Monday, 13 January 2014
On Catholic Community, Again
Years ago, many years ago, in Sherborne, one of my co-workers in the parish said to me that I was a "community builder." I took this as a compliment. However, community could not be built at that time in that parish for several reasons. Some of us tried to do our little bit. We had the priest over on Saturdays for tea, and sometimes the nuns there. We also were friends with the Anglicans, building community by sharing in charity works in the town.
I have talked for decades to young people about setting up real communities. Some wanted to do so, but not enough people in their areas were interested. I especially remember one young man and his wife who were very keen on community, but could not get anyone interested in their Catholic family, their town, or their parish.
If there is a community there in his small town, I praise God. But, my idea of Catholic communities dotting the landscape of Great Britain and America has not come to pass. This is, to be blunt, a tragedy which will be clearly seen in days to come.
Catholics, to quote an often-stated truism, are not good at building communities. I have thought about this since 1972. 42 years is a long time to be considering the need for Catholic communities. From 1972-1979, I was part of a large community, which, sadly, no longer exists. At its peak, this community had 2000 members. Much of my formation for prayer and for learning to read the signs of the times came from that community experience. In those years, we were discussing the times we now see. We anticipated persecution. We talked and prayed about the decay of America. Many of us have been active in the Church since those days. A study over twenty years was done on our community and the vast majority of youth stayed in the Church as middle-aged people and were active, orthodox Catholics. Interesting.
Why most Catholics are not good at community building has been a mystery to me. I think there are several reasons and some readers will not like these points, but these must be considered. It is not too late, in my opinion, to create real communities.
1) Idolatry of the family-too many Catholics spend too much time with nonbelievers. If that energy was put towards building community with Catholics, the nonbelievers would see "how they love one another" and want to become a Catholic. Idolatry of the family also means too much of an inward looking emphasis for those with children, and the lack of effort to reach out to singles and the elderly.
2) Idolatry of independence. This is a curse of both the Americans and the British. Too many people want to spend the entire day doing what they want to do when they want to do it, not realizing that most of the time, they are indulging themselves. I speak mostly of those who could be building community, such as single people and retirees. Community means inter-dependence, and many people simply do not want this.
3) Attachment to things and to sin. Community demands sharing worldly goods and a sharing of self. If one is attached to things and to self-love, one will not want to engage with others. Too many people are "house proud" in the States and only want to entertain at parties rather than opening their houses for the sake of community building. Some British people do not want "intrusions" by people and only want to talk to people on Sunday at Church. This is very sad. And, one reason why people talk in Church in England is that they rarely see each other during the week.
4) Thinking it is too hard. It is hard, but not that hard. Some communities begin with Bible studies or shared pro-life work. Some start with home schooling moms and dads who get together with the children and parents of other home schooling moms and dads. Some start with parish projects and Adult Faith Formation classes.
5) Just plain selfishness. Community building demands time and effort. It demands sharing. Some people do not want to share. Some people do not want to share time and do not want others to know what they are doing. Period. In a good community, a balance can be made for the introverts and for the extroverts, but this takes selflessness.
6) Not seeing the absolute necessity of community. Many Catholics will fall away in the hard times because these times will be hard. The stronger members need to reach out to the weaker ones. This is a concept really lacking in Catholic circles.
7) Many Catholics, still after all this time and these posts and the warnings of others, do not believe there will be persecution of the Church. These people are lying to themselves. Communities would strengthen the Church in times of trial.
8) Catholic communities are an excellent way to raise children, but some people do not understand the need for faith formation in children. Children need to be formed with other children who are also being formed. And, Catholics communities are good for parents, to get input, and even time to be a couple without the children as shared babysitting can be set-up.
9) Some people lack creativity regarding how to set up shared activities and projects in order to build community. Catholic communities can be Adoration or Mass centered and should be. Then, in persecution, these communities can aid priests in doing their work.
10) A problem may be irregular or mixed marriages, especially in England. Communities support marriage. In this day and age of gross hatred for God's idea of marriage, community can give support and even guidance. But, couples must be willing to be involved in order to see their marriages grow in holiness and Catholicism.
11) Too many people are Sunday Catholics and do not see the need to be living their faith daily. See point #3.
12) Many Catholics do not love Jesus or His Church. The essential root of community is conversion, continual conversion to Christ and love for His Church. Love and obedience to the Magisterium are essential for Catholic communities.
To be continued
I have talked for decades to young people about setting up real communities. Some wanted to do so, but not enough people in their areas were interested. I especially remember one young man and his wife who were very keen on community, but could not get anyone interested in their Catholic family, their town, or their parish.
If there is a community there in his small town, I praise God. But, my idea of Catholic communities dotting the landscape of Great Britain and America has not come to pass. This is, to be blunt, a tragedy which will be clearly seen in days to come.
Catholics, to quote an often-stated truism, are not good at building communities. I have thought about this since 1972. 42 years is a long time to be considering the need for Catholic communities. From 1972-1979, I was part of a large community, which, sadly, no longer exists. At its peak, this community had 2000 members. Much of my formation for prayer and for learning to read the signs of the times came from that community experience. In those years, we were discussing the times we now see. We anticipated persecution. We talked and prayed about the decay of America. Many of us have been active in the Church since those days. A study over twenty years was done on our community and the vast majority of youth stayed in the Church as middle-aged people and were active, orthodox Catholics. Interesting.
Why most Catholics are not good at community building has been a mystery to me. I think there are several reasons and some readers will not like these points, but these must be considered. It is not too late, in my opinion, to create real communities.
1) Idolatry of the family-too many Catholics spend too much time with nonbelievers. If that energy was put towards building community with Catholics, the nonbelievers would see "how they love one another" and want to become a Catholic. Idolatry of the family also means too much of an inward looking emphasis for those with children, and the lack of effort to reach out to singles and the elderly.
2) Idolatry of independence. This is a curse of both the Americans and the British. Too many people want to spend the entire day doing what they want to do when they want to do it, not realizing that most of the time, they are indulging themselves. I speak mostly of those who could be building community, such as single people and retirees. Community means inter-dependence, and many people simply do not want this.
3) Attachment to things and to sin. Community demands sharing worldly goods and a sharing of self. If one is attached to things and to self-love, one will not want to engage with others. Too many people are "house proud" in the States and only want to entertain at parties rather than opening their houses for the sake of community building. Some British people do not want "intrusions" by people and only want to talk to people on Sunday at Church. This is very sad. And, one reason why people talk in Church in England is that they rarely see each other during the week.
4) Thinking it is too hard. It is hard, but not that hard. Some communities begin with Bible studies or shared pro-life work. Some start with home schooling moms and dads who get together with the children and parents of other home schooling moms and dads. Some start with parish projects and Adult Faith Formation classes.
