Pondering Tidbits of Truth - January 16, 2014

(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time.

 

Rev. Clement Henry Crock

“But the word “hell” is no longer a welcome word in polite society. Much less will such tolerate any mention of eternal punishments or everlasting fire and torments in hell. Now, we wish to frighten nobody. But silence will not extinguish the pains of hell, nor render them non-existent. Were all of us to agree to remain silent on the subject, hell would still continue to exist; for as sure as there is a heaven to hope for, so surely there is a hell to fear. Our Lord told us so, and God cannot deceive. And since this is true, we should think of it and speak of it more frequently; for knowing it, we shall fear it, and fearing it, we shall avoid it.”

                                        (From An Eternity of Heaven or Hell)

Eustace Boylan, S.J

“The Blessed Sacrament is the very center of our devotional life. It is the hearthstone round which the Catholic family gathers. With this left out, the whole tone of our devotional life would be radically different. The Sacred Humanity would still be an adorable reminiscence; the life of Christ might still ‘be our consolation and our hope’; but in the dark hours of existence how far off God would seem! If through some catastrophe all those little ruby lamps of the sanctuary were extinguished forever and the tabernacles left empty, what a darkness would fall on the world! What a happiness and ease of heart would vanish into the gloom! Every true Catholic understands this.”

(From The Real Presence)

Pope Francis

“In desolation and times of trial, it may seem that the Lord is far away or fast asleep (as He was in the stern of the boat during the storm [Matt 8:24-25]. Other times, it may be our worldly or sinful attitude that makes the Lord seem distant from our heart. He is always there, but we don’t see Him – or don’t want to see Him.”

(From Open Mind, Faithful Heart – Reflections on Following Jesus)