Ijournal entry 041717 #15. April, month of the Holy Eucharist. Truffles: The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, and St.
Mechtildis. Article: "The Mercy of God", by Jessica Powers, Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit, O.C.D. THE HOLY SPIRIT INTRODUCES US TO THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcap. Video presentation: "The Resurrection", by Marino Restrepo.
Mechtildis. Article: "The Mercy of God", by Jessica Powers, Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit, O.C.D. THE HOLY SPIRIT INTRODUCES US TO THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcap. Video presentation: "The Resurrection", by Marino Restrepo.
"Harness the fire hidden in The Eucharist to bring about a true brotherhood and unity". By Cardinal Jaime Sin
The Rule of St. Benedict
"If a stranger monk come from a distant region and desire to dwell in the monastery as a guest, let him be received for as long a time as he wishes, provided that he is content with the customs of the place as he finds them, and does not disturb the monastery by his exorbitant wants, but is simply content with what he finds. Should he reasonably, modestly and charitably censure or remark upon any defect, let the abbot consider the matter prudently, lest perchance the Lord have sent him for this very end. And if later on he should wish to bind himself to stability, let not his desire be denied him, especially as his character can be discerned during the time that he is a guest"
MC= Keys words to consider: reasonably, modestly, & charitably. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we give and receive remarks in such a manner that it will cause spiritual growth to the soul of the giver and to the receiver.
"If a stranger monk come from a distant region and desire to dwell in the monastery as a guest, let him be received for as long a time as he wishes, provided that he is content with the customs of the place as he finds them, and does not disturb the monastery by his exorbitant wants, but is simply content with what he finds. Should he reasonably, modestly and charitably censure or remark upon any defect, let the abbot consider the matter prudently, lest perchance the Lord have sent him for this very end. And if later on he should wish to bind himself to stability, let not his desire be denied him, especially as his character can be discerned during the time that he is a guest"
MC= Keys words to consider: reasonably, modestly, & charitably. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we give and receive remarks in such a manner that it will cause spiritual growth to the soul of the giver and to the receiver.
🔵"When you are prevented from labouring for God's glory, either by reason of bodily infirmity or from some other cause which shows forth his divine pleasure, be not grieved. Instead, cast yourself with confidence into the arms of the One who knows what is most to your advantage and who draws you in in proportion to your own abandonment". By St. Vincent Ferrer
🔘"If you are to reciprocate [God's love for you] generously, make yourself worthy of him, that is, be like him in his divine perfections that you have already learned about in the Scripture and the Gospels. However, for you to imitate him, my brother, you need to reflect and meditate on his life regularly. continual reflection and meditation will make you esteem his actions, and that will bring forth the desire and motivation for imitation. This is already incorporated into the rules of our order, so let us be faithful to their exact observance, and we will attain perfection.
Primarily you need to focus on the foundation of Christian righteousness and goodness, that is, the virtue our Master and our seraphic father [St. Francis] modeled for us: humility." By St. Pio of Pietrelcina
🌒"Oh, if men did but knew how much they might increase their glory and their merit every day, they would never awaken in the morning without gratitude in their hearts to God for His goodness in giving them another day in which they might increase their glory in heaven, their eternal home." By St. Mechtildis
🔘"If you are to reciprocate [God's love for you] generously, make yourself worthy of him, that is, be like him in his divine perfections that you have already learned about in the Scripture and the Gospels. However, for you to imitate him, my brother, you need to reflect and meditate on his life regularly. continual reflection and meditation will make you esteem his actions, and that will bring forth the desire and motivation for imitation. This is already incorporated into the rules of our order, so let us be faithful to their exact observance, and we will attain perfection.
Primarily you need to focus on the foundation of Christian righteousness and goodness, that is, the virtue our Master and our seraphic father [St. Francis] modeled for us: humility." By St. Pio of Pietrelcina
🌒"Oh, if men did but knew how much they might increase their glory and their merit every day, they would never awaken in the morning without gratitude in their hearts to God for His goodness in giving them another day in which they might increase their glory in heaven, their eternal home." By St. Mechtildis
It seems "rising" is the in thing. Praise God for the Risen Lord, setting captives free and opening up the door of doors, the one which leads to our heavenly inheritance.
Talk about someone being yeast, well a fellow spiritual pilgrim recently greatly inspired me. It was a blessing for us to have lunch together at her home. The spiritual luncheon afforded a great opportunity for many things to cross our conversational path. Most striking was my coming away with the"hope of being saved", being made more secure than ever before. In regards to confidence, it became more solid in a very real way, evidencing a possible reality rather than presumptuous thoughts rearing it's head. Our spiritual conversation ran the gamut, and it seemed the discussion about presumption was to take on a life of its own.
