You have the power to heal souls

God has given you the power to heal souls.  This power is prayer.  This power is love.  Do not neglect it! You will be made to answer for these talents when He returns.  The world will never be lost so long as we exercise His power to heal.

Praise in times of trial

The book of Tobit reveals the secret to holiness and deliverance: praise and confidence in times of trials.  No matter how sad, how beaten you are,  praise to your God and have confidence in His goodness and sovereignty.  Tobit and Sarah were each so grieved as to consider life not worth living, yet even then they turned to God with confidence, submitting to His will.  At the moment they prayed they were heard by God, who sent an angel from His court to heal them even before they had left their places of prayer (Tobit 3).

God’s time

Everything—joy, pain, sorrow, healing, rejoicing—happens on God’s time. Let go, slay your pride, and be patient for His timing.  Await His redemption.

Love all priests

Priests need to be loved in order to give good gifts to their bride, the Church.  If he is not loved by you, not received by you, then it is impossible for him to make a total, selfless, pure gift of himself.  Just as a husband cannot love his wife purely unless she receives him purely and is open to his gift, so a priest cannot minister to his congregation unless she receives him and is open to him. 

Pray for your priests, love all priests, especially those who struggle! It is only through an unconditional, loyal, faithful, holy love that that they will find the strength and motivation to fight the good fight for God and the Church.

If you want a better pastor, pray for the one you have!

Service, never power

As soon as power enters discussion of Christianity, your devil sensor should go wild.  Being a Christian has nothing to do with power, especially when you are a minister.  It should never be a discussion of roles and power, or trying to gain equal power, but rather of who dies to themself more.

Phrase the question

Whoever phrases the question wins the argument, because they have defined the vocabulary, the attitude, the angle, the timing… Remember this always, but most especially in temptation.  Do not answer the devil’s question, because then the conversation is on his terms, and you will lose! Turn to your Lord and ask Him to give you the proper question to ask yourself in the situation.  Always let God phrase your questions, for then He will always win!

Sisterhood

What an important vocation is that of the religious sister! The consecrated virgin, bride of Christ! It is in her that we all see manifest our relationship to the Lord.  It is through her that we witness true womanhood.  Her role in catechesis, in prayer, in service and care! 

When a priest sees a sister, he sees her purity and selfless gift to the Lord and is motivated to get his act together.  The husband is reminded of the beauty and precious treasure that is his wife, the wife is reminded of her call to be open and receptive and selfless for her husband.  To all she is living the very archetype of humanity’s relationship with God: she is in every sense His bride.