If you are not watching European stations

...you are not getting news.

Catholic persecution watch USA

Senate passes gay discrimination bill.

A Must Watch on Alan Keyes

http://new.livestream.com/churchmilitanttv/events/2504158

Post-Vatican II War Casualities

I have met many men and women who I call war causalities of the post-Vatican II Church. Some are broken because they could not find an orthodox or traditional order when they were of the age to enter to become nuns or priests.

Some were of the age where their parents trusted too much in so-called Catholic education and were taught Modernism.

Some were taught in colleges and universities for modernism-based theology and liturgical degrees, and because they lacked good grounding in the real deal of the Teaching Magisterium of the Church, they fell into error.

Some were taught post-modern philosophies in seminaries, and heresies of all sorts.

But, the ones which break my heart are the ones the Church did not address properly regarding those who went into other groups which were not in union with the Church, but came back and suffer the modernism of liturgy and teaching daily.  These people exhibit heroic virtue.

Some of these men and women are not as strong as they would have been if the Tradition had not been broken.

I have met these types of men and women throughout Ireland, England, and Malta.

Now, we all can be healed of the past, and we all can come into the Truth by study, repentance, humility, and good counseling, as well as good friends.

But, for this to happen, one has to learn to trust the Church again in one's area.

I sympathize.

I say to these broken people, keep looking, keep praying, keep finding out what the real teaching of the Church is and, most importantly, surround yourself with good, solid, orthodox Catholic friends.

God bless you, the walking wounded.

On Fr. Ripperger's Book Again

Father Chad Ripperger writes that the break with Tradition involves serious sins perpetrated by the clergy at all levels.

He is clear that the lack of passing on tradition, including ruining churches in wreckovation is sinful, noting that it is a sin against our forefathers, a sin breaking the Fourth Commandment, as well as a sin against the Church, the saints, and God. I have felt this myself when I saw the ruining of wood carvings in Iowa which had been made lovingly by immigrants to a high standard of art.

You can read all about this in his book. But, I shall briefly highlight one section on sinning against Tradition.

He writes: "One of the effects of novelty or heresy is that is tends to confuse the faithful rather than to clarify what the Church has always believed. Authentic development of doctrine always provides a clearer understanding of the constant teaching of the Church. Novelty does not.  But here we see that the lack of adherence to the tradition leads us to act against the intellectual virtues of wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Understanding is the gift of the Holy Spirit by which we intuitively grasp the truths of the faith. When we reject the tradition which passes on the object of tradition which is the truth of revelation, we cannot have an intuitive grasp of those truths."

Father then goes on to write about sins against the gifts of knowledge and wisdom. I hope you all see, again, the necessity for the purification of the intellect but also the use of the intellect on the road to holiness.

I hope these few remarks make you want to get the book.

Spinola Bay at Night Is Great

http://st-julians.com/st-julians-a-fishing-village-turned-entertainments-hub/

 The darkness comes in quickly now.

God bless all the Maltese.

I cannot express how good this book is

Father Chad Ripperger's book The Binding Force of Tradition should be read by every Catholic over the age of 14. This important book would help all of those who are struggling with how to understand the teachings which have broken with Tradition and how to deal with Modernism in the Church.

I can only cover a few points, in summary, but will do so for the benefit of those who will not get the book. I hope it tempts you to do so.

Firstly, Fr. Ripperger, as I have, squarely puts the onus of responsibility for passing on the Faith on the parents, which is what I have been writing since 2007. Father states that there is a sin of negligence in not passing on the Faith by parents who assume that "the members of the Magisterium and clergy would" do so.

As he and many popes have said, "The parents are the first educators of their children, and even though they should be able to rely on the Hierarchy to provide the proper education of their children, it does not take away their obligation to ensure that it is in fact being passed on to their children."

The breaking away from the tradition of the Church and not passing it on either as teaching or in the Liturgy is a grave sin of negligence.

I want to quote a longish section here.

"....in passive tradition when one receives the tradition regularly, a set of habits is established in the children, among the faithful and even among ecclesiastics, resulting in a recognition that tradition is a good thing and it becomes a joy, regardless if part of what is received is a discipline that requires self-denial. Our current generation, however, is in the habit of novelty and that is why tradition is so difficult for many of them, because the tradition is not just a thing, but an action, i.e. it is a way of living. Novelty ultimately militates against virtue because it does not seek good habits but intellectual or appetitive  delight in the new thing."

