"There is but one thing that is of infinite value in His eyes, and that is love of God; love, love, and once again, love. Nothing can compare with a single act of pure love of God." -St Faustina
When you look upon your own misery, upon all of your sins, do not despair of ever pleasing Him. Know that there is something that has infinite value in the eyes of God-- love. Strive to act always with love, to better know love and to love better. This will be more pleasing to Him than all the penance you can muster.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Freedom
Unlike so many earthly parents, who upon discovering displeasing behavior in their children put them in lockdown, God does not have a control mode. God is willing to risk everything, that we may choose to know Truth and choose to love Him!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Win the heart
The Apostolate is not a battle of the mind, but of the heart. We must always seek to win the heart before the mind, for it is in the heart that God works. The mind will follow, by realizing what the heart has come to know, but it is much harder the other way around. The mind will not be open to learning that which the heart does not know or love.
We are not introducing souls to an intellectual institution. We are introducing souls to the person of Jesus for whom they ache, that they may fall in love and be transformed into their Lover.
We are not introducing souls to an intellectual institution. We are introducing souls to the person of Jesus for whom they ache, that they may fall in love and be transformed into their Lover.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
If you despair after a fall
"If [after falling] he yields to anger and despairs of advancing on the way of virtue, it is evident that he placed his confidence in himself and not in God. The greater the anxiety and despondence, the greater is the certainty of his guilt." --Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
If you despair after you fall and find yourself upset and confused, be confused no more. You relied on your own strength and forgot what you are: dust, and to dust you will return.
If you despair after you fall and find yourself upset and confused, be confused no more. You relied on your own strength and forgot what you are: dust, and to dust you will return.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
God is not you
"Do not measure God with your limitations." -Fr. Lanteri
So you cannot forgive, cannot love purely, cannot be merciful, patient or kind. What does this have to do with God? He is Love and Mercy. Do not presume that He does not forgive you because you cannot forgive your friend. Do not presume that He does not love you with your faults, because you cannot love your friend who irritates you. God is infinite Goodness. We cannot fathom Him. What a pity you take a page from the world and insist that He can be no better than you.
So you cannot forgive, cannot love purely, cannot be merciful, patient or kind. What does this have to do with God? He is Love and Mercy. Do not presume that He does not forgive you because you cannot forgive your friend. Do not presume that He does not love you with your faults, because you cannot love your friend who irritates you. God is infinite Goodness. We cannot fathom Him. What a pity you take a page from the world and insist that He can be no better than you.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Leading and the Authentic Woman
What is a woman to do when a man abdicates his leadership role, or tries to lead her down the wrong path? How is she to correct him and save him, without falling into the fault of Eve, and stepping into His role as leader and initiator?
The man's predominant quality in decision making is logic. This provides him the gift of focus and reducing large issues into something about which a decision can be made, as well as offering a rational solution. His danger, however, is that this reduced state is not reality. The world is big and complicated and the possibilities and perspectives limitless. Thus he may make a very "rational" decision that is based in unreality, and is harmful to all involved.
The woman's predominant quality in decision making is intuition. This provides her the gift of seeing the big picture as well as the painful, infinite details and perspectives. This intuition allows her a better grasp of reality. Her danger, however, is to be overwhelmed by this infinite gulf of emotions and facts and perspectives, such that she cannot make a decision at all, or if she does, it can never take into account all of her intuition and is always biased and emotional, and therefore often harmful to those involved.
The authentic woman will never demand a leadership role for her intuition. However she will demand that it be heard. She will insist that it be heard, because the man will often deny its very existence, as it falls outside of his narrow-minded logic. However, she must never insist upon an outcome. Think of Mary at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2). She does not tell Jesus what to do, but rather points out the facts: "They have no wine." When Jesus asks her "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come" Mary insists on her intuition, but leaves the decision and action to Jesus: "Do whatever he tells you." Follow Mary's example. You are dealing with a man who is fully human, not God, but there are many reasons that God came as man. He is meant to be head and the woman heart.
When the man abdicates his role as leader and decision maker, or if he makes a poor decision, the woman's duty is to tell him. She must lovingly but firmly point out to him where and why it is wrong, and explain to him the wider world outside his line of logic. But then she must leave it up to him to decide to change his direction and act upon his decision. In this she becomes his helpmate: she shows him what he does not see, that he may perform his role to perfection.
The man's predominant quality in decision making is logic. This provides him the gift of focus and reducing large issues into something about which a decision can be made, as well as offering a rational solution. His danger, however, is that this reduced state is not reality. The world is big and complicated and the possibilities and perspectives limitless. Thus he may make a very "rational" decision that is based in unreality, and is harmful to all involved.
The woman's predominant quality in decision making is intuition. This provides her the gift of seeing the big picture as well as the painful, infinite details and perspectives. This intuition allows her a better grasp of reality. Her danger, however, is to be overwhelmed by this infinite gulf of emotions and facts and perspectives, such that she cannot make a decision at all, or if she does, it can never take into account all of her intuition and is always biased and emotional, and therefore often harmful to those involved.
The authentic woman will never demand a leadership role for her intuition. However she will demand that it be heard. She will insist that it be heard, because the man will often deny its very existence, as it falls outside of his narrow-minded logic. However, she must never insist upon an outcome. Think of Mary at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2). She does not tell Jesus what to do, but rather points out the facts: "They have no wine." When Jesus asks her "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come" Mary insists on her intuition, but leaves the decision and action to Jesus: "Do whatever he tells you." Follow Mary's example. You are dealing with a man who is fully human, not God, but there are many reasons that God came as man. He is meant to be head and the woman heart.
When the man abdicates his role as leader and decision maker, or if he makes a poor decision, the woman's duty is to tell him. She must lovingly but firmly point out to him where and why it is wrong, and explain to him the wider world outside his line of logic. But then she must leave it up to him to decide to change his direction and act upon his decision. In this she becomes his helpmate: she shows him what he does not see, that he may perform his role to perfection.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Statement of Faith
Little soul, before you commune with your Lord, make a statement of faith. Let Him know that you believe He is there with you, that He sees you and hears you. This is like the greeting of a loved one: you must enter into their presence with all of you, or you will not be able to understand each other at any depth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)