From Challoner's Meditations:
THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE LOVE THAT CHRIST HAS SHOWN US IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, those words of our Saviour, St. John xxii. 13, 'Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' And indeed history scarce furnishes any instances of a friendship so perfect, as that one friend should be willing to lay down his life for another. But, O divine Saviour of our souls, how imperfect is all human friendship compared with thine. What love between man and man could ever bear the least resemblance to that divine charity which burned in thy sacred breast, and which obliged thee to offer up thyself in sacrifice, in the midst of all kinds of ignominies, and the very worst of torments, for thy very enemies; for those very wretches that crucified thee, for us miserable sinners, who were like to make no better return for all thy love, and for all thy sufferings, than sin and ingratitude; and this to such a degree as scarce ever to think of thy sufferings, or thank thee for them; but rather by repeated treasons, to be daily treading under foot thy precious blood. O blessed by all creatures for evermore be this infinite goodness and love of our dearest Redeemer! O my dear Saviour, I beseech thee, by all this love and by all this precious blood which thou hast so lovingly shed for me, that thou wouldst never more suffer me to be thus ungrateful to thee.
Consider 2ndly, what the world would think of a prince, the only son and heir of some great monarch, who should entertain such love and friendship for one of the meanest of his slaves, as to offer himself to die a cruel and ignominious death, to rescue his slave from the just punishment of his crimes. Would not all mankind stand amazed at such an extraordinary love? And much more, if the crime for which this slave was condemned to die, were no less than a treasonable conspiracy against this prince, by whom he was so tenderly beloved. All Christian souls, this is but a faint resemblance, a very imperfect image of that inconceivable and inexpressible love, which our Saviour has shown to us, in laying down his life upon a cross, to rescue us his ungrateful creatures - rebels and traitors to him and his Father - from the eternal torments of hell, which we have a thousand times deserved by our treasons against him. For as there is an infinite distance between the sovereign majesty of God and any of his creatures, how dignified soever; so there is between that love which our God has shown in dying for us worms of the earth and slaves of hell, and that love which would oblige one mortal to die for another. O dear Jesus, never suffer me to forget this love which thou hast shown me! O give me grace to return thee love for love.
Consider 3rdly, how truly sweet our Lord has shown himself to us in his passion, and how rich in mercy. For supposing it was his pleasure to deliver us from sin and hell, he could have brought this about with the same ease with which he created all things out of nothing; only one word, one act of his would have been sufficient; or if he must needs suffer and shed his blood for our redemption, one drop alone of his sacred blood, by reason of the infinite dignity of his divine person, would have been abundantly enough to atone for all the sins of ten thousand worlds. But this infinite love for us, and the desire he had to gain our hearts, and to oblige us to love him, would not be content with this, nor with any thing less than with pouring out the last drop of his most sacred blood by suffering for us the worst of torments, and the worst of deaths. O infinite goodness, how little art thou considered h us here! O how astonishing shalt thou appear to the Saints and Angels for all eternity!
THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE LOVE THAT CHRIST HAS SHOWN US IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, those words of our Saviour, St. John xxii. 13, 'Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' And indeed history scarce furnishes any instances of a friendship so perfect, as that one friend should be willing to lay down his life for another. But, O divine Saviour of our souls, how imperfect is all human friendship compared with thine. What love between man and man could ever bear the least resemblance to that divine charity which burned in thy sacred breast, and which obliged thee to offer up thyself in sacrifice, in the midst of all kinds of ignominies, and the very worst of torments, for thy very enemies; for those very wretches that crucified thee, for us miserable sinners, who were like to make no better return for all thy love, and for all thy sufferings, than sin and ingratitude; and this to such a degree as scarce ever to think of thy sufferings, or thank thee for them; but rather by repeated treasons, to be daily treading under foot thy precious blood. O blessed by all creatures for evermore be this infinite goodness and love of our dearest Redeemer! O my dear Saviour, I beseech thee, by all this love and by all this precious blood which thou hast so lovingly shed for me, that thou wouldst never more suffer me to be thus ungrateful to thee.
