Ijournal entry 060517. # 22. June, Month of the Sacred Heart. The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes from Bl. Raymond Jourdain, St. Teresa Margaret, and St. Therese of Lisieux. Article: "Seminary Patron: "Blessed Rolando Rivi", Part II, from Our Lady of Mount Carmel USA site. Article: "Quotes-Spiritual Warfare", Part II by Pope Leo XIII Institute. YouTube video presentation: Part 1 "UNSEEN Christian SPIRITUAL WARFARE", (by St. Nicodemus)
“You know, my God, that my one desire is to be a victim of Your Sacred Heart, wholly consumed as a holocaust in the fire of Your holy love. Your Heart will be the altar on which I shall be consumed by You, my dear Spouse, and You will be the Priest who will consume this victim by the fires of Your most Sacred Heart. But, O my God, how ashamed I am to see how guilty is this victim and how unworthy to have her sacrifice accepted by You! But I am confident that all will be consumed by this divine fire! By offering my whole self to You, I understand that I am giving You my free will so that henceforth, You alone will be the Master of my heart and Your will alone will regulate my actions. Therefore, dispose of me always according to Your good pleasure; I am content with everything, since I wish to love You with a love that is patient, mortified, wholly abandoned to You, an active love, a strong, undivided love and, what is more important, a persevering love”.
By St. Teresa Margaret of the Heart of Jesus
By St. Teresa Margaret of the Heart of Jesus
The Rule of St. Benefict
"We are, indeed, forbidden to do our own will by Scripture, which saith to us: Turn away from thine own will. Moreover we ask God in prayer that his will be done in us. And rightly are we taught not to do our own will, since we dread that sentence of Scripture: There are ways which to men seem right, but the ends thereof lead to the depths of hell; and since we fear also what is said of the careless: They are corrupt and have become abominable in their pleasures. And in regard to the desires of the flesh, let us believe that God is always present to us, since the prophet says to the Lord: All my desire is before thee"
MC= It seems if we truly pray the Our Father as we should, mindful and meaning the words we pray,instead of just "say", we will begin to be given the graces to do not our will, but God's. The fruits of the prayers will flourish in being able to elevate and put God's will above everything. Doing so will really be the best thing we do, because nothing or no other way cab bring about the happiness we seek in the wrong way by trying to go it our own way. That way that seems so right and as scripture says, leads to the depths of hell in some form or fashion.
"We are, indeed, forbidden to do our own will by Scripture, which saith to us: Turn away from thine own will. Moreover we ask God in prayer that his will be done in us. And rightly are we taught not to do our own will, since we dread that sentence of Scripture: There are ways which to men seem right, but the ends thereof lead to the depths of hell; and since we fear also what is said of the careless: They are corrupt and have become abominable in their pleasures. And in regard to the desires of the flesh, let us believe that God is always present to us, since the prophet says to the Lord: All my desire is before thee"
MC= It seems if we truly pray the Our Father as we should, mindful and meaning the words we pray,instead of just "say", we will begin to be given the graces to do not our will, but God's. The fruits of the prayers will flourish in being able to elevate and put God's will above everything. Doing so will really be the best thing we do, because nothing or no other way cab bring about the happiness we seek in the wrong way by trying to go it our own way. That way that seems so right and as scripture says, leads to the depths of hell in some form or fashion.
⚪️ The man who has gold in a safe is not rich, but he who has you in his heart is rich". By Bl. Raymond Jourdain
⚫️ “Always receive with equal contentment from God’s hand either consolations or sufferings, peace or distress, health or illness. Ask nothing, refuse nothing, but always be ready to do and to suffer anything that comes from His Providence. She who does not know how to conform her will to that of others will never be perfect". By St. Teresa Margaret
🔵 “Do all in your power to detach your heart from earthly cares… then be assured Our Lord will do the rest.” -St. Therese of Lisieux
⚫️ “Always receive with equal contentment from God’s hand either consolations or sufferings, peace or distress, health or illness. Ask nothing, refuse nothing, but always be ready to do and to suffer anything that comes from His Providence. She who does not know how to conform her will to that of others will never be perfect". By St. Teresa Margaret
🔵 “Do all in your power to detach your heart from earthly cares… then be assured Our Lord will do the rest.” -St. Therese of Lisieux
Before going into the chapel after Mass one day, a person in church looked at me and gave a phony smile. The previous encounter with the person was positive, and a very friendly demeanor was displayed. Upon noticing a change in the person's persona, it made me wonder to myself, what is that attitude about? My feelings were, just go neutral. If the person doesn't say anything, then there isn't anything to be said to them. Praise God, the idea came for a quick examen of conscience. Now that is something quite unusual for me. Started thinking to myself, you are so un-mortified, how petty. You need to be more like Jesus. He would go on being Himself, not imitating the other. This is not beating up on myself, but facing the truth. My goal is to become a better person day by day, not going from good to bad, or from bad to worse. So the decision was made to be normal, smile and ignore the super sensitive side screening for attention.
