Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

“How tightly should we hold on to our wills,” you ask Lord? How often have we mouthed the words or expressed the desire to surrender our wills to Yours, to accept whatever happens to us each day as Your will for our lives and that which is best for our salvation? How often Lord have we prayed for the grace to let go and let You direct our every thought, word and deed? - a lifetime! But most of us have failed in surrendering even a smidgen of our wills. We hold on foolishly and sinfully to them. We become more stressed, more prone to anger. And the more we realize that failure, the more entrenched in despair and discouragement we become. We do what we claim we do not want to do and fail to do what we know we should. Lord, unleash the grasp the evil one has on our hearts, minds, souls and wills. Let us Lord accept ourselves as we are. Help us Lord to resign ourselves to the things we cannot change. Release us Lord from the anxiety we harbor for the spiritual well-being of those o...

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. Bernard of Clairvaux “Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary. In danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart. If you follow her you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fail; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination." (From A Homily of St. Bernard)   St. John Henry Newman “Realize it, my brethren; —every one who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man and woman, has a mission, has a work. We are not sent into this world for nothing; we are not born at random; . . . God sees every one of us; He creates every soul,...

In her book, Mary's Mantle - Consecration Prayer Journal , Christine Watkins asked her readers: "Where do you place your hope? In the things and people and dreams of this world? Or in God?" She then shared the insight of St. Charles Borromeo: “God wishes us not to rest upon anything but His infinite goodness; do not let us expect anything, hope anything, or desire anything but from Him, and let us put our trust and confidence in Him alone.” Yes, St. Charles speaks the Truth - but one that is often difficult to live. Watkins' questions and St. Charles' observations prompted my writing the following personal reflection - in hopes something in it will resonate with you and stir your soul: Lord, You know well, how often I have allowed the demons of despair to destroy my spiritual and physical peace. You know Lord how I allowed this destroyer of souls to take me to a point where I begged You to end my physical life. How painful it is, even now years later, to recall...

 

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. Patrick Stewart     “…the most important thing about the duty of the moment is this: the duty of the moment is where we meet Christ. He’s waiting for us in the duty of the moment, in His will for us. Where am I supposed to be  now ? What am I supposed to be doing  now ? That’s where Christ is. That’s where He is waiting for me. Not in the chapel. Of course, He’s in the chapel, but if I’m supposed to be chopping wood right now, he’s not in the chapel waiting for me. He’s at the woodpile. If I’m supposed to be cleaning the dorm, that’s where He is waiting for me. Where am I going to meet my Beloved? Wherever I am supposed to be. It’s so simple. And so wonderful.”  (From the July-August 2022 issue of  Restoration , the monthly newspaper of the Madonna House Apostolate ( https://www.madonnahouse.org ).   Willia...

  Jesus to St. M. Faustina Kowalska ; “Poor soul, I see that you suffer much and that you do not have even the strength to converse with me. So I will speak to you. Even though your sufferings were very great, do not lose heart or give in to despondency. But tell Me, my child, who has dared to wound your heart? Tell Me about everything, be sincere in dealing with Me, reveal all the wounds of your heart. I will heal them and your suffering will become a source of your sanctification… My child do not be discouraged. I know your boundless trust in Me; I know that you are aware of My goodness and mercy. Let us talk in detail about everything that weighs so heavily upon your heart… Talk to me simply, as a friend to a friend. Tell Me now, my child, what hinders you from advancing in holiness?… My child make the resolution never to rely on people. Entrust yourself completely to My will saying ‘Not as I want, but according to Your Will, O God, let it be done unto me.’  These wor...

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. Caryll Houselander "You see, God's will for you is to serve Him, in His way, as He chooses, now . It is only a want of humility to think of extreme vocations, like being a nun or a nurse, while you try to bypass your present obvious vocation, which is to restore your will to God's, so that you may become what He wants you to be, and may be able to use the faculties He has given  to you for His service." (From The Letters of Caryll Houselander ) St. Paul of the Cross "Build an oratory within yourself, and there have Jesus on the altar of your heart. Speak to Him often while you are doing your work. Speak to Him of His holy love, of His holy sufferings and of the sorrow of most holy Mary." (From Flower of the Passion -Thoughts of St. Paul of the Cross) St. Francis de Sales "It is horrible irreverence to Him who with s...

 

 

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. John Marie Vianney "I can't stop praying for poor sinners who are on the road to hell. If they come to die in that state, they will be lost for all eternity. What a pity! We have to pray for sinners! Praying for sinners is the most beautiful and useful of prayers because the just are on the way to heaven, the souls of purgatory are sure to enter there, but the poor sinners will be lost forever. All devotions are good but there is no better one than such prayer for sinners." (From I Thirst For Your Love )   Alexander de Rouville  My child, God will not allow you to be tempted, tested or tormented beyond your strength. His help will always be equal to the trial He sends.  Give heed to His grace, for it already speaks to you, and respond to His inspirations. If God has more crosses in store for someone, He gives ...