Showing posts with label Words of Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Words of Inspiration. Show all posts
Friday, August 7, 2020
St. Cyprian on The Importance of Doing's God's Will


Our obligation is to do God's will and not our own. We must remember this if the prayer that our Lord commanded us to say daily is to have any meaning on our lips. How unreasonable it is to pray that God's will be done, and then not promptly obey it when he calls us from this world! Instead, we struggle and resist like self-willed slaves and are brought into the Lord's presence with sorrow and lamentation, not freely consenting to our departure, but constrained by necessity. And yet we expect to be rewarded with heavenly honors by him to whom we come against our will! Why then do we pray for the kingdom of heaven to come if this earthly bondage pleases us? What is the point of praying so often for its early arrival if we should rather serve the devil here than reign with Christ?

The world hates Christians, so why give your love to it instead of following Christ, who loves you and has redeemed you? John is most urgent in his epistle when he tells us not to love the world by yielding to sensual desires. Never give your love to the world, he warns, or to anything in it. A man cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time. All that the world offers is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and earthly ambition. The world and its allurements will pass away, but the man who has done the will of God shall live forever.

Our part, my dear brothers, is to be single-minded, firm in faith, and steadfast in courage, ready for God's will, whatever it may be. Banish the fear of death and think of the eternal life that follows. That will show people that we really live our faith.

We ought never to forget, beloved, that we have renounced the world. We are living here now as aliens and only for a time. When the day of our homecoming puts an end to our exile, frees us from the bonds of the world, and restores us to paradise and to a kingdom, we should welcome it. What man, stationed in a foreign land, would not want to return to his own country as soon as possible? Well, we look upon paradise as our country, and a great crowd of our loved ones awaits us there, a countless throng of parents, brothers, and children longs for us to join them. Assured though they are of their own salvation, they are still concerned about ours. What joy both for them and for us to see one another and embrace! O the delight of that heavenly kingdom where there is no fear of death! O the supreme and endless bliss of everlasting life!

There is the glorious band of apostles, there, the exultant assembly of prophets, there, the innumerable host of martyrs, crowned for their glorious victory in combat and in death. There, in triumph, are the virgins who subdued their passions by the strength of continence. There the merciful are rewarded, those who fulfilled the demands of justice by providing for the poor. In obedience to the Lord's command, they turned their earthly patrimony into heavenly treasure.

My dear brothers, let all our longing be to join them as soon as we may. May God see our desire, may Christ see this resolve that springs from faith, for he will give the rewards of his love more abundantly to those who have longed for him more fervently.
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Thursday, February 6, 2020
St. Julian Peter Eymard on the Eucharist


"He loves, He hopes, He waits. If He came down on our altars on certain days only, some sinner, on being moved to repentance, might have to look for Him, and not finding Him, might have to wait. Our Lord prefers to wait Himself for the sinner for years rather than keep him waiting one instant” (St. Julian Peter Eymard)
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Wednesday, October 11, 2017
St. Padre Pio on Guardian Angels

"Your Guardian Angel was one of those great warriors who, together with the Angel Saint Michael, defended the honour of God against Satan.  He is still powerful against the devil...and his charity has not diminished, nor will he ever fail in defending us.  Develop the beautiful habit of always thinking of him; that near us is a celestial spirit, who, from the cradle to the tomb, does not leave us for an instant, guides us, protects us as a friend, a brother; will always be a consolation to us especially in our saddest moments.

"Know, my child, that this good Angel prays for you; offers to God all the good works you accomplish; your holy and pure desires. In the hours when you seem to be alone and abandoned, do not complain of not having a friendly soul to whom you can unburden yourself and in whom you can confide your sorrows. For pity's sake, do not forget this invisible companion, always present to listen to you; always ready to console you."