5) Just plain selfishness. Community building demands time and effort. It demands sharing. Some people do not want to share. Some people do not want to share time and do not want others to know what they are doing. Period. In a good community, a balance can be made for the introverts and for the extroverts, but this takes selflessness.
6) Not seeing the absolute necessity of community. Many Catholics will fall away in the hard times because these times will be hard. The stronger members need to reach out to the weaker ones. This is a concept really lacking in Catholic circles.
7) Many Catholics, still after all this time and these posts and the warnings of others, do not believe there will be persecution of the Church. These people are lying to themselves. Communities would strengthen the Church in times of trial.
8) Catholic communities are an excellent way to raise children, but some people do not understand the need for faith formation in children. Children need to be formed with other children who are also being formed. And, Catholics communities are good for parents, to get input, and even time to be a couple without the children as shared babysitting can be set-up.
9) Some people lack creativity regarding how to set up shared activities and projects in order to build community. Catholic communities can be Adoration or Mass centered and should be. Then, in persecution, these communities can aid priests in doing their work.
10) A problem may be irregular or mixed marriages, especially in England. Communities support marriage. In this day and age of gross hatred for God's idea of marriage, community can give support and even guidance. But, couples must be willing to be involved in order to see their marriages grow in holiness and Catholicism.
11) Too many people are Sunday Catholics and do not see the need to be living their faith daily. See point #3.
12) Many Catholics do not love Jesus or His Church. The essential root of community is conversion, continual conversion to Christ and love for His Church. Love and obedience to the Magisterium are essential for Catholic communities.
To be continued
Spiritual Warfare from the Trenches
God allows Satan freedom these days to test the faithful. Why, I am not sure, except that many who now live will see difficult times, need to learn to be strong, and need to be perfected.
If we give God our lives, our hearts, our wills, He will take us seriously that we want to spend eternity with Him.
If you are not suffering in some way, be worried, as that means Satan no longer has to fight for your soul.
In the past ten days, I have been increasing plagued with severe asthma. The "puffer" is no longer working. I have not slept at all for two nights and two days, going into the third. I was tired to begin with. I am wheezing constantly and need to get new medication. I shall find out today whether I can afford new medication or not.
I also have increasing eye problems and the still injured foot,which because of weather has not been seen by a doctor. The polar vortex early last week interfered with many appointments in this city.
My computer is also not working off and on-I think Windows is slowly breaking up.
And, the Net is also off and on here, even though the fierce weather has passed.
I no longer am surprised at any of this, nor do I complain. God is in charge and He allows everything to happen.
I thank God for all trials and when I do so, He gives me peace, even though I am very, very tired.
Why God allows this tremendous burden which leaves me weak and confused, and other technical issues here may very well be to purify my mind, my heart, my soul. Indeed, it may also have to do with the fact that when we pray for some people, we are attacked by the evil one, who is angry that efficacious prayers are freeing people of sin, bondage, illnesses.
The "Father of Lies" may come in the guise of a person who says "God does not want suffering. He wants us all to be happy and prosperous". "Live long and prosper" may be an appropriate slogan for Vulcans, but it is not for Christians.
If one thinks one is not going to suffer, one need only read the lives of the saints. There are plenty of examples of stark spiritual warfare.
Pray for me and for all who suffer. Many people write to me for prayers and I try to pray for all the requests.
We are all in this together....just make sure you know who is behind chaos and confusion. It is the evil one.
A true story follows. I chose this to show that wherever we are, whatever we do, whoever we are, the dark evil demons will try and pull us down.
Satan went beyond all the limits of deception when he went to Father Pio pretending to be a penitent. This is the Father Pio’s testimony: “One day, while I was hearing confessions, a man came to the confessional where I was. He was tall, handsome, dressed with some refinement and he was kind and polite. He started to confess his sins, which were of every kind: against God, against man and against the morals. All the sins were obnoxious! I was disoriented, in fact for all the sins that he told me, but I responded to him with God’s Word, the example of the Church, and the morals of the Saints. But the enigmatic penitent answered me word for word, justifying his sins, always with extreme ability and politeness. He excused all the sinful actions, making them sound quite normal and natural, even comprehensible on the human level.. He continued this way with the sins that were gruesome against God, Our Lady, the Saints, always using disrespectful round-about argumentation. He kept this up even with with the foulest of sins that could be conjured in the mind of a most sinful man. The answers that he gave me with such skilled subtlety and malice surprised me. I wondered: who is he? What world does he come from? And I tried to look at him in order to read something on his face. At the same time I concentrated on every word he spoke, trying to discover any clue to his identity.. But suddenly; through a vivid, radiant and internal light I clearly recognized who he was. With a sound and imperial tone I told him: “Say long live Jesus, long live Mary!” As soon as I pronounced these sweet and powerful names, Satan instantly disappeared in a trickle of fire, leaving behind him an unbearable stench.” (Don Pierino is a priest and one of the father Pio’s spiritual sons who were present at the same time.)
from http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2010/05/saint-padre-pio-vs-devil.html
If we give God our lives, our hearts, our wills, He will take us seriously that we want to spend eternity with Him.
If you are not suffering in some way, be worried, as that means Satan no longer has to fight for your soul.
In the past ten days, I have been increasing plagued with severe asthma. The "puffer" is no longer working. I have not slept at all for two nights and two days, going into the third. I was tired to begin with. I am wheezing constantly and need to get new medication. I shall find out today whether I can afford new medication or not.
I also have increasing eye problems and the still injured foot,which because of weather has not been seen by a doctor. The polar vortex early last week interfered with many appointments in this city.
My computer is also not working off and on-I think Windows is slowly breaking up.
And, the Net is also off and on here, even though the fierce weather has passed.
I no longer am surprised at any of this, nor do I complain. God is in charge and He allows everything to happen.
I thank God for all trials and when I do so, He gives me peace, even though I am very, very tired.
Why God allows this tremendous burden which leaves me weak and confused, and other technical issues here may very well be to purify my mind, my heart, my soul. Indeed, it may also have to do with the fact that when we pray for some people, we are attacked by the evil one, who is angry that efficacious prayers are freeing people of sin, bondage, illnesses.
The "Father of Lies" may come in the guise of a person who says "God does not want suffering. He wants us all to be happy and prosperous". "Live long and prosper" may be an appropriate slogan for Vulcans, but it is not for Christians.
If one thinks one is not going to suffer, one need only read the lives of the saints. There are plenty of examples of stark spiritual warfare.
Pray for me and for all who suffer. Many people write to me for prayers and I try to pray for all the requests.
We are all in this together....just make sure you know who is behind chaos and confusion. It is the evil one.
A true story follows. I chose this to show that wherever we are, whatever we do, whoever we are, the dark evil demons will try and pull us down.
