These brave men and women died to protect the faith in Spain. May their martyrdom serve as a challenge to all of us to defend the faith, even to the point of death.
Sad Spain, without fortune!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Holiness is the nectar of lost souls.
This is a great example of sometimes failing to see the forest from the trees. I have often heard it said that we must make the Gospels attractive to the young so to make the Word more relevant in their lives.
But I think somehow this it does not begin with fancy logos or flashy music or entertaining hosts. It begins with holiness.
Our duty as Christians is to get others into heaven and we do not need to be "hip," clever, handsome, or funny to accomplish this mission. We need to be holy! Holiness is the nectar of lost souls.
From Vultus Christi, reflections of Blessed Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster, O.S.B, a Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Milan, to his seminarians. This quote is indeed fascinating and illuminating:
"It would seem that people are no longer convinced by our preaching; but faced with holiness, they still believe, they still fall to their knees and pray. People seem to live ignorant of supernatural realities, indifferent to the problems of salvation. But when an authentic saint, living or dead passes by, all run to be there. . Do not forget that the devil is not afraid of our [parish] sports fields and of our movie halls: he is afraid, on the other hand, of our holiness."
This applies not just to seminarians but to all of us.
But I think somehow this it does not begin with fancy logos or flashy music or entertaining hosts. It begins with holiness.
Our duty as Christians is to get others into heaven and we do not need to be "hip," clever, handsome, or funny to accomplish this mission. We need to be holy! Holiness is the nectar of lost souls.
From Vultus Christi, reflections of Blessed Ildefonso Cardinal Schuster, O.S.B, a Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Milan, to his seminarians. This quote is indeed fascinating and illuminating:
"It would seem that people are no longer convinced by our preaching; but faced with holiness, they still believe, they still fall to their knees and pray. People seem to live ignorant of supernatural realities, indifferent to the problems of salvation. But when an authentic saint, living or dead passes by, all run to be there. . Do not forget that the devil is not afraid of our [parish] sports fields and of our movie halls: he is afraid, on the other hand, of our holiness."
This applies not just to seminarians but to all of us.
First Friday of The Month
From the writings of St. Margaret Mary:
"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."
With regard to this promise it may be remarked:
(1) that our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him;
(2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive;
(3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord;
(4) that our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end;
(5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Firdays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly desires; and
(6) that the practice of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.
Prayer Source: Enthronment of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC., St. Paul Editions, 1978
Let's begin this road together!
"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."
With regard to this promise it may be remarked:
(1) that our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him;
(2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive;
(3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord;
(4) that our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end;
(5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Firdays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly desires; and
(6) that the practice of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.
Prayer Source: Enthronment of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC., St. Paul Editions, 1978
Let's begin this road together!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)