
"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
"People living deeply have no fear of death."
He was too much for them
It was the much in Magdalene that Jesus loved.
for, as Mark says,
“He was too much for them”
like a woman who loves too much
like an ointment that costs too much
and is spilled too much
like a seventy times seven God
who forgives too much
like a seed that grows too much
and yields thirty
sixty
a hundred fold
by John Shea
for, as Mark says,
“He was too much for them”
like a woman who loves too much
like an ointment that costs too much
and is spilled too much
like a seventy times seven God
who forgives too much
like a seed that grows too much
and yields thirty
sixty
a hundred fold
by John Shea
27 July 2009
22 July 2009
Easier said than done...
It seems to me that the person who is about to come to prayer should withdraw for a little and prepare himself, and so become more attentive and active for the whole of his prayer. He should cast away all temptation and troubling thoughts and remind himself so far as he is able of the Majesty whom he approaches, and that it is impious to approach Him carelessly, sluggishly, and disdainfully; and he should put away all extraneous things.
This is how he should come to prayer, stretching out his soul, as it were, instead of his hands, straining his mind toward God instead of his eyes, raising his governing reason from the ground and standing it before the Lord of all instead of standing.
All malice toward any one of those who seem to have wronged him he should put away as far as any one would wish God to put away His malice toward him, if he had wronged and sinned against many of his neighbors or had done anything whatever he was conscious of being against right reason.
On Prayer
Origen of Alexandria
This is how he should come to prayer, stretching out his soul, as it were, instead of his hands, straining his mind toward God instead of his eyes, raising his governing reason from the ground and standing it before the Lord of all instead of standing.
All malice toward any one of those who seem to have wronged him he should put away as far as any one would wish God to put away His malice toward him, if he had wronged and sinned against many of his neighbors or had done anything whatever he was conscious of being against right reason.
On Prayer
Origen of Alexandria
13 July 2009
Extreme
"The question is not whether or not we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for love or for hate? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice?
In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified......for the same crime. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment....."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
In that dramatic scene on Calvary's hill, three men were crucified......for the same crime. Two were extremists for immorality, and thus fell below their environment. The other, Jesus Christ, was an extremist for love, truth, and goodness, and thereby rose above his environment....."
- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
12 July 2009
The sea, she's angr'y...
"Be firm in your (holy) resolutions;
stay in the boat in which our Lord has placed you and let the storm come.
You will not perish."
St. Padre Pio
stay in the boat in which our Lord has placed you and let the storm come.
You will not perish."
St. Padre Pio
11 July 2009
01 July 2009
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