Although the whole world is arranged into offices of different kinds, its condition, nevertheless, is not to be supposed as one of internal discrepancies and discordances; but as our one body is provided with many members, and is held together by one soul, so I am of the opinion that the whole world also ought to be regarded as some huge and immense living thing, which is kept together by the power and reason of God as by one soul.
- Origen, Origen de Principiis

(This is from the second century of Christianity, but it resonates strongly with what today's biologists and physicists teach about the fundamental unity of all living things. Ponder this truth--that you are a part of a greater whole that is "kept together by the power and reason of God." Seek the reason for your existence, and the power to carry it out.)

2 COR 3:4-11;    PS 99:5-9;    MT 5:17-19

R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.

From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.

O LORD, our God, you answered them;
a forgiving God you were to them,
though requiting their misdeeds. 

Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.





Jesus taught reverence for God's law - reverence for God himself, for the Lord's Day, reverence or respect for parents, respect for life, for property, for another person's good name, respect for oneself and for one's neighbor lest wrong or hurtful desires master us. Reverence and respect for God's commandments teach us the way of love - love of God and love of neighbor. What is impossible to men is possible to God and those who have faith in God. God gives us the grace to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to think as he thinks, and to act as he acts. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness. As his followers we must love his commandments and hate every form of sin. Do you love the commands of the Lord?

"Lord Jesus, grant this day, to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts and bodies, so that all our thoughts, words and deeds may be according to your Father's law and thus may we be saved and protected through your mighty help."





The Way of Perfection, by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Describes the great importance of setting out upon the practice of prayer with firm resolution and of heeding no difficulties put in the way by the devil.

With this last remark, sisters, I quite agree. Of course it is enough! It is always a great thing to base your prayer on prayers which were uttered by the very lips of the Lord. People are quite right to say this, and, were it not for our great weakness and the lukewarmness of our devotion, there would be no need for any other systems of prayer or for any other books at all. I am speaking to souls who are unable to recollect themselves by meditating upon other mysteries, and who think they need special methods of prayer; some people have such ingenious minds that nothing is good enough for them! So I think I will start to lay down some rules for each part of our prayer--beginning, middle and end--although I shall not spend long on the higher stages. They cannot take books from you, and, if you are studious and humble, you need nothing more.

- Chapter 21

(Keep in mind that she is writing to sisters in a cloistered contemplative order.)