The next day my early morning thoughts were centered on how if we are constantly being immersed in Scripture , it will be a most helpful signpost providing the way to experience the virtue of hope. Right hope leads to a momentum that produces clarity in vision regarding our spiritual lives. Hope and clarity rather than pride or presumptuous, will rise up to the top as the heart is pounded by the fact that all is grace and assuredly the work of God with the needed cooperation of His weak children. The bible will speak to the soul in ways unimaginable.
The following contemplation fluidly unfolded: It's like as if someone is hired for a job and show up unfailingly everyday at the appropriate hour and perform the assigned duties year, after year, after year. It can be expected that after a period of time, let's say thirty years of service,you will not be fired and will be able to receive the pension being offered to the loyal. You may not have had a perfect day every day, but you did not just go in whenever it so pleased you, or do as little as you so desired. By cooperating, working well, and correcting errors, one can feel assured hope, that things will turn out well. The virtue of hope the something that supersedes the vice of presumption.
Another scenario that came to mind was an example of someone doing their best in preparation for an important exam. Foreknowledge that the grading system is based on a curb (mercy), brings great hope that a passing grade will be received. Hope is humble, whereas presumption is based on pride. It is not presumption when in expectation one have great hope to be chosen for the final team. If one is constantly studying the playbook, staying late on the practice field, getting up after fall, and following the assigned regimen, hope is healthy, alive and well. Assurance based on hope gives you an advantage point from which to work. It increases your motivation to work hard in doing your part, something that is required in working out your salvation. If someone was to ask you go across the street in the pouring rain in order to receive a hundred dollars, one would gladly, enthusiastically do so. Now, if it was required that a mile had to be walked in a rainstorm, there would certainly be no enthusiasm. One might very well not even attempt to partake of the offer, or if so, not persevere because of being so unassured of the possibility of experiencing success. Like so spiritually, the more hope we have, the more incentive there is to run the race hard, knowing our running is not in vain.
What helps to assure me of the great possibility of eternal life is the "BMC" factor, that is the "Blessed Mother Connection". She opens us up to be more effectively connected to Jesus. Now we have a chain reaction with Jesus opening us up more to the Holy Spirit.
The next day my early morning thoughts were centered on how if we are constantly being immersed in Scripture , it will be a most helpful signpost providing the way to experience the virtue of hope. Right hope leads to a momentum that produces clarity in vision regarding our spiritual lives. Hope and clarity rather than pride or presumptuous, will rise up to the top as the heart is pounded by the fact that all is grace and assuredly the work of God with the needed cooperation of His weak children. The bible will speak to the soul in ways unimaginable.
The following contemplation fluidly unfolded: It's like as if someone is hired for a job and show up unfailingly everyday at the appropriate hour and perform the assigned duties year, after year, after year. It can be expected that after a period of time, let's say thirty years of service,you will not be fired and will be able to receive the pension being offered to the loyal. You may not have had a perfect day every day, but you did not just go in whenever it so pleased you, or do as little as you so desired. By cooperating, working well, and correcting errors, one can feel assured hope, that things will turn out well. The virtue of hope the something that supersedes the vice of presumption.
Another scenario that came to mind was an example of someone doing their best in preparation for an important exam. Foreknowledge that the grading system is based on a curb (mercy), brings great hope that a passing grade will be received. Hope is humble, whereas presumption is based on pride. It is not presumption when in expectation one have great hope to be chosen for the final team. If one is constantly studying the playbook, staying late on the practice field, getting up after fall, and following the assigned regimen, hope is healthy, alive and well. Assurance based on hope gives you an advantage point from which to work. It increases your motivation to work hard in doing your part, something that is required in working out your salvation. If someone was to ask you go across the street in the pouring rain in order to receive a hundred dollars, one would gladly, enthusiastically do so. Now, if it was required that a mile had to be walked in a rainstorm, there would certainly be no enthusiasm. One might very well not even attempt to partake of the offer, or if so, not persevere because of being so unassured of the possibility of experiencing success. Like so spiritually, the more hope we have, the more incentive there is to run the race hard, knowing our running is not in vain.
What helps to assure me of the great possibility of eternal life is the "BMC" factor, that is the "Blessed Mother Connection". She opens us up to be more effectively connected to Jesus. Now we have a chain reaction with Jesus opening us up more to the Holy Spirit.