Well, what came to mind next, was the game of Chinese Ckeckers. When you are face to face with another man's marble, simply jump over and advance. The choice is not to stay there and let the opponent advance, but you jump over and move on. Every summer we would always play Chinese Ckeckers at the Clositered Monastery where my aunt was a nun. This is reminding me of our many fun summer vacations there for years. Remembrance of that game was perfect to help me to see the point of dealing with the situation to over come and move on, rather than being overcome and stagnant.
The next day in chapel, looking around at the books in the bookcase, a book entitled: "Give Me Your Wounded Heart", by Fr. Slavko Barbaric caught my eye. Thumbing through it, the following was attention getting and was speaking eloquently to the meditation the day before. Thank you Holy Spirit for ministering to me.
Book: Give me your wounded heart, by Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M.
Page 98: "Thank you for my Neighbor"
Well, what came to mind next, was the game of Chinese Ckeckers. When you are face to face with another man's marble, simply jump over and advance. The choice is not to stay there and let the opponent advance, but you jump over and move on. Every summer we would always play Chinese Ckeckers at the Clositered Monastery where my aunt was a nun. This is reminding me of our many fun summer vacations there for years. Remembrance of that game was perfect to help me to see the point of dealing with the situation to over come and move on, rather than being overcome and stagnant.
The next day in chapel, looking around at the books in the bookcase, a book entitled: "Give Me Your Wounded Heart", by Fr. Slavko Barbaric caught my eye. Thumbing through it, the following was attention getting and was speaking eloquently to the meditation the day before. Thank you Holy Spirit for ministering to me.
Book: Give me your wounded heart, by Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M.
Page 98: "Thank you for my Neighbor"
Ephesians 4:25-32 IV. DAILY CONDUCT, AN EXPRESSION OF UNITY*Rules for the New Life. 25-32 "Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil. The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his [own] hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ" |
Fr. Slavko Barbaric's Prayer:
"Dear God, I thank you for all the people around me. You gifted them to help me lead a fully human life. Forgive me, because I have often misunderstood others, offended them, hurt them, neglected them, despise them, ignored them, calumniated them, spoken ill of them, and have been impatient, impolite, and unfaithful to them. I understand what it means to sin against neighbor. It means that I can hurt my neighbor, confuse him, damage him, or discourage him. I can block the light on his path and stop his growth in love. I can destroy his peace.
I understand why Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself". My neighbor is meant to be a gift to me. He is not meant to annoy me, anger me, or incite me to evil. Rather, by his presence and his giftedness, he is meant to help me grow. How often have I been ungrateful towards others?
Forgive me, there were many people who came into my life who had been rejected, despised, forsaken, poor, and persecuted. My indifference to them is a sign to me that my love for my neighbor was not perfect.
Forgive me for refusing to listen to others, insisting on on own way. I resented them and would not allow them to develop their gifts. I understand now every disorder in my life & my behavior is sinful because it prevents others from growing and causes them to sin. You also know, Lord, that I have used others, and they have used me. I pray for all those with whom I have sinned, and for all those I have led into some disorder. Forgive us, Lord, for in this world we often misuse the gift of sexuality, and disgrace the temple of our body, which you built with your creative powers. I pray for the conversion of those who have become slaves of their pensions, and for those who have despised natural planning. Save those who have sold themselves. I seek Your mercy for victims of abuse. These sins are all common and cause much suffering. Forgive the whole world, Lord, and have mercy on us. Forgive us for every abide of this gift, so that we can be healed and truly learn to love one another.
Many suffer greatly because we are nervous and impatient. We are too attached to material things and people. We destroy ourselves & trample other persons and things. Lord cleanse us and our relationships, so that our love toward our neighbor may become perfect.
