Ijournal entry 012615 #04. January, month of the Holy Name of Jesus. Quotes from St. Neilos the Ascetic, Fr. Ed Broom, St. John of the Cross, and the CCC. To Autolycus, Book I, by St. Theophilus of Antioch. Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2, by Philip Schaff. Audio retreat, Talk I, Part II: Detachment, by Fr. Josh Waltz
January, month of the Holy Name of Jesus
Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered Against the Holy Name
"O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who has said: “If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you,” we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost world without end".
Thank you John for this prayer
Act of Reparation for Blasphemies Uttered Against the Holy Name
"O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy holy name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse, the holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, who has said: “If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you,” we pray and beseech Thee for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost world without end".
Thank you John for this prayer
The Cheese & Crackers
🔴 "Detachment is the mark of a perfect soul, whereas it is characteristic of an imperfect soul to be worn down with anxiety about material things. The perfect soul is called a 'lily among thorns' (S.of S. 2:2), meaning that it lives with detachment in the midst of those who are troubled by such anxiety". By St. Neilos the Ascetic
🔵 "Control those wandering eyes. The eyes are the mirror to the soul. The holy King David plunged into sin and more sin leading to murder for the simple reason that he allowed his eyes to wander. His eyes wandered and gazed upon a married woman—Bathsheba. Adulterous thoughts led to physical adultery, to denial of his sin and eventually to killing an innocent man—the husband of Bathsheba.(II Samuel 11-12). Let us strive to live out the Beatitude:
Mt. 5: 8 “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God". By Fr. Ed Broom
⚫️ "If you purify your soul of attachment to and desire for things, you will understand them spiritually. If you deny your appetite for them, you will enjoy their truth, understanding what is certain in them". By St. John of the Cross
⚪️ "There is a connection between purity of heart, of body, and of faifh" from CCC, no. 2518
Matthew 16:24-26 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, * take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
Matthew 16:24-26 is the scripture of choice to serve as a preface to refresh memories and help inspire a continual push for obtaining purity of heart. The plea is for someone to please answer the call and deny yourself the so called "good" movies, "good" TV shows, and any entertainment that is laced with profanity, immorality, and immodesty. Of course it may be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but "if" we love Him, who is holy, we will aspire to holiness. It is wise to be vigilant about speech, dress, and actions, if we desire to make any real serious progress in the spiritual life and be pleasing to God. If one is content with being lukewarm, remember this:
Matthew 16:24-26 is the scripture of choice to serve as a preface to refresh memories and help inspire a continual push for obtaining purity of heart. The plea is for someone to please answer the call and deny yourself the so called "good" movies, "good" TV shows, and any entertainment that is laced with profanity, immorality, and immodesty. Of course it may be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but "if" we love Him, who is holy, we will aspire to holiness. It is wise to be vigilant about speech, dress, and actions, if we desire to make any real serious progress in the spiritual life and be pleasing to God. If one is content with being lukewarm, remember this:
Revelation 3:15-17 "I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So,because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything, ’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked".
We are indeed wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked, when we allow ourselves to be catechized by the world, marching to it's beat. Just sounding the alert that a fox is present. St. Francis De Sales used that term in his book, "Introduction to the Devout Life". Hope someone will take up and read or listen, as for myself, doing both. Getting a head start for Lent. Sr. Rose responded that this is a classic,one that she read long ago. Well, the audio book is hot on my playlist, just finished it and starting over again. St. Francis is hitting home runs left and right, the doc prescriptions are excellent. What lately impressed me, at just the right time was this statement of his:
"The body is poisoned by what enters the mouth, and the heart is poisoned by what enters the ears. Now that we are in the Twenty First Century, it is a must to add that the heart is also poisoned by what enters the eyes".
As case in point is the movie that inspired this Ijournal entry. God can indeed write straight with crooked lines. Someone told me about a good movie recently viewed. My response was comprised of three questions:
🔘 1. Really?
🔘 2. Was there any profanity in the movie? (Guess in this day and age that's a rhetorical question)
🔘 3. Were there any low cut necklines?
The person took a moment to ponder the questions, and in good faith said: no, not really, just the heavy use of the "N" word.
Well, the person is honest and believable, so that was my green light to make plans to see the movie on the holiday most appropriate to viewing it.