Consider 2ndly, what the world would think of a prince, the only son and heir of some great monarch, who should entertain such love and friendship for one of the meanest of his slaves, as to offer himself to die a cruel and ignominious death, to rescue his slave from the just punishment of his crimes. Would not all mankind stand amazed at such an extraordinary love? And much more, if the crime for which this slave was condemned to die, were no less than a treasonable conspiracy against this prince, by whom he was so tenderly beloved. All Christian souls, this is but a faint resemblance, a very imperfect image of that inconceivable and inexpressible love, which our Saviour has shown to us, in laying down his life upon a cross, to rescue us his ungrateful creatures - rebels and traitors to him and his Father - from the eternal torments of hell, which we have a thousand times deserved by our treasons against him. For as there is an infinite distance between the sovereign majesty of God and any of his creatures, how dignified soever; so there is between that love which our God has shown in dying for us worms of the earth and slaves of hell, and that love which would oblige one mortal to die for another. O dear Jesus, never suffer me to forget this love which thou hast shown me! O give me grace to return thee love for love.
Consider 3rdly, how truly sweet our Lord has shown himself to us in his passion, and how rich in mercy. For supposing it was his pleasure to deliver us from sin and hell, he could have brought this about with the same ease with which he created all things out of nothing; only one word, one act of his would have been sufficient; or if he must needs suffer and shed his blood for our redemption, one drop alone of his sacred blood, by reason of the infinite dignity of his divine person, would have been abundantly enough to atone for all the sins of ten thousand worlds. But this infinite love for us, and the desire he had to gain our hearts, and to oblige us to love him, would not be content with this, nor with any thing less than with pouring out the last drop of his most sacred blood by suffering for us the worst of torments, and the worst of deaths. O infinite goodness, how little art thou considered h us here! O how astonishing shalt thou appear to the Saints and Angels for all eternity!
Conclude with astonishment at the ingratitude and insensibility of Christians, who make professions of believing this infinite goodness, mercy, and love, and yet are so little touched with it, or restrained by the consideration of it, from going on, daily crucifying their Lord by their sins. O divine love, let me never be so unhappy! O let me never forget thee! O come and take full possession at least of my soul and let nothing in life or death ever separate me from thee.
Forwarded from Catholic Information Hub
One of the channel admins had a phone call from the doctor's surgery this afternoon with them trying to arrange an appointment for COVID vaccination. Lots of pressure applied to get vaccinated and they wouldn't easily take no for an answer. All sorts of threats and intimidation applied during the call such as "if you don't get vaccinated you won't be able to do lots of things we take for normal". Don't let them bully you into it.
Catholic Information Hub
One of the channel admins had a phone call from the doctor's surgery this afternoon with them trying to arrange an appointment for COVID vaccination. Lots of pressure applied to get vaccinated and they wouldn't easily take no for an answer. All sorts of threats…
This is the "New Normal" they're trying to foist upon us. Don't give in to them!
Monsignor Cardinal Pie:
"The Church, a society that will undoubtedly always be visible, will be reduced more and more to simply individual and domestic proportions... The Church will be tightened on all sides; as much as the centuries have made it large, so much will be done to restrict it. At last there will be for the Church on earth as a real defeat: '...it will be given to the beast to make war with the saints and to overcome them.' "
- Speech for the solemnity of the reception of the relics of Saint Emilian, Bishop of Nantes; 1859
"The Church, a society that will undoubtedly always be visible, will be reduced more and more to simply individual and domestic proportions... The Church will be tightened on all sides; as much as the centuries have made it large, so much will be done to restrict it. At last there will be for the Church on earth as a real defeat: '...it will be given to the beast to make war with the saints and to overcome them.' "
- Speech for the solemnity of the reception of the relics of Saint Emilian, Bishop of Nantes; 1859
From Challoner's Meditations:
FRIDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON OTHER CONSIDERATIONS TO EXCITE IN THE SOUL THE LOVE OF OUR SUFFERING JESUS
Consider first, how affectionate is the love that Christ bears us in his passion. It is stronger than deaths; he loves us more than his own life, since he parts with his life for the love of us. It is more tender than the love of the tenderest mother, since he voluntarily embraces the pangs of death to give us life; he sheds his blood to cleanse our souls from sin; he offers his own body in sacrifice to be our victim, our ransom, and our food. At the very time he is suffering amid dying for us, he has every one of us in his heart; he embraces each with an incomparable affection; weeps over each one, prays for each one, and pours out his blood for each one, no less than if he had suffered for that one alone. O my soul, had we then a place in the heart of our Jesus, when he was hanging upon the cross? and shall we ever refuse him a place in our heart? No, dear Saviour, my heart is thine; it desires nothing better than to be for ever a servant of thy love.
