On October 13 (see here) we looked at Fr Doyle’s resolution to submit his will to that of his servant (Fr Doyle had the rank of Captain, and as such had an orderly or servant to look after some of his material needs). Her did this in order to conquer his self-will and to grow in virtue. Here is one diary note written on this day in 1916, reflecting on …
Reparation
October 26, 2015
Fr Doyle wrote the following in his diary on October 25 1916. It refers to the previous night, in other words, this evening and night 99 years ago. It is worth remembering that at this time Fr Doyle was at the Front. His prayer was conducted in a dug out, not in the relative comfort of a Jesuit house far from violence and death. He obviously found it hard, hence …
October 24, 2015
St John Paul II When it was not some infirmity or other than caused him to experience pain, it was he himself who inflicted discomfort and mortification on his own body. Aside from the prescribed fasting, which he followed with great rigour, especially during Lent, when he reduced his nourishment to one complete meal per day, he also abstained from food before ordaining priests and bishops. And it was …
October 22, 2015
St Paul of the Cross Today is the feast of St Paul of the Cross, the founder of the Passionist order. He lived in the 1700’s, and is known as a great missionary and mystic. But he is also known as one of the great penitential saints. Like many saints across the ages, he engaged in intense physical mortification. He rolled naked in thorns, slept on the floor and used …
October 19, 2015
St Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church Block of wood used by St Teresa of Avila as a pillow The life of St. Teresa teaches us that we should never despair of becoming saints. As a child she was filled with a strange mysterious longing for martyrdom. But the early years of her religious life found her cold or tepid in the service of God, indifferent to the sacred …
October 15, 2015
Fr Doyle wrote the following in his diary on this day in 1916: Lately the desire to be trampled on and become the slave of everybody has grown very strong. I have resolved to make myself secretly the slave of my servant and, as far as I can, to submit to his will e.g to wait till he comes to serve my Mass and not to send for him, never …
October 13, 2015
St John XXIII Today is the feast of St John XXIII, although it is not celebrated as it is a Sunday. St John is rightly loved as a good and holy pope. Just as many young Catholic have a great devotion to St John Paul as he was the pope of their formative years, so too there are many of an older generation who have a strong affection for Good …
October 11, 2015
St Michael the Archangel Today is the feast of St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael, the archangels. This feast was significant in Fr Doyle’s spiritual life, for he made a vow to the Sacred Heart on this very day 105 years ago. He made the vow during one of his late night vigils, and signed the vow in his blood (this was not uncommon at the time; St …
September 29, 2015
Fr Doyle wrote the following very private notes in his diary on 27 September 1915 about his prayer the previous night: Last night I rose at twelve, tied my arms in the form of a cross and remained in the chapel till three a.m. I was fiercely tempted not to do so, the devil suggesting that, as I had a cough, it was madness and would unfit me for the …
September 26, 2015
How much is comprised in the little words agere contra! Therein is the real secret of sanctity, the hidden source from which the saints have drunk deep of the love of God and reached that height of glory they now enjoy. COMMENT: The phrase agere contra refers to the practice of going against oneself, of denying oneself in various ways in order to overcome our defects and vices. It is not in …
September 26, 2015