Well surprise, surprise, surprise, as the movie unfolds. This scripture says it all.
We are indeed wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked, when we allow ourselves to be catechized by the world, marching to it's beat. Just sounding the alert that a fox is present. St. Francis De Sales used that term in his book, "Introduction to the Devout Life". Hope someone will take up and read or listen, as for myself, doing both. Getting a head start for Lent. Sr. Rose responded that this is a classic,one that she read long ago. Well, the audio book is hot on my playlist, just finished it and starting over again. St. Francis is hitting home runs left and right, the doc prescriptions are excellent. What lately impressed me, at just the right time was this statement of his:
"The body is poisoned by what enters the mouth, and the heart is poisoned by what enters the ears. Now that we are in the Twenty First Century, it is a must to add that the heart is also poisoned by what enters the eyes".
As case in point is the movie that inspired this Ijournal entry. God can indeed write straight with crooked lines. Someone told me about a good movie recently viewed. My response was comprised of three questions:
🔘 1. Really?
🔘 2. Was there any profanity in the movie? (Guess in this day and age that's a rhetorical question)
🔘 3. Were there any low cut necklines?
The person took a moment to ponder the questions, and in good faith said: no, not really, just the heavy use of the "N" word.
Well, the person is honest and believable, so that was my green light to make plans to see the movie on the holiday most appropriate to viewing it.
Well surprise, surprise, surprise, as the movie unfolds. This scripture says it all.
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter"
In the case of the person, it was just a matter of routine exposure that probably numbed the ability to be sensitive to about a dozen profanities that were noted during the movie. The person is respectable, of good character, and did mean well. Also by the fact that it was about a dozen infarcts, may have also played a part in the evaluation. It seems that a significantly higher number is the general norm for movies. Also maybe during routine TV viewing, where it is now not uncommon to hear and see impure and immodest things, people will become desensitized. Not a movie goer or TV viewer for that very reason, and besides, most time spiritual things occupy my time. Who is not far behind, and need to catch up spiritually? How many classics have you read?
When you know better you do better, so all those who are viewing these movies and deeming them good, aren't aware of the serious offenses against purity. They don't realize what St. Francis is saying about contamination of the heart. My spin is that the more and more garbage infiltrating a heart, it will render the spiritual heart cells dead, and little by little they will become non functioning. After a while more and more impure infiltrates will become magnets for attracting tolerance and a liberal spirit towards the unholy. A spiritual cancer slowly will take over. You would think only beginners would fall into that trap, but season veterans appear not to be immune.
Because the fashions in the movie were from the sixties era, there was no sweat or worries about plunging necklines. Now, it is beyond ridiculous what some people will wear shamelessly. Some Christians are neck and neck with the rest of the world. Even parishioners at Mass, and also an extraordinary minister of communion once was very, very, inappropriately dressed. Just telling it like it is, you can stone me, but truth is truth. Any amens? Thank God some of you will realize this the truth is being told. We who have been graced to know and live the truth, need to pray hard for ourselves and others. We all need to keep tabs on the areas in which we ourselves are falling short, because all fall short in one way or another.
In the case of the person, it was just a matter of routine exposure that probably numbed the ability to be sensitive to about a dozen profanities that were noted during the movie. The person is respectable, of good character, and did mean well. Also by the fact that it was about a dozen infarcts, may have also played a part in the evaluation. It seems that a significantly higher number is the general norm for movies. Also maybe during routine TV viewing, where it is now not uncommon to hear and see impure and immodest things, people will become desensitized. Not a movie goer or TV viewer for that very reason, and besides, most time spiritual things occupy my time. Who is not far behind, and need to catch up spiritually? How many classics have you read?
When you know better you do better, so all those who are viewing these movies and deeming them good, aren't aware of the serious offenses against purity. They don't realize what St. Francis is saying about contamination of the heart. My spin is that the more and more garbage infiltrating a heart, it will render the spiritual heart cells dead, and little by little they will become non functioning. After a while more and more impure infiltrates will become magnets for attracting tolerance and a liberal spirit towards the unholy. A spiritual cancer slowly will take over. You would think only beginners would fall into that trap, but season veterans appear not to be immune.
