Monthly Archives: January 2017

Brother Lawrence’s experience

For the first year, I commonly employed myself during the time set apart for devotion with the thought of death, judgment, heaven, hell, and my sins. Thus, continued some years, applying my mind carefully the rest of the day, and even in the midst of my business, to the presence of GOD, whom I considered always as with me, often as in me.

At length, I came insensibly to do the same thing during my set time of prayer, which caused in me great delight and consolation. This practice produced in me so high an esteem for GOD, that faith alone was capable to satisfy me in that point.

Such was my beginning; and yet I must tell you that for the first ten years I suffered much: the apprehension that I was not devoted to GOD as I wished to be, my past sins always present to my mind, and the great unmerited favors which GOD did me, were the matter and source of my sufferings. During this time, I fell often, and rose again presently. It seemed to me that all creatures, reason, and GOD Himself were against me; and faith alone for me. I was troubled sometimes with thoughts that to believe I had received such favors was an effect of my presumption, which pretended to be at once where others arrive with difficulty; at other times that it was a wilful delusion, and that there was no salvation for me.

When I thought of nothing but to end my days in these troubles (which did not at all diminish the trust I had in GOD, and which served only to increase my faith), I found myself changed all at once; and my soul, which, till that time, was in trouble, felt a profound inward peace, as if she were in her center and place of rest. –Brother Lawrence ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’

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Film watching

This past week has been a concentration upon films, Russian films dominating.  ‘The Island’, ‘The Dry Valley’ and ‘The Priest’, along with clips and a documentary on Andrei Tarkovsky, comprising the Russian viewing.  The ‘Dry Valley’ proved a sentimental favorite, sorrowful and interesting with insight into pre-communist class struggles.  Majestically filmed, the story of the toils of an orphan peasant woman produces a heartwarming heroine, potentially a mystic, who strives beyond her shortcomings, eventually becoming even a source of hope for the desperate and delusional noble woman she serves.  Tonight, a movie at the theater ends my day free from work.  I watched Martin Scorsese’s film ‘Silence’, a story—historical fiction, of Jesuit missionaries meeting extreme futility in 17th century Japan.  The film resonates with profound faith.  Thought provoking, ‘Silence’ firmly grasps the mystery of God and the complexities of converting exotic cultures.  Martyrdom clearly pronounces the deepest call to faith, putting to shame the struggles I endure.  The film powerfully offers the horrific reality of surrendering one’s life for the sake of Christ.  Yet surprisingly another sacrifice of love announces itself relevant.  It is one I possess no clear understanding of, yet it provides a deepening of faith, a greater dependence upon God, a drawing away from declarative statements or judgement, a broadening of the task of surrender.  Two of the priest capitulate their vows becoming apostate priest, living out their lives in Japanese fashion.  The depth and mystery of their choice is the intrigue that lingers.  Reporting upon my personal life, I am considering a move.  An opportunity presented itself in Bratenahl that will be investigated.  Conditions at the current residence became absurd when a friend installed a furnace.  The details have become so muddied and chaotic, I am convinced it is proper to advance.  Thy Will be done!  I felt extremely ill during Mass at St Paul Shrine today, exhaustion and a headache piercing my thoughts.  I am positive the Master Cleanse played a large role.  It is day six of the fast.  During previous fasts, I have experienced similar unfortunate conditions.  I had to return immediately home to receive nourishment, followed by a collapse into a two hour nap.  Waking, I headed straight for Sacred Heart and a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament.  The overwhelming physical condition was alleviated.

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The Practice of the Presence of God

He (Brother Lawrence) noted that there was a great difference between the acts of the intellect and those of the will. Acts of the intellect were comparatively of little value. Acts of the will were all important. Our only business was to love and delight ourselves in God. All possible kinds of mortification, if they were void of the love of God, could not efface a single sin. Instead, we ought, without anxiety, to expect the pardon of our sins from the blood of Jesus Christ only endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts. And he noted that God seemed to have granted the greatest favors to the greatest sinners as more signal monuments of His mercy.

…………………

The whole substance of religion was faith, hope, and charity. In the practice of these we become united to the will of God. Everything else is indifferent and to be used as a means that we may arrive at our end and then be swallowed up by faith and charity. All things are possible to him who believes. They are less difficult to him who hopes. They are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues. The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshipers of God we can possibly be, and as we hope to be through all eternity.  —Brother Lawrence ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’

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Real food

Early Saturday morning prayers and meditation from St Dominic post-Mass Holy Hour.

Stout substance!

O Lord, give me the words to adequately praise your holy presence in the Eucharistic sacrament.
Remove from me the spirit of pride and resistance to your will for me.
Cleanse me of every sin of body and spirit.
Purify my heart of all distractions, worldly concerns, and sinful thoughts.
Give me also the grace to understand and the will to proceed worthily,
So that I may pray to you with attentive devotion before your eternal Majesty.
We pray this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
Amen

Today we can ask ourselves as we talk to Our Lord in our prayer whether we often thank him for calling us to follow him closely; we can ask whether we are corresponding to the grace we have received by struggling to acquire all the virtues in a straightforward but rigorous way, whether we are on our guard against all comfort-seeking which kills off any desire for sanctity and leaves the soul submerged in spiritual mediocrity, and in a state of lukewarmness. It is not enough to want to be merely good, we must make a determined effort to be saints. Francis Fernandez ‘In Conversation with God’

Praise to the Divine Master (based on Psalm 23)

The Lord is my Master,
He teaches me the art of living.
Most patient, he understands
The inner movements of my soul.
The Lord lights up my darkness.
Through all creation, he teaches me—
I will sit forever at His feet.
He speaks softly with me,
Leading me by my own heart.
Though I can’t see the path,
His eyes never lose me.
Turning to Him I am safe,
Wrapped in the blanket of His love.
He calls me to follow Him more closely—
Clasping His nail pierced hand.

My Master died and rose for me,
Loving me into life.
He transforms every sadness,
His ever-present kindness and mercy
Make each day shine anew.
I sing out my joy in him
And proclaim His abundant goodness—
He fills up my life.

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Fortitude

The presumptuous man is convinced he has acquired a distrust of himself and confidence in God, but his mistake is never more apparent than when some fault is committed. For, if he yields to anger and despairs of advancing in the way of virtue, it is evident that he placed his confidence in himself and not in God. The greater the anxiety and despondence, the greater is the certainty of his guilt.

The man who has deep distrust of himself and places great confidence in God is not at all surprised if he commits a fault. He does not abandon himself to confused despair; he correctly attributes what has happened to his own weakness and lack of confidence in God. Thus he learns to distrust himself more, and he places all his hopes in the assistance of the Almighty. He detests beyond all things the sin into which he has fallen; he condemns the passion or criminal habit that occasioned his fall; he conceives a deep sorrow for his offense against God. But his sorrow, accompanied by peace of mind, does not interrupt the method he has laid down, nor does it prevent the pursuit of his enemies to their final destruction.  –Dom Lorenzo Scupoli ‘The Spiritual Combat’

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Day 5: Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots

Mother, Undoer of Knots, generous and compassionate,
I come to You today to once again entrust this knot in my life to you
And to ask the divine wisdom to undo,
under the light of the Holy Spirit,
This snarl of problems.

Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love,
Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need,
Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children
Because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exist in your heart,
Cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children,
I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.
No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care.
In your hands, there is no knot that cannot be undone.

Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus,
Take into your hands today this knot.
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all.
You are my hope. O my Lady,
You are the only consolation God gives me,
The fortification of my feeble strength,
The enrichment of my destitution,
And, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea.
Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
Amen

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