Resolutions

Never forget the age-old advice of making resolutions at the end of your prayer. Without it you will never move forward in the spiritual life, for you will have nothing concrete with which to change, and the devil can convince you of growth when in fact you have gone backwards!

Ask the Lord what He wants you to do. Then do it.

Care first for the person

In the Apostolate, you must care for the person first. You cannot help a soul grow in the virtue if its creaturely needs are not met. You cannot help a soul to grow in the virtue of purity if its body is overtired.

If a person first knows he is loved above all else, then helping him to grow in virtue follows naturally. The help you offer his soul will do nothing but harm if that love can be questioned.

Do what you are doing

Think of Mary in Nazareth, sweeping the floor of her humble house. She does not leave crevices and corners untouched, but methodically, calmly sweeps the entire floor until it is perfectly clean. She is lost in the rhythm of the sweeping, contemplating whatever the Lord desires. Perhaps it is simply watching the dust as it is wisked from the floor by her broom, or perhaps this has drawn her to contemplate higher things.

If you are going to sweep the floor, sweep the floor.

Soiled gift

Soul: "Lord, You have given me everything--I can only give You what You have given me... but why must I always soil it first?"

Lion: "What does it matter? I gave you My mother."

Whenever there is a stain on anything, I immediately call my mother for directions to remove it--or better yet, give it to her to clean! No one can remove stains to make it like new as my mother can.

How much more so our Mother in heaven with our souls?

Jesus center stage

Follow Mary's example in always pushing Jesus to center stage. Mary is always saying her Magnificat and redirecting all attention and praise to her Son and Lord.

This is especially important in the apostolate. Others will be drawn to you because they see Christ in you, but if you are not careful they will attach themselves to you rather than Him. Our job is not to be the answer men and women for the world, but rather to lead them to the answer: Jesus.

The Word

The Word was made flesh...

Jesus is God's Word. Therefore everything that He wishes to tell us is in His Son. Whatever you wish to ask God, look to Jesus, His eternal Word. Look at His life, His works, His death. Here you will find everything you need to know from God. You will know Truth, Mercy, Humility and Love.

How well Mary knew God! She carried Him in her womb, she gazed upon His face and listened to His actions and words His whole life through. Let us learn from Mary!

Selfish beloved

How selfish is the beloved if she desires to be loved because she is perfect! If she denies her lover because she is with blemish!

For a true lover will love her with her blemish and can make her spotless once more.

O self-love, how many lives do you have? You are worse than a bad penny.