Because the fashions in the movie were from the sixties era, there was no sweat or worries about plunging necklines. Now, it is beyond ridiculous what some people will wear shamelessly. Some Christians are neck and neck with the rest of the world. Even parishioners at Mass, and also an extraordinary minister of communion once was very, very, inappropriately dressed. Just telling it like it is, you can stone me, but truth is truth. Any amens? Thank God some of you will realize this the truth is being told. We who have been graced to know and live the truth, need to pray hard for ourselves and others. We all need to keep tabs on the areas in which we ourselves are falling short, because all fall short in one way or another.
James 3:2 "for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also"
We all should be constantly working to improve and grow in grace and grow in God, right Gigarettes? We all are climbing the ladder, some may be above and some may be below, but what matters in the end is how many reach the top. Working together, praying, and being of assistance one to another, we all can help each other make it to the top. We are indeed the body of Christ! Let's not harden our hearts, but hear and discern the word of God where ever it is spoken.
We all should be constantly working to improve and grow in grace and grow in God, right Gigarettes? We all are climbing the ladder, some may be above and some may be below, but what matters in the end is how many reach the top. Working together, praying, and being of assistance one to another, we all can help each other make it to the top. We are indeed the body of Christ! Let's not harden our hearts, but hear and discern the word of God where ever it is spoken.
Hebrews 3:15 "As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Getting to my scripture and spiritual readings for the day, later that night after the Movie, proved to be an asset in driving home the considered points. Everything was ringing so true at just the right time. To not see how profanity devalues and renders a movie unacceptable, thereby disqualifying it from being labeled good, is to fail to evaluate from a lofty standpoint. In the book: "Advent of The Heart", by Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J., the following was said:
"the lofty standpoint determines the field of vision a life will have and gives the air that a soul breathes".
My spin on this, for the purpose of this topic, is that the field of vision is definitely tainted by impurities and the soul is without a doubt breathing stale unfiltered air (putrid air in Milton's book). My regular scripture reading for the day was from Hebrews, the twelfth chapter. The following verses garnered my attention:
Getting to my scripture and spiritual readings for the day, later that night after the Movie, proved to be an asset in driving home the considered points. Everything was ringing so true at just the right time. To not see how profanity devalues and renders a movie unacceptable, thereby disqualifying it from being labeled good, is to fail to evaluate from a lofty standpoint. In the book: "Advent of The Heart", by Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J., the following was said:
"the lofty standpoint determines the field of vision a life will have and gives the air that a soul breathes".
My spin on this, for the purpose of this topic, is that the field of vision is definitely tainted by impurities and the soul is without a doubt breathing stale unfiltered air (putrid air in Milton's book). My regular scripture reading for the day was from Hebrews, the twelfth chapter. The following verses garnered my attention:
Hebrews 12:14-16 " Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble, through which many may become defiled, that no one be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal"
My new year spiritual practice of reading from the gospels, also proved to be helpful. The daily email sent from Flocknote, further rubber stamped the point of appropriate responses representing maturity. The reading and commentary from Matthew 6:24-34 was perfect. The pertinent commentary was for verse 33, saying that Christians must prioritize the pursuit of holiness in their lives.
My new year spiritual practice of reading from the gospels, also proved to be helpful. The daily email sent from Flocknote, further rubber stamped the point of appropriate responses representing maturity. The reading and commentary from Matthew 6:24-34 was perfect. The pertinent commentary was for verse 33, saying that Christians must prioritize the pursuit of holiness in their lives.
Matthew6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.
If you care to subscribe to "Reading from Gospels in a year", here is the
link : https://uno.flocknote.com/note/305367
Seek first His kingdom, and let it not be thine own kingdom in the mix. All this is leading me down the poetic road. The first poem for 2015, stay tuned, because it will be a veggie in Part II. This is turning out to be a IV part series.
If you care to subscribe to "Reading from Gospels in a year", here is the
link : https://uno.flocknote.com/note/305367
Seek first His kingdom, and let it not be thine own kingdom in the mix. All this is leading me down the poetic road. The first poem for 2015, stay tuned, because it will be a veggie in Part II. This is turning out to be a IV part series.
