Monday Musings - All Will Be Well!

Lord, no matter how hard I try, I will never be able, on this earth, to fully understand Who You are and how undeserving I am to have been created in Your image. 

Why You would humble Yourself to take on human flesh and to die for a sinner such as myself? - Because You love me and  offer me an opportunity for eternal life. 

(Image Source)

 

There is much that has happened in my life that I still do not understand. Though at times I have become so despondent (over what I now realize were mere trifles, toothpicks) that I begged You to end my life, I "know": that everything that has happened in my life was a part of Your great plan. Every second of despair was designed to bring me closer to You. Every scream of pain and hopelessness was a step toward being transformed into You. Everything I have experienced or will experience in this life is intended to assure I can spend eternity in Your Presence.

I marvel at the depth of Your love for me - Your infinite Patience. 

St. Catherine of Siena tells us: the more we come to know ourselves, the more we will come to know You. She did not say that this journey of discovery would be easy or painless.

So, Lord, when I cannot understand what is going on in my life, when I feel spiritually that I am dying, let me recall this Truth: You will never “allow a negative unless it leads to a positive.” Whether I understand Your purpose or not, I must accept whatever happens in my life as necessary for my salvation and for the salvation of the souls I love.

With Your grace then Lord: “I will silence my worry, adopt a spiritual perspective and cease to ask why, because I understand, I truly understand, that all will be well!"

ALL WILL BE WELL for those who place their love and trust in You.

 

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - August 29, 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.

God the Father to St. Catherine of Siena

"For no other reason ought the soul leave off prayer [other than for obedience or for charity's sake]. During the time ordained for prayer, the devil likes to arrive in the soul, causing much more conflict and trouble than when the soul is not occupied in prayer. This he does in order that holy prayer may become tedious to the soul."

(From The Dialogue)

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - May 2, 2019

(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.

 

Ven. Fulton J. Sheen

"Death is an affirmation of the purpose of life in an otherwise meaningless existence. The world could carry on its God-less plan if there were no death. What death is to an individual, that catastrophe is to civilization - the end of its wickedness. This is a source of anguish to the modern mind, for not only must human beings die, but the world must die. Death is a negtive testimony to God's power in a meaningless world, for by it God brings meaningless existence to nought. Because God exists, evil cannot carry on its wickedness indefinitely. If there were no catastrophe, such as the Apocalypse reveals, at the end of the world, the univese would then be the triumph of chaos...

Death proves also that life has meaning, because it reveals that the virtues and goodness practiced within time do not find their completion except in eternity."

(From The Power of Love)

Blog Tour and Book Review – A Storyteller's Guide to Joyful Service – Turning Your Misery Into Ministry

What do Catholic author and blogger, Tony Agnesi, and St. Claude de la Colombiere, the 17^th century spiritual director and author of Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence, share in common?  - a steadfast and unswerving trust in God.

St. Claude used the following words to describe that level of trust:

“It is one of the most firmly established and most consoling of truths that have been revealed to us that (apart from sin) nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so.”

and

“Be convinced that in all He allows and in all that happens to you God has no other end in view but your real advantage and your eternal happiness…”

These truths are consoling but oh how so difficult to live!

In his latest book, A Storyteller’s Guide to Joyful Service – Turning Your Misery into Ministry, Tony Agnesi shares  stirring examples of individuals (including himself) who stepped out in faith, trusted God’s promptings and allowed themselves to be used as instruments of healing and hope. 

Pondering Tidbits of Truth - November 2, 2017

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.

Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O.

"Preaching by example will always be the foremost instrument of conversion…Lectures, good books, Christian newspapers and magazines, and even fine sermons must gravitate around this fundamental program: that we need to influence people by an apostolate of good example, the example of fervent Christians, who make Jesus Christ live again on this earth by spreading about them the good odor of His virtues." 

(From The Soul of the Apostolate)

St. Vincent de Paul

"Believe me, we will never be of any use in doing God’s work until we become thoroughly convinced that, of ourselves, we are better fitted to ruin everything than to make a success of it." 

Father Jean-Pierre de Caussade, S.J.

"The soul that does not attach itself solely to the will of God will find neither satisfaction nor sanctification in any other means however excellent by which it may attempt to gain them. If that which God Himself chooses for you does not content you, from whom do you expect to obtain what you desire? . . . No soul can be really nourished, fortified, purified, enriched, and sanctified except in fulfilling the duties of the present moment."

(From Abandonment to Divine Providence)

Monday Musings - Making Pain Sweet and Bearable

Most of us would prefer to avoid pain of any type - physical, emotional, mental or spiritual.

