Ijournal entry 090516 #36. September, Month of Our Lady of Sorrows. Maxim by St. Teresa of Avila. Quotes by Fr. Alexander De Rouville, Francisco Osuna, and St. Augustine. "OUR CATHOLIC FAITH BY THE NUMBER", from Catholic Tradition.org. "REMEMBER THY FIRST LOVE (Revelation 2:4-5)", by Archimandrite Zacharias. YouTube video by Jeff Cavins, "How to Be one A Modern Day Disciple".
By St. Teresa of Avila:
"On the days kept in honor of the saints consider their virtues, and beg the like of God"
MTA= One morning the following text mess was sent out, then later in the evening of the same day this Maxim by St. Teresa of Avila was discovered, and it was heart warming to be able to see that what the saint was espousing was already put into practice action. That consistency would dominate in exercising virtue daily.
📱Text Mess:
Venerable Bruno Lanteri: "B of good courage. Let your heart B joyful, give yourself as completely as U can 2 God, banish any doubts, & tell God that U never wish consciously 2 do anything that would displease him. For the rest, do not B troubled. God is with U & will help U, & will not let U fall"
(MC=If we have tried what doesn't work, time 2 try what does. The protocols were followed by every saint & it worked 4 each 1 of them, & no doubt it'll work 4us. Lord, help me put into practice their lessons: stay strong & fight the good fight of faith)
In the afternoon a text of encouragement was sent to someone, based on how the morning text touched my spirit:
Amen, recently viewin a video bout Mother Teresa, and it inspired me 2 really pray dat my confidence increase so that it will be possible for me to wholeheartedly place my trust completly in God, believing that His goodness makes all things possible. If He has something 4us, then IT'S OURS, if not, it's 4 a good reason that God will hold back. It's 2 really believe this and reside in a peaceful state that we can prove our luv 4 God & accept and believe in His great luv 4 us. Mother Teresa knew that when she needed Him, God would cum thru for her.
Yes, Praise The Lord. This video really inspired me to want more and more 2 trust in Divine providence like Blessed Mother Teresa. Hope one day u can view this video. Viewing it for the 2nd time. https://youtu.be/FF5n4HScSP4
"On the days kept in honor of the saints consider their virtues, and beg the like of God"
MTA= One morning the following text mess was sent out, then later in the evening of the same day this Maxim by St. Teresa of Avila was discovered, and it was heart warming to be able to see that what the saint was espousing was already put into practice action. That consistency would dominate in exercising virtue daily.
📱Text Mess:
Venerable Bruno Lanteri: "B of good courage. Let your heart B joyful, give yourself as completely as U can 2 God, banish any doubts, & tell God that U never wish consciously 2 do anything that would displease him. For the rest, do not B troubled. God is with U & will help U, & will not let U fall"
(MC=If we have tried what doesn't work, time 2 try what does. The protocols were followed by every saint & it worked 4 each 1 of them, & no doubt it'll work 4us. Lord, help me put into practice their lessons: stay strong & fight the good fight of faith)
In the afternoon a text of encouragement was sent to someone, based on how the morning text touched my spirit:
Amen, recently viewin a video bout Mother Teresa, and it inspired me 2 really pray dat my confidence increase so that it will be possible for me to wholeheartedly place my trust completly in God, believing that His goodness makes all things possible. If He has something 4us, then IT'S OURS, if not, it's 4 a good reason that God will hold back. It's 2 really believe this and reside in a peaceful state that we can prove our luv 4 God & accept and believe in His great luv 4 us. Mother Teresa knew that when she needed Him, God would cum thru for her.