The Potatoes
"To Autolycus, Book I", by St. Theophilus of Antioch
Info from this site: http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/02041.htm
"St. Theophilus, Bishop of Antioch (in modern Turkey), and an early Christian apologist. Originally a philosopher in the eastern Roman Empire, he began to study the Scriptures with the intention of attacking the Christianfaith but was soon converted. A gifted apologist, he was the author of an Apology in three books and addressed to Autolycus (the only work of his writings to survive). It seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christianity over the immoral myths of pagan religion. It is also noted for its development of the doctrine of the Logos (Word) as first enunciated in the Gospel of John and to express the word Triad when describing the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit". Info from this site:
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2263
"Chapter 2. That the Eyes of the Soul Must Be Purged Ere God Can Be Seen.
But if you say, Show me your God, I would reply, Show me yourself, and I will show you my God. Show, then, that the eyes of your soul are capable of seeing, and the ears of your heart able to hear; for as those who look with the eyes of the body perceive earthly objects and what concerns this life, and discriminate at the same time between things that differ, whether light or darkness, white or black, deformed or beautiful, well-proportioned and symmetrical ordisproportioned and awkward, or monstrous or mutilated; and as in like manner also, by the sense of hearing, we discriminate either sharp, or deep, or sweet sounds; so the same holds good regarding the eyes of the soul and the ears of the heart, that it is by them we are able to behold God. For God is seen by those who are enabled to see Him when they have the eyes of their soul opened: for all have eyes; but in some they are overspread, and do not see the light of the sun. Yet it does not follow, because the blind do not see, that the light of the sun does not shine; but let the blind blame themselves and their own eyes. So also you, O man, have the eyes of your soul overspread by your sins and evil deeds. As aburnished mirror, so ought man to have his soul pure. When there is rust on the mirror, it is not possible that a man's face be seen in the mirror; so also when there is sin in a man, such a man cannot behold God. Do you, therefore, show me yourself, whether you are not an adulterer, or a fornicator, or a thief, or a robber, or a purloiner; whether you do not corrupt boys; whether you are not insolent, or a slanderer, or passionate, or envious, or proud, or supercilious; whether you are not a brawler, or covetous, or disobedient to parents; and whether you do not sell your children; for to those who do these things God is not manifest, unless they have first cleansed themselves from all impurity. All these things, then, involve you in darkness, as when a filmy defluxion on the eyes prevents one from beholding the light of the sun: thus also do iniquities, man, involve you in darkness, so that you cannot see God"
The Meat
Ended up with this meat dish by wondering if the eyes are the windows of the soul then what can be said about the ears? Going from point A to point B, resulted in experiencing something new and succulent, a great meat dish for you to sample.
"Ante-Nicene Fathers collection: Dating back to the late nineteenth century, this series of ten volumes contains English translations of early Christian writings up to the Council of Nicaea. Although the introductions, notes, and language are out of date, the volumes remain the most complete English language resource for writings during this period"
📖 Book: "Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2, Fathers of the Second Century: Hermas, Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Clement of Alexandria (Entire)", by Philip Schaff
Book link: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf02.pdf
"CHAPTER VI.—ON FILTHY SPEAKING.From filthy speaking we ourselves must entirely abstain, and stop the mouths of those who practice it by stern looks and averting the face, and by what we call making a mock of one: often also by a harsher mode of speech. “For what proceedeth out of the mouth,” He says, “defileth a man,”1421—shows him to be unclean, and heathenish, and untrained, and licentious, and not select, and proper, and honourable, and temperate.1422
And as a similar rule holds with regard to hearing and seeing in the case of what is obscene, the divine Instructor, following the same course with both, arrays those children who are engaged in the struggle in words of modesty, as ear-guards, so that the pulsation of fornication may not penetrate to the bruising of the soul; and He directs the eyes to the sight of what is honourable, saying that it is better to make a slip with the feet than with the eyes. This filthy speaking the apostle beats off, saying, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good.”1423 And again, “As becometh saints, let not filthiness be named among you, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which things are not seemly, but rather giving of thanks.”1424 And if “he that calls his brother a fool be in danger of the judgment,” what shall we pronounce regarding him who speaks what is foolish? Is it not written respecting such: “Whosoever shall speak an idle word, shall give an account to the Lord in the day of judgment?”1425 And again, “By thy speech thou
251shalt be justified,” He says, “and by thy speech thou shalt be condemned.”1426 What, then, are the salutary ear-guards, and what the regulations for slippery eyes? Conversations with the righteous, preoccupying and forearming the ears against those that would lead away from the truth.