Consider 2ndly, how effectual is the love that Christ shows us in his passion; it contents not itself with words or professions of affection, nor with such passing sentiments of tenderness as we imagine we have for him in certain fits of devotion, at times when nothing occurs for us to suffer for his sake; but it shows itself by its effects, by his taking upon himself all our evils, to procure effectually all good for us. His love has made him divest himself of all his beauty and comeliness, and hide all his glory and majesty, that he might become for us, 'despised and the most abject of men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with infirmity.' Isaia iii. 'He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows' out of pure love. He has made himself for the love of us, 'as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. He was wounded for our iniquities, and bruised for our sins. For we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will.' And it was his own will, because he loved us, and desired to transfer to himself the punishment due to us, that he might deliver us from the wrath to come, and open to us the fountains of mercy, grace, and life. This was an effectual love indeed. Does our love for him show itself by the like effects? Are we willing to renounce our own will, to mortify our inclinations and passions, to suffer and to bear our crosses for him? A generous lover is as willing to be with him on mount Calvary, as on mount Thabor. Is this our disposition?
Consider 3rdly, how disinterested is the love that Christ shows us in his passion. He loves us without any merit on our side; we deserved nothing from him but hell. He loves us without any prospect of gain to himself from us, or any return that we can make to him; we can give him nothing but what he must first give us; we can offer him no good thing but what his love has purchased for us; we can have nothing but what is his. He stands in no need at all of us, or our goods. O how truly generous is this love of our Redeemer in his passion! How bountiful is he to us! He makes over to us the infinite treasures of his merits; he wants them not for himself, but bequeaths them all to us. His love for us knows no bounds. It hath possessed his heart from the first instant of his conception: it burned there for every moment of his life; it carried him through all his sufferings, even to death. It is without beginning or end; it endures from eternity to eternity. O bright fire, mayest thou take possession of my soul, for time and eternity!
Conclude, since thou canst make no better return, to offer at least daily thy heart with all its affections to thy loving Saviour. But that it may be worthy of his acceptance, beg that he would cleanse it by his precious blood, and inflame it with his love.
FRIDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON OTHER CONSIDERATIONS TO EXCITE IN THE SOUL THE LOVE OF OUR SUFFERING JESUS
Consider first, how affectionate is the love that Christ bears us in his passion. It is stronger than deaths; he loves us more than his own life, since he parts with his life for the love of us. It is more tender than the love of the tenderest mother, since he voluntarily embraces the pangs of death to give us life; he sheds his blood to cleanse our souls from sin; he offers his own body in sacrifice to be our victim, our ransom, and our food. At the very time he is suffering amid dying for us, he has every one of us in his heart; he embraces each with an incomparable affection; weeps over each one, prays for each one, and pours out his blood for each one, no less than if he had suffered for that one alone. O my soul, had we then a place in the heart of our Jesus, when he was hanging upon the cross? and shall we ever refuse him a place in our heart? No, dear Saviour, my heart is thine; it desires nothing better than to be for ever a servant of thy love.
