St Ignatius Loyola Jesus knows I have only one wish in this world: to love Him and Him alone. For the rest He has carte blanche to do as He pleases in my regard. I just leave myself in His loving hands, and so have no anxiety or care, but great peace of soul. Take, O Lord, and receive my liberty, my health and strength, my limbs, my flesh, …
Saints
January 18, 2011
The temptation of St Anthony the Abbot Are you not foolish in wishing to be free from these attacks of impatience, etc.? I know how violent they can be, since they sweep down on me at all hours without any provocation. You forget the many victories they furnish you with, the hours perhaps of hard fighting, and only fix your eyes on the little tiny word of anger, or …
January 17, 2011
Blessed Columba Marmion We are all God’s children, fashioned by His divine hands after His own image and likeness. From all eternity He has thought of us; before time was, we were present to His mind; and through the long ages which have passed away since first this world was made, God busied Himself with our creation, yea has longed for the hour when He could call us His children. …
January 15, 2011
Blessed John Henry Newman How grand it is to be tired in working for Jesus! To lay our head on the pillow at night worn out by a hard day’s work for our dear Master, with the knowledge that we have not spared ourselves, but have toiled and borne the heat and burden of the day to prove our love. A sweet, consoling thought that makes us long for the …
January 14, 2011
The mere saving of their souls should be the last thought of religious who have vowed their lives for God’s glory. COMMENT: Fr Doyle’s comments were made directly to a member of a religious order, but they apply equally to us all. There was perhaps a tendency in the past to focus almost exclusively on one’s own salvation. It is true that our own salvation is one of our …
January 13, 2011
Fr Paul Ginhac SJ Today is the anniversary of the death of the Servant of God Fr Paul Ginhac SJ who died on this day in 1895. Fr Ginhac was a French Jesuit whose life and example seems to have had an impact on the spirituality of Fr Doyle. At any rate, he was sufficiently impressed with Fr Ginhac’s virtues that he translated a 380 page official biography of Fr …
January 10, 2011
Blessed Eurosia Fabris Barban It is a mother whose gentle care was ever round you, whose arms were open wide that you might nestle on her bosom and tell a mother’s heart your joys and childish sorrows. Well now do you recall the thousand little ways that love for you was shown, the welcome smile, the kindly word, the soft kiss implanted on your cheek. COMMENT: Today the Church …
January 8, 2011
The Feast of the Epiphany I contrast the obedience of St. Joseph with my obedience. His so prompt, unquestioning, uncomplaining, perfect; mine given so grudgingly; perhaps exterior without interior conformity with the will of the Superior. I realise my faults in this matter, and for the future will try to practise the most perfect obedience, even and especially in little things. “An obedient man shall speak of victory.” (Proverbs 21, …
January 6, 2011
St Charles of Mount Argus There is one thing we need never be afraid of, namely, that the devil will ever tempt us to be humble. He may delude us in the practice of other virtues; indiscreet zeal, for instance, or the desire to devote our time solely to prayer. But we need never be in doubt as to whether it would be better to humble ourselves or not. There …
January 5, 2011
Blessed Angela of Foligno Recognise God’s graces to you, and instead of thinking of yourself and your faults, try to do all you can for God, and love Him more. COMMENT: One danger in the spiritual life is that we become self-absorbed with our own sins and weaknesses and progress. Of course, in all things balance is needed. We must be aware of our faults and strive to overcome them, …
January 4, 2011