Satan went beyond all the limits of deception when he went to Father Pio pretending to be a penitent. This is the Father Pio’s testimony: “One day, while I was hearing confessions, a man came to the confessional where I was. He was tall, handsome, dressed with some refinement and he was kind and polite. He started to confess his sins, which were of every kind: against God, against man and against the morals. All the sins were obnoxious! I was disoriented, in fact for all the sins that he told me, but I responded to him with God’s Word, the example of the Church, and the morals of the Saints. But the enigmatic penitent answered me word for word, justifying his sins, always with extreme ability and politeness. He excused all the sinful actions, making them sound quite normal and natural, even comprehensible on the human level.. He continued this way with the sins that were gruesome against God, Our Lady, the Saints, always using disrespectful round-about argumentation. He kept this up even with with the foulest of sins that could be conjured in the mind of a most sinful man. The answers that he gave me with such skilled subtlety and malice surprised me. I wondered: who is he? What world does he come from? And I tried to look at him in order to read something on his face. At the same time I concentrated on every word he spoke, trying to discover any clue to his identity.. But suddenly; through a vivid, radiant and internal light I clearly recognized who he was. With a sound and imperial tone I told him: “Say long live Jesus, long live Mary!” As soon as I pronounced these sweet and powerful names, Satan instantly disappeared in a trickle of fire, leaving behind him an unbearable stench.” (Don Pierino is a priest and one of the father Pio’s spiritual sons who were present at the same time.)
from http://christtotheworld.blogspot.com/2010/05/saint-padre-pio-vs-devil.html
Sunday, 12 January 2014
What we can do without
It just dawned on me that this was the first Christmas in 30 years or so, I did not have Panettone or Stolen, my little family's favorites.
That this just dawned on me shows a bit of detachment.
That I remembered at all shows I am not in complete detachment.
That this just dawned on me shows a bit of detachment.
That I remembered at all shows I am not in complete detachment.
Great Britain Has A New Cardinal
Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, United Kingdom.
Let us all pray for him to be a real leader. St. Thomas a Becket, pray for him.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10557984/Archbishop-of-Westminster-Vincent-Nichols-made-a-Cardinal-by-Pope-Francis.html
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-announces-names-of-new-cardinals
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-new-cardinals-of-holy-roman-church.html
The Perfection Series
I can tell that new readers have missed the long perfection series from 2011 and 2012.
Here is one repost
Here is one repost
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Perfection Part Six-The Teresas
Continuing the series on perfection, I have switched temporarily from Garrigou-Lagrange to the Interior Castle of St. Teresa of Avila. In this book, St. Teresa refers to the enlargement of the heart. Quoting Prime, Teresa writes, “Cum dilatasti cor meum. When thou shalt englarge my heart”, from Psalm 119. She notes that it is not in consolations, or the “spiritual sweetness” that the heart if made larger, more capable of Love. She is writing about the characteristics of the Fourth Mansion, a state commonly attained by serious Catholics. This is the stage of pursuing one's heart's desire, not through thinking, but through loving. Teresa writes a curious sentence: “So then do whatever most en-flames your heart to love.” Those who have reflected and learned some ways of meditative prayer, and even contemplation may find this an odd statement. Teresa is encouraging the enlargement of the heart through and in Love, the pursuit of Love. She is very keen to point out that most people might not even know what Love is, and I capitalize Love, as to me, it is a Person and not a feeling. Teresa states that joy does not start in the heart, but in the will, in the desire to please God and not to offend Him. Like a good bride who defers to her husband, Teresa knows that Love is in the Will, and not in some pursuit of feelings or consolations. That the will is connected to the dilation or enlargement of the heart is a mysterious movement of the Holy Spirit, bringing the person to an awareness that the life of God springs up spontaneously, not through effort, but through Love.
And, what is it that attracts Love to the heart through the will? Humility. Teresa makes it very clear that only the humble come to this well of interior life springing up and nourishing the soul. Only those who Love Love without self-interest, without expectation, experience humility. It is as if one must see one's self as the only person on the street, in a shop, going up the stairs in a flat, loving God just for the sake of loving Him and for no other reason.
Sometimes, I play a little game of Love. When I am in a small, ordinary place, like walking to the shops, or sitting on the bus, I think, “God, there is one small person in …..who is loving You.”
For awhile, I lived on top of a high set of flats, with no elevator. I had to walk up many flights of stairs, and if I had bags of groceries, it was hard. I would stop at the top of each flight and say, “Jesus, there is one person climbing the stairs, in …..who is loving You. There is one person at 2:00 in the afternoon, who is thinking only of You.” Joy flows from these little acts of the Will, the joy which Teresa states comes not from the heart, but from the depths of one's being.
Little things lead to Love and if one is humble and realizes that one only has little things to offer, joy follows. Humility, taking the small and offering to God, is also the Little Way of St. Theresa, the Little Flower, and here, the two Teresas overlap. The third step in this way of Love is to desire suffering. This separates us from the pagans, who at all costs, want to avoid suffering. If one truly loves someone, does not one want to share in the suffering of that person in order to relieve the loneliness and isolation, which suffering causes? The Little Flower wrote of the “unfelt joy”. This is the joy which does not console. It is a type of infused knowledge that one is suffering in and with Christ, without the consolations. Again, this wells up from an interior life of grace, freely given, but available to all, not some.
The last point in these steps to real enlargement of the heart is detachment, totally, from all things and all people and even, all places. Teresa writes that self-denial must be real. It cannot be a pretence. We must even be willing not to receive grace, if that is God's desire. To be holy only in so far as He has decided that for us. We need to be completely detached even from holiness.
There is a freedom given in all of this, which allows one to have a sense of salvation, through the mercy of God, not through deeds. Such freedom leads one to be bold in God, to evangelize just by being, to recollect immediately, to have discernment and to give peace to others in mysterious ways. So, is the heart enlarged to love all, but mostly to Love Love.
If one is in grace, one can trust the movements of the Holy Spirit. Going to Mass and Confession regularly increases personal discernment. When Teresa writes, “So then do whatever most en-flames your heart to love,” she is encouraging us to follow our heart, minds, and wills to follow the vocation, the way God has chosen for us. Garrigou-Lagrange believes this call to holiness and intense intimacy with God is for all Catholics. In following one's way, in humility and peace, God works His Will in each person to lead one to perfection. This is a real possibility. The Gospel challenge from Christ Himself, “Be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect” is for all of us. To be continu
Doctors of the Church 2:45
We are all called to this. Please read the perfection series, which is over 500 posts long. I am only re-posting the
ones which include the Doctors of the Church.
Here is what St. Alphonsus states, which helps us on our road to perfection.
Sickness is the acid test of spirituality, because it discloses
whether our virtue is real or sham.
If the soul is not agitated, does not break out in lamentations, is
not feverishly restless in seeking a cure, but instead is submissive
to the doctors and to superiors, is serene and tranquil, completely
resigned to God's will, it is a sign that that soul is well- grounded
in virtue.