I have given talks in the past and written on this blog on the need for formation in children at a young age regarding virtues. Without a basis in the Tradition of the Church, the youth are lost.

To be continued....

Are you confused about what to believe or not believe?

I highly recommend Fr. Chad Ripperger's book, The Binding Force of Tradition, if you are confused about what and when to believe priests, bishops, cardinals and even popes on statements of doctrine.

This book will help all the faithful understand what is truth and what is not, how to judge levels of truth and revelation and how to apply the Tradition of the Church to various subjects.

Seriously, if all Catholics read this book, they would be no longer confused about media statements and various sermons.

Please get it and read it.

This book will give you great peace of mind.

FYI on the upcoming synod

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/will-there-be-an-earthquake-at-the-extraordinary-synod-12-things-to-know-an/

The Real Survival Message-Learn to Hear The Voice of God

I have been talking and writing since 2008 about the very hard times to come for Catholics and others.

The signs of the times are what people have seen before, and the Christians in Rome faced similar serious difficulties. Too many Catholics are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Many Catholics are not facing the signs of the times.

Everything is not alright and things are not going to get better. If you are still living in denial, let me warn you that you must stop hiding from reality.

The only way to deal with very difficult times, such as war or displacement, is to become a saint. St. Benedicta of the Cross did not become a saint overnight. She prepared through prayer and sacrifice for her ultimate sacrifice-martyrdom for her people.

Most of us are not making holiness a priority. How will you react when things get rough? Those saints who have gone before us learned to become mentally and spiritually tough. Such men and women at St. Margaret Ward, St. Edmund Campion, St. Oliver Plunkett were unfairly judged, tortured and put to death.

To face this and the death of dear family members, just as SS. Felicity and Perpetua had to watch those in their community and finally die together, one must allow God to do three things.

One, replace hatred, anger, sloth, and all the deadly sins with love and the other virtues. Without living a life of virtue, you and I shall not remain faithful to the end.

Second, teach your children and help older family members see the need for true holiness now and not wait. Help others prioritize their faith through prayers, adoration, Mass, frequent confession. Time is short for having the capacity to find and enjoy the sacraments locally.

Three, learn to hear the Voice of God and not other voices. God speaks through the truths of the Catholic Church, but you can also learn to hear His Still Small Voice and respond quickly.

If you knew there was going to be a hurricane, like Katrina, in your area, you would prepare.

So, why are you not preparing now?

Parents, why are you acting as though the future of your children will be the same as your lives have been. Why are you pretending that they can be raised like you were raised? Why are you not forming saints now? You are responsible for the souls of your children.

Since the summer of 2008, when it was becoming clear that we did not have much time, I have been trying to learn how to cooperate with grace more and more. I have tried to teach and to write the Truth of the Church and of Christ.

Even in 2008, I did not think we had this much time to prepare-five years.

A European perspective has shown me that things will not limp along into a semi-stage of loweriing standards of living.

No. We shall soon see chaos in the West. God has given us a time of mercy as told to us by Saint Faustiina.

Those who preach good times are false prophets. If you have not changed your easy lifestyle, do it now. Tomorrow, at the Feast of Duns Scotus, we shall see this mysterious reading from the Gospel about being prepared. Many of us do not understand what Christ is saying here.

Let me help unravel this. It seems as though Christ is referring to business and money deals.

He is not. He is speaking of our souls and our sinful states before God. The steward had charges brought against him. He did not feel sorry for himself, nor did he defend himself.

These charges may have been true or false. Those facts do not matter. But, if we see ourselves as the steward, we see that we are always guilty sin and, therefore, deserving punishment.

What do we do when faced with our sins? We go to the saints, we go to the Church, we go to the sacraments, and prepare for death, for judgement.

We do not waste time. Survival for us is eternal life in heaven with God.

All these survival videos and deals are temporary measures in a crisis. These are good and fathers can discern in families and in communities how to use these. But, the real survival video would be about the Gospel of Christ and the way of perfection.

Luke 16: 1 - 8

This is a passage on using your gifts and those of the Church, to be prepared for the near future.

---

1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.2 And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'3 And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.4 I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.'5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?'6 He said, `A hundred measures of oil.' And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'7 Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?' He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.'8 The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

The shrewdness to which Christ is referring is spiritual shrewdness. This steward made his survival a priority, using his wits and connections to live. We must do the same in the spiritual life.