An excellent confidence booster is being given the grace to truly
live with Holy Spirit and have at our disposal the unfailing mercy and love of the Father. He has already proven Himself to us in the extremist of ways, by sending Jesus, His only begotten Son, to redeem us in a manner unheard of, in a very extravagant way. Looking back at the lives of the saints and of the biblical characters, we see people who did wrong, but repented and changed the course of their lives becoming great. This does much good if we embark upon reflection. People such as Moses, Abraham, David, St. Augustine, the thief on the cross, St. Paul, etc, they all let us know that when you know better, you do better, and that rewards will surely come along in due season. Graduation day looms ahead and our goal should be to graduate with honors. Moving in hope, while trying to do one's best and not operating in presumption, is to smell the victory and press on to be able to see, touch, and taste what in but a little while will be ours.
live with Holy Spirit and have at our disposal the unfailing mercy and love of the Father. He has already proven Himself to us in the extremist of ways, by sending Jesus, His only begotten Son, to redeem us in a manner unheard of, in a very extravagant way. Looking back at the lives of the saints and of the biblical characters, we see people who did wrong, but repented and changed the course of their lives becoming great. This does much good if we embark upon reflection. People such as Moses, Abraham, David, St. Augustine, the thief on the cross, St. Paul, etc, they all let us know that when you know better, you do better, and that rewards will surely come along in due season. Graduation day looms ahead and our goal should be to graduate with honors. Moving in hope, while trying to do one's best and not operating in presumption, is to smell the victory and press on to be able to see, touch, and taste what in but a little while will be ours.
For sure it's another ball game if one is lax and slack, and not putting forth the best of efforts. A man reaps what he sows:
The confidence we possess comes from God. On my own, it would be impossible to keep going and it would be to give up when the slightest efforts falls short. We fall and fall and fall, for sure on our own strength it wouldn't even be possible to get situated in the starting line up, but God sets our feet on the rock. He alone will keep us, with Him we shall not be moved. All depends on The Lord God who have me, positioned us, to compete for first place.
Can we doubt the excellent manner in which God works?
It really is all about what God wants, not about what we want, check this out:
We all qualify, so come one, come all!
Resurfacing was this throwback contemplation. It was shared long ago, but sharing again for those who are new. The contemplation was about running the spiritual race and crossing the line to eternal life. It we run hard and do our very best staying on the straight and narrow, when the bell sounds and we aren't able to cross the finish line, Jesus will pick us up and place us on His shoulders and carry us across. As He is the Good Shepherd at work, we shall not want.
Well, without a doubt, our Blessed Holy Lady, Mother Mary, functions as our safety net. Being consecrated to her definitely elevates my assurance level, because she will do what she did at Cana, no if's, and's, or but's. She was instrumental in bringing Jesus to us in this world, and she will help bring me/us to Him in the world to come. The following scriptures help beat "presumption" down and build up hope inwhat the Lord is so willing and what Hecan do for us, if we but cooperate and let God be God.
Well, without a doubt, our Blessed Holy Lady, Mother Mary, functions as our safety net. Being consecrated to her definitely elevates my assurance level, because she will do what she did at Cana, no if's, and's, or but's. She was instrumental in bringing Jesus to us in this world, and she will help bring me/us to Him in the world to come. The following scriptures help beat "presumption" down and build up hope inwhat the Lord is so willing and what Hecan do for us, if we but cooperate and let God be God.
Another great help will be reverently and mindfully praying frequently the Act of Hope ( my uncle Rayprays it every single night). Surely this will be a confidence booster that encourages us to live holy.
Act of Hope
"O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen."
Act of Hope
"O my God, relying on Your almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Your grace and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen."
Article: "The Mercy of God", by Jessica Powers, Sister Miriam of the Holy Spirit, O.C.D.
Info from this site:
postabortionwalk.blogspot.com/2012/04/mercy-of-god.html
"Someone dear to me shared this poem with me to reflect on this Holy Week. I read, and read, and re-read it last evening before the beautiful Easter Vigil. I allowed the words of this poem, and the beautifully stunning words of our Easter Vigil liturgy sink down into my soul. I tried to quiet my mind to all of my noise and let my only request of Him to be simple - "help me."
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to fix myself, myself.Help me to stop thinking that I can even do that at all, that I even have a chance without You.
Nothing I do will be good enough.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to become perfect before coming to you, when you are the one to make me perfect.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to change what I think needs to be changed to step worthily into your presence.