What of the whiner who complains of lack of attention? That his
sufferings are beyond endurance? That the doctor does not know his
business? What of the faint-hearted soul who laments that the hand of
God is too heavy upon him?
This story by St. Bonaventure in his "Life of St. Francis" is in
point: On a certain occasion when the saint was suffering
extraordinary physical pain, one of his religious meaning to
sympathize with him, said in his simplicity: "My Father, pray God
that he treat you a little more gently, for his hand seems heavy upon
you just now." Hearing this, St. Francis strongly resented the
unhappy remark of his well-meaning brother, saying: "My good brother,
did I not know that what you have just said was spoken in all
simplicity, without realizing the implication of your words, I should
never see you again because of your rashness in passing judgment on
the dispositions of divine providence." Whereupon, weak and wasted as
he was by his illness, he got out of bed, knelt down, kissed the
floor and prayed thus: "Lord, I thank thee for the sufferings thou
art sending me. Send me more, if it be thy good pleasure. My pleasure
is that you afflict me and spare me not, for the fulfillment of thy
holy will is the greatest consolation of my life."
If you really want God to show you your imperfections and sin, just pay attention to how you respond to illness.
The way to perfection can be long and hard, but one must decide to follow this path.
Only the perfect see God.
To be continued....
Doctors of the Church 2:44
More from St. Alphonsus Ligouri...
Part III - Chapter II
All the Saints have become Saints by mental prayer. Mental prayer is the blessed furnace in which souls are inflamed with the Divine love. "In my meditation", says David, "a fire shall flame out" - Psalm 38:4. Saint Vincent of Paul used to say that it would be a miracle if a sinner who attends the sermons in the mission, or in the spiritual exercises, were not converted. Now, he who preaches, and speaks in the exercises, is only a man; but it is God Himself that speaks to the soul in meditation. "I will lead her into the wilderness; and I will speak to her heart" - Hosea 2:14. Saint Catherine of Bologna used to say, "He who does not practice mental prayer deprives himself of the bond that unites the soul with God; hence, finding her alone, the devil will easily make her his own". "How", she would say, "can I conceive that the love of God is found in the soul that cares but little to treat with God in prayer"?
Where, but in meditation, have the Saints been inflamed with Divine love? By means of mental prayer, Saint Peter of Alcantara was inflamed to such a degree that in order to cool himself, he ran into a frozen pool, and the frozen water began to boil like water in a caldron placed on the fire. In mental prayer, Saint Philip Neri became inflamed, and trembled so that he shook the entire room. In mental prayer, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was so inflamed with Divine ardor that his very face appeared to be on fire, and his heart beat as strongly as if it wished to fly from the body.
Saint Laurence Justinian says: "By the efficacy of mental prayer, temptation is banished, sadness is driven away, lost virtue is restored, fervor which has grown cold is excited, and the lovely flame of Divine love is augmented". Hence, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga has justly said that he who does not make much mental prayer will never attain a high degree of perfection.
A man of prayer, says David, is like a tree planted near the current of waters, which brings forth fruit in due time; all his actions prosper before God. "Blessed is the man . . . who shall meditate on His law day and night! And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in due season, and his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper" - Psalm 1:1-3. Mark the words "in due season"; that is, at the time when he ought to bear such a pain, such an affront, etc.
Saint John Chrysostom compared mental prayer to a fountain in the middle of a garden. Oh! what an abundance of flowers and verdant plants do we see in the garden which is always refreshed with water from the fountain! Such, precisely is the soul that practices mental prayer; you will see, that it always advances in good desires, and that it always brings forth more abundant fruits of virtue. Whence does the soul receive so many blessings? From meditation, by which it is continually irrigated. "Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard . . . The fountain of gardens, the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus" - Canticles 4:13,15. But let the fountain cease to water the garden, and, behold, the flowers, plants, and all instantly wither away; and why? Because the water has failed. You will see that as long as such a person makes mental prayer, he is modest, humble, devout, and mortified in all things. But let him omit meditation, and you will instantly find him wanting in modesty of the eyes, proud, resenting every word, indevout, no longer frequenting the Sacraments and the church; you will find him attached to vanity, to useless conversations, to pastimes, and to earthly pleasures; and why? The water has failed, and, therefore, fervor has ceased. "My soul is as earth without water unto thee. . . . My spirit hath fainted away" - Psalm 142:6-7. The soul has neglected mental prayer, the garden is therefore dried up, and the miserable soul does from bad to worse. When a soul abandons meditation, Saint Chrysostom regards it not only as sick, but as dead. "He", says the holy Doctor, "who prays not to God, nor desires to enjoy assiduously His Divine conversation, is dead. . . . The death of a soul is not to be prostrated before God".
The same Father says that mental prayer is the root of the fruitful vine. And Saint John Climacus writes, that prayer is a bulwark against the assault of afflictions, the spring of virtues, the procurer of graces. Rufinus asserts, that all the spiritual progress of the soul flows from mental prayer. And Gerson goes so far as to say that he who neglects meditation cannot, without a miracle, lead the life of a Christian. Speaking of mental prayer, Jeremiah says, "He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace; because he hath taken it up upon himself" - Lamentations 3:28. That is, a soul cannot have a relish for God, unless it withdraws from creatures, and sits, that is, stops to contemplate the goodness, the love, the amiableness of God. But when solitary and recollected in meditation-----that is, when it takes away its thoughts from the world-----it is then raised above itself; and departs from prayer very different from what it was when it began it.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola used to say that mental prayer is the short way to attain perfection. In a word, he who advances most in meditation makes the greatest progress in perfection. In mental prayer the soul is filled with holy thoughts, with holy affections, desires, and holy resolutions, and with love for God. There man sacrifices his passions, his appetites, his earthly attachments, and all the interests of self-love. Moreover, by praying for them, in mental prayer, we can save many sinners, as was done by Saint Teresa, Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and is done by all souls enamored of God, who never omit, in their meditations, to recommend to Him all infidels, heretics, and all poor sinners, begging Him also to give zeal to priests who work in His vineyard, that they may convert His enemies. In mental prayer we can also by the sole desire of performing them, gain the merit of many good works which we do not perform. For, as the Lord punishes bad desires, so, on the other hand, He rewards all our good desires.
To be continued...
I do not think that Alphonsus needs commentary. In his book, PRAYER : THE GREAT MEANS OF SALVATION AND OF PERFECTION, which is found on line here, he clearly tell us what we must do to become perfect. Here is one section. I anyone wants commentary on this long section, let me know.