Our connections are grace, the Church, the saints, the orthodox Catholic community.

Stop wasting time with football on television, or soccer games, or re-decorating the house yet again, or anything else which is material.

Stop.

Do not pretend you have much time to become a saint, and to help your family members become saints.

Stop pretending.

Why is it that other people besides Noah and his family did not hear God?

Why is it that they perished in their sins?

Because these people were not listening. People laughed at Noah. They will laugh at you and your family.

Listen. I know many people who are listening. Are you one of them?

 Matthew 24:36-51

36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

ET asked me to do a short exegesis today. This is it for him and for you.

A good site and poor Pope....

http://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/2656/Dissenting-Catholic-Faculty-Strong-Catholic-Identity-on-Campus-is-Contrary-to-Pope-Francis%E2%80%99-Teachings.aspx

"As long as you do not cause trouble...."

To be a Catholic in the West from now on is going to be tricky. The teachings of the one, holy, Catholic, universal, and apostolic Church come more and more into conflict with man-made laws, which have no relation to natural law.

Religious peoples of all Christian denominations are becoming minorities in most European and even, perhaps, in North and South American countries. Many people who claim to be Christian and many who claim to be Catholic no longer practice through weekly worship or by following the Ten Commandments. Too many Christians disagree with traditional teachings on ssm, fornication, contraception and so on.

One of the things told to some of us Catholics is not to cause trouble. But, we do, not by what we say, (unless one is a prolific blogger), but by who we are.

The mark of our baptisms, if we live out our baptismal faith, will be seen in the world. We are different. We are "marked".

To pretend otherwise is to deny our baptismal promises and to deny the graces of confirmation.

We do not mean to cause trouble, but because we are following the command to "be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect", we shall increasingly clash with those who support the four sins which cry out to God for vengeance.

The middle ground of mediocrity is disappearing and the good will become better and the bad will become worse. Such is the nature of choices.

Pray for those still caught up in the lies that Society is more important than God.

Two quotes from Mrs. Merdle, the expert on Society:

‘Mrs Merdle,’ said Fanny. ‘My sister, ma’am.’

‘I am glad to see your sister, Miss Dorrit. I did not remember that you had a sister.’

‘I did not mention that I had,’ said Fanny.

‘Ah!’ Mrs Merdle curled the little finger of her left hand as who should say, ‘I have caught you. I know you didn’t!’ All her action was usually with her left hand because her hands were not a pair; and left being much the whiter and plumper of the two. Then she added: ‘Sit down,’ and composed herself voluptuously, in a nest of crimson and gold cushions, on an ottoman near the parrot.

‘Also professional?’ said Mrs Merdle, looking at Little Dorrit through an eye-glass.

Fanny answered No. ‘No,’ said Mrs Merdle, dropping her glass. ‘Has not a professional air. Very pleasant; but not professional.’

‘My sister, ma’am,’ said Fanny, in whom there was a singular mixture of deference and hardihood, ‘has been asking me to tell her, as between sisters, how I came to have the honour of knowing you. And as I had engaged to call upon you once more, I thought I might take the liberty of bringing her with me, when perhaps you would tell her. I wish her to know, and perhaps you will tell her?’ ‘Do you think, at your sister’s age —’ hinted Mrs Merdle.

‘She is much older than she looks,’ said Fanny; ‘almost as old as I am.’

‘Society,’ said Mrs Merdle, with another curve of her little finger, ‘is so difficult to explain to young persons (indeed is so difficult to explain to most persons), that I am glad to hear that.

I wish Society was not so arbitrary, I wish it was not so exacting — Bird, be quiet!’

The parrot had given a most piercing shriek, as if its name were Society and it asserted its right to its exactions.

‘But,’ resumed Mrs Merdle, ‘we must take it as we find it. We know it is hollow and conventional and worldly and very shocking, but unless we are Savages in the Tropical seas (I should have been charmed to be one myself — most delightful life and perfect climate, I am told), we must consult it. It is the common lot. Mr Merdle is a most extensive merchant, his transactions are on the vastest scale, his wealth and influence are very great, but even he — Bird, be quiet!’

 and with Mrs. Gowan...

'My dear, it is not to be disputed for a moment,' returned Mrs Merdle; 'because Society has made up its mind on the subject, and there is nothing more to be said. If we were in a more primitive state, if we lived under roofs of leaves, and kept cows and sheep and creatures instead of banker's accounts (which would be delicious; my dear, I am pastoral to a degree, by nature), well and good. But we don't live under leaves, and keep cows and sheep and creatures. I perfectly exhaust myself sometimes, in pointing out the distinction to Edmund Sparkler.'