Help me, Lord to realize that my "acres (and acres and acres) of self that I tended with passion," is a toil in vain, for all of the work I can think of to do, could have been done by you by my simply asking.
Help me, Lord, to stop turning over fields that have long since produced their harvest.
Help me, Lord, to know that the "woods" of Your mercy are not frightening and an intimidating unknown.
Help me, Lord, to "wander forever in a wilderness of [Your] mercy alone."
I am copying down in a book from my heart’s archive. The day that I ceased to fear God with a shadowy fear.
Would you name it the day that I measured my column of virtue and sighted through windows of merit a crown that was near?
Ah, no, it was rather the day I began to see truly. That I came forth from nothing and ever toward nothingness tend,
that the works of my hands are foolishness wrought in the presence of the worthiest king in a kingdom that shall never end.
I rose up from the acres of self that I tended with passion and defended with flurries of pride:
I walked out of myself and went into the woods of God’s mercy, and here I abide.
There is a greenness and calmness and coolness, a soft leafy covering from judgment of sun overhead,
And the hush of His peace, and the moss of His mercy to tread.
I have naught but my will seeking God; even love burning in me is a fragment of infinite loving and never my own.
And I Fear God no more; I go forward to wander forever. In a wildness of his His infinite mercy alone"
Info from this site:
postabortionwalk.blogspot.com/2012/04/mercy-of-god.html
"Someone dear to me shared this poem with me to reflect on this Holy Week. I read, and read, and re-read it last evening before the beautiful Easter Vigil. I allowed the words of this poem, and the beautifully stunning words of our Easter Vigil liturgy sink down into my soul. I tried to quiet my mind to all of my noise and let my only request of Him to be simple - "help me."
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to fix myself, myself.Help me to stop thinking that I can even do that at all, that I even have a chance without You.
Nothing I do will be good enough.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to become perfect before coming to you, when you are the one to make me perfect.
Help me, Lord, to stop trying to change what I think needs to be changed to step worthily into your presence.
Help me, Lord to realize that my "acres (and acres and acres) of self that I tended with passion," is a toil in vain, for all of the work I can think of to do, could have been done by you by my simply asking.
Help me, Lord, to stop turning over fields that have long since produced their harvest.
Help me, Lord, to know that the "woods" of Your mercy are not frightening and an intimidating unknown.
Help me, Lord, to "wander forever in a wilderness of [Your] mercy alone."
I am copying down in a book from my heart’s archive. The day that I ceased to fear God with a shadowy fear.
Would you name it the day that I measured my column of virtue and sighted through windows of merit a crown that was near?
Ah, no, it was rather the day I began to see truly. That I came forth from nothing and ever toward nothingness tend,
that the works of my hands are foolishness wrought in the presence of the worthiest king in a kingdom that shall never end.
I rose up from the acres of self that I tended with passion and defended with flurries of pride:
I walked out of myself and went into the woods of God’s mercy, and here I abide.
There is a greenness and calmness and coolness, a soft leafy covering from judgment of sun overhead,
And the hush of His peace, and the moss of His mercy to tread.
I have naught but my will seeking God; even love burning in me is a fragment of infinite loving and never my own.
And I Fear God no more; I go forward to wander forever. In a wildness of his His infinite mercy alone"
THE HOLY SPIRIT INTRODUCES US TO THE MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, ofmcap
Info from this site:
https://zenit.org/articles/father-cantalamessas-4th-lent-homily-2017/
"Christian faith in the resurrection of the dead responds to the most instinctive desire of the human heart. St. Paul says that we do not want to be “unclothed” of our bodies but to be “further clothed,” that is, we do not want only one part of our being—our soul—to go on living but all of who we are, soul and body. Therefore, we do not want our mortal bodies to be destroyed but to be “swallowed up by life,” and to “put on immortality”
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 "For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked. For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment" |
In this life we have not only a promise of eternal life, we also have the “first fruits” and the “first installment.” We should never translate the Greek word arrabon used by St. Paul about the Spirit as “pledge” (pignus) but only as “first installment” or “deposit” (arra).