Holy Father, make me willing to, love you in my neighbors. Help me forgive and accept forgiveness. I seek forgiveness from You now for the ways I have destroyed Your gift in others and in myself. Lord give us all strength to forgive one another. May we be united and help one another grow in hotline and gratitude for all that a Your love is calling us to do and is enabling us to accomplish. Give other the strength to forgive me and help me accept their forgiveness. I am deciding again for the flame of love which burns within me and within every man. I will do everything to protect this flame and keep it burning. May it constantly inspire my heart and the hearts of my neighbors.
Blessed Mary, Mother of us all, through your intercession may we all become your sons and daughters. Help us grow in love towards one another. May our peace and love be signs that we belong to you. Under your protection may the sacred flame of love increase and become stronger in every family, community, in the Church and in the world. Help us protect the sacred flame and never let it be extinguished. If it does go out, may we turn to the Originator of the Divine Flame once more, and may we never again remain in darkness. Amen.
Points to ponder:
..."Thank you for my neighbor, he is meant to be a gift, to help us grow. Sacred love dwells in each person. Not allowing others to develop their gift, every disorder in my life, and sinful behavior, prevents others from growing and causes them to sin.
Holy Father, make me willing to, love you in my neighbors. Help me forgive and accept forgiveness. I am deciding for the flame of love which burns within me and within every man. I will protect this flame and keep it burning, may it constantly inspire my heart and the heart of my neighbor.
Blessed Mary mother of us all, help us grow in love towards one another. May our peace and love be a sign we belong to you. Under your protection may the flame of love increase and become stronger. Protect the sacred flame and let it never be extinguished. If it does go out, may we turn to the Originator of the Divine Flame once more and never again reason in darkness. Amen."
Blessed are we when we open our hearts to truth and cooperate with the inspirations that brings good and works to glorify God. Let us say yes, yes to:
🐾The will of the Father that we image His only begotten Son.
🐾The desires of Jesus that we love one another as we are loved.
🐾Openness to the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives and set us on the path that leads to eternal life.
🐾The wishes of the Holy Virgin to allow her to form us as children pleasing to God.
🐾The will of the Father that we image His only begotten Son.
🐾The desires of Jesus that we love one another as we are loved.
🐾Openness to the power of the Holy Spirit to transform our lives and set us on the path that leads to eternal life.
🐾The wishes of the Holy Virgin to allow her to form us as children pleasing to God.
Article: "Seminary Patron: Blessed Rolando Rivi", Part II, from Our Lady of Mount Carmel USA site.
"In the same way he used to defend the pastor, Fr. Marzocchini from calumny provoked by the communist partisans. He was known for his faith and courage; he was admired but as well seen in a bad light, because openly he showed that he wanted to become a priest. On Holy Thursday of 1945 he wrote: “Thank you Jesus because you have given us yourself in the Holy Host and you are always with us…help me to return soon to seminary and become a priest.” Friday in the meantime that he was kissing the crucifix, he repeated the offering to his best friend: “My whole life is for you o Jesus, to love you and to become love.” On April 10, 1945 on the morning of the Tuesday after Low Sunday, he was already in the Church. He was happy because he already received communion, he didn’t know that this was his viaticum.
He went back to his house and bringing with him some books, he went to the forest to study. As usual he was wearing his cassock. MAt noon when he had not returned his parents started looking for him. With his books they found a note: “DO NOT LOOK FOR HIM HE IS COMING WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE.” – The partisans. His father and the priest Fr. Camellini were looking for him everywhere. The partisans had taken him to their base in the Emiliano Mountains. They took his cassock which made him very upset. They insulted him and hit him on his legs with his belt. Right now in front of them, they had a small child covered in wounds and crying. In fact these same things happened to Jesus. For three days Rolando was in the hands of those godless men. Mountains of blasphemies and insults against the church and the priesthood and other kinds of vulgarities fell on him, the poor little one. In this way the fear of flagellation in the poor body of this child became his own way of the cross.
Rolando was innocent, crying and whimpering like a little lamb taken to slaughter, he prayed from the depths of his heart and he asked for mercy. Still his soul was possessed by Christ and he was strong and in peace. Someone really touched by this testimony suggested to allow him go because he was just a child and there was no real motivation behind killing him. But others denied this possibility and said: “Shut up or you will have this same fate.” The hatred against the priest and the cassock that represents him was stronger. They decided to kill him: “Tomorrow we will have one less priest.”Nightfall came and they took him, bleeding into a forest in Piane di Monchio (Modena). In front of the grave that was already dug, Rolando understood everything. He whimpered and implored for forgiveness and mercy, he was answered by a kick but he then said: “I want to pray for my mom and dad.” He knelt next to the grave pit and he prayed for himself, for the people that he loved and possibly for the assassins. Two revolver shots sent him to the earth in his own blood. One last thought and one last beat of his heart for Jesus, he was completely in love…then the end.