Part III - Chapter II
MENTAL PRAYER IS INDISPENSABLE IN ORDER TO ATTAIN PERFECTION
All the Saints have become Saints by mental prayer. Mental prayer is the blessed furnace in which souls are inflamed with the Divine love. "In my meditation", says David, "a fire shall flame out" - Psalm 38:4. Saint Vincent of Paul used to say that it would be a miracle if a sinner who attends the sermons in the mission, or in the spiritual exercises, were not converted. Now, he who preaches, and speaks in the exercises, is only a man; but it is God Himself that speaks to the soul in meditation. "I will lead her into the wilderness; and I will speak to her heart" - Hosea 2:14. Saint Catherine of Where, but in meditation, have the Saints been inflamed with Divine love? By means of mental prayer, Saint Peter of Alcantara was inflamed to such a degree that in order to cool himself, he ran into a frozen pool, and the frozen water began to boil like water in a caldron placed on the fire. In mental prayer, Saint Philip Neri became inflamed, and trembled so that he shook the entire room. In mental prayer, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was so inflamed with Divine ardor that his very face appeared to be on fire, and his heart beat as strongly as if it wished to fly from the body.
Saint Laurence Justinian says: "By the efficacy of mental prayer, temptation is banished, sadness is driven away, lost virtue is restored, fervor which has grown cold is excited, and the lovely flame of Divine love is augmented". Hence, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga has justly said that he who does not make much mental prayer will never attain a high degree of perfection.
A man of prayer, says David, is like a tree planted near the current of waters, which brings forth fruit in due time; all his actions prosper before God. "Blessed is the man . . . who shall meditate on His law day and night! And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in due season, and his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper" - Psalm 1:1-3. Mark the words "in due season"; that is, at the time when he ought to bear such a pain, such an affront, etc.
Saint John Chrysostom compared mental prayer to a fountain in the middle of a garden. Oh! what an abundance of flowers and verdant plants do we see in the garden which is always refreshed with water from the fountain! Such, precisely is the soul that practices mental prayer; you will see, that it always advances in good desires, and that it always brings forth more abundant fruits of virtue. Whence does the soul receive so many blessings? From meditation, by which it is continually irrigated. "Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard . . . The fountain of gardens, the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus" - Canticles 4:13,15. But let the fountain cease to water the garden, and, behold, the flowers, plants, and all instantly wither away; and why? Because the water has failed. You will see that as long as such a person makes mental prayer, he is modest, humble, devout, and mortified in all things. But let him omit meditation, and you will instantly find him wanting in modesty of the eyes, proud, resenting every word, indevout, no longer frequenting the Sacraments and the church; you will find him attached to vanity, to useless conversations, to pastimes, and to earthly pleasures; and why? The water has failed, and, therefore, fervor has ceased. "My soul is as earth without water unto thee. . . . My spirit hath fainted away" - Psalm 142:6-7. The soul has neglected mental prayer, the garden is therefore dried up, and the miserable soul does from bad to worse. When a soul abandons meditation, Saint Chrysostom regards it not only as sick, but as dead. "He", says the holy Doctor, "who prays not to God, nor desires to enjoy assiduously His Divine conversation, is dead. . . . The death of a soul is not to be prostrated before God".
The same Father says that mental prayer is the root of the fruitful vine. And Saint John Climacus writes, that prayer is a bulwark against the assault of afflictions, the spring of virtues, the procurer of graces. Rufinus asserts, that all the spiritual progress of the soul flows from mental prayer. And Gerson goes so far as to say that he who neglects meditation cannot, without a miracle, lead the life of a Christian. Speaking of mental prayer, Jeremiah says, "He shall sit solitary, and hold his peace; because he hath taken it up upon himself" - Lamentations 3:28. That is, a soul cannot have a relish for God, unless it withdraws from creatures, and sits, that is, stops to contemplate the goodness, the love, the amiableness of God. But when solitary and recollected in meditation-----that is, when it takes away its thoughts from the world-----it is then raised above itself; and departs from prayer very different from what it was when it began it.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola used to say that mental prayer is the short way to attain perfection. In a word, he who advances most in meditation makes the greatest progress in perfection. In mental prayer the soul is filled with holy thoughts, with holy affections, desires, and holy resolutions, and with love for God. There man sacrifices his passions, his appetites, his earthly attachments, and all the interests of self-love. Moreover, by praying for them, in mental prayer, we can save many sinners, as was done by Saint Teresa, Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and is done by all souls enamored of God, who never omit, in their meditations, to recommend to Him all infidels, heretics, and all poor sinners, begging Him also to give zeal to priests who work in His vineyard, that they may convert His enemies. In mental prayer we can also by the sole desire of performing them, gain the merit of many good works which we do not perform. For, as the Lord punishes bad desires, so, on the other hand, He rewards all our good desires.
To be continued...
I cannot write about baptism enough....
If you are a Catholic couple putting off baptism until a baby is several months on, you are wrong, wrong, wrong................
Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by Original Sin, children also have need of new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and be brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God….The Church and parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer baptism shortly after birth. CCC # 1250.
But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think that one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day We [the bishops] all thought very differently in our council. For in this course which you thought was to be taken, no one agreed; but we all rather judge that the mercy and grace of God is not to be refused to any one born of man. St. Cyprian of Carthage. Epist# 58.
Doctors of the Church 2:43
A short thought on perfection...
"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
St Alphonsus de Liguori
The Three Epiphanies of Christ
In the Catholic Byzantine Rite and in the Orthodox Tradition, today is the Epiphany, the showing forth of God to all.
Here is a great icon of this event. Christ is being revealed to the world in His Baptism, which is not to take away any sin from Him, the sinless one, but to show up the way to freedom from sin.
Today, God is "shining forth", "being manifested" to the world of the disciples and those who were following John
This Epiphany is one of three: the Epiphany to the Three Kings, this one of the Baptism of Christ, and the third is the Transfiguration.
Meditating on the Three Epiphanies reveals a pattern of God giving His Son to the world at key points in Christ's Life.
The first, at His Birth, emphasizing the Incarnation; the second in the Jordan, emphasizing the proclamation of the Gospel to the world; and the third, the Transfiguration, the announcement of Christ's glory which will happen in the Resurrection from the Dead.
Troparion (Tone 1)
When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan. The worship of the Trinity was made manifest. For the voice of the Father bore witness to You and called You His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, Confirmed the truthfulness of His word. O Christ, our God, You have revealed Yourself And have enlightened the world, glory to You!
Kontakion (Tone 4)
Today You have shown forth to the world, O Lord, and the light of Your countenance has been marked on us. Knowing You, we sing Your praises. You have come and revealed Yourself, O unapproachable Light.
Troparion (Tone 4)
- Today the Lord enters the Jordan and cries out to John: “Do not be afraid to baptize me. For I have come to save Adam, the first-formed man.”
Kontakion (Tone 4)
- Prepare, O Zebulon, And adorn yourself, O Naphtali; River Jordan, cease flowing And receive with joy the Master coming to be baptized. Adam, rejoice with our First Mother And do not hide yourself as you did of old in Paradise; For having seen you naked, He has appeared to clothe you with the first garment. Christ has appeared to renew all creation.