Quote by St. Padre Pio

Learn more about Guardian Angels here: Feast of the Guardian Angels
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Saturday, April 18, 2015
St. Ignatius on Sin

 

"To have prevented one single sin is reward enough for the labors and efforts of a whole lifetime." St. Ignatius
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Friday, November 1, 2013
All Saints Day Inspiration from St. Frances de Sales

Let us not forget the maxims of the saints, who teach us to advance a little further each day on the road to perfection. ~ This thought should encourage us not to be surprised or to feel miserable whenever we have something to correct. Each day we must begin again with renewed courage. - St. Francis de Sales

For this Feast of All Saints, please see my previous post by clicking here.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Catholic Picture of the Day

Mass in a cathedral while a convalescing, badly burned American officer lies in bandages. Leyte, Philippines, by W. Eugene Smith, 1944, LIFE

H/T Adoremus in Aeternam
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Sunday, January 20, 2013
Liberal Catholicism Condemned


"Atheism in legislation, indifference in matters of religion, and the pernicious maxims which go under the name of Liberal Catholicism are the true causes of the destruction of states; they have been the ruin of France. Believe me, the evil I denounce is more terrible than the Revolution, more terrible even than The Commune. I have always condemned Liberal Catholicism, and I will condemn it again forty times over if it be necessary" (Pope Pius IX)
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
Words of Inspiration: March 22, 2012

"In the spiritual reality of the church, neither Marcel Lefebvre, nor his bishops and priests, nor the people who frequent the SSPX chapels suffered or suffer excommunication. I believe history will record that the intent to impose such an excommunication was invalid and illicit."

- Father Malachi Martin
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Can a Priest Say a Reverent Novus Ordo Mass?

"The Novus Ordo Missae, even when said with piety and respect for the liturgical rules, is impregnated with the spirit of Protestantism...it bears within it a poison harmful to the Faith". - Archbishop Marcel LeFebvre, founder of the SSPX. 

See his collection of written books for more.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Without a Priest, There is No Sacrifice


"The human race has always felt the need of a priesthood: of men, that is, who have the official charge to be mediators between God and humanity, men who should consecrate themselves entirely to this mediation, as to the very purpose of their lives, men set aside to offer to God public prayers and sacrifices in the name of human society. For human society as such is bound to offer to God public and social worship. It is bound to acknowledge in Him its Supreme Lord and first beginning, and to strive toward Him as to its last end, to give Him thanks and offer Him propitiation. In fact, priests are to be found among all peoples whose customs are known, except those compelled by violence to act against the most sacred laws of human nature. They may, indeed, be in the service of false divinities; but wherever religion is professed, wherever altars are built, there also is a priesthood surrounded by particular marks of honor and veneration"  Source: Pope Pius XI, Ad Catholici Sacerdotii.

"Nothing is so deeply inscribed in human nature as religion and its essential act, sacrifice.  Now to accomplish a sacred act, "sacrum facere," there must be consecrated, designated persons capable of drawing near to God and of serving Him.  This person will be the priest, sacerdos, "giving the sacred."  We see how God in His infinite goodness and mercy has arranged everything so that worship worthy of Himself may be offered by men who had strayed far from Him" Source: The Mass of All Time by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
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Monday, January 24, 2011
St. Peter Julian Eymard on the Mass

"Hear Mass daily; it will prosper the whole day. All your duties will be performed the better for it, and your soul will be stronger to bear it’s daily cross. The Mass is the most holy act of religion; you can do nothing that can give greater glory to God or be more profitable for your soul than to hear Mass both frequently and devoutly. It is the favorite devotion of the saints"

-- St. Peter Julian Eymard
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Sunday, July 29, 2007
Words of Inspiration: July 29

"Unless we are ready through His power to die in the likeness of His passion, His life is not in us" (St. Ignatius of Antioch).
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Sunday, July 8, 2007
Words of Inspiration: July 8


“Not to oppose error is to approve it; and not to defend truth is to suppress it; and indeed to neglect to confound evil men, when we can do it, is no less a sin than to encourage them” (Pope St. Felix III)
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
Words of Inspiration: June 21

"The dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by the prayer of their relatives, who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God" (CCC 2299)

Please remember to pray for the sick and dying. Pray not only the Rosary for them but also the Divine Mercy Chaplet. And please do not pray just for their physical body but most importantly their soul. When a relative does die, please have Gregorian Masses said for him/her.

