It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well. A short road to perfection - short, not because easy, but because pertinent and intelligible. There are no short ways to perfection, but there are sure ones.
I think this may be an instruction which may be of great practical use to persons like ourselves. It is easy to have vague ideas what perfection is, which serve well enough to talk about, when we do not intend to aim at it; but as soon as a person really desires and sets about seeking it himself, he is dissatisfied with anything but what is tangible and clear, and constitutes some sort of direction towards the practice of it.
We must bear in mind what is meant by perfection. It does not mean any extraordinary service, anything out of the way, or especially heroic - not all have the opportunity of heroic acts, of sufferings - but it means what the word perfection ordinarily means. By perfect we mean that which has no flaw in it, that which is complete, that which is consistent, that which is sound - we mean the opposite to imperfect. As we know well what imperfection in religious service means, we know by contrast what is meant by perfection.
He, then, is perfect who does the work of the day perfectly, and we need not go beyond this to seek perfection. You need not go out of the round of the day.
I insist on this because I think it will simplify our views and fix our exertions on a definite aim. If you as me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first - Do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God's glory; say the rosary well; be recollected; put out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.
19 January 2010
Be Perfect, as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect
To be perfect, as Our Father in Heaven is perfect. This is what Jesus asks of us. At first glance not an easy task, but it is perfection that we are called to. How are we to achieve this perfection? It is something I have pondered on in the past, and a few days ago a friend gave me the following:
08 January 2010
Cold Britain
The snow does look pretty, but normally where I live it lasts for a couple of days and then things get back to normal. The snow this year has been around for longer, we're expecting more, and it is being made worse by the severe cold around the country. I saw this satellite image on the web this morning, shows just how cold things are (Click on image for full size):
24 December 2009
28 November 2009
The Muppets - Bohemian Rhapsody
I don't know anyone who doesn't like the Muppets. Young or old, the Muppets have an eternal appeal. So here is a Muppets video to share, their take on the Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody:
17 November 2009
NFL 'Pick Me'
I enjoy watching NFL games, and I follow the Washington Redskins, have done since the NFL was first shown on Channel 4 way back in the eighties. Games are regularly shown on Sky Sports, every week, and during the many (too many) commercial breaks in the game, they often show these snippets of video, with NFL players showing their skills, to encourage you to pick them for your Fantasy Team. The skills are amazing, so sit back and admire these top sportsmen:
26 August 2009
Don't Text & Drive
There are many things that don't mix with driving. Drink. Drugs. Using a mobile phone, either for calling or texting. Because, it doesn't matter how important you think that call is, or that text is, it is never *THAT* important. Sometimes the message needs to be spelled out in a more forceful way, otherwise it just doesn't get through. Watch the video; it is graphic, but it needs to be.
From The Deacon's Bench
From The Deacon's Bench
25 August 2009
The Catholic iPhone
Ok, so the iPhone has been around for a while, and as a bit of a geek when it comes to mobile phones, I've never really been interested. Nice UI and all that, but as a communication device, it's pretty average. A week or so ago, I got a new phone, the HTC Hero. Swish user interface, open source operating system, and a stack of apps available at the Android Market, all round a great phone for geeks. Talking to a friend who has an iPhone, the discussion got onto why I'd never owned that device. We talked apps, and stuff, and from curiosity I took a look at the App Store on iTunes to see what was around. And, I was mightily impressed with what I found.
There are so many Catholic apps available! After a day, I'd sold the HTC Hero and purchased an iPhone. A decision based purely on the apps available. So, on my phone now, I have the Holy Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and writings from St Augustine, The City of God, Confessions and Christian Doctrine. Then there are apps that just overflow with Catholic goodness, iPieta, Universalis, etc. With iPieta I have a searchable database of saints, the Baltimore Catechism, spiritual texts such as Intro to Devout Life, Imitation of Christ, and more, then there is writings from St John Vianney, St John of the Cross, there is the Roman Catechism, the Catechism of St Thomas Aquinas and the Summa Theologica. Universalis is another fantastic app, with the daily Mass readings, info on the Saint of the day, plus the prayers for the Divine Office! All of this info could easily fill multiple heavyweight books, and it is all in the palm of my hand! I can access any of this wherever I am, on the train to work, queuing at the store, literally anywhere. All I want now is the Catholic Encyclopaedia made compatible with the iPhone, now *that* is an app I would happily pay for!