Note and Pray for Malta, Please

This letter is being passed around parishes here in Malta as the  government wants to press through ssm. Some of the words have not been translated in text. I picked up this text yesterday  morning at Mass Here is a copy of that letter from  http://laikos.org/Kardinal_Bergoglio_Messagg_11072010.htm The Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, today the Pope Franġisku,  when he was still Archbishop of Buenos Aires, publicly condemned  the draft law to be debated in the Argentine Senate legislation on  marriage and gay adoptions. Wrote letters and appeals, called walk  against gay marriage on Sunday 11 July 2010, and ordered to be  read in all churches during the Mass, this powerful message: - To the people of God and to all men and women of good will 1. God wants to save all people and come to the full knowledge  of the truth (cf. 1 Tim 2:4). Therefore man is stopped by a dialogue  of salvation, culminating to his meeting with Jesus Christ, the Lord  and partner in our drive. The Church is called to extend this dialogue  to muster all humanity.But dialogue if we are to bear fruit, it must be clear,  Serene, simple and reliable. This implies all due respect dwellers,  feels and thinks differently. All we are called to love God. But to be  clear dialogue is needed expertise to the discernment leading to the  statement of truth, which the pastors can not remain silent. This in no way  implies contempt or discrimination. 2. The man was created in the image of God . This image seems not  only each individual person but also in complementarity and reciprocity  of husband and wife, in common dignity, and indissoluble unity between  them, which has always been called marriage . Marriage is the form of  life in which an unique communion of persons, which gives full human  feeling to the exercise of the sexual function. The very nature of marriage  belong to the qualities already mentioned the difference, complementarity  and reciprocity between the sexes, and all the riches beauty of their fertility.  Marriage is a gift of creation. There is no other reality tixbhu or equal.  Any merger is not between people, but own and inalienable  characteristics that make marriage the foundation of family and society.  So they recognized the great cultures of the world.  So recognizable international treaties recognized by our national  Constitution (art. 75). So always understood our people. 3. public authority has a duty to protect marriage between a man and  woman through legislative recognition to ensure and promote its  irreplaceable function and its contribution to the common good of society.  If legally recognize the union between people of the same sex, or jiggarantilha  legal knowledge on the same level as marriage and family, the State  is acting unlawfully being contradicts its institutional obligations,  because it is overturning the principles of natural law and of public order  Argentine society. 4. Bringing people of the same sex is missing from the biological and  anthropological elements of marriage and having a family. Is missing from  the conjugal dimension and openness to life. On the contrary, marriage  and the family built upon, constitutes the core of the new generations of  humans.Since their conception of the children have an inalienable right  to grow in the womb of the mother, born in the wild and nurture the marriage.  In family life and relationship with the father and natural mother,  the children discover their identity and recognize what is their personal autonomy. 5. Recognition of objective difference does not mean being discriminate.  Nature does not discriminate when creating men and women.  All our civil code does not discriminate when requiring the requirement  to be man or woman can enter marriage, but simply to recognize natural reality.  The legal situations of mutual interest between persons of the same  sex can be sufficiently protected by common law. Therefore, it is unfair  discrimination against marriage and family if one gives the private  fact of unity between people of the same sex status of public law. 6. awareness We urge our legislators to, they faced such a serious issue,  keep in mind these fundamental truths, for the good of the country and its  future generations. 7. Paskwali Climate contained therein , and in the beginning of six years  of biċentinarju Country's (2010-2016), neżortaw to our faithful to seek  wholeheartedly to the Lord our God illuminate wasteful leaders and  especially to our legislators. Furthermore, the faithful pray not afraid to proclaim  the protection and promotion of the great values ​​that have  shaped our nation and to the hope of forming the Country. Translation from Spanish to notching a n of Gianfranco Amato , brought to Malta by Francesco Pio Attard ---------------------------- Translation from the Official Site of the Diocese of Malta Laity website as above.

 Link

Would Mary Appear Like This? Just Wondering.

http://www.spiritdaily.com/medjconfusion.htm

Signs of Contradiction in the World

I told a friend of mine yesterday that she was a sign of contradiction in the world. Those who were Fools for Christ were such, including St. Francis.