Consider 2ndly, how effectual is the love that Christ shows us in his passion; it contents not itself with words or professions of affection, nor with such passing sentiments of tenderness as we imagine we have for him in certain fits of devotion, at times when nothing occurs for us to suffer for his sake; but it shows itself by its effects, by his taking upon himself all our evils, to procure effectually all good for us. His love has made him divest himself of all his beauty and comeliness, and hide all his glory and majesty, that he might become for us, 'despised and the most abject of men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with infirmity.' Isaia iii. 'He hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows' out of pure love. He has made himself for the love of us, 'as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. He was wounded for our iniquities, and bruised for our sins. For we like sheep have gone astray, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was offered because it was his own will.' And it was his own will, because he loved us, and desired to transfer to himself the punishment due to us, that he might deliver us from the wrath to come, and open to us the fountains of mercy, grace, and life. This was an effectual love indeed. Does our love for him show itself by the like effects? Are we willing to renounce our own will, to mortify our inclinations and passions, to suffer and to bear our crosses for him? A generous lover is as willing to be with him on mount Calvary, as on mount Thabor. Is this our disposition?
Consider 3rdly, how disinterested is the love that Christ shows us in his passion. He loves us without any merit on our side; we deserved nothing from him but hell. He loves us without any prospect of gain to himself from us, or any return that we can make to him; we can give him nothing but what he must first give us; we can offer him no good thing but what his love has purchased for us; we can have nothing but what is his. He stands in no need at all of us, or our goods. O how truly generous is this love of our Redeemer in his passion! How bountiful is he to us! He makes over to us the infinite treasures of his merits; he wants them not for himself, but bequeaths them all to us. His love for us knows no bounds. It hath possessed his heart from the first instant of his conception: it burned there for every moment of his life; it carried him through all his sufferings, even to death. It is without beginning or end; it endures from eternity to eternity. O bright fire, mayest thou take possession of my soul, for time and eternity!
Conclude, since thou canst make no better return, to offer at least daily thy heart with all its affections to thy loving Saviour. But that it may be worthy of his acceptance, beg that he would cleanse it by his precious blood, and inflame it with his love.
Today, Friday of the third week in Lent, is the commemoration of the Five Holy Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
O God, who, by the passion of Thine only begotten Son, and by the blood shed through his five most sacred wounds, hast raised up mankind, lost because of sin; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who on Earth adore the wounds our Saviour received, may in Heaven rejoice in the glory he, at the price of His precious blood, hath brought back for us. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.
O God, who, by the passion of Thine only begotten Son, and by the blood shed through his five most sacred wounds, hast raised up mankind, lost because of sin; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who on Earth adore the wounds our Saviour received, may in Heaven rejoice in the glory he, at the price of His precious blood, hath brought back for us. Through the same Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.
MARCH 12.
ST GREGORY I.
Pope, Confessor, Doctor of the Church.
St. Gregory the Great transformed his house into a monastery and founded many others where the rule of St. Benedict was strictly observed. Elected in turn Abbot, Cardinal and Supreme Pontiff, he was one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages. To him belongs the honor of collecting those harmonious melodies known as the "Gregorian Chant." St. Gregory is one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. He died A.D. 604.
O God, who didst give to the soul of Thy servant Gregory, rewards of everlasting bliss: mercifully grant, that we, who are oppressed by the burden of our sins, may be raised up by his intercession with Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
ST GREGORY I.
Pope, Confessor, Doctor of the Church.
St. Gregory the Great transformed his house into a monastery and founded many others where the rule of St. Benedict was strictly observed. Elected in turn Abbot, Cardinal and Supreme Pontiff, he was one of the greatest popes of the Middle Ages. To him belongs the honor of collecting those harmonious melodies known as the "Gregorian Chant." St. Gregory is one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church. He died A.D. 604.
O God, who didst give to the soul of Thy servant Gregory, rewards of everlasting bliss: mercifully grant, that we, who are oppressed by the burden of our sins, may be raised up by his intercession with Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
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On a day like today, March 12, 1939, Cardinal Pacelli, Noble Roman Patrician, was crowned Pope, who reigned under the name of Pius XII, "Pastor Angelicus" according to the Prophecies of St. Malachy.