The partisans covered him with shovels of earth and some dry branches from the trees. His cassock became a soccer ball, later seen as a “trophy of war,” under the door of a neighboring house. It was April 13, 1945, the anniversary of the young martyr St. Ermenegildo (+585 A.D.) Friday, like the one on which Jesus gave himself on the cross. Rolando was 14 years and 3 months old. Rolando Maria Rivi with his life, his word and moreover with his blood had proclaimed “What is more dear to me in this world is Christ.” On that bloody day, Fr. Alberto Camellini went to see the diocesan bishop, Eduardo Bertoni. The Bishop was sick on his bed, weakened because of pain and the assignation of ten of his priests. April 19, Fr. Giuseppe Jemmi, an associate pastor in Felina had been killed. Msgr. Bretoni heard and then began to cry without consolation and exclaimed: “Now they are killing my seminarians too!”
Pius XII on March 19, 1958 addressing 100,000 youths from the Catholic Action in St. Peter’s square in Rome said: “The earth which has been irrigated with tears will smile with pearls of love and once the blood of the martyrs has been dispersed, it will make new Christians grow… after one of the hardest and most difficult winters will come a spring which will be the announcement of a very rich and light summer.” The partisans who hated the Church and the priest thought that for Rolando everything was finished with the two shootings and with the shovels of earth that were thrown on his martyred body, in the grave in the forest of Piane di Monchio. But no, this was just the beginning. St. John Paul II on Sept. 23 1990 was in Ferrara, he spoke about the priest and seminarian martyrs saying: “The tortures and sufferings have made more evident the footprints of the ancient witness of faith…one word I want to say to the youth in preparation for the priesthood is that it is necessary to cultivate a sincere and deep love for Christ and one’s brothers, it is necessary to dispose the old heart to total donation.”
It is the message of Rolando that like a living seed bears fruit and is being fulfilled. Rolando Rivi lived only fourteen years, he lived only to become a priest, to celebrate in the altar and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to announce to his brothers, like a real missionary, the real Jesus Christ. There is an empty altar in which this young man never celebrated the Mass, but there are so many other youths that have been called to the priesthood and with enthusiasm, driven by this example, will celebrate on this same altar.Rolando has gone directly to the altar of glory, making of himself a pure host, holy and immaculate, offered to God for the salvation of his brothers. P. Alfonso M.A. Bruno FI
Rivi was shot on 13 April 1945 because of the anti-religious hatred of Communist partisan in the province of Modena. MThe young Catholic who had come from grade school to the small diocesan seminary, died at the age of only 14. His killers had kidnapped him during the end of the civil war raging in northern Italy in the mountains of Emilia during the Second World War. What now in the history books is usually glorified uncritically as the “Resistance,” is presented as a resistance against the “Nazi-fascism”, that the fight against the German occupation forces and against Italian fascism was in fact in some areas of northern Italy, a civil war in which it came to who would hold the power in the postwar period. The Communist partisans took up arms, not only against German troops and Italian Blackshirts, but for the establishment of a Soviet Republic with the dictatorship of the proletariat and thus against all non-communists, including especially the Catholics.
Left historical misrepresentations are addressed and overcome. The “Resistance,” was understood by many Communist brigades as the spark for a communist revolution, also in Emilia. Therefore Rolando Rivi only a 14 year old boy, had to die, and with him, dozens of priests and religious, who were brutally murdered in the “death triangle” of Emilia. Not because they were suspected to have been fascists or had fascist friends, as Leftist historiography and “partisan tradition” would like to tell it, but because they defended the Catholic faith, which the Communist revolutionaries wanted to eliminate. Rolando Rivi was a young lad of Catholic parents, whose greatest desire was to become a priest. He would rather die than take off his cassock as his killers had asked of him. [How many Communists in modern seminaries today want their young men to remove their cassocks and wear street clothes!]