Here is a bit on Xenia of Saint Petersburg. I am intrigued by her for many reasons including the fact that ten years ago some of my students, knowing about my warrior status in the Church Militant, brought a huge poster into the classroom of Zena, Warrior Princess, which was their nickname for me. I honestly do not feel like a warrior, today, as I am very battle weary.

Well, here is a real Xenia Warrior Princess in the Church Militant.

From Wiki; and photo of icon as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:St._Xenia_of_Saint_Petersburg.jpg

Saint Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg (Russian: Святая блаженная Ксения Петербургская [Xenia Grigoryevna Petrova - Ксения Григорьевна Петрова]; c. 1719–1730 – c. 1803, Saint Petersburg) is a patron saint of St. Petersburg, who according to tradition, gave all her possessions to the poor after her husband died.

Her husband had been Colonel Andrey Fyodorovich Petrov, a chanter at the Saint Andrew Cathedral. After his death, Xenia became a "fool-for-Christ" and for 45 years wandered around the streets of St. Petersburg, usually wearing her late husband's military uniform.

St. Xenia's grave is in the Smolensky Cemetery of St. Petersburg. It has been marked by an ornate chapel since 1902. She was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church on February 6, 1988. Her feast day in the O.S. is January 24, which is February 6 in the New Calendar.

St. Blessed Mother Xenia is noted for her intercessions in helping those with employment, marriage, the homeless, for fires, for missing children, and for a spouse. (from suprtradmum-many of you might want to ask here for help!)

(*http://www.serfes.org/lives/stxeniaofpetersburg.htm) She is venerated in several countries, there are about 40 churches and chapels built in her name.^[1]

Moving to St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius in his writings on the Spiritual Exercises speaks of the three kinds of humility. These definitions prove to be helpful for those in the Dark Night. This is a bit of a repetition from a previous post.

The first definition is that one must be subject and obey the Lord God in all things, not disobeying any of the Ten Commandments. Some Catholics do not realize the gravity of mortal sin, and how this state keeps one from the way of holiness.

The second involves the complete detachment of seeking either riches or poverty, but accepting whatever God decides to give.  One cannot desire fame, status, honor, a long life, (or a short life) but rest in an indifference at to what God brings. At this stage of humility, one avoids all venial sin and is grieved if one does commit a venial sin.

This desire not to commit a venial sin means the person is aware of the great holiness of God.

The third definition shows one the way of true perfection, as one now chooses poverty, chooses insults with Christ, rather than honors, and desires to be, as St. Ignatius says, a Fool for Christ.

So was Christ treated....more on the Fools later.

Persecution Watch And Why Is This News Not in The MSM?

http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=23532

Rain Again Forecasted (and the saint of the day)

Well, in my remaining days in Malta this time, the weather is looking dire. There should be sun tomorrow and Friday, but today it is suppose to rain again.

Thankfully, I brought a coat which is a bit water-proof, although not a slicker.

Summer has ended here and the Maltese autumn has begun.

Can you imagine wearing one of these uniforms and the armor in 77 degrees Fahrenheit and heavy, even torrential rains?

Strong men in those days....(update--no rain, yet...sunny and warm!)

And, today is the Feast of St. Leonard in Malta, who, among being patron of many others, is patron of political prisoners. St. Leonard might be a great saint to remember in days to come, dear Catholics.

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=300

Thanks Wiki for the photo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller

a brief note....repetition

Since this is the proper moment, we ought to point out another 
benefit resulting from this night and dryness of the sensory appetite. So 
that the prophecy -- your light will illumine the darkness [Is. 58:10] -- 
may be verified, God will give illumination by bestowing on the soul not 
only knowledge of its own misery and lowliness but also knowledge of his 
grandeur and majesty. When the sensory appetites, gratifications, and 
supports are quenched, the intellect is left clean and free to understand 
the truth, for even though these appetites and pleasures concern spiritual 
things, they blind and impede the spirit. Similarly, the anguish and 
dryness of the senses illumine and quicken the intellect, as Isaiah 
affirms: Vexation makes one understand [Is. 28:19]. But God also, by means 
of this dark and dry night of contemplation, supernaturally instructs in 
his divine wisdom the soul that is empty and unhindered (which is the 
requirement for his divine inpouring), which he did not do through the 
former satisfactions and pleasures.