2 Corinthians 5:5 "Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment." |
St. Augustine explains the difference clearly. A pledge, he says, is not the beginning of the payment but is money given to certify future payment. Once the payment is made, the pledge is returned. That is not the case with a deposit. A deposit is not returned when the payment is completed because it is already part of the payment. If God by his Spirit has given us love as a first installment, when he brings the fullness of what he has promised, will he take back the first installment he has given us? Of course not; instead he will bring the fullness of what has already been given. Just as the “first fruits” announce a full harvest and are part of it, so too the first installment is part of the full possession of the Spirit. It is “the Spirit who dwells in us” —more so than the immortality of the soul—that, as we see, assures the continuity between our present life and our future life.
Concerning the manner of resurrection, on this same occasion with the Sadducees Jesus describes the spiritual situation of the resurrected:
One can attempt to illustrate the transition from the earthly state to the resurrected state with examples drawn from nature: the seed from which the tree springs up, lifeless nature in winter that is revived in spring, the caterpillar that is transformed into the butterfly. Paul simply says,
The truth is that everything regarding our condition in the afterlife remains an impenetrable mystery. It is not because God wants to keep it hidden from us but because—as limited as we are in having to think of everything within the categories of time and space—we lack the tools to portray it to ourselves. Eternity is not an entity that exists separately and that can be defined in itself, almost as if it were a period time that stretches out eternally. It is the mode of God’s being. Eternity is God! To enter into eternal life simply means to be admitted, by grace, to share God’s mode of being. None of this would have been possible if eternity had not first entered into time. It is in the risen Christ, and thanks to him, that we can be clothed with God’s mode of being. St. Paul describes what awaits him after death as “departing and being with Christ”
The same thing can be deduced from Jesus’ words to the good thief:
Paradise is being “with Christ,” as his “co-heirs.” Eternal life is a reuniting of the members to the head to form one “entity” with him in glory, after having been united to him in suffering.
A delightful story narrated by a modern German writer helps us have a better idea of eternal life than any attempts at rational speculation. In a medieval monastery there were two monks who had a deep spiritual friendship. One was called Rufus and the other Rufinus. They spent all their free time trying to imagine and describe what eternal life would be like in the heavenly Jerusalem. Rufus was a builder, so he imagined it as a city with doors of gold studded with precious stones. Rufinus was an organist, so he imagined it as full of heavenly music. In the end they made a pact that whichever one of them died first would return the following night to reassure his friend that things were in fact as they had imagined. One word would be enough. If things were as they had imagined, he would simply say, “Taliter!” “Exactly!” But if things were different—and this seemed completely impossible—he would say, “Aliter!” “Different!”
While playing the organ one night, Rufinus died of a heart attack. His friend Rufus stayed awake all night anxiously, but nothing. He kept vigils and fasted for weeks and months, but nothing. Finally on the anniversary of his death, Rufinus entered his friend’s cell at night surrounded by a circle of light. Seeing that Rufinus was silent, Rufus, sure of an affirmative answer, asked his friend, “Taliter? Isn’t that right?” But his friend shook his head no. Rufus desperately cried out, “Aliter? It’s different?” And again his friend shook his head no. Finally two words suddenly came forth from his silent friend: “Totaliter aliter” “Completely different!” Rufus understood instantly that heaven was infinitely more than what they had imagined and could not be described. He also died shortly after because of his desire to be there.
The story is of course a legend, but its content is very biblical.
While playing the organ one night, Rufinus died of a heart attack. His friend Rufus stayed awake all night anxiously, but nothing. He kept vigils and fasted for weeks and months, but nothing. Finally on the anniversary of his death, Rufinus entered his friend’s cell at night surrounded by a circle of light. Seeing that Rufinus was silent, Rufus, sure of an affirmative answer, asked his friend, “Taliter? Isn’t that right?” But his friend shook his head no. Rufus desperately cried out, “Aliter? It’s different?” And again his friend shook his head no. Finally two words suddenly came forth from his silent friend: “Totaliter aliter” “Completely different!” Rufus understood instantly that heaven was infinitely more than what they had imagined and could not be described. He also died shortly after because of his desire to be there.
The story is of course a legend, but its content is very biblical.
St. Symeon the New Theologian, one of the most beloved saints in the Orthodox Church, had a vision one day. He was certain he had gazed on God himself and, certain that nothing could ever be greater or more glorious than what he had seen, he said, “It is enough for me to be in this state even after death!” The Lord answered him, “You are indeed too fainthearted to be contented with this. Compared with the blessings to come, this is like a description of heaven on paper . . . [and is] inferior to the reality, the glory that will be revealed.”
Video presentation: "The Resurrection", by Marino Restrepo
Link to YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/AlrdBJB5FvE
Link to YouTube video:
https://youtu.be/AlrdBJB5FvE