Posted by: roth0003 on: April 3, 2009
O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all the comes to me throughout the day with peace [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: April 2, 2009
When asked what the greatest commandment of the Law was, Jesus responded by saying, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 24, 2009
De Sales said, “Those who never check such outbursts of temper eventually become victims of such rages that they are impossible to live with.” Most sin is like that, when you think about it. Our consciences become dulled when we stray short distances from the path God lays before us, and we can become hopelessly [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 22, 2009
Have you ever noticed that sometimes when we ask God to help us to develop a virtue, we run into constant challenges that seem to frustrate our aims? Pray for patience, and there will be red lights and slow grocery checkout lives. Pray to become more loving, and there will be an onslaught of pesky [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 20, 2009
The Spiritual Combat, published in 1589, sets forth a program for achieving spiritual perfection. It was the favorite book of Saint Francis de Sales, who carried a copy in his pocket for 18 years, read from it every day and recommended it to everyone under his direction. The passage below is excerpted from the chapter [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 17, 2009
Although known as the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick was actually born in Scotland in 387 of Roman parents. In his early teens, he was abducted and taken to Ireland as a slave, where he tended sheep. At the time, Ireland was a pagan land. During his captivity, he developed an active prayer life; [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 13, 2009
What is our reponse when tempted? Do we focus on the struggle, or on the solution? If we direct our attention to the temptation, we risk allowing it to grow larger and gain more power. Rather, let us look to God as the source of our strength. It’s important to remember the promise found in [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 12, 2009
Most of us know someone who “sets our teeth on edge”, someone who irritates us almost every time we meet. This presents quite a challenge when we are trying to follow in the footsteps of Christ. The autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux offers the following account of her method of responding to the challenge: [...]
Posted by: roth0003 on: March 7, 2009
It is so easy to notice the flaws of others and to come up with a plan of action for them to follow, while it is often difficult to see the problem areas in our own lives. Perhaps today, I should plan on focusing solely on my own behavior. Ignatius of Loyola recommended the following [...]