Again, on Baptism
See all my articles on baptism and confirmation.
Good stuff here, especially with the Anglicans moving away from exorcisms and the renouncing of Satan.
For Catholics.....
Good stuff here, especially with the Anglicans moving away from exorcisms and the renouncing of Satan.
For Catholics.....
the Code of Canon Law states:
Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it. If the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptised without any delay. Can. 867 §1,§2
The Catechism states: The Church and parents deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer baptism shortly after birth. (CCC # 1250)
If parents are not scheduling the baptism of babies within the first few weeks after birth, they are leaving their baby in Original Sin and they are also disobedient to the Church.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Because of Copyright Rules
I can only give you a link to my favorite reredos in the Western World...the Baptism of Christ in St. John's Co-Cathedral.
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/reredos/interesting/
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/reredos/interesting/
Doctors of the Church 2:42
One of the most loved Doctors of the Church wrote, perhaps, more on love, than any other.
St. Alphonsus Ligouri gives us plain and simple ways to attain perfection. Here is a list from this link. I shall expound on the writings of this great saint of the next few days. The emphasis is always on purification of the heart. The work I shall be examining is on line here. St. Alphonsus knew that prayer is the key to purification of the heart.
1. To desire ardently to increase in the love of Jesus Christ.
2. Often to make acts of love towards Jesus Christ. Immediately on waking, and before going to sleep, to make an act of love, seeking always to unite your own will to the will of Jesus Christ.
3. Often to meditate on his Passion.
4. Always to ask Jesus Christ for his love.
5. To communicate often, and many times in the day to make spiritual Communions.
6. Often to visit the Most Holy Sacrament.
7. Every morning to receive from the hands of Jesus Christ himself your own cross.
8. To desire Paradise and death, in order to be able to love Jesus Christ perfectly and for all eternity.
9. Often to speak of the love of Jesus Christ.
10. To accept contradictions for the sake of Jesus Christ.
11. To rejoice in the happiness of God.
12. To do that which is most pleasing to Jesus Christ, and not to refuse him anything that is agreeable to him.
13. To desire and to endeavor that all should love Jesus Christ.
14. To pray always for sinners and for the souls in purgatory.
15. To drive from your heart every affection that does not belong to Jesus Christ.
16. Always to have recourse to the most holy Mary, that she may obtain for us the love of Jesus Christ.
17. To honor Mary in order to please Jesus Christ.
18. To seek to please Jesus Christ in all your actions,
19. To offer yourself to Jesus Christ to suffer any pain for his love.
20 To be always determined to die rather than commit a willful venial sin.
27. To suffer crosses patiently, saying, "Thus it pleases Jesus Christ."
22. To renounce your own pleasures for the love of Jesus Christ.
23. To pray as much as possible.
24. To practice all the mortifications that obedience permits.
25. To do all your spiritual exercises as if it were for the last time.
26. To persevere in good works in the time of aridity.
27. Not to do nor yet to leave undone anything through human respect.
28. Not to complain in sickness.
29. To love solitude, to be able to converse alone with Jesus Christ.
30. To drive away melancholy [i.e. gloom].
37. Often to recommend yourself to those persons who love Jesus Christ.
32. In temptation, to have recourse to Jesus crucified, and to Mary in her sorrows.
33. To trust entirely in the Passion of Jesus Christ.
34. After committing a fault, not to be discouraged, but to repent and resolve to amend.
35. To do good to those who do evil.
36. To speak well of all, and to excuse the intention when you cannot defend the action.
37. To help your neighbor as much as you can.
38. Neither to say nor to do anything that might vex him. And if you have been wanting in charity, to ask his pardon and speak kindly to him.
39. Always to speak with mildness and in a low tone.
40. To offer to Jesus Christ all the contempt and persecution that you meet with.
41. To look upon [religious] Superiors as the representatives of Jesus Christ.
42. To obey without answering and without repugnance, and not to seek your own satisfaction in anything.
43. To like the lowest employment.
44. To like the poorest things.
45. Not to speak either good or evil of yourself.
46. To humble yourself even towards inferiors.
47. Not to excuse yourself when you are reproved.
48. Not to defend yourself when found fault with.
49. To be silent when you are disquieted [i.e. upset].
50. Always to renew your determination of becoming a saint, saying, "My Jesus, I desire to be all Yours, and You must be all mine."
To be continued...
Repost and Please Pray for Priests NOW
Pray for Excellent Priests
More from St. Alphonsus:
The dignity of the priest is also estimated from the power that he has over the real and the mystic body of Jesus Christ. With regard to the power of priests over the real body of Jesus Christ, it is of faith that when they pronounce the words of consecration the Incarnate Word has obliged Himself to obey and to come into their hands under the Sacramental Species. We are struck with wonder when we hear that God obeyed the voice of Josue-----The Lord obeying the voice of man-----and made the sun stand when He said move not, O sun, towards Gabaon . . . and the sun stood still. But our wonder should be far greater when we find that in obedience to the words of his priests-----HOC EST CORPUS MEUM-----God Himself descends on the altar, that He comes wherever they call Him, and as often as they call Him, and places Himself in their hands, even though they should be His enemies. And after having come, He remains, entirely at their disposal; they move Him as they please, from one place to another; they may, if they wish, shut Him up in the tabernacle, or expose Him on the altar, or carry Him outside the church; they may, if they choose, eat His flesh and give Him for the food of others. "Oh, how very great is their power," says St. Laurence Justinian, speaking of priests. "A word falls from their lips and the body of Christ is there substantially formed from the matter of bread, and the Incarnate Word descended from Heaven, is found really present on the table of the altar! Never did Divine goodness give such power to the Angels. The Angels abide by the order of God, but the priests take Him in their hands, distribute Him to the faithful, and partake of Him as food for themselves."
With regard to the mystic body of Christ, that is, all the faithful, the priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from Hell, of making them worthy of Paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God Himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of His priests, and either not to pardon or to pardon, according as they refuse or give absolution, provided the penitent is capable of it. "Such is," says St. Maximus of Turin, "this judiciary power ascribed to Peter that its decision carries with it the decision of God." The sentence of the priest precedes, and God subscribes to it, writes St. Peter Damian. Hence, St John Chrysostom thus concludes: The sovereign Master of the universe only follows the servant by confirming in Heaven all that the latter decides upon earth." Priests are the dispensers of the Divine graces and the companions of God." Consider the priests," says St. Ignatius, Martyr, "as the dispensers of Divine graces and the associates of God." "They are," says St. Prosper, "the glory and the immovable columns of the Church; thay are the doors of the eternal city; through them all reach Christ; they are the vigilant guardians to whom the Lord has confided the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; they are the stewards of the king's house, to assign to each according to His good pleasure His place in the hierarchy." Were the Redeemer to descend into a church, and sit in a confessional to administer the Sacrament of Penance, and a priest to sit in another confessional, Jesus would say over each penitent, "Ego te absolvo," the priest would likewise say over each of his penitents, "Ego te absolvo," and the penitents of each would be equally absolved. How great the honor that a king would confer on a subject whom he should empower to rescue from prison as many as he pleased! But far greater is the power that the eternal Father has given to Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ has given to his priests, to rescue from Hell not only the bodies but also the souls of the faithful: "The Son," says St. John Chrysostom, "has put into the hands of the priests all judgment; for having been as it were transported into Heaven, they have received this Divine prerogative. If a king gave to a mortal the power to release from prison all prisoners, all would pronounce such a one happy; but priests have received from God a far greater power, since the soul is more noble than the body."
