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.       Johann Tauler, O.P. “There was once someone who loved our Lord very dearly and to him our Lord offered His divine kiss. But this soul said: ‘No, truly, dear Lord, this is not what I want at all. If I were to be taken out of myself in rapture, I could not be of anymore use to You. How could I then pray for all Your poor souls to help them out of purgatory? How could I pray for miserable sinners?’ It is up to us who are still on earth to help sinners and the souls who cannot help themselves. God cannot do anything for them without our help, because His justice must be perfectly satisfied. So those who love Him and are still on earth must constantly labor for this. Could anyone ask for a greater love of God than that man showed, depriving himself from divine favors from this motive?” (From Spiritual Conferences ) ...

“Life’s difficulties can in the end yield for us great good. We are never alone in even the most overwhelming circumstances. Just as we appreciate the company of a friend when things are going badly, so should we be grateful for the company of our Friend in the nearest Tabernacle. We should go to Him for consolation, peace and strength. "   (Father Francis Fernandez from In Conversation With God )

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 Alvaro del Porillo [What do people want and expect from the priest:]  "They need, desire and hope – perhaps without thus consciously reasoning out such a need or hope – for a priest who is a priest one hundred percent; a man who shows an ardent concern for them by opening up new horizons for their souls, who exercises his ministry without ceasing, and who has a big heart capable of understanding and loving everyone, though at times his concern may not be reciprocated." (From On The Priesthood)

Photo©Michael Seagriff 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 Federico Suarez "If there are so many Christians who today live aimlessly with little depth, and hemmed in on all sides by narrow horizons, it is due, above all, to their lack of any clear idea of why they, personally exist...What elevates a man and truly gives him a personality of his own is the consciousness of his vocation, the consciousness of his own specific task in the universe." (From Mary of Nazareth)

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 Francis Fernandez "Apostolic zeal, the desire to draw many people to Our Lord, does not require us to do anything odd or peculiar, and much to neglect our family, social or professional duties, It is precisely in those situations – in our family, at work, with our friends, in everyday human relationships – that we find scope for an apostolic activity which may often be silent, but which is always efficacious." (In Conversation With God , Volume 4:75.2)

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons )  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 Francis Fernandez "We may also recall today the obligation - at times grave - that we have to do everything possible so that no relative, friend or colleague or ours dies without the spiritual assistance that our Mother Church provides for the final moments of our journey [Viaticum-Last rites]. This is the best and most effective and perhaps the last possible manifestation of charity and affection towards those persons here on earth." (From In Conversation With God , Vol 4:56.1)

I had intended to write a brief post about the humility of this great Dominican, saint and theologian but misplaced my notes. Instead, I will share a quote, a video and a prior post.     From In Conversation With God by Father Francis Fernandez : "It is said of St. Thomas Aquinas that he was a man of few words. One day his sister asked him what was needed in order to be a saint. Without pause, he answered: To want it!" From Doctor Peter Kreeft : a video "12 Stories About St. Thomas Aquinas"       Last year's post, " Remembering St. Thomas Aquinas ".