⚜️ Confident and Humble Prayer
If we truly knew how to pray, if we had the confidence and humility that makes man's prayer pleasing to God, we would be omnipotent. The confident and persevering prayer of the just attains everything. The history of the Church is above all the narration of the triumphs which it has attained by the prayers of the faithful.
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, Legionário, January 14, 1945
If we truly knew how to pray, if we had the confidence and humility that makes man's prayer pleasing to God, we would be omnipotent. The confident and persevering prayer of the just attains everything. The history of the Church is above all the narration of the triumphs which it has attained by the prayers of the faithful.
Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira, Legionário, January 14, 1945
✨Unshakable goodness
A certain wealthy client once wrote to Dr. Antônio complaining that she had fallen ill and had no one to care for her. Since she was also a good friend, he and Dona Gabriela invited her to stay for a time at their home, where their daughters would look after her.
Lucilia, overflowing with kindness, promptly responded and spared no effort in tending to the patient, whose treatment entailed much toil. After a few days had passed, a member of the household, noticing that the patient was not deserving of that degree of dedication said:
“Lucilia, don’t be foolish, putting yourself out so to take care of this woman. Do you know what will happen? When she gets better and is about to leave, she won’t even be grateful; she’ll say simply ‘Thank you very much’ and then forget all about you... It’s me she’ll show appreciation to, even though I only spent a few minutes with her, telling her some funny stories!”
Lucilia serenely answered:
“That may be so, but I am doing this because Papa requested it, and for love of God. The work of mercy will have been fulfilled.”
The guest finally recovered, and as she was leaving, she bid a curt farewell to her benefactor:
“Goodbye, Lucilia, thank you.”
To the other, she gushed: “I am so grateful to you! You were an angel to me! I was so entertained with those amusing stories; you really picked up my spirits!”
When the ingrate had departed, the one who had been heaped with praise commented:
“You see? Didn’t I tell you? Don’t make such efforts in catering to good-for-nothings, because you will only receive a slap in the face in return.”
“But the good done remains,” replied Lucilia, unperturbed.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
Dona Lucilia, pg. 87
A certain wealthy client once wrote to Dr. Antônio complaining that she had fallen ill and had no one to care for her. Since she was also a good friend, he and Dona Gabriela invited her to stay for a time at their home, where their daughters would look after her.
Lucilia, overflowing with kindness, promptly responded and spared no effort in tending to the patient, whose treatment entailed much toil. After a few days had passed, a member of the household, noticing that the patient was not deserving of that degree of dedication said:
“Lucilia, don’t be foolish, putting yourself out so to take care of this woman. Do you know what will happen? When she gets better and is about to leave, she won’t even be grateful; she’ll say simply ‘Thank you very much’ and then forget all about you... It’s me she’ll show appreciation to, even though I only spent a few minutes with her, telling her some funny stories!”
Lucilia serenely answered:
“That may be so, but I am doing this because Papa requested it, and for love of God. The work of mercy will have been fulfilled.”
The guest finally recovered, and as she was leaving, she bid a curt farewell to her benefactor:
“Goodbye, Lucilia, thank you.”
To the other, she gushed: “I am so grateful to you! You were an angel to me! I was so entertained with those amusing stories; you really picked up my spirits!”
When the ingrate had departed, the one who had been heaped with praise commented:
“You see? Didn’t I tell you? Don’t make such efforts in catering to good-for-nothings, because you will only receive a slap in the face in return.”
“But the good done remains,” replied Lucilia, unperturbed.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
Dona Lucilia, pg. 87
♦️Tightly woven doctrine
“Every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life”.
As the “hundredfold” refers to the present life, Our Lord’s wording leads us to the simple conclusion that we are promised two distinct rewards: one on earth, the other in eternity. This offers great encouragement to all followers of Christ, to never stray from the right path.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 346-347
“Every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life”.
As the “hundredfold” refers to the present life, Our Lord’s wording leads us to the simple conclusion that we are promised two distinct rewards: one on earth, the other in eternity. This offers great encouragement to all followers of Christ, to never stray from the right path.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 346-347
🔷 On this day, 32 years ago, Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira prayed for his work in front of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Genazzano.
♦️The explanation
“And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’”
Fillion emphasizes that, in the narrative, no one is overlooked at the time of the payment, and hence there is no cause for complaint. St. Thomas is of the same opinion: “In things which are given gratuitously, a person can give more or less, just as he pleases, provided he deprives nobody of his due, without any infringement of justice.” Returning to Fillion, he completes his reasoning with a sentence of key importance, to which we will later return: “Each should be satisfied with what he receives and express gratitude, without casting an envious eye on those who earned more.”