So, the next time you see someone sitting in Church with phone in hand, don't automatically assume they are texting, or chatting on Facebook; they may just as easily be reading the Liturgy of the Hours, or from the Holy Bible.
I found this clip on YouTube, enjoy:
There are so many Catholic apps available! After a day, I'd sold the HTC Hero and purchased an iPhone. A decision based purely on the apps available. So, on my phone now, I have the Holy Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and writings from St Augustine, The City of God, Confessions and Christian Doctrine. Then there are apps that just overflow with Catholic goodness, iPieta, Universalis, etc. With iPieta I have a searchable database of saints, the Baltimore Catechism, spiritual texts such as Intro to Devout Life, Imitation of Christ, and more, then there is writings from St John Vianney, St John of the Cross, there is the Roman Catechism, the Catechism of St Thomas Aquinas and the Summa Theologica. Universalis is another fantastic app, with the daily Mass readings, info on the Saint of the day, plus the prayers for the Divine Office! All of this info could easily fill multiple heavyweight books, and it is all in the palm of my hand! I can access any of this wherever I am, on the train to work, queuing at the store, literally anywhere. All I want now is the Catholic Encyclopaedia made compatible with the iPhone, now *that* is an app I would happily pay for!
So, the next time you see someone sitting in Church with phone in hand, don't automatically assume they are texting, or chatting on Facebook; they may just as easily be reading the Liturgy of the Hours, or from the Holy Bible.
I found this clip on YouTube, enjoy:
01 August 2009
100 Quotes From the Saints
So, the other day I was looking for the source of a quote I had come across. During my search, I found lists and lists and lists of quotes. Initially, I thought, I'd pick a selection of 10 and make a blog post. A few days later, and my list is at a hundred, and it could easily have been more! So, here's the list of 100 quotes I've put together. I've tried to group them in topic, where possible, and despite reading through the list a few times I still can't be sure that there are no repeats. Enjoy!
1. "All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man." - St. John Vianney, Cure d'Ars
2. "The soul hungers for God, and nothing but God can satiate it. Therefore He came to dwell on earth and assumed a Body in order that this Body might become the Food of our souls," - St. John Vianney
3. When I go to Rome, I fast on Saturday, but in Milan I do not. Do you also follow the custom of whatever church you attend, if you do not want to give or receive scandal. -Saint Ambrose
4. Be gentle to all and stern with yourself. - Saint Teresa of Avila
5. Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds. - Saint Teresa of Avila
6. We should always be disposed to believe that that which appears white is really black, if the hierarchy of the Church so decides. - Saint Ignatius
7. "Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft." - St Anthony
8. "The Glorious Virgin did not have a stain in her birth because she was sanctified in her mother's womb and safeguarded there by angels." - St Anthony
9. “It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.” - St. John of the Cross
10. “He who interrupts the course of his spiritual exercises and prayer is like a man who allows a bird to escape from his hand; he can hardly catch it again.” - St. John of the Cross
11. We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it. - St. Francis of Assisi
12. Don't imagine that, if you had a great deal of time, you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of that idea; it is no hindrance to prayer to spend your time well. - St. Teresa of Avila
13. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. - St. Charles Borromeo
14. I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me. - St. Teresa of Avila
15. We should let God be the One to praise us and not praise ourselves. For God detests those who commend themselves. Let others applaud our good deeds. - Pope St. Clement I
16. Our Lord has created persons for all states in life, and in all of them we see people who achieved sanctity by fulfilling their obligations well. - St. Anthony Mary Claret
17. A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction between its being completely formed or unformed is not admissible among us. - St. Basil the Great
18. The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance in the next; the more sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future. - St. Isadore of Seville
19. Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. - St. John of the Cross
20. Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them. - St. Francis de Sales
21. The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor. - St. Basil the Great
22. The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt. - St. Ambrose of Milan
23. It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn't give to someone in greater need than we are. - St. Francis of Assisi
24. Make yourself familiar with the Angels, and behold them frequently in spirit. Without being seen, they are present with you. - St. Francis de Sales
25. Beside each believer stands an Angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life. - St. Basil the Great
26. When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel. - St. John Bosco
27. One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion. - St. Francis de Sales
28. If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate . . . Much harm may result from bad company, and we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse than what is better. - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
29. Just as a man cannot live in the flesh unless he is born in the flesh, even so a man cannot have the spiritual life of grace unless he is born again spiritually. This regeneration is effected by Baptism: "Unless a man is born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" [Jn 3:5]. - St. Thomas Aquinas
