Pondering Tidbits of Truth - June 21, 2018

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.

Blessed John Henry Newman

"Never had a soul true happiness but in conformity to God, in obedience to His will. We must become what we are not; we must learn to love what we do not love, and practice ourselves in what is difficult. We must have the law of the Spirit of life written and set up in our hearts, that the righteousnesss of the law may be fulfilled in us, and that we may learn to please and to love God."

(From Parochial and Plain Sermons)

Bishop Robert C. Morlino

"...To speak the truth requires courage. To preach the saving truth of Jesus Christ has always required courage. But now even to speak basic truths of human reason, of human nature, of human sanity - even that requires courage. People today have been taught to be offended. People live to be offended. That's why they need a 'safe space' and a 'cry closet'. And what they mean by that seems to be a space where they can be safe from hearing the voice of reason and truth.

If you speak the truth, you might not be safe. Those who speak truth to a culture where everyone is looking to be offended will be persecuted...The world has hated Christ because He gave testimony that its works are evil (John 7:7). The world will also hate you if you speak out against its evil works...

So if you're going to shine the light of reason in a dark world, you are going to need courage. To quote St. Thomas [Aquinas] again, 'Courage denotes a certain firmness of mind in bearing and withstanding those things wherein it is most difficult to firm.' In other words, courage makes you discouragement-proof.

This is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which has already been given to you in Baptism and Confirmation to make you courageous in witnessing to the truth - the truth of Jesus Christ, which is known by faith; and the truth of the human person and of human nature, which can also be known by reason.

Courage is a gift infused by God. And it is also acquired and perfected through practice. If you want to be courageous in speaking the truth, you have to practice doing it precisely in those situations where it is difficult."

(From Commencement Address to St, Thomas Aquinas)


Thomas a Kempis

"It is a great thing, a very great thing, to be able to do without all solace, both human and divine, and to be willing to bear this exile of the heart for the honor of God and in nothing seek self, and not to have regard to one's own merit. What a great thing is it to be cheerful and devout when grace comes to thee! This is an hour desirable to all."

(From Imitation of Christ)

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