Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

  (Source: Wikimedia Commons ) If there is one Scripture passage that we defense lawyers should especially appreciate, it has to be today’s first reading (Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62). The case against Susanna was open and shut. All seemed hopeless. There were two eye witnesses – and they were judges and well-known leaders of the community to boot! How could anyone credit the adulteress’ self-serving denial? No one did, save for Daniel.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "Communion spurs you on. It is like a flame bursting within your soul. Off you go to love passionately, recklessly, imprudently, unto folly, without counting the cost to yourself. In the Eucharist, we receive the strength to preach the Gospel with our life in everyday activities, not looking for false glamor or status. From the Eucharist, we draw the courage to go and fight. Wherever we find ourselves, these are the front lines. " Catherine Doherty, Servant of God

Today we Dominicans joyfully remember our beloved sister, St. Catherine of Siena.    [I am re-publishing this post since the words of this fearless servant of God are as relevant today as they were when she wrote them more than 800 years ago.] (Image source: Wikimedia Commons ) What a treasure St. Catherine of Siena is! One does not become a Doctor of the Church by being fearful to express, teach and live God's Truth in its entirety.  How ill-advised we are to discount, ignore or try to nuance the wisdom God has shared over the centuries through such faithful servants as she.  Less likely would we be to commit this error if our primary concern was the salvation of souls. No wonder those who wish to only tickle our ears and destroy our consciences ignore these great spiritual writers, abandoning God's Truth for a less demanding and counterfeit one. The following words  Jesus shared with St. Catherine in the 14th century are clear and unam...

For some days now, I have been reading and pondering excerpts from an outstanding book written by Father Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. entitled Overcoming Spiritual Discouragement - The Wisdom and Spiritual Power of Venerable Bruno Lanteri . This is a book I highly recommend. Given the chaos in our Church, country and world - all rooted in our having turned our hearts, minds and souls away from God and His eternal Truths and, for the most part, in our having individually and as a Church, remained silent in the presence of evil - the following words of Venerable Lanteri which I read this morning, seem most timely: "I do not live except for the glory of God; to this alone I must dedicate all my abilities of soul and body. And when it is necessary to think, speak and labor for God, to give my very life, let all be lost, let whatever will happen, happen: This I must do." These were not just abstract words of Venerable Bruno. A time came when the pope was held captive by Napoleon, and...

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 )

Thank you Allison Gingras  (Reconciled To You) and Elizabeth Riordan ( Theology Is A Verb) for hosting Worth Revisiting .   Be sure to stop there every Wednesday . You will enjoy your visits. Here is my contribution:   Just Eat The Pork Under Protest!  (Originally posted on June 30, 2013) (Image source: Wikimedia Commons ) One of my favorite characters in the Old Testament (2 Maccabees 6:18-31) is Eleazar, a ninety year old Jewish scribe, a “teacher of the Law.” He was ordered to eat pork in violation of the Mosaic Law or be killed. He preferred death rather than offend God.

Thank you Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan for another opportunity to re-publish our favorite posts on Worth Revisiting . Go there now (and every Wednesday) and be nourished spiritually. V isit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb during the rest of each week.   You will enjoy your visit. I share the following post: Who Will Step Up This Christmas and Speak the Truth in Love?  (Originally posted 12/9/14) [This is one of the two times each year when, I believe,  our Lord most dreads the silence that will envelop far too many of our parishes. Someone needs to give voice to His yearnings. Where is the zeal for the salvation of souls?  What follows is similar to some of my previous posts on this subject.] Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Let us welcome with open arms the thousands who will flock to our Churches this Christmas – most especially those who rarely come to ...

Thanks to the continuing generosity of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, several bloggers take the time each week to re-post a favorite post on "Worth Revisiting” Wednesday. Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let them challenge you in Faith journey. During the rest of each week, visit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb .  You will be pleased with what they share. Here is what I am sharing this week: Do You Really Want To Remain Silent?  (Originally posted September 16, 2013) (Source:wallpapersdepo.net) In a second reading from the Office of Readings which I ead some time ago (Ez 2.8-3.11,17-21), God uses His prophet Ezekiel to challenge us – another one of those hard teachings for those of us living in what some are describing as the post-Christian era. What do I mean? Let me explain.

(Source: Wikimedia Commons ) If there is one Scripture passage that we defense lawyers should especially appreciate, it has to be today’s first reading (Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62). The case against Susanna was open and shut. All seemed hopeless. There were two eye witnesses – and they were judges and well-known leaders of the community to boot! How could anyone credit the adulteress’ self-serving denial? No one did, save for Daniel.

Thanks to Mary Fredal for sharing this eductional and inspiring story The issues of conscience and the right to freely practice one's faith are now under attack. Thank God for these women who put God and His law above their employment. I suspect more us will be facing this challenge in the days and weeks to come - may we have the courage and faith of these Christian warriors. (Via AllianceDefends and YouTube)