Yes, Praise The Lord. This video really inspired me to want more and more 2 trust in Divine providence like Blessed Mother Teresa. Hope one day u can view this video. Viewing it for the 2nd time. https://youtu.be/FF5n4HScSP4
⚫️ "Christian soul,if it pleases this God of love to test you, be not dismayed. Arm yourself with courage and wait patiently for his return. He is always near you to help you when you ask for his help, but it is good that you should pretend at times to depart from you, so that you may realize how unfortunate you would be if you really lost Him." By Fr. Alexander De Rouville
🔴 "Do not be content to remain a beginner all your life like stupid, listless people who are forever learners, never attaining the science of truth because they are insufficiently attentive to their tasks. They are like the one in the gospel of whom it is said, “This man began to build and could not finish( Luke 14:30).” How ignorant is the man who starts to build a house but does not concentrate on finishing it as quickly as possible so he can enjoy it soon! …If you wish to build the house of recollection for your souls, brother, you will profit immensely by remembering your intention. Plan to finish it". By Francisco Osuna
🔵 “Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things". By St. Augustine
🔴 "Do not be content to remain a beginner all your life like stupid, listless people who are forever learners, never attaining the science of truth because they are insufficiently attentive to their tasks. They are like the one in the gospel of whom it is said, “This man began to build and could not finish( Luke 14:30).” How ignorant is the man who starts to build a house but does not concentrate on finishing it as quickly as possible so he can enjoy it soon! …If you wish to build the house of recollection for your souls, brother, you will profit immensely by remembering your intention. Plan to finish it". By Francisco Osuna
🔵 “Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things". By St. Augustine
The company we keep matters. "For better or for worse", it's not just a concept for marriage, but also can be used in regards to the people we consistently hang out with. This came to mind while in adoration chapel, as someone's morning text served as the catalyst for the meditation that developed on this topic. Sharing here a snippet of the text mess conversation with a spiritual friend.
📱Text sent to me:
What u said bout "just God" & being tired of da pettiness..., I to hav been feelin strongly dat way. Here is an example: Met 4 lunch recently with 2 nice people, a good friend & her cousin. It took me a while not 2 feel like I was viewing a film @ a theater. On my part, I had 2 experience a conscious snap in order 2 participate..., if u understand what I mean. It was like being so removed & having less & less in common. Lik U, I very much prefer 2-3 people in sync, I am not a "groupie" for the worldly.
📱My Response:
Amazing, How when we are operating in the spiritual, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in real time. Normalcy reigns, and everything out of those parameters appears as if it is happening in slow motion, or at times in the fast forward mode. A sense that something is amiss and a veil of abnormality drapes over, and like a dragnet stifles the spirit. In it's extremity, the macabre slowing creeps in and smothers rather than just stifle. Reality appears as a void, and the experience of the moment, is really a "no experience", if you understand the meaning being expressed here. Praise the Lord the line is being drawn in the sand, and by the power of grace, we are beginning to recognize it from afar and respond.
Recent circumstances helped to solidify the truth of the scripture from Proverbs 13:20, which speaks of walking with the wise and becoming wise, but the companion of fools faring badly. The scripture also makes the point that came to mind during the Divine Mercy consecration. When seeing what the Divine Mercy consecration could actually mean in one's life, a vast difference became visible between the thoughts of this person who refuted and downplayed what was discussed some time ago about my desiring a front row seat and wanting to avoid time in purgatory. Interesting how when this was mentioned, a certain person interpreted that as being prideful and impossible. Expressing this view to some other people, the opposite reaction occurred. Their sentiments were along these lines: "who wants or is working for a back row seat?". Also, some mentioned that it is God who fuels our good desires, and have the means for fulfilling those desires. Everyone was positive except for one person, so when seeing all the confirmations along with the Divine Mercy consecration, the evidence is clear that walking with the wise you become wise. If one isn't strong while being with people who are negative, the negative will be affirmed and what is good will be snuffed out to one's detriment. Also, it is very hard to make progress if you are saddled down with a person who always think that they are in the know but instead is in error. Precious time may be wasted in the business of second guessing, instead of moving ahead in truth to experience the next level.
The perfect read on the day that all this was being prepared was something about Venerable Leo DuPont. Check out how even just gazing at the right thing might be transforming:
"In 1837, while gazing at a picture of Saint Teresa of Avila, venerable Leo DuPont decided to become more active in spreading the Catholic faith. He wrote a book on Marian shrines, joined the recently formed Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and contributed large sums of money to it. Shortly after his pilgrimage to La Salette in 1847, his daughter Henrietta died and thereafter the main focus of his life became religious activities.
In 1847 Dupont invited Saint Jeanne Jugan to established a house for the Little Sisters of the Poor in Tours. Thereafter he remained a frequent contributor to the Little Sisters' charity for the poor and the elderly.
When Dupont came to Tours, the cult of Saint Martin had almost completely fallen into disuse. Martin of Tours was, for Leo Dupont, the model of charity, and he desired to restore devotion to the Bishop of Tours, and begin the process for the eventual rebuilding of his basilica that had been destroyed by the Revolutionaries. Around 1848, following the suggestions of Mr. Dupont, the Cathedral of Tours began to restore the festivities surrounding the Feast of St. Martin on November 11. He helped rebuild the Basilica of St. Martin. In 1849, he managed to establish nightly Eucharistic Adoration in Tours, from where it spread within France.