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 350-351
“And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’”
Fillion emphasizes that, in the narrative, no one is overlooked at the time of the payment, and hence there is no cause for complaint. St. Thomas is of the same opinion: “In things which are given gratuitously, a person can give more or less, just as he pleases, provided he deprives nobody of his due, without any infringement of justice.” Returning to Fillion, he completes his reasoning with a sentence of key importance, to which we will later return: “Each should be satisfied with what he receives and express gratitude, without casting an envious eye on those who earned more.”
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 350-351
⚜️ We are surrounded by Angels and demons. With these words I express my desire that everyone live much more focused on the higher reality; the reality that is much more substantial than that which our senses grasp: the supernatural reality of that other world. [...]
For me this is the substance of a Herald of the Gospel. A Herald of the Gospel is one who has his primary focus of attention fixed on the angelic world, on the supernatural world, on the heavenly world; and therefore on a more substantial, richer reality than the one in which we live.
The Creation and the Angels
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, p. 110
*Unofficial translation
For me this is the substance of a Herald of the Gospel. A Herald of the Gospel is one who has his primary focus of attention fixed on the angelic world, on the supernatural world, on the heavenly world; and therefore on a more substantial, richer reality than the one in which we live.
The Creation and the Angels
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, p. 110
*Unofficial translation
⚜️St. Jean de Brebeuf
Martyred March 16, 1649
This great ‘Apostle to the Hurons’ was born in Normandy and came to Canada in 1625 where he founded missions and converted thousands.
In a letter to his Quebec Superior he writes: “We are at a point of shedding our blood and of sacrificing our lives for the service of our good Master Jesus Christ… we shall try, by the grace of Our Lord, to endure it patiently for His service. It is a singular sign of His goodness to have us bear with something for His love. It is now that we esteem belonging to His Company. May He be blessed forever to have destined us, from among others better than us, for this country, to help him carry His cross.” (Jesuit Relations)
In the midst of his final tortures, he said to those who were also enduring captivity: “My children, let us lift our eyes to heaven at the height of our afflictions; let us remember that God is the witness of our sufferings, and will soon be our exceeding great reward. Let us die in this faith; and let us hope from His goodness the fulfillment of His promises. I have more pity for you than for myself; but sustain with courage the few remaining torments. They will end with our lives; the glory which follows them will never have an end.” (Jesuit Relations)
“Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” The modern world flees the cross, thinking that in this way they will find happiness. Oh! What a mistake! Happiness flees from them. It is only in the Divine Master and in His cross that we will find true joy. (Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira)
Martyred March 16, 1649
This great ‘Apostle to the Hurons’ was born in Normandy and came to Canada in 1625 where he founded missions and converted thousands.
In a letter to his Quebec Superior he writes: “We are at a point of shedding our blood and of sacrificing our lives for the service of our good Master Jesus Christ… we shall try, by the grace of Our Lord, to endure it patiently for His service. It is a singular sign of His goodness to have us bear with something for His love. It is now that we esteem belonging to His Company. May He be blessed forever to have destined us, from among others better than us, for this country, to help him carry His cross.” (Jesuit Relations)
In the midst of his final tortures, he said to those who were also enduring captivity: “My children, let us lift our eyes to heaven at the height of our afflictions; let us remember that God is the witness of our sufferings, and will soon be our exceeding great reward. Let us die in this faith; and let us hope from His goodness the fulfillment of His promises. I have more pity for you than for myself; but sustain with courage the few remaining torments. They will end with our lives; the glory which follows them will never have an end.” (Jesuit Relations)
“Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me.” The modern world flees the cross, thinking that in this way they will find happiness. Oh! What a mistake! Happiness flees from them. It is only in the Divine Master and in His cross that we will find true joy. (Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira)
♦️Envy, “the rottenness of the bones”
This vice has degrees. When it is directed at earthly goods-beauty, strength, power, wealth, and so on-it has greater or lesser gravity, depending on circumstances. But if its objects are the gifts and graces granted by God to one’s neighbour, it constitutes one of the gravest sins against the Holy Spirit: envy of fraternal grace. “Envy of the spiritual good of another is one of the most satanic sins that a person can commit, for by it one does not only envy and regret the good of a brother, but also the grace of God, which increases in the world,”comments Fr. Royo Marín.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 352-354
This vice has degrees. When it is directed at earthly goods-beauty, strength, power, wealth, and so on-it has greater or lesser gravity, depending on circumstances. But if its objects are the gifts and graces granted by God to one’s neighbour, it constitutes one of the gravest sins against the Holy Spirit: envy of fraternal grace. “Envy of the spiritual good of another is one of the most satanic sins that a person can commit, for by it one does not only envy and regret the good of a brother, but also the grace of God, which increases in the world,”comments Fr. Royo Marín.
Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias
New Insights on the Gospels II, pp. 352-354