Image Source: Holy Cards
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Monday, June 11, 2007
Words of Inspiration: June 11

"Frequent visits to Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar are a great help to the souls that love Him" (St. Alphonsus Liguori).

Yesterday, in the United States, we celebrated Corpus Christi and especially honored and glorified Our Lord for coming to us in the Holy Eucharist. Each day He remains in the Eucharist but He is frequently alone and unvisited by us and many others. Just as the sun transforms human skin because of exposure, sitting in the presence of the Sun of God radically transforms our souls. If possible, please try to attend Eucharistic Adoration at least once a week if possible. Jesus speaks to all of us: "Could you not watch one hour with me?" (Matthew 26:40)

Also See:

What is Eucharistic Adoration?
Find Eucharistic Adoration Locations
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Saturday, June 9, 2007
Words of Inspiration: June 9

"I find myself so bound to the divine will that neither death nor life is important: I want to live as He wishes and I want to serve Him as He likes, and nothing more."

Saint Rose Venerini (1656-1728)

Quotation found on the blog A Catholic Mom in Hawaii.
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Monday, April 23, 2007
Words of Inspiration: April 23, 2007

"A man who fails to love the Mass fails to love Christ. We must make an effort to "live" the Mass with calm and serenity, with devotion and affection. And this is why I have always suspected that those who want the Mass to be over with quickly show, with this insensitive attitude, that they have not yet realized what the sacrifice of the altar means" (St. Josemaría Escriva)

Remember, the Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary.
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Thursday, March 22, 2007
Words of Inspiration: March 22

"Today bring to Me the souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice" (Paragraph 1226, Our Lord to St Faustina).

"Keep strongly and constantly united to God, consecrating all your affections, torments, and your entire self to Him, patiently awaiting the return of that beautiful sun, whenever the Spouse is pleased to visit you through trials of aridity, desolation and darkness of spirit" (St. Padre Pio, Letters III, p. 674.)
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Words of Inspiration: March 20

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"Am I convinced of Christ's love for me and mine for Him? This conviction is like sunlight which makes the sap of life rise and the buds of sanctity bloom. This conviction is the rock on which sanctity is built. What must we do to get this conviction? We must know Jesus, love Jesus, serve Jesus. I must not attempt to control God's actions; I must not count the stages in the journey He would have me make. I ask Him to make a saint of me, yet I must leave to Him the choice of that saintliness itself and still more the choice of the means which lead to it."

St. Padre Pio:

"If you suffer with resignation in doing His will, you do not offend Him but love Him. And your heart will find great comfort in remembering that in your hour of pain Jesus Himself suffers in you and for you. He did not abandon you when you fled from Him; why should He abandon you now that you are proving your love for Him by the martyrdom of your soul?" (GF, 174).

Let us remember to continue practicing prayer, almsgiving, and fasting (voluntarily throughout the week not just on Fridays) as we continue our Lenten journey.
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Sunday, March 11, 2007
Words of Inspiration: March 11

Today's Words of Wisdom are taken from the Greatest Theologian in the history of the Catholic Church - St. Thomas Aquinas:

"Hold firmly that our Faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this and you dissolve the unity of the Church."

"If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever."

"The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it is during time of persecution that the Church grows more and more, while the persecutors themselves and those whom the Church would to destroy, are the very ones who come to nothing."

"Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures."

"There is but one Church in which men find salvation, just as outside the ark of Noah it was not possible for anyone to be saved."

"To convert somebody go and take them by the hand and guide them."
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