His reputation as a Catholic activist and a helper of the poor spread within France and he was in contact with other French Catholic figures such as Saint Jean Vianney and Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was also an active proponent of spreading devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Dupont’s charitable works and religious stance became so well known in France that he received many letters, often addressed to "The Holy Man of Tours" and the postmen knew how to deliver them. Pope Pius IXpersonally praised Dupont".
Info from this site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Dupont
📱Text sent to me:
What u said bout "just God" & being tired of da pettiness..., I to hav been feelin strongly dat way. Here is an example: Met 4 lunch recently with 2 nice people, a good friend & her cousin. It took me a while not 2 feel like I was viewing a film @ a theater. On my part, I had 2 experience a conscious snap in order 2 participate..., if u understand what I mean. It was like being so removed & having less & less in common. Lik U, I very much prefer 2-3 people in sync, I am not a "groupie" for the worldly.
📱My Response:
Amazing, How when we are operating in the spiritual, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are in real time. Normalcy reigns, and everything out of those parameters appears as if it is happening in slow motion, or at times in the fast forward mode. A sense that something is amiss and a veil of abnormality drapes over, and like a dragnet stifles the spirit. In it's extremity, the macabre slowing creeps in and smothers rather than just stifle. Reality appears as a void, and the experience of the moment, is really a "no experience", if you understand the meaning being expressed here. Praise the Lord the line is being drawn in the sand, and by the power of grace, we are beginning to recognize it from afar and respond.
Recent circumstances helped to solidify the truth of the scripture from Proverbs 13:20, which speaks of walking with the wise and becoming wise, but the companion of fools faring badly. The scripture also makes the point that came to mind during the Divine Mercy consecration. When seeing what the Divine Mercy consecration could actually mean in one's life, a vast difference became visible between the thoughts of this person who refuted and downplayed what was discussed some time ago about my desiring a front row seat and wanting to avoid time in purgatory. Interesting how when this was mentioned, a certain person interpreted that as being prideful and impossible. Expressing this view to some other people, the opposite reaction occurred. Their sentiments were along these lines: "who wants or is working for a back row seat?". Also, some mentioned that it is God who fuels our good desires, and have the means for fulfilling those desires. Everyone was positive except for one person, so when seeing all the confirmations along with the Divine Mercy consecration, the evidence is clear that walking with the wise you become wise. If one isn't strong while being with people who are negative, the negative will be affirmed and what is good will be snuffed out to one's detriment. Also, it is very hard to make progress if you are saddled down with a person who always think that they are in the know but instead is in error. Precious time may be wasted in the business of second guessing, instead of moving ahead in truth to experience the next level.
The perfect read on the day that all this was being prepared was something about Venerable Leo DuPont. Check out how even just gazing at the right thing might be transforming:
"In 1837, while gazing at a picture of Saint Teresa of Avila, venerable Leo DuPont decided to become more active in spreading the Catholic faith. He wrote a book on Marian shrines, joined the recently formed Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and contributed large sums of money to it. Shortly after his pilgrimage to La Salette in 1847, his daughter Henrietta died and thereafter the main focus of his life became religious activities.
In 1847 Dupont invited Saint Jeanne Jugan to established a house for the Little Sisters of the Poor in Tours. Thereafter he remained a frequent contributor to the Little Sisters' charity for the poor and the elderly.
When Dupont came to Tours, the cult of Saint Martin had almost completely fallen into disuse. Martin of Tours was, for Leo Dupont, the model of charity, and he desired to restore devotion to the Bishop of Tours, and begin the process for the eventual rebuilding of his basilica that had been destroyed by the Revolutionaries. Around 1848, following the suggestions of Mr. Dupont, the Cathedral of Tours began to restore the festivities surrounding the Feast of St. Martin on November 11. He helped rebuild the Basilica of St. Martin. In 1849, he managed to establish nightly Eucharistic Adoration in Tours, from where it spread within France.
His reputation as a Catholic activist and a helper of the poor spread within France and he was in contact with other French Catholic figures such as Saint Jean Vianney and Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was also an active proponent of spreading devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Dupont’s charitable works and religious stance became so well known in France that he received many letters, often addressed to "The Holy Man of Tours" and the postmen knew how to deliver them. Pope Pius IXpersonally praised Dupont".
Info from this site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Dupont
"OUR CATHOLIC FAITH BY THE NUMBER", from Catholic Tradition.org.
