Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

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. Father Henri Dominic Lacordaire, O.P. “What is difficult is to carry the cross each day, the cross which is not blood-stained but which bruises the skin a little without making it bleed, and which is composed of restraint, tediousness and languor. If one could only mount Calvary once and for all, and give one's body once and for all to the executioners, what pleasure! But no, the torment is in detail: a little cut of the whip, a little slap in the face, a little humiliation.” (From  St. Dominic’s Family   by Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.)   Plinio Correa de Oliveira “If I am truly grateful for the fact that our Lord is my God and my Savior Who shed His blood to the last drop for me and would have done it for me alone, I must react when I see Him attacked, insulted derided, blasphemed and His Church persecuted. That is t...

(Image Source:  Wikimedia Commons ) "Silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament is one of the hardest yet most spiritually rewarding moments in a Catholic's spiritual development.- Like a potter to the clay, allowing God to work in you and being comfortable not speaking, not interrupting, but allowing one's soul to conform to the will of God. That sounds easy, but it's really hard." (Shaun Kenny from "Silence In A Cluttered Age" published in the July 24, 2019 issue of  The Wanderer )

" You must spend time in the Presence of God! When you go to church to spend time at Adoration, give your full attention to the Lord. Talk to Him just as if you were talking to a friend or relative. Know that He is there in front of you, waiting for you! All you need to do is to open your eyes and your hearts to God. Even though God knows everything that is in your heart, He wants you to share those thoughts with Him. He is waiting for you to ask Him to help you, your loved ones and others in need. Only He knows what you and they need and what is best for the salvation of your soul and theirs. Be grateful that you can come into His Presence and be with Him. Remember that everything we have is a gift from God. He may not always give us what we request, but God will always give us what we need. Should we not offer all the joys and tribulations of our lives to Him? Should we not worship and love Him as He asks? Should we not ask Him to change our hearts and teach us how to love...

If you care about the salvation of souls (your own and those you love) get a copy of  Accompanying A Dying Soul . It is a brief but powerful read and spiritual aid.

Our lives are plagued with distraction.   But when we choose to exercise our free will, which God the Father so lovingly respects, and attend Eucharistic Adoration without phone or timepiece, we render these distractions harmless. God does not shout. He whispers His love into our hearts when our hearts are completely open to Him. It is then His words are heard and made manifest in us.   It is then we more fully understand the Truth. As St. Catherine of Siena teaches, the greater our understanding of the Truth, the greater is our ability to love.   Eucharistic Adoration brings us closer to Truth, which is Christ Jesus Himself, and hence our capacity to love is made greater. Mr. Bob Kratzenberg, O.P.   St. Catherine of Siena Fraternity, Columbus, OH f rom  Godhead Here in Hiding Whom I Do Adore - Lay Dominicans Reflect on Eucharistic Adoration)

"I experienced Eucharistic Adoration for the first time when I converted to Catholicism. The thought of being able to sit before my God and my Savior was unbelievable, amazing and at the same time frightening. It was an experience and an opportunity I did not want to miss. At that time, it seemed as if my heart and soul were seeking something this world could not provide. My heart and soul were uneasy, restless and not at peace.  Seeing the Blessed Sacrament before my eyes was a humbling experience and it reminded me of how unworthy I am to benefit from the great sacrifice God made on my behalf. I was initially saddened because of my sins. Sitting there the tears rolled down my face as I prayed for forgiveness, my needs and the needs of others. Then these thoughts came to me - to be still and open myself up to God and let Him examine me. As I sat there my prayer changed. I asked God to lead and guide me, to allow His light to shine through me and to teach me how to love unconditio...

“All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt c oncerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins w ere as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing alone is necessary: that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest."                                                 (Saint Faustina Diary, 1057)