Pondering Tidbits of Truth - February 28, 2019

 
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. Francis de Sales

“Souls but little confirmed in piety advance well and happily when the Lord gives them consolations in prayer. But if He afterwards deprive them of these, they immediately become languid and discontented, like children who thank their mother when she gives them sweet things and cry when she takes them away, because they are children, and do not know that a long course of such things is hurtful to them and causes worms. Sensible consolations of the soul often produce the worm of self-satisfaction and that of pride which is the reason why the Lord, who gives them to us at first to encourage us, afterwards takes them away that they might not hurt us, and therefore merits no less thanks in taking them away than in giving them.” 

(From Introduction to the Devout Life)

Eucharistic Reflection - Go To God Through Faith Rather Than Through The Senses

Listen to our Blessed Mother:

(Photo©Michael Seagriff)

“My child, when you find yourself dry at Communion time, humble yourself with the reflection that you deserve such a condition because of your unfaithfulness. Then bear your burden patiently in expiation of your sins and do not lose heart.

If you have reason to believe that your state of deprivation is really a punishment, then change your ways. If it is only a trial, then turn it into a source of merit through your submissions.

The profit from a good Communion is not necessarily connected with enjoyment at the time of reception. The profit to which I refer is fidelity to one’s duties.

A heart may be sincerely and entirely dedicated to God and yet find no pleasure in the things of God.

Many souls who are advancing fervently along the path of perfection are tested by dryness in prayer and even when they approach the Eucharistic table.

Virtue does not depend on tangible consolations. On the contrary, it is to be feared that souls may not be sufficiently detached from such consolation.