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Thus the sacerdotal dignity is the most noble of all the dignities in this world." Nothing," says St. Ambrose, "is more excellent in this world." It transcends, says St. Bernard, "all the dignities of kings, of emperors, and of Angels." According to St. Ambrose, the dignity of the priest as far exceeds that of kings, as the value of gold surpasses that of lead. The reason is, because the power of kings extends only to temporal goods and to the bodies of men, but the power of the priest extends to spiritual goods and to the human soul. Hence, says St. Clement, "as much as the soul is more noble than the body, so much is the priesthood more excellent than royalty." "Princes," says St. John Chrysostom, "have the power of binding, but they bind only the bodies, while the priest binds the souls." The kings of the earth glory in honoring priests: "It is a mark of a good prince," says pope St. Marcellinus, "to honor the priests of God." "They willingly," says Peter de Blois, "bend their knee before the priest of God; they kiss his hands, and with bowed down head receIve his benediction." "The sacerdotal dignity," says St. Chrysostom, "effaces the royal dignity; hence the king inclines his head under the hand of the priest to receive his blessing."
Baronius relates that when the Empress Eusebia sent for Leontius, Bishop of Tripoli, he said that if she wished to see him, she should consent to two conditions: first, that on his arrival she should instantly descend from the throne, and bowing down her head, should ask his benediction; secondly, that he should be seated on the throne, and that she should not sit upon it without his permission: he added, that unless she submitted to these conditions he should never go to the palace. Being invited to the table of the Emperor Maximus, St. Martin, in taking a draught, first paid a mark of respect to his chaplain, and then to the emperor. In the Council of Nice, the Emperor Constantine wished to sit in the last place, after all the priests, and on a seat lower than that which they occupied; he would not even sit down without their permission. The holy king St. Boleslans had so great a veneration for priests, that he would not dare to sit in their presence. The sacerdotal dignity also surpasses the dignity of the Angels, who likewise show their veneration for the priesthood, says St. Gregory Nazianzen. All the Angels in Heaven cannot absolve from a single sin. The Angels guardian procure for the souls committed to their care grace to have recourse to a priest that he may absolve them: "Although," says St. Peter Damian, "Angels may be present, they yet wait lor the priest to exercise his power, but no one of them has the power of the keys-----of binding and of loosening." When St. Michael comes to a dying Christian who invokes his aid, the holy Archangel can chase away the devils, but he cannot free his client from their chains till a priest comes to absolve him. After having given the order of priesthood to a holy ecclesiastic, St. Francis de Sales perceived, that in going out he stopped at the door as if to give precedence to another. Being asked by the Saint why he stopped, he answered that God favored him with the visible presence of his Angel guardian, who before he had received priesthood always remained at his right and preceded him, but afterwards walked on his left and refused to go before him. It was in a holy contest with the Angel that he stopped at the door. St. Francis of Assisi used to say, "If I saw an Angel and a priest, I would bend my knee first to the priest and then to the Angel." Besides, the power of the priest surpasses that of the Blessed Virgin Mary; for, although this Divine Mother can pray for us, and by her prayers obtain whatever she wishes, yet she cannot absolve a Christian from even the smallest sin. "The Blessed Virgin was eminently more perfect than the Apostles," says Innocent III. "It was, however, not to her, but only to the Apostles, that the Lord intrusted the keys of the kingdom of Heaven." St. Bernardine of Sienna has written: "Holy Virgin, excuse me, for I speak not against thee: the Lord has raised the priesthood above thee." The Saint assigns the reason of the superiority of the priesthood over Mary; she conceived Jesus Christ only once; but by consecrating the Eucharist, the priest, as it were, conceives Him as often as he wishes, so that if the person of the Redeemer had not as yet been in the world, the priest, by pronouncing the words of consecration, would produce this great person of a Man-God. "O wonderful dignity of the priests," cries out St. Augustine; "in their hands, as in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, the Son of God becomes incarnate." Hence priests are called the parents of Jesus Christ: such is the title that St. Bernard gives them, for they are the active cause by which He is made to exist really in the consecrated Host. Thus the priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by saying the words of consecration, he creates, as it were, Jesus in the Sacrament, by giving Him a Sacramental existence, and produces Him as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father. As in creating the world it was sufficient for God to have said, Let it be made, and it was created-----He spoke, and they were made-----so it is sufficient for the priest to say, "Hoc est corpus meum," and behold the bread is no longer bread, but the body of Jesus Christ. "The power of the priest," says St. Bernardine of Sienna, "is the power of the Divine person; for the transubstantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world." And St. Augustine has written, "O venerable sanctity of the hands! O happy function of the priest! He that created [if I may say so] gave me the power to create Him; and He that created me without me is Himself created by me!" "As the Word of God created Heaven and earth, so," says St. Jerome, "the words of the priest create Jesus Christ." "At a sign from God there came forth from nothing both the sublime vault of the Heavens and the vast extent of the earth; but not less great is the power that manifests itself in the mysterious words of the priest." The dignity of the priest is so great, that he even blesses Jesus Christ on the altar as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father. In the sacrifice of the Mass, writes Father Mansi, Jesus Christ is the principal offerer and victim; as minister, He blesses the priest, but as victim, the priest blesses Him.
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The greatness of the dignity of a priest is also estimated from the high place that he occupies. The priesthood is called, at the synod of Chartres, in 1550, the seat of the Saints. Priests are called Vicars of Jesus Christ, because they hold his place on earth. "You hold the place of Christ," says St. Augustine to them; "you are therefore His lieutenants." In the Council of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo called priests the representatives of the person of God on earth. And before him, the Apostle said: For Christ we are ambassadors, God, as it were, exhorting by us. When He ascended into Heaven, Jesus Christ left His priests after Him to hold on earth His place of mediator between God and men, particularly on the altar. "Let the priest," says St. Laurence Justinian, " approach the altar as another Christ."