His predecessor, Pius XI, had died on February 10 and on March 1 the Conclave met to elect the Cardinal who would take his place at the head of the Catholic Church. The chosen one was Cardinal Eugenio Maria Pacelli, who occupied the Chair of the Prince of the Apostles until his death on October 9, 1958.
Pope Pacelli would be the guarantor of the Roman Aristocracy, austere, pious and exemplary, which he would always encourage, even as Pontiff, to be a stimulus for all social classes, under the Apostolate of the Catholic Tradition.
Providence wanted that from his surname, Pacelli, "the peace that comes from Heaven", as well as his pontifical coat of arms, with Noah's dove with the olive tree in its beak, Pius XII saw and suffered the Second World War, the one who faced the excesses of Fascism and Nazism, helping and protecting the most disadvantaged of the conflict.
Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1952 and thus entrusted to the Mother of God the designs of this society increasingly separated from the Love of God. Of this Good Mother he would preach Her loves and the need to consecrate ourselves to Her through Her Scapular of Carmel.
His love for the Blessed Virgin encouraged him to exalt Our Lady by proclaiming the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950, which became the rubric of a whole Marian tradition that claimed the clear definition of the incorruptibility of the Virgin Mary after Her dormition and Her Assumption body and soul into Paradise. If anything stood out in Pius XII, let us not doubt that it was his determination to correct doctrinal errors by publishing numerous encyclicals, where he clearly exposed the Catholic Magisterium in the face of the philosophical novelties that hovered at the gates of Rome.
Indeed, Pope Pacelli was "the peace come from Heaven", because with his doctrine and example Pius XII marked a path for the times of iniquity that came after his death, a time in which God has disposed us to be present to keep alive the Catholic Faith and Doctrine of always in opposition to the continuous novelties that appear and pretend, as the only objective, to remove God from the thought of his creatures.
Pope Pacelli would be the guarantor of the Roman Aristocracy, austere, pious and exemplary, which he would always encourage, even as Pontiff, to be a stimulus for all social classes, under the Apostolate of the Catholic Tradition.
Providence wanted that from his surname, Pacelli, "the peace that comes from Heaven", as well as his pontifical coat of arms, with Noah's dove with the olive tree in its beak, Pius XII saw and suffered the Second World War, the one who faced the excesses of Fascism and Nazism, helping and protecting the most disadvantaged of the conflict.
Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1952 and thus entrusted to the Mother of God the designs of this society increasingly separated from the Love of God. Of this Good Mother he would preach Her loves and the need to consecrate ourselves to Her through Her Scapular of Carmel.
His love for the Blessed Virgin encouraged him to exalt Our Lady by proclaiming the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950, which became the rubric of a whole Marian tradition that claimed the clear definition of the incorruptibility of the Virgin Mary after Her dormition and Her Assumption body and soul into Paradise. If anything stood out in Pius XII, let us not doubt that it was his determination to correct doctrinal errors by publishing numerous encyclicals, where he clearly exposed the Catholic Magisterium in the face of the philosophical novelties that hovered at the gates of Rome.
Indeed, Pope Pacelli was "the peace come from Heaven", because with his doctrine and example Pius XII marked a path for the times of iniquity that came after his death, a time in which God has disposed us to be present to keep alive the Catholic Faith and Doctrine of always in opposition to the continuous novelties that appear and pretend, as the only objective, to remove God from the thought of his creatures.
From Challoner's Meditations:
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR SAVIOUR, BEFORE HIS PASSION
Consider first, how truly did the devout author of the 'Following of Christ,' say:- 'The whole life of Christ was a Cross and a Martyrdom. He came into this world to be a victim for our sins; and from the first instant of his conception in his mother’s womb, he offered himself for all the sufferings he was to undergo in life and death.' Hear how he then addresses himself to his Father, Ps. xxxiv. 7, 'sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire, but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou didst not require: then said I, behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me, that I should do thy will. O my God, I have desired it, and thy name is in the midst of my heart.' And what was this will and this law, which from his first conception he embraced in the midst of his heart; but that instead of all other sacrifices he should become himself both our priest and victim, and through his sufferings should mediate our peace, and reconcile us to his Father? Thus he accepted beforehand all that he was afterwards to endure; and by the clear and distinct foresight, which he had all along of his whole passion, suffered in some measure all his lifetime, what afterwards he endured at his death. O how early did my Jesus embrace his cross for the love of me! O how early did I prefer my pleasures before his love!