The beatification process had entered eight years ago into the decisive phase after two dioceses, those of Modena, where the martyrdom took place, and that of Reggio Emilia, the home diocese of Rivi, completed the preliminary investigations. In 2005 the two dioceses promoted the cause from a joint committee, in order to promote the causa. His greatest desire was to become a priest – grown reverence among believers in the Pacific. The admiration for the young seminarian was in the religious people has grown over the years after the war during the peace. Publicly it was by grace, miracles and healings, whose testimonies were collected from the two dioceses. From different countries today, the faithful flock to the hills of the Apennines to the Romanesque church, in which Rolando Rivi lies buried.
Pope Francis recognized with his signature, that the young seminarian was not murdered by the Communist partisans for political reasons, but in odium fidei, out of hatred for the faith. A decision that is to challenge in those events and help to ensure greater attention in the post-war period “canonized” by Leftist historical misrepresentation. It is therefore an important signal that the first choices of the new Pope’s beatification of Servants of God were killed by two different totalitarian ideologies which were yet opposed to God, which rocked the 20th and persecuted the Church. Martyrs of totalitarians, Godless ideologues, raised to the altars. Among the 63 Catholics whose beatification Pope Francis signed, there is also the Dominican, Father Giuseppe Girotti, who was killed in 1945 in the concentration camp at Dachau.
Archbishop Luigi Negri of Ferrara said after learning of the beatification: “The meeting with Rolando Rivi meant in my life, the encounter with the experience of a radical adherence to Christ and to the Church, which dominates the boy’s age and state wide. A faith in granite, a simple but robust faith that allowed him to stand faithfully and firmly even before the outbreak of the wildest anti-Christian hatred, with humility and realism. Evidence which is also aimed at the youth of today and certainly not unheard of today” says Monsignor Negri for the Nuova Bussola Quotidian. Archbishop Luigi Negri: “Rolando Rivi is the St. Aloysius Gonzaga of the third millennium”. Archbishop of Ferrara compared Rolando Rivi with another great young saint. “I believe that Rolando can be the Saint Aloysius Gonzaga of the third millennium, because in him the same faith freshness and the same size of the witness of faith which shines forth”.
Article: "Quotes-Spiritual Warfare", Part II, by Pope Leo XIII Institute.
💎"On Friday, when I was at Ostra Brama to attend the ceremony during which the image was displayed, I heard a sermon given by my confessor. This sermon about divine Mercy was the first of the things that Jesus had asked for so very long ago. When he began to speak about the great mercy of the Lord, the image came alive and the rays pieced the hearts of the people gathered there, but not all to the same degree. Some received more, some less. Great joy filled my soul to see the grace of God. Then I heard the words, You are a witness of My mercy. You shall stand before My throne forever as a living witness to My mercy. When the sermon was over, I did not wait for the end of the service, as I was in a hurry to get back home. When I had taken a few steps, a great multitude of demons blocked my way. They threatened me with terrible tortures, and voices could be heard: “She has snatched away everything we have worked for over so many years!” When I asked them, “Where have you come from in such great numbers?” the wicked forms answered, “Out of human hearts; stop tormenting us!” Seeing their great hatred for me, I immediately asked my Guardian Angel for help, and at once the bright and radiant figure of my Guardian Angel appeared and said to me, “Do not fear, spouse of my Lord; without His permission these spirits will do you no harm.” Immediately the evil spirits vanished, and the faithful Guardian Angel accompanied me, in a visible manner, right to the very house. His look was modest and peaceful, and a flame of fire sparkled from his forehead." – St. Faustina
💎"Temptations are the sure sign of divine favor and the fact that you fear them is the clearest proof that you do not yield to them. The more violently the enemy attacks you the more you must abandon yourself to the Lord, confident that he will never allow you to be overcome." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Let us always bear in mind that at our baptism we became temples of the living God and that every time we turn our minds to worldly things, to the devil and the flesh which we renounced at baptism, we are profaning this sacred temple of God." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Jesus is always with you, even when you don’t feel his presence. He is never so close to you as he is during your spiritual battles. He is always there, close to you, encouraging you to fight the good fight; he is there to ward off the enemy’s blows so you won’t be hurt." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Have courage and do not fear the assaults of the Devil. Remember this forever; it is a healthy sign if the devil shouts and roars around your conscience, since this shows that he is not inside your will." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"When it is not a question of real and definite temptations but more of physical dispositions favorable to temptations it is better to not fight against them or to remove them positively, but distract yourself or occupy yourself with something. Attending to it is harmful because it increases the feeling and consequent anxiety through suggestion. Since you yourself see it as foolish nonsense, do not pay attention and treat it with contempt. Have recourse to the expedients alluded to. Fix your gaze in the distance, or look back, etc., this saves you from the sensible impression because it distracts your attention. You may have other tactics that may seem ridiculous and insignificant, but who cares, even pins can be useful in time of war." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Unfortunately, temptations against the Faith are the most frightening. In the others there is God in whom we believe, invoke and to whom we cling; but in this temptation we feel a complete void and we are denied the resource of weeping and hoping in the Supreme Good. Do not think though that it is easy to consent to it. The very fear is an obstacle to the consent. All I ask is that you do not argue with Satan. He knows more than you do and he is such a clever and terrible Sophist that you cannot imagine. In the frequent attacks, make a supreme effort to gather your intelligence, will and sentiment and say: “I believe, what I have always believed and will always believe with the holy Church.” Then console yourself by persuading yourself that this kind of temptation does not usually last long." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"The best method to defend yourself against temptations of impurity are: 1) guard your senses to protect them from bad impressions; 2) avoid vanity; 3) do not let your heart receive impressions; 4) convince yourself of the baseness of these satisfactions; 5) avoid idleness; 6) pray detachedly when the passions are tempted. As for corporal mortifications, the fasts and abstinences ordered by Holy Mother Church are enough."– St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Vanity makes the heart frivolous and more easily carried away by the aura of temptation." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"To be occupied is to not give the enemy the time and ease to display his base wares and attract your attention. Consequently Saint Bernard suggests, amongst other things, to flee idleness to triumph and save oneself from these dangers. But the best weapon to resort to often is prayer. When the fascination has been transmitted and the fire blazes, reflections and intentions will be of no use if the One who is stronger than nature and Satan does not intervene. Indeed, arm yourself in advance against the feared attacks invoking the customary alliance saying: “Lord, you well know my weakness, either remove or mitigate the attacks.” – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"In the inner heart of every person the voice of God and the insidious voice of the Evil One can be heard. The latter seeks to deceive the human person, seducing him with the prospect of false goods, to lead him away from the real good that consists precisely in fulfilling the divine will." – St. John Paul II
💎"There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not alreasy borne for us, and does not now bear with us." – St. John Paul II
💎“Spiritual combat” is another element of monastic life which needs to be taught anew and proposed once more to all Christians today. It is a secret and interior art, an invisible struggle in which monks engage every day against the temptations, the evil suggestions that the demon tries to plant in their hearts; it is a combat that becomes crucifixion in the arena of solitude in the quest for the purity of heart that makes it possible to see God (cf. Matthew 5:8) and of the charity that makes it possible to share in the life of God who is love (cf. 1 John 4:16). More than ever in the lives of Christians today, idols are seductive and temptations unrelenting: the art of spiritual combat, the discernment of spirits, the sharing of one’s thoughts with one’s spiritual director, the invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus and of his mercy must once more become a part of the inner life of the disciple of the Lord. This battle is necessary in order not to be distracted or worried (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:32,35), and to live in constant recollection with the Lord." – St. John Paul II
💎"On Friday, when I was at Ostra Brama to attend the ceremony during which the image was displayed, I heard a sermon given by my confessor. This sermon about divine Mercy was the first of the things that Jesus had asked for so very long ago. When he began to speak about the great mercy of the Lord, the image came alive and the rays pieced the hearts of the people gathered there, but not all to the same degree. Some received more, some less. Great joy filled my soul to see the grace of God. Then I heard the words, You are a witness of My mercy. You shall stand before My throne forever as a living witness to My mercy. When the sermon was over, I did not wait for the end of the service, as I was in a hurry to get back home. When I had taken a few steps, a great multitude of demons blocked my way. They threatened me with terrible tortures, and voices could be heard: “She has snatched away everything we have worked for over so many years!” When I asked them, “Where have you come from in such great numbers?” the wicked forms answered, “Out of human hearts; stop tormenting us!” Seeing their great hatred for me, I immediately asked my Guardian Angel for help, and at once the bright and radiant figure of my Guardian Angel appeared and said to me, “Do not fear, spouse of my Lord; without His permission these spirits will do you no harm.” Immediately the evil spirits vanished, and the faithful Guardian Angel accompanied me, in a visible manner, right to the very house. His look was modest and peaceful, and a flame of fire sparkled from his forehead." – St. Faustina