Info from this site:
http://www.catholictradition.org/Children/number.htm
The number 5:
📂The Five Chief Means we satisfy God for the temporal punishment due to sin:
✋1. Prayer
✋2. Fasting
✋3. Almsgiving
✋4. Performing the Works of Mercy, both Spiritual and Corporal [see below]
✋5. Patiently suffering the ills of life.
📂The Five Holy Wounds:
These are the five prominent Wounds in Our Lord's
✋Hands [1 each]
✋Hands [1 each],
✋Feet [1 each]
✋Feet [1 each]
✋and Side at His Crucifixion.
📂The Five First Saturdays of Reparation
📂5 GRACES AND YOUR CROSS
TO ALL THOSE FAITHFUL WHO SHALL RECITE FOR 3 YEARS, EACH DAY, 2 PATERS, GLORIAS AND AVES, IN HONOR OF THE DROPS OF BLOOD I LOST, I WILL CONCEDE THE FOLLOWING
FIVE GRACES:
✋(1) The plenary indulgence and remittance of your sins.
✋(2) You will be free from the pains of Purgatory.
✋(3) If you should die before completing the said 3 years, for you it will be the same as if you had completed them.
✋(4) It will be upon your death the same as if you had shed all your blood for the Holy Faith.
✋(5) I will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until the fourth generation.
📂The Five Intellectual [Habitual] Virtues or Habits:
The first three intellectual virtues are understanding, science, and wisdom.
✋1. Understanding is the habitual knowledge of foundational self-evident truths without which one cannot have real knowledge. ✋✋✋✋2. Science is the act of conclusion from first principles of the particular sciences.
✋3. Wisdom is knowing things as they really are and in their highest causes. These three belong to philosophy.
In addition there are two practical virtues called art and prudence.
✋4. Art is knowing how to make things or produce objects.
✋5. Prudence is knowing how to do things, or actions tnot resulting in an object. For example, how to conduct oneself in life and it is the only one of the intellectual virtues that cannot exist apart from the moral or cardinal virtues."
Info from this site:
http://www.catholictradition.org/Children/number.htm
The number 5:
📂The Five Chief Means we satisfy God for the temporal punishment due to sin:
✋1. Prayer
✋2. Fasting
✋3. Almsgiving
✋4. Performing the Works of Mercy, both Spiritual and Corporal [see below]
✋5. Patiently suffering the ills of life.
📂The Five Holy Wounds:
These are the five prominent Wounds in Our Lord's
✋Hands [1 each]
✋Hands [1 each],
✋Feet [1 each]
✋Feet [1 each]
✋and Side at His Crucifixion.
📂The Five First Saturdays of Reparation
📂5 GRACES AND YOUR CROSS
TO ALL THOSE FAITHFUL WHO SHALL RECITE FOR 3 YEARS, EACH DAY, 2 PATERS, GLORIAS AND AVES, IN HONOR OF THE DROPS OF BLOOD I LOST, I WILL CONCEDE THE FOLLOWING
FIVE GRACES:
✋(1) The plenary indulgence and remittance of your sins.
✋(2) You will be free from the pains of Purgatory.
✋(3) If you should die before completing the said 3 years, for you it will be the same as if you had completed them.
✋(4) It will be upon your death the same as if you had shed all your blood for the Holy Faith.
✋(5) I will descend from Heaven to take your soul and that of your relatives, until the fourth generation.
📂The Five Intellectual [Habitual] Virtues or Habits:
The first three intellectual virtues are understanding, science, and wisdom.
✋1. Understanding is the habitual knowledge of foundational self-evident truths without which one cannot have real knowledge. ✋✋✋✋2. Science is the act of conclusion from first principles of the particular sciences.
✋3. Wisdom is knowing things as they really are and in their highest causes. These three belong to philosophy.
In addition there are two practical virtues called art and prudence.
✋4. Art is knowing how to make things or produce objects.
✋5. Prudence is knowing how to do things, or actions tnot resulting in an object. For example, how to conduct oneself in life and it is the only one of the intellectual virtues that cannot exist apart from the moral or cardinal virtues."
"REMEMBER THY FIRST LOVE (Revelation 2:4-5)", by Archimandrite Zacharias
YouTube video by Jeff Cavins, "How to Be one A Modern Day Disciple".
Link to YouTube video:
http://youtu.be/DwUFXsbt1jA
Link to YouTube video:
http://youtu.be/DwUFXsbt1jA