According to St. Cyprian, a priest at the altar performs the office of Christ. When, says St. Chrysostom, you have seen a priest offering sacrifice,consider that the hand of Christ is invisibly extended. The priest holds the place of the Savior Himself, when, by saying "Ego te absolvo," he absolves from sin. This great power, which Jesus Christ has received from His eternal Father, He has communicated to His priests. "Jesus," says Tertullian, "invests the priests with His own powers." To pardon a single sin requires all the omnipotence of God. "O God, Who chiefly manifestest Thy almighty power in pardoning and showing mercy," etc., says the holy Church in one of her prayers. Hence, when they heard that Jesus Christ pardoned the sins of the paralytic, the Jews justly said: Who can forgive sins but God alone. But what only God can do by His omnipotence, the priest can also do by saying "Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis;" for the forms of the Sacraments, or the words of the forms, produce what they signify. What the priest does what is wonderful, for by saying "Ego te absolvo" he changes the sinner from an enemy into the friend of God, and from the slave of Hell into an heir of Paradise. Cardinal Hugo represents the Lord addressing the following words to a priest who absolves a sinner: "I have created Heaven and earth, but I leave to you a better and nobler creation; make out of this soul that is in sin a new soul, that is, make out of the slave of Satan, that the soul is, a child of God. I have made the earth bring forth all kinds of fruit, but to thee I confide a more beautiful creation, namely, that the soul should bring forth fruits of salvation." The soul without grace is a withered tree that can no longer produce fruit; but receiving the Divine grace, through the ministry of a priest, it brings forth fruits of eternal life, St. Augustine says, that to sanctify a sinner is a greater work than to create Heaven and earth. And hast thou, says Job, an arm like God, and canst thou thunder with a voice like Him? Who is it that has an arm like the arm of God, and thunders with a voice like the thundering voice of God? It is the priest, who, in giving absolution, exerts the arm and voice of God, by which he rescues souls from Hell. According to St. Ambrose, a priest, in absolving a sinner, performs the very office of the Holy Ghost in the sanctification of souls. Hence, in giving priests the power of absolving from sin, the Redeemer breathed on them, and said to them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins you shall forgive, they are foygiven, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. He gave them his own Spirit, that is, the Holy Ghost, the sanctifier of souls. and thus made them, according to the words of the Apostle, His own co-adjutors: We are God's co-adjutors. "On priests," says St. Gregory. "it is incumbent to give the final decision, for by the right that they have received from the Lord they now remit, now retain sins." St. Clement, then, had reason to say that the priest is, as it were, a God on earth. God, said David, stood in the congregation of the gods. These gods are, according to St. Augustine, the priests of God. Innocent III has written: "Indeed, it is not too much to say that in view of the sublimity of their offices the priests are so many gods." VI. Conclusion. How great, then, says St. Ambrose, the disorder to see in the same person the highest dignity and a life of scandal, a Divine profession and wicked conduct! What, says Salvian, is a sublime dignity conferred on an unworthy person but a gem enchased in mire? Neither doth any man, says St. Paul, take the honor to himself, but he that is called by God, as Aaron was. For Christ did not glorify Himself that He might be made a high priest, but He that said unto Him: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Let no one, he says, dare to ascend to the priesthood, without first receiving, as Aaron did, the Divine call; for even Jesus Christ would not of Himself assume the honor of the priesthood, but waited till His Father called Him to it. From this we may infer the greatness of the sacerdotal dignity. But the greater its sublimity, the more it should be dreaded. "For," says St. Jerome, "great is the dignity of priests; but also, when they sin, great is their ruin. Let us rejoice at having been raised so high, but let us be afraid of falling." Lamenting, St. Gregory cries out: "Purified by the hands of the priest the elect enter the Heavenly country, and alas! priests precipitate themselves into the fire of Hell!" The Saint compares priests to the Baptismal water which cleanses the Baptized from their sins, and sends them to Heaven, "and is afterwards thrown into the sink." |
Excellent Talks from Earlier This Past Year
Thanks to Diane for this posting. Following ones are on YouTube.
"Make your own relics!"
The second great phrase from the series is rebellling against God is called by apostates, "informed dissent".
As Father Casey points out, Lucifer is the first to teach "informed dissent."
http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2013/12/fr-bill-casey-cpm-on-toughest-opponent.html
"Make your own relics!"
The second great phrase from the series is rebellling against God is called by apostates, "informed dissent".
As Father Casey points out, Lucifer is the first to teach "informed dissent."
http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2013/12/fr-bill-casey-cpm-on-toughest-opponent.html
Any bishops or laity who support this administration should be ashamed...horrified
(CNN) - The Justice Department announced Friday it will recognize – for federal purposes – same-sex marriages performed for a short period in Utah.
The state on Wednesday said it would not recognize the approximately 1,000 marriages or marriage licenses issued for gay and lesbian couples, at least until the issue is fully resolved in the courts.
“These families should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their status as the litigation unfolds,” Attorney General Eric Holder said in a videotaped message.
“In the days ahead, we will continue to coordinate across the federal government to ensure the timely provision of every federal benefit to which Utah couples and couples throughout the country are entitled – regardless of whether they in same-sex or opposite-sex marriages,” he added.
Read more: CNN.com
Read more at http://clashdaily.com/2014/01/breaking-obama-administration-will-recognize-sex-marriages-utah/#rQ8XewO93pmrL5Fl.99
Again, on the cult of personality
Several times in the past five years, I have written on the cult of personality. After reading Paul C. Vitz, Faith of the Fatherless, it is clear to me that the substitution of tyrants could very well be because people have an inflated view of leaders as fathers. I make this extrapolation looking at the growing cult of personality, which revealed itself to me in 2007 in the States.
During the media crisis of the first few months of the current papacy, this was true. People wanted a perfect man to be pope. Well, he is not perfect. Neither am I. But, those most distressed are those who fall into the cult of personality.
Also, the huge over-idolization of movies stars, political leaders and even CEOs, has led more and more to the worship of persons, rather than the worship of God.
For a man to come into the world, claim to be the savior of all economic and political problems, and then be given the power to do so, a man usually called the Anti-Christ, would be easier and easier coup to "pull-off" in this climate of hero-worship.
The lack of fathers provides an entire club of people who are looking for someone to take care of them, to guide them, to mold them.
The popularity of super-hero movies may be part of this sensibility to the cult of personality.
See how easy it would be for one superman, one extremely talented leader to take over, using the emotional needs of an entire world of fatherless creatures.
Vitz noted that most atheists are highly intelligent, are ambitious, are arrogant and vain. This sounds like many of our so-called leaders today.
Envy and personal resentment cause arrogance, and even atheism. I see this close at hand. That many Americans now hate the good, the true and the beautiful, as Vitz notes atheist so, is a sad declaration of the attitudes of arrogance and hatred coming out of the world of the atheists.
Hatred leads to envy and envy leads to the politics of envy, which we now see in America. How easy it would be for one tyrant to stir up this envy to a frenzied state, and take control after the chaos of civil war.
We need to pray, reflect, study, act....or we shall be swept away in that chaos.
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