Consider 2ndly, divers other sufferings which our Lord went through in the course of his mortal life. His nine months confinement in his mother’s womb, most sensible to him, who from his first conception had the perfect use of reason, and who by a violence which he offered to his zeal and love, was kept so long from action. The hardships he endured at his birth, from the rigour of the season and the poverty of his accommodations; his circumcision; his flight into Egypt; the sense that he had of the murder of the Innocents; the austerity of his life; his frequent hunger, thirst, and want of necessaries; his labours and fatigues. But all this was nothing to what his boundless charity and his zeal for the honour of his Father and the salvation of souls, made him continually suffer, from the sight and knowledge of the sins of men. He had all the sins of the world always before his eyes, for the whole time of his life, with all their enormity and opposition to the infinite majesty and sanctity of God, and his divine honour and glory, and the dreadful havoc they did, and would make in the souls of men, with all the dismal consequences of them both in time and eternity; and this sight which was always present to him, was infinitely more grievous to his soul than the very pangs of death. For if St. Paul had such a sense of the evil of sin, as to be quite on fire when he saw any one fall into sin, 2 Cor. xi. 29, how much more did this fire devour our Saviour?
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE SUFFERINGS OF OUR SAVIOUR, BEFORE HIS PASSION
Consider first, how truly did the devout author of the 'Following of Christ,' say:- 'The whole life of Christ was a Cross and a Martyrdom. He came into this world to be a victim for our sins; and from the first instant of his conception in his mother’s womb, he offered himself for all the sufferings he was to undergo in life and death.' Hear how he then addresses himself to his Father, Ps. xxxiv. 7, 'sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire, but thou hast pierced ears for me. Burnt-offering and sin-offering thou didst not require: then said I, behold I come. In the head of the book it is written of me, that I should do thy will. O my God, I have desired it, and thy name is in the midst of my heart.' And what was this will and this law, which from his first conception he embraced in the midst of his heart; but that instead of all other sacrifices he should become himself both our priest and victim, and through his sufferings should mediate our peace, and reconcile us to his Father? Thus he accepted beforehand all that he was afterwards to endure; and by the clear and distinct foresight, which he had all along of his whole passion, suffered in some measure all his lifetime, what afterwards he endured at his death. O how early did my Jesus embrace his cross for the love of me! O how early did I prefer my pleasures before his love!
Consider 2ndly, divers other sufferings which our Lord went through in the course of his mortal life. His nine months confinement in his mother’s womb, most sensible to him, who from his first conception had the perfect use of reason, and who by a violence which he offered to his zeal and love, was kept so long from action. The hardships he endured at his birth, from the rigour of the season and the poverty of his accommodations; his circumcision; his flight into Egypt; the sense that he had of the murder of the Innocents; the austerity of his life; his frequent hunger, thirst, and want of necessaries; his labours and fatigues. But all this was nothing to what his boundless charity and his zeal for the honour of his Father and the salvation of souls, made him continually suffer, from the sight and knowledge of the sins of men. He had all the sins of the world always before his eyes, for the whole time of his life, with all their enormity and opposition to the infinite majesty and sanctity of God, and his divine honour and glory, and the dreadful havoc they did, and would make in the souls of men, with all the dismal consequences of them both in time and eternity; and this sight which was always present to him, was infinitely more grievous to his soul than the very pangs of death. For if St. Paul had such a sense of the evil of sin, as to be quite on fire when he saw any one fall into sin, 2 Cor. xi. 29, how much more did this fire devour our Saviour?