30. We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves. - St. Thomas Aquinas
31. Never read books you aren't sure about . . . even supposing that these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: Would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup? - St. John Bosco
32. When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking of Christ. - St. Ambrose of Milan
33. If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way. - St. Thomas Aquinas
34. This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win ALL the world forgiveness of its world of sin. - St. Thomas Aquinas
35. There is but one Church in which men find salvation, just as outside the ark of Noah it was not possible for anyone to be saved. - St. Thomas Aquinas
36. Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members; even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church. - St. Thomas Aquinas
37. I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself. - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
38. The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . . Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil. - St. Thomas Aquinas
39. Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church. - St. Thomas Aquinas
40. If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He, who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year. - St. Ambrose of Milan
41. Those who commit these types of scandals are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, but I', here among you to prevent something far worst for you. While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal- who allow scandals to destroy faith- are guilty of spiritual suicide. - St. Francis de Sales
42. The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist. - Pope St. Gregory the Great
43. Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mould them accordingly. - St. Ignatius Loyola
44. It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction. - St. Edmund
45. If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. - St. Colette
46. At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity. - St. John of the Cross
47. When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? - St. Jane Frances de Chantal
48. Let everyone who has the grace of intelligence fear that, because of it, he will be judged more heavily if he is negligent. Let him who has no intelligence or talent rejoice and do as much as he can with the little that he has; for he has been freed from many occasions of sin. - St. Bridget of Sweden
49. Charity may be a very short word, but with its tremendous meaning of pure love, it sums up man's entire relation to God and to his neighbour. - St Aelred of Rievaulx
50. What will be the crown of those who, humble within and humiliated without, have imitated the humility of our Saviour in all its fullness! - St. Bernadette
51. Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ. - St. Paul of the Cross
52. It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world. - St. Aloysius Gonzaga
53. Nothing is far from God. - St. Monica
54. To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it - Mother Teresa
55. If we wish to keep peace with our neighbour, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects. - St. Philip Neri
56. Not the goods of the world, but God. Not riches, but God. Not honours, but God. Not distinction, but God. Not dignities, but God. Not advancement, but God. God always and in everything. - St. Vincent Pallotti
57. Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God. - St. Vincent Ferrer
58. We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it. - St. Francis of Assisi
59. Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. - St. Therese of Lisieux
60. Charity unites us to God... There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect. - Pope St. Clement I
61. My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate. - St. Margaret of Cortona
62. Let us therefore give ourselves to God with a great desire to begin to live thus, and beg Him to destroy in us the life of the world of sin, and to establish His life within us. - St. John Eudes
63. Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession. - St. Isidore of Seville
64. To love God is something greater than to know Him. - St. Thomas Aquinas
65. Prayer reveals to souls the vanity of earthly goods and pleasures. It fills them with light, strength and consolation; and gives them a foretaste of the calm bliss of our heavenly home. - St. Rose of Viterbo
66. It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity" - St. Albert the Great
67. Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? - St. Gerard Majella
68. We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone. - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
69. Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him. - St. Dominic Savio
70. When you feel the assaults of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His ignominies and sufferings. - St. Paul of the Cross
71. My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavour should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. - St. Isaac Jogues
72. Truly, matters in the world are in a bad state; but if you and I begin in earnest to reform ourselves, a really good beginning will have been made. - St. Peter of Alcantara
73. This world and the world to come are two enemies. We cannot therefore be friends to both; but we must decide which we will forsake and which we will enjoy. - Pope St. Clement I
74. We should have no more use or regard for money in any of its forms than we have for dust. Those who think it is worth more, or who are greedy for it, expose themselves to the danger of being deceived by the Devil. - St. Francis of Assisi
75. You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy - the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud. - St. Vincent de Paul
76. To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected and reproved. And, therefore, it is a great sign of advancement in perfection. - St. Francis de Sales
