Sunday Meditation: "Take up your cross and follow me."

As a member of the Church Militant (not the Church Milquetoast), I believe in studying warriors' manuals. One of them is The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, a 16th century priest. The book was a favorite of St. Francis de Sales, master of the spiritual life, who carried it in his pocket and read from it every day. He also recommended it to his spiritual sons and daughters. One can't go wrong with such an effective manual for fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Sunday Meditation: Need Patience? Contemplate your Savior Scourged at the Pillar!

Flagellation of Christ by Rubens (1577-1640)

“If you need patience...contemplate the mystery of your Saviour scourged at the pillar.

For all the moms and grandmoms walking the Martha path

I had to laugh this morning as I was reading chapter seven of Fr. Scupoli's Treatise on Peace of Soul. He wrote that we should "remain in a state of perfect self-denial like Mary at the feet of Jesus, instead of busying ourselves with many things like Martha."

Put First Things First: Love God and Maintain Your Peace of Soul!

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

One of the books I use for regular spiritual reading highly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (c.1530-1610). My edition contains an additional work by the priest, Treatise On Peace of Soul. Along with Imitation of Christ, Imitation of Mary, Humility of Heart, and, of course, holy scripture; Fr. Scupoli's books offer a rich feast for meditation.

Our first duty is love of God. Nothing takes precedence over that: not love of spouse, love of children, or apostolic work. Part of that duty is maintaining our peace of soul. And so I offer the following as a thought for the day. I will be reflecting on it during my adoration hour this afternoon as I pray the Stations of the Cross:

God does not dwell in a soul which He does not first inflame with a love of Him and charity for others; for Christ Himself said He came to set the world on fire.

Thought for the Second Week of Lent: On Spiritual Combat

Most of us are probably focused these days on the physical combat between Russia and Ukraine, especially with the war hawks squawking for escalation! But for our personal lives, it is more useful to focus on our own interior spiritual combat. Outside of prayer and fasting, we can do little to influence a war going on thousands of miles away, but we must engage in a spiritual war that takes place immediately and daily in our own lives. The book, Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli provides the strategy to win the victory against ourselves and the persistent temptations that plague us and it is an appropriate season to engage in that personal war. So let me share a few words of wisdom from this good priest:

If you ever fear that your will should fall before the lower appetite, or other enemies that attempt to overcome it; if you perceive that your courage and determination are failing, hold your ground -- do not retreat from the field. You must regard the victory as your own as long as you are not completely overcome. (Chapter 14)