On the senses being purified....from St. John of the Cross

Repost on prayer

Sunday, 29 September 2013

Clarifications on Prayer Part One-The First Four Levels

Posted by Supertradmum

There are some nuns and priests who are confusing people by using the terminology of prayer incorrectly. I have heard many times a nun who is teaching prayer tell people that they are contemplating, when this level of prayer is only achieved after the Dark Night of the Soul. What she means is meditation, which is not the same as contemplation. Sadly, some of the more liberal nuns and those who are not well taught themselves, cause confusion among the laity with regard to the levels of prayer. I shall review these now.

The prayer of meditation precedes the Dark Night. One must move into that stage of prayer before experiencing the Dark Night. Why? Because unless one is somewhat proficient in meditation, one cannot reflect to the point of understanding the purifications, which are between the person and God. Unless one has had spiritual director for years, one who can tell one the predominant fault, one needs to do this on one's own.

A sign of the movement towards the Dark Night is the movement into regular meditation, as meditation disappears in the Dark Night as indicated on the list of the levels of prayer. The first, the Ascetical, is the Purgative Way.  This stage includes: one, vocal prayer; two. meditation; three. affective prayer; four, acquired recollection. These all precede the Dark Night of the Soul. 

The last two may not be familiar to some readers. Affective prayer is in the will. It is the movement of the mind from meditation, which is intelletual rational discourse and the use of the imagination to prayer based on love of God. However, one must not, and I repeat strongly, must not, seek consolations in this type of prayer. One is willing to love God. If there is a feeling of love, fine, but that is not the goal. The goal is to love God for Himself.

Acquired recollection follows, and this is the attempt of the person to recollect in memory, understanding and will on the attributes of God. This is not without danger, as a person can fall into self-adoration too easily. Acquired recollection is exactly as the name states-it is not infused contemplation. 

It is active, not passive recollection.

Garrigou-Lagrange states this quotation from St. Teresa of Avila:

It is called (active) "recollection," because by its means the soul collects together all the faculties and enters within itself (25) to be with God. The divine Master thus comes more speedily than He otherwise would to teach it and to grant the prayer of quiet. For, being retired within itself, the spirit can meditate on the Passion and can there picture in its thoughts the Son, and can offer Him to the Father without tiring the mind by journeying to find Him on Mount Calvary, or in the garden, or at the column.

Those who are able thus to enclose themselves within the little heaven of their soul where dwells the Creator of both heaven and earth, and who can accustom themselves not to look at anything nor to remain in any place which would preoccupy their exterior senses, may feel sure that they are traveling by an excellent way, and that they will certainly attain to drink of the water from the fountain, for they will journey far in a short time. They resemble a man who goes by sea, and who, if the weather is favorable, gets in a few days to the end of a voyage which would have taken far longer by land. These souls may be said to have already put out to sea, and though they have not quite lost sight of land, still they do their best to get away from it by recollecting their faculties.

If this recollection is genuine it is easily discerned, for it produces a certain effect that I cannot describe, but which will be recognized by those who know it from personal experience. The soul seems to rise from play - for it sees that earthly things are but toys - and therefore mounts to higher things. Like one who retires into a strong fortress to be out of danger, it withdraws the senses from outward things, so thoroughly despising them that involuntarily the eyes close so as to veil from the sight what is visible, in order that the eyes of the soul may see more clearly. Those who practice this prayer almost always keep their eyes shut during it. 

This is an excellent custom for many reasons. . . . The soul appears to gather strength and to dominate itself at the expense of the body. . . .By persevering in the habit [of recollecting itself] for several days, and by controlling ourselves, the benefits that result will become clear. We shall find that when we begin to pray the bees (symbol of the different faculties) will return to the hive and enter it to make the honey without any effort on our part, for our Lord is pleased to reward the soul and the will by this empire over the powers in return for the time spent in restraining them. Thus the mind only requires to make them a sign that it wishes to be recollected, and the senses will immediately obey us and retire within themselves. . . . When the will recalls them they return more quickly, until after they have re-entered a number of times, our Lord is pleased that they should settle entirely in perfect contemplation.(28)

It is only after the Dark Night of the Soul that Contemplation occurs. Do not let any liberal nuns or priests confuse you on this point.

In the next post, I shall continue with Mystical Prayer, which follows the Dark Night.

Just to remind people, the rosary can be meditation, but this type of prayer usually employs the active imagination with Scripture, as taught by St. Ignatius so clearly.

Also, the Liturgy of the Hours, is verbal prayer, as is singing.

to be continued.....