77. You cannot please both God and the world at the same time; they are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions. - St. John Vianney
78. Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven. - St. Ephraem
79. Love God, serve God: everything is in that. - St. Clare of Assisi
80. Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of God rather for sinners than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that he came to call not the just, but sinners. - St. Anselm
81. The Blessed Eucharist is the perfect Sacrament of the Lord's Passion, since It contains Christ Himself and his Passion. - St. Thomas Aquinas
82. What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something. - Mother Theresa
83. The value of our life does not depend on the place we occupy. It depends on the way we occupy that place. - St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
84. They deceive themselves who believe that union with God consists in ecstasies or raptures, and in the enjoyment of Him. For it consists in nothing except the surrender and subjection of our will - with our thoughts, words and actions - to the will of God.... - St. Teresa of Avila
85. No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. So it is with conversation. A single bad word, an evil action, an unbecoming joke, is often enough to harm one or more young listeners, and may later cause them to lose God's grace. - St. John Bosco
86. Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons. - St. John Climacus
87. Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ -St. Jerome
88. What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things? - Pope St. Gregory the Great
89. In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance. - St. Thomas Aquinas
90. Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works. - St. Thomas Aquinas
91. The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead. - St. Thomas Aquinas
92. Whoever wishes to hold the fortress of contemplation must first of all train in the camp of action. - Pope St. Gregory the Great
93. Reprimand and rebuke should be accepted as healing remedies for vice and as conducive to good health. From this it is clear that those who pretend to be tolerant because they wish to flatter-----those who thus fail to correct sinners-----actually cause them to suffer supreme loss and plot the destruction of that life which is their true life. - St. Basil the Great
94. Proud is many a man who looks down on his neighbour because the wool of his gown is finer! Yet as fine as it is, a poor sheep wore it upon her back before it came upon his back, and all the while she wore it, she was after all still only a sheep. And why should he now think himself better than she was simply by having that wool-----wool that, even though it is now his, is still not so truly his as it was truly hers? - St. Thomas More
95. When it's God Who is speaking . . . the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart. - St. John Vianney
96. If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favour of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation. - St. John Vianney
97. The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. - St. Vincent de Paul
98. The Saints were so completely dead to themselves that they cared very little whether others agreed with them or not. - St. John Vianney
99. It is almost certain that excess in eating is the cause of almost all the diseases of the body, but its effects on the soul are even more disastrous. - St. Alphonsus Liguori
100. A good work talked about is a good work spoiled. - St. Vincent de Paul
1. "All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man." - St. John Vianney, Cure d'Ars
2. "The soul hungers for God, and nothing but God can satiate it. Therefore He came to dwell on earth and assumed a Body in order that this Body might become the Food of our souls," - St. John Vianney
3. When I go to Rome, I fast on Saturday, but in Milan I do not. Do you also follow the custom of whatever church you attend, if you do not want to give or receive scandal. -Saint Ambrose
4. Be gentle to all and stern with yourself. - Saint Teresa of Avila
5. Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds. - Saint Teresa of Avila
6. We should always be disposed to believe that that which appears white is really black, if the hierarchy of the Church so decides. - Saint Ignatius
7. "Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft." - St Anthony
8. "The Glorious Virgin did not have a stain in her birth because she was sanctified in her mother's womb and safeguarded there by angels." - St Anthony
9. “It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.” - St. John of the Cross
10. “He who interrupts the course of his spiritual exercises and prayer is like a man who allows a bird to escape from his hand; he can hardly catch it again.” - St. John of the Cross
11. We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it. - St. Francis of Assisi
12. Don't imagine that, if you had a great deal of time, you would spend more of it in prayer. Get rid of that idea; it is no hindrance to prayer to spend your time well. - St. Teresa of Avila
13. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. - St. Charles Borromeo
14. I would never want any prayer that would not make the virtues grow within me. - St. Teresa of Avila
15. We should let God be the One to praise us and not praise ourselves. For God detests those who commend themselves. Let others applaud our good deeds. - Pope St. Clement I
16. Our Lord has created persons for all states in life, and in all of them we see people who achieved sanctity by fulfilling their obligations well. - St. Anthony Mary Claret
17. A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction between its being completely formed or unformed is not admissible among us. - St. Basil the Great
18. The more we are afflicted in this world, the greater is our assurance in the next; the more sorrow in the present, the greater will be our joy in the future. - St. Isadore of Seville
19. Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. - St. John of the Cross
20. Many would be willing to have afflictions provided that they not be inconvenienced by them. - St. Francis de Sales
21. The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor. - St. Basil the Great
22. The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt. - St. Ambrose of Milan
23. It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn't give to someone in greater need than we are. - St. Francis of Assisi
24. Make yourself familiar with the Angels, and behold them frequently in spirit. Without being seen, they are present with you. - St. Francis de Sales
25. Beside each believer stands an Angel as protector and shepherd, leading him to life. - St. Basil the Great
26. When tempted, invoke your Angel. He is more eager to help you than you are to be helped! Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel. - St. John Bosco
27. One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion. - St. Francis de Sales
28. If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate . . . Much harm may result from bad company, and we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse than what is better. - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
29. Just as a man cannot live in the flesh unless he is born in the flesh, even so a man cannot have the spiritual life of grace unless he is born again spiritually. This regeneration is effected by Baptism: "Unless a man is born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" [Jn 3:5]. - St. Thomas Aquinas
30. We can't have full knowledge all at once. We must start by believing; then afterwards we may be led on to master the evidence for ourselves. - St. Thomas Aquinas
31. Never read books you aren't sure about . . . even supposing that these bad books are very well written from a literary point of view. Let me ask you this: Would you drink something you knew was poisoned just because it was offered to you in a golden cup? - St. John Bosco
32. When we speak about wisdom, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about virtue, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about justice, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about peace, we are speaking of Christ. When we speak about truth and life and redemption, we are speaking of Christ. - St. Ambrose of Milan
33. If, then, you are looking for the way by which you should go, take Christ, because He Himself is the way. - St. Thomas Aquinas
34. This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win ALL the world forgiveness of its world of sin. - St. Thomas Aquinas
35. There is but one Church in which men find salvation, just as outside the ark of Noah it was not possible for anyone to be saved. - St. Thomas Aquinas
36. Just as in one man there is one soul and one body, yet many members; even so the Catholic Church is one body, having many members. The soul that quickens this body is the Holy Spirit; and therefore in the Creed after confessing our belief in the Holy Spirit, we are bid to believe in the Holy Catholic Church. - St. Thomas Aquinas
37. I will go peaceably and firmly to the Catholic Church: for if Faith is so important to our salvation, I will seek it where true Faith first began, seek it among those who received it from God Himself. - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
38. The Church has ever proved indestructible. Her persecutors have failed to destroy her; in fact, it was during times of persecution that the Church grew more and more; while the persecutors themselves, and those whom the Church would destroy, are the very ones who came to nothing. . . . Again, errors have assailed her; but in fact, the greater the number of errors that have arisen, the more has the truth been made manifest. . . . Nor has the Church failed before the assaults of demons: for she is like a tower of refuge to all who fight against the Devil. - St. Thomas Aquinas
39. Hold firmly that our faith is identical with that of the ancients. Deny this, and you dissolve the unity of the Church. - St. Thomas Aquinas
40. If it is "daily bread," why do you take it once a year? . . . Take daily what is to profit you daily. Live in such a way that you may deserve to receive it daily. He, who does not deserve to receive it daily, does not deserve to receive it once a year. - St. Ambrose of Milan
41. Those who commit these types of scandals are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, but I', here among you to prevent something far worst for you. While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal- who allow scandals to destroy faith- are guilty of spiritual suicide. - St. Francis de Sales
42. The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist. - Pope St. Gregory the Great
43. Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mould them accordingly. - St. Ignatius Loyola
44. It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction. - St. Edmund
45. If there be a true way that leads to the Everlasting Kingdom, it is most certainly that of suffering, patiently endured. - St. Colette
46. At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity. - St. John of the Cross
47. When shall it be that we shall taste the sweetness of the Divine Will in all that happens to us, considering in everything only His good pleasure, by whom it is certain that adversity is sent with as much love as prosperity, and as much for our good? When shall we cast ourselves undeservedly into the arms of our most loving Father in Heaven, leaving to Him the care of ourselves and of our affairs, and reserving only the desire of pleasing Him, and of serving Him well in all that we can? - St. Jane Frances de Chantal
48. Let everyone who has the grace of intelligence fear that, because of it, he will be judged more heavily if he is negligent. Let him who has no intelligence or talent rejoice and do as much as he can with the little that he has; for he has been freed from many occasions of sin. - St. Bridget of Sweden
49. Charity may be