Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

For more then 10 years, I was privileged to participate in a Prison Ministry program. We would conduct three day retreats in medium security prisons, encouraging each of the men who attended to turn to and accept the embrace of a loving, forgiving and merciful God.  We discovered over the years that one of the tools God used to penetrate the hearts of these men were the anonymous simple, innocent notes written by elementary school age children. I was recently reviewing some of the files from years ago and knew immediately that I had to share this with you. [In case you can not read the text, here it is typed : "Hi! Are you doing something nice for Lent? Well, if you are then choose something that you can give up until Easter. For instance, you can give up cookies and eat fruit. I'm going to give up vegtables. Have a nice Easter. - Jennifer ] May we never forget that each of us - everyone of us - are sinners who have been made in the image and likeness of 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 . Saint Louis de Blois   "No one at all can humbly read or think of the passion of our Lord…without reaping from this exercise fruit most useful for salvation; just as no one could touch flour or balm, even with the tips of his fingers, without having his fingers whitened with flour and perfumed with the odor of balm. Even if the image of Jesus crucified be only piously glanced at, the look will not have been in vain." (From A Book of Spiritual Instruction )    Venerable Fulton J. Sheen  "The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying that the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of th...

T hank you Elizabeth Riordan at  Theology Is A Verb for hosting Worth Revisiting each week. It is a privilege to share our work with you and your followers .    Eucharistic Reflection-He Loves Us Even When We Fail To Love Him (Originally posted on February 23, 2013) Can this adorable Savior, Who has done so much to gain the hearts of men, refuse anything to those who themselves ask of Him a place in His Heart? If Jesus Christ allows Himself to be given even to those who do not love Him, and would have Himself carried to dying persons who never condescended to visit Him in their lifetime, and who have been insensible both to the manifest marks of love which He gave them and to the cruel outrages He received in the adorable Eucharist, to persons who have perhaps themselves ill-treated Him, what will He not do for faithful servants who, sensibly touched at seeing their dear Lord so little loved, so rarely visited, so cruelly outraged, make H...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "A saint used to say that we were God-bearers. It is really true because at the moment of receiving the Blessed Eucharist, and as long as the Sacred Species subsist, Jesus Christ is substantially present with His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in our body and our soul.  We are thus tabernacles, living ciboria of Jesus Christ. What are You doing, O my Savior, during this quarter of an hour, when You deign to dwell in me; when You are in contact with my body and my soul? I cure you of your spiritual laziness, strive to draw you into My Heart; I set you on fire with flames of love for God and for your brethren.  O mystery of condescension and of divine love! Give me O Jesus, an understanding and relish of it."                                      ...

[ God always sends prophets and teachers to safeguard His people. Unfortunately, over the centuries, man has far too often turned a deaf ear to the wisdom God has placed in the mouth of those He selected as His messengers. Robert Cardinal Sarah is one of His contemporary servants. Please God that we may open our eyes and ears to your faithful and courageous Cardinal. ]  (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "The sign of Satan is division. Today there are serious conflicts within the clergy. And the devil is partying. The devil loves to divide the Church. The prince of darkness wants first to sow opposition among us. He sets a terrible trap for us through the media amplification of the least important episcopal statements. Everyone is ordered to take sides, to choose his camp. But in the Church, there are no sides! There are no camps! Synods are not political assemblies. Is each Christian supposed to judge everything? Have an opinion about everything? This sometimes h...