“Evil communications corrupt good manners,” says Poetry. More nobly the apostle says, “Be haters of the evil; cleave to the good.”1427 For he who associates with the saints shall be sanctified. From shameful things addressed to the ears, and words and sights, we must entirely abstain.1428 And much more must we keep pure from shameful deeds: on the one hand, from exhibiting and exposing parts of the body which we ought not; and on the other, from beholding what is forbidden. For the modest son could not bear to look on the shameful exposure of the righteous man; and modesty covered what intoxication exposed—the spectacle of the transgression of ignorance.1429 No less ought we to keep pure from calumnious reports, to which the ears of those who have believed in Christ ought to be inaccessible.
It is on this account, as appears to me, that the Instructor does not permit us to give utterance to aught unseemly, fortifying us at an early stage against licentiousness. For He is admirable always at cutting out the roots of sins, such as, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” by “Thou shalt not lust.”1430 For adultery is the fruit of lust, which is the evil root. And so likewise also in this instance the Instructor censures licence in names, and thus cuts off the licentious intercourse of excess. For licence in names produces the desire of being indecorous in conduct; and the observance of modesty in names is a training in resistance to lasciviousness. We have shown in a more exhaustive treatise, that neither in the names nor in the members to which appellations not in common use are applied, is there the designation of what is really obscene.
For neither are knee and leg, and such other members, nor are the names applied to them, and the activity put forth by them, obscene. And even the pudenda are to be regarded as objects suggestive of modesty, not shame. It is their unlawful activity that is shameful, and deserving ignominy, and reproach, and punishment. For the only thing that is in reality shameful is wickedness, and what is done through it. In accordance with these remarks, conversation about deeds of wickedness is appropriately termed filthy [shameful] speaking, as talk about adultery and pæderasty and the like. Frivolous prating, too, is to be put to silence.1431 “For,” it is said, “in much speaking thou shalt not escape sin.”1432 “Sins of the tongue, therefore, shall be punished.” “There is he who is silent, and is found wise; and there is he that is hated for much speech.”1433 But still more, the prater makes himself the object of disgust. “For he that multiplieth speech abominates his own soul.”1434
The Dessert
Audio retreat, Talk 1 Part 2: Detachment, by Fr. Josh Waltz
Link to the talk :
http://www.myspiritoflife.com/image/cache/Talk_1_part_2_-_Detachment_April_5_2014_Fr_Josh_Waltz_-_A_Simple_Lenten_Retreat_for_Women_-_Spirit_of_Life.mp3
Ⓦⓗⓨ e͜͡l͜͡s͜͡e͜͡ b͜͡ i͜͡n͜͡ i͜͡t͜͡, i͜͡f͜͡ n͜͡o͜͡t͜͡ 2w͜͡i͜͡n͜͡ i͜͡t͜͡?
Ⓦⓘⓣⓗ d͜͡a͜͡ h͜͡e͜͡a͜͡v͜͡e͜͡n͜͡l͜͡y͜͡ p͜͡r͜͡i͜͡z͜͡e͜͡, a͜͡l͜͡w͜͡a͜͡y͜͡s͜͡ i͜͡n͜͡ s͜͡i͜͡g͜͡h͜͡t͜͡ b͜͡4 y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡r͜͡ e͜͡y͜͡e͜͡s͜͡
Ⓛⓔⓣ d͜͡a͜͡i͜͡l͜͡y͜͡ m͜͡e͜͡t͜͡a͜͡n͜͡o͜͡i͜͡a͜͡ & t͜͡r͜͡a͜͡n͜͡s͜͡f͜͡o͜͡r͜͡m͜͡a͜͡t͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡ c͜͡o͜͡m͜͡e͜͡ 2f͜͡r͜͡u͜͡i͜͡t͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡
i͜͡n͜͡ Ch͜͡r͜͡i͜͡s͜͡t͜͡Ⓙⓔⓢⓤⓢ, y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡'l͜͡l͜͡ t͜͡h͜͡e͜͡n͜͡ b͜͡ a͜͡b͜͡l͜͡e͜͡ 2c͜͡o͜͡m͜͡p͜͡l͜͡e͜͡t͜͡e͜͡ y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡r͜͡ m͜͡i͜͡s͜͡s͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡
✞ⓂⓂ/℘✞L̶o̶r̶d̶ \o/
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