Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

 

Monday Musings – Be Diligent in Prayer   “Have you noticed that you always have plenty of time for the things that you love, but there's never enough time for the things that you don't? Some people dread, avoid or find little joy in prayer because they spend their time worriedly digging into their troubles, rather than focusing on the Lord. It is so much harder to be diligent in prayer if prayer is more a matter of discipline than desire. Turn your thoughts heavenward, look up to Jesus who walked on water. Keep from peering down into the stormy seas. The more you gaze at Him, the more prayer will be a joy. I have excerpted the words above from a reflection on Diligence in Prayer contained in Mary’s Mantle – Consecration Prayer Journal by Christine Watkins - a book I highly recommend and one which has provided me with much fruit for mediation. Let me share my journal response to Christine’s reflection in hopes that something she or I have written will stir your soul: ...

  “There is only one thing that can stop you from reaching the goal of sainthood which Christ has chosen for you. That one thing is you.” (Christine Watkins from Mary's Mantle ) As Christine Watkins and others have pointed out, I do recognize that the biggest enemy to my sanctification and salvation is myself. God tells me I must trust in Him. He tells me to keep my eyes on Him at all times. He tells me to accept whatever He permits to happen to me as being what is best for my salvation. He tells me I must believe in Him even if everyone around me has rejected me, mocked me or persecuted me. He tells me that He and He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He tells me that on my own I can accomplish nothing, but that with Him all things are possible. He tells me not to put my trust in man but only in Him. Lord, I believe these truths, yet I  am weak and ignore them far too often. How foolish I have been; how often I have offended You, Who love me so. I have know...

"Jesus gave sight to a blind man, and He wishes to give insight and vision to you.  (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Wisdom is cultivated by means of your relationship with God. The more intimate your union with Him, the more He will reveal to you new knowledge that is forever old, and vast landscapes that have been hidden in plain sight.  King Solomon prayed for wisdom above all else and received 'her'. Have you asked for this gift?" (From Mary's Mantle Consecration by Christine Watkins)

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. St. Augustine We cannot keep ourselves on the road to perfection and prevent ourselves from failing except by efforts to climb higher. As soon as we begin to stop, we regress, with the result that, if we do not wish to fall back, we have to run ahead always, without slowing down." (From Instructions for Novices by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P.) St. Catherine of Siena "If sensual affection wants to love sensual things, the eye of understanding is moved in that direction. It takes for its object only passing things with selfish love, contempt for virtue, and love of vice, drawing from these pride and impatience. And the memory is filled only with what affection holds out to it. This love so dazzles the eye that it neither discerns nor sees anything but the glitter of these things. Such is the glitter that understanding sees and affec...

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. St. Faustina Kowalska "All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person's sins were 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." (From Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska - Divine Mercy in My Soul ) Father Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P. "The Church’s invitation to join the Eucharistic Revival isn’t just another program. It’s a plea for each and every disciple’s heart to be re-ignited with a greater love for Christ in the Eucharist. Renewed love for the Eucharist will transform our lives and the very shape of the Church in our country....

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. Alice Von Hildebrand “The saint is precisely he who lives in constant and intimate communion with God, he who does not allow anything or anyone to separate him from God, he who victoriously links to God everything happening to him, sickness or health, poverty or wealth, infamy or fame from Solitude and Communion.   (From  Solitude and Communion )     Ven. Fulton J. Sheen “The forgiveness of sin is a greater manifestation of the power of God than the creation of the world. Creation makes something out of nothing. Forgiveness puts something into nothing. But the forgiveness that opens paradise is obtained as the thief obtained his, namely by asking for it.  " (From  Lord   Teach Us To Pray: A Fulton Sheen Anthology )   C hristine Watkins "Our Lady never shouldered any undertaking or spoke serious words with...

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.       Pope Benedict XVI "God has done everything; He has done the impossible: He was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my heart unless I open the door to Him." (From Urbi et Orbi Message - Christmas 2012)     Venerable Fulton J. Sheen "Alienation from self and from one’s fellow men has its roots in separation from God. Once the hub of the wheel, which is God, is lost, the spokes, which are men, fall apart. God seems very far away from the modern man: this is due, to a great extent, to his own Godless behavior." (From Go To Heaven )   Christine Watkins “As painful and humiliating as it may feel, practice h...