Consider 3rdly, how much our Lord suffered from being obliged to live and converse amongst men, whose manners were so widely different from and so infinitely opposite to his; how sensibly he was touched with the crying disorders of the people of the Jews, amongst whom he lived; with their malice, their violences, their injustices, their deceits, their blasphemies, and the licentiousness of their lives; the pride, ambition, covetousness, and hypocrisy of their priests, scribes, and Pharisees; their oppressions of the poor; their contempt of virtue and of truth; and their general forgetfulness of God and their salvation. Add to this, how sensibly he must have been afflicted with the hardness of their hearts, with which they resisted his graces; their obstinacy in their evil ways; their ingratitude; the opposition they made to his heavenly Gospel; their blasphemous judgments of his person and miracles; their slanders and murmurings against him; and their continually laying snares for him, and persecuting him even unto death. O, who can sufficiently apprehend how much our Saviour’s soul was affected by all these evils; with this reception and treatment he met with from his chosen people, and with those dreadful judgments they were thereby drawing down upon their own heads, instead of that mercy, which he came to purchase for them by his blood! Death itself was not so sensible to him.
Conclude, if thou would’st be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, to conform thyself to a life of crosses and sufferings: thus shalt thou wear his livery, and shalt be entitled to a share in his heavenly kingdom.
Conclude, if thou would’st be a true disciple of Jesus Christ, to conform thyself to a life of crosses and sufferings: thus shalt thou wear his livery, and shalt be entitled to a share in his heavenly kingdom.
Pray, Pray Continuously
In all things, pray continuously, for you can do nothing without God's help. Nothing is as powerful as prayer to give us divine energy. And nothing is as useful as it is to obtain for us God's benevolence. The practice of the commandments is all contained in prayer. For there is nothing higher than the love of God.
Prayer without distractions is a sign of the love of God in the one who perseveres. Neglect and distraction when praying denounce love of pleasure. He who, without difficulty, watches, perserves and prays visibly receives the Holy Spirit. But he who does all this with difficulty and keeps his resolution is also answered without delay.
If you want to do a favor to someone who likes to learn, show him prayer, right faith and patience in trial. It is with these three virtues that you obtain the rest of the good things. Escape temptation by patience and prayer. If you think of fighting it without these virtues, you will be attacked by it again. Anything we can say or do without prayer becomes dangerous or useless.
We have to seek the inner dwelling place of Christ, since we are God's dwelling place, and, through prayer, persevere in knocking at his door (cf. Mt 7:7), so that, now or at the hour of our death, the Lord may open it for us and not say to us as to negligent men: "I do not know where you are from" (Lk 13:25). And we have, not only to ask and receive, but to keep what has been given to us. For there are those who lose after they have received.
Saint Mark the Ascetic, a hegumen in Asia Minor in 'On those who think they are justified by their works'.
In all things, pray continuously, for you can do nothing without God's help. Nothing is as powerful as prayer to give us divine energy. And nothing is as useful as it is to obtain for us God's benevolence. The practice of the commandments is all contained in prayer. For there is nothing higher than the love of God.
Prayer without distractions is a sign of the love of God in the one who perseveres. Neglect and distraction when praying denounce love of pleasure. He who, without difficulty, watches, perserves and prays visibly receives the Holy Spirit. But he who does all this with difficulty and keeps his resolution is also answered without delay.
If you want to do a favor to someone who likes to learn, show him prayer, right faith and patience in trial. It is with these three virtues that you obtain the rest of the good things. Escape temptation by patience and prayer. If you think of fighting it without these virtues, you will be attacked by it again. Anything we can say or do without prayer becomes dangerous or useless.
We have to seek the inner dwelling place of Christ, since we are God's dwelling place, and, through prayer, persevere in knocking at his door (cf. Mt 7:7), so that, now or at the hour of our death, the Lord may open it for us and not say to us as to negligent men: "I do not know where you are from" (Lk 13:25). And we have, not only to ask and receive, but to keep what has been given to us. For there are those who lose after they have received.
Saint Mark the Ascetic, a hegumen in Asia Minor in 'On those who think they are justified by their works'.