But pain, suffering and tribulations are part and parcel of the human condition and an integral part of God's plan of salvation.

St. Gregory reminds us that God "grants us a greater mercy when He gives us the strength to bear sufferings and tribulations than when He takes them from us".

So as difficult and unwanted as suffering may be, may God grant us the grace to heed St. Pio's advice and embrace it as Jesus did His Cross:

"It's Worth Revisiting" Wednesday - Who Is St. Claude de la Colombiere?

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays.

Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in your 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.

I offer this post for your consideration:

Who Is St. Claude de la Colombiere?

St. Claude de la Colombiere was a 17th century Jesuit. He believed that one of "the most firmly established and consoling of the truths that have been revealed to us" is "that (apart from sin) nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so."

St. Claude became the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He encouraged, supported and promoted her call to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The saint was also a gifted spiritual writer, who has left a number of gems, including one of my favorite books, Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence (TSTDP). Blessed John Paul II canonized him in 1992.

Read and ponder what he has to say about earthly happiness and prayer:

Let me show you a good way to ask for happiness, even in this world. It is a way that will oblige God to listen to you. Say to Him earnestly: either give me so much money that my heart will be satisfied, or inspire me with such contempt for it that I no longer want it. Either free me from poverty, or make it so pleasant for me that I would not exchange it for all the wealth in the world. Either take away my suffering, or – which would be to Your greater glory – change it into delight for me, and instead of causing me affliction, let it become a source of joy. You can take away the burden of my cross, or You can leave it with me without my feeling its weight. You can extinguish the fire that burns me, or You can let it burn in such a way that it refreshes me as it did the three youths in the fiery furnace. I ask for either one thing or the other. What does it matter in what way I am happy? If I am happy through the possession of worldly goods, it is You I have to thank. If I am happy when deprived of them, it gives You greater glory and my thanks are all the greater.

This is the kind of prayer worthy of being offered to God by a true Christian. When you pray in this way, do you know what the effect of your prayers will be? First, you will be satisfied, whatever happens; and what else do those who most desire this world's goods want except to be satisfied? Secondly, you will not only obtain without fail, one of the two things you have asked for, but, as a rule, you will obtain both of them. – TSTDP (122-124)

[You will find more of his wisdom and that of countless Popes, Bishops, priests, saints and regular folk in my book, Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct, about which EWTN hostess and well-known, author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, had this to say: "I am very impressed with this book and the author's commitment to writing about the Catholic Faith in a very informational and inspirational manner. I have no doubt that this book will help others on their Faith journeys."]

Who Is St. Claude de la Colombiere?

St. Claude de la Colombiere was a 17th century Jesuit whose life we recall today. He believed that one of "the most firmly established and consoling of the truths that have been revealed to us" is "that (apart from sin) nothing happens to us in life unless God wills it so." St. Claude became the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. He encouraged, supported and promoted her call to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The saint was also a gifted spiritual writer, who has left a number of gems, including one of my favorite books, Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence (TSTDP). Blessed John Paul II canonized him in 1992.

Read and ponder what he has to say about earthly happiness and prayer:

Let me show you a good way to ask for happiness, even in this world. It is a way that will oblige God to listen to you. Say to Him earnestly: either give me so much money that my heart will be satisfied, or inspire me with such contempt for it that I no longer want it. Either free me from poverty, or make it so pleasant for me that I would not exchange it for all the wealth in the world. Either take away my suffering, or – which would be to Your greater glory – change it into delight for me, and instead of causing me affliction, let it become a source of joy. You can take away the burden of my cross, or You can leave it with me without my feeling its weight. You can extinguish the fire that burns me, or You can let it burn in such a way that it refreshes me as it did the three youths in the fiery furnace. I ask for either one thing or the other. What does it matter in what way I am happy? If I am happy through the possession of worldly goods, it is You I have to thank. If I am happy when deprived of them, it gives You greater glory and my thanks are all the greater.

This is the kind of prayer worthy of being offered to God by a true Christian. When you pray in this way, do you know what the effect of your prayers will be? First, you will be satisfied, whatever happens; and what else do those who most desire this world's goods want except to be satisfied? Secondly, you will not only obtain without fail, one of the two things you have asked for, but, as a rule, you will obtain both of them. – TSTDP (122-124)

You will find more of his wisdom and that of countless Popes, Bishops, priests, saints and regular folk in my recently released book, Forgotten Truths To Set Faith Afire! Words to Challenge, Inspire and Instruct, about which EWTN hostess and well-known, author Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle, had this to say: "I am very impressed with this book and the author's commitment to writing about the Catholic Faith in a very informational and inspirational manner. I have no doubt that this book will help others on their Faith journeys."