Message of 6-21-11
Published: Mon, 06/20/11
- resources for prayer and spiritual growth
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MESSAGE OF THE DAY
When in faith we come to God for cleansing from the mess we have
made of things, and when we ask for power to reverse causes we have
set in motion, God sends in other causes by His Holy Spirit. It may
be by direct intervention, or by a combination of circumstances
which He controls. We can, therefore, be delivered from the wrath
to come, because God will add other causes than those that we have
initiated.
- Kenneth L. Pike (1912-2001), "With Heart and Mind"
("For those who love God, all things conspire unto good." Rm. 8:
28)
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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE DAY
http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/
Gn 13:2, 5-18; Ps. 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5; Mt 7:6, 12-14
R. (1b) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
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REFLECTION ON THE GOSPEL
- from http://www.dailyscripture.net/
Do the choices you make help you move towards the goal of loving
God and obeying his will? The Lord gives us freedom to choose which
way we will go. Ask him for the wisdom to know which way will lead
to life rather than to death and destruction. See, I have set
before you this day life and good, death and evil. ...Therefore
choose life that you and your descendants may live (Deuteronmy
3:15-20). Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).
Behold I set before you the way of life and the way of death
(Jeremiah 21:8). If we allow God's love and wisdom to rule our
hearts, then we can trust in his guidance and grace to follow the
path of love and holiness.
"Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am
- a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love
all whose lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under
my authority, my friends and my enemies. Help me to conquer anger
with gentleness, greed by generosity, apathy by fervor. Help me to
forget myself and reach out towards others." (Prayer attributed to
Clement XI of Rome)
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SPIRITUAL READING
"The Way of Perfection"
- by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
(Continues speaking of confessors. Explains why it is important
that they should be learned men.)
In what I have said here, I am speaking from experience of things
that I have seen and heard in many convents and gathered from
conversation with learned and holy people who have considered what
is most fitting for this house, so that it may advance in
perfection. Among the perils which exist everywhere, for as long as
life lasts, we shall find that this is the least. No vicar should
be free to go in and out of the convent, and no confessor should
have this freedom either. They are there to watch over the
recollectedness and good living of the house and its progress in
both interior and exterior matters, so that they may report to the
superior whenever needful, but they are never to be superiors
themselves. As I say, excellent reasons have been found why,
everything considered, this is the best course, and why, if any
priest hears confessions frequently, it should be the chaplain;
but, if the nuns think it necessary, they can make their
confessions to such persons as have been described, provided the
superior is informed of it, and the prioress is such that the
Bishop can trust her discretion. As there are very few nuns here,
this will not take up much time.
This is our present practice; and it is not followed merely on my
advice. Our present Bishop, Don Álvaro de Mendoza, under whose
obedience we live (since for many reasons we have not been placed
under the jurisdiction of the Order), is greatly attached to
holiness and the religious life, and, besides being of most noble
extraction, is a great servant of God. He is always very glad to
help this house in every way, and to this very end he brought
together persons of learning, spirituality and experience, and this
decision was then come to. It will be only right that future
superiors should conform to his opinion, since it has been decided
on by such good men, and after so many prayers to the Lord that He
would enlighten them in every possible way, which, so far as we can
at present see, He has certainly done. May the Lord be pleased to
promote the advancement of this to His greater glory. Amen.
- Chapter 5
(It is good to remember in all of this that the nuns to whom she is
writing were a contemplative order.)
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