Do You Listen to Gossip, Slander, and Detraction: Learn a Lesson from Socrates!

I receive a daily devotional from the SSPX. The other day this fascinating meditation and story about Socrates gave me an intriguing insight into the need to close our ears to gossip, slander, and detraction. When we "listen," we become guilty of the same sin as the tale-bearer. 

What a life's ambition Socrates had -- to pursue truth and encourage others to join him. Imagine the difference we would see in our culture if knowing and spreading truth were the central goal of every man and woman on the planet. 

Consider...God is Truth, so if you are searching for truth, you are searching for God. I once said that to an abortion supporter named Dan at an Operation Rescue event in Washington, D.C. I told him that he seemed to me to be a young man searching for the truth and, if you are searching for truth, you are searching for God. That happened over 30 years ago and I still pray for Dan today. I hope he is pursuing truth and has found it in Jesus Christ.

Sunday Meditation: It's not too early to prepare for Lent!

 

Christ Crowned with Thorns (c. 151) by Jan Mostaert

Those who grew up before Vatican II may remember the long preparation for Lent and Easter, the holiest season in the liturgical calendar. It began last Sunday with Septuagesima Sunday, the ninth Sunday before Easter. Already, the faithful are encouraged to begin to mortify themselves and put on a penitential spirit. There is certainly plenty to do penance for in these troubling times.

Heading into Thanksgiving, What Are You Thankful For?

I'm in Book 2 Chapter 10 of the Imitation of Christ. The Chapter title is "On Gratitude for God's Grace." What is grace exactly? The word comes from the Latin gratia meaning "favor, esteem, regard; pleasing quality, good will, gratitude." 

In his Pocket Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon, S.J. defines grace in the Biblical sense as the "condescension or benevolence (Greek charis) shown by God toward the human race." 

God doesn't owe us a thing. He created us out of his total gratuitous love and wants to shower us with blessings. We don't deserve that love or those blessings, and we owe the One who created us unlimited thanks, honor, and praise for His goodness to us. We can never repay Him. We owe Him thanks for everything. Chesterton put it well when he said we shouldn't only say grace before meals, but grace before the opera and before we open a book or walk or swim.... The grace of God is in everything!

Monday Morning Musings with Mary

 I finished The Imitation of Christ and The Imitation of Mary last week and started reading them again from the beginning. What wisdom and spiritual aid are contained in these two little gems! The Soul of the Apostolate has also become a daily companion. I've read it before, but it also is worth re-reading. Add a chapter from Scripture and one has a daily mini-retreat. 

The beginning of The Imitation of Mary calls her a "masterpiece of grace." Every newly baptized infant shares in that description as a mini-masterpiece of grace. Next time you hold a baptized baby, look into the little one's clean eyes and you will catch a glimpse of heaven. After Jesus, Mary is the source of our salvation. If you want to follow Him, follow her. She is a sure guide and will teach you to walk unerringly in His footsteps.

We don't see Mary in the bible busy running around. Her life was mostly spent in silence. She gives us only one piece of advice - at the wedding feast of Cana. "Do whatever He tells you." We can only follow that advice if we listen to Him. And we can only hear Him in silence, going apart like He did to a quiet place away from the world and it's distractions:

Sunday Meditation: What Do You Really Need?

Today at the NO Mass we heard the Bread of Life discourse from St. John’s gospel. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” We see many of Jesus’ disciples refuse the “hard saying” and respond by leaving. They will walk with Him no longer. “Will you leave too?” He asks the twelve and Peter makes his profession of faith. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 

Sunday Meditation: On the Power of the Eucharist to Sustain Us

What a psychologist Thomas a Kempis was. He understood mankind from the soles of our feet to the tops of our heads. And how well he knew Our Lord. What a spiritual director he would make!

Sunday Meditation: Are You a Fair Weather Friend of Christ?

I'm leaving on my annual silent Ignatian retreat tomorrow for five days. [NB: While I'm on retreat I will not be moderating comments. I've scheduled several posts, but will not be reading any responses until I return next Saturday.] It's always a Providential time. I'll be glad to "go away to a quiet place" to rest with the Lord. 

This morning I read this from The Imitation of Christ which reminded me of St. Ignatius' discussion of consolation and desolation. All of us experience both.

Sunday Meditation: Imitation of Christ Book 3, Chapter 17

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis was one of St. Therese of Liseux's favorite books of spiritual reading. She felt Christ's infinite love when she meditated on it. St. Ignatius of Loyola was said to have only one book in his room when he died -- again, The Imitation of Christ. The influence Thomas a Kempis had on Ignatius' development of the Spiritual Exercises is obvious to anyone who's made them. Reading a chapter a day (very short) offers sound nourishment for the soul.

On America's "Royal Road of the Cross" with Jesus and Mary

As part of my new year's resolution, I study a chapter from the Imitation of Christ and the Imitation of Mary every morning. I recommend both as a prescription against discouragement during these unsettling times when many are anxious and fearful. Those anxieties and fears resonate with me as well. With the Biden/Harris calamity stripping our Constitutional rights daily, anxiety and fear are normal, human reactions. We need a program of resistance based, not on human action, but on heaven's battle plan.

It's definitely foxhole time in our country!