💎"Temptations are the sure sign of divine favor and the fact that you fear them is the clearest proof that you do not yield to them. The more violently the enemy attacks you the more you must abandon yourself to the Lord, confident that he will never allow you to be overcome." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Let us always bear in mind that at our baptism we became temples of the living God and that every time we turn our minds to worldly things, to the devil and the flesh which we renounced at baptism, we are profaning this sacred temple of God." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Jesus is always with you, even when you don’t feel his presence. He is never so close to you as he is during your spiritual battles. He is always there, close to you, encouraging you to fight the good fight; he is there to ward off the enemy’s blows so you won’t be hurt." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Have courage and do not fear the assaults of the Devil. Remember this forever; it is a healthy sign if the devil shouts and roars around your conscience, since this shows that he is not inside your will." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"When it is not a question of real and definite temptations but more of physical dispositions favorable to temptations it is better to not fight against them or to remove them positively, but distract yourself or occupy yourself with something. Attending to it is harmful because it increases the feeling and consequent anxiety through suggestion. Since you yourself see it as foolish nonsense, do not pay attention and treat it with contempt. Have recourse to the expedients alluded to. Fix your gaze in the distance, or look back, etc., this saves you from the sensible impression because it distracts your attention. You may have other tactics that may seem ridiculous and insignificant, but who cares, even pins can be useful in time of war." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Unfortunately, temptations against the Faith are the most frightening. In the others there is God in whom we believe, invoke and to whom we cling; but in this temptation we feel a complete void and we are denied the resource of weeping and hoping in the Supreme Good. Do not think though that it is easy to consent to it. The very fear is an obstacle to the consent. All I ask is that you do not argue with Satan. He knows more than you do and he is such a clever and terrible Sophist that you cannot imagine. In the frequent attacks, make a supreme effort to gather your intelligence, will and sentiment and say: “I believe, what I have always believed and will always believe with the holy Church.” Then console yourself by persuading yourself that this kind of temptation does not usually last long." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"The best method to defend yourself against temptations of impurity are: 1) guard your senses to protect them from bad impressions; 2) avoid vanity; 3) do not let your heart receive impressions; 4) convince yourself of the baseness of these satisfactions; 5) avoid idleness; 6) pray detachedly when the passions are tempted. As for corporal mortifications, the fasts and abstinences ordered by Holy Mother Church are enough."– St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"Vanity makes the heart frivolous and more easily carried away by the aura of temptation." – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"To be occupied is to not give the enemy the time and ease to display his base wares and attract your attention. Consequently Saint Bernard suggests, amongst other things, to flee idleness to triumph and save oneself from these dangers. But the best weapon to resort to often is prayer. When the fascination has been transmitted and the fire blazes, reflections and intentions will be of no use if the One who is stronger than nature and Satan does not intervene. Indeed, arm yourself in advance against the feared attacks invoking the customary alliance saying: “Lord, you well know my weakness, either remove or mitigate the attacks.” – St. Pio of Pietrelcina
💎"In the inner heart of every person the voice of God and the insidious voice of the Evil One can be heard. The latter seeks to deceive the human person, seducing him with the prospect of false goods, to lead him away from the real good that consists precisely in fulfilling the divine will." – St. John Paul II
💎"There is no evil to be faced that Christ does not face with us. There is no enemy that Christ has not already conquered. There is no cross to bear that Christ has not alreasy borne for us, and does not now bear with us." – St. John Paul II
💎“Spiritual combat” is another element of monastic life which needs to be taught anew and proposed once more to all Christians today. It is a secret and interior art, an invisible struggle in which monks engage every day against the temptations, the evil suggestions that the demon tries to plant in their hearts; it is a combat that becomes crucifixion in the arena of solitude in the quest for the purity of heart that makes it possible to see God (cf. Matthew 5:8) and of the charity that makes it possible to share in the life of God who is love (cf. 1 John 4:16). More than ever in the lives of Christians today, idols are seductive and temptations unrelenting: the art of spiritual combat, the discernment of spirits, the sharing of one’s thoughts with one’s spiritual director, the invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus and of his mercy must once more become a part of the inner life of the disciple of the Lord. This battle is necessary in order not to be distracted or worried (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:32,35), and to live in constant recollection with the Lord." – St. John Paul II
"UNSEEN Christian SPIRITUAL WARFARE" Part 2 (By St. Nicodemus)
Link to YouTube video;,
https://youtu.be/YIOkj00ms5U
Link to YouTube video;,
https://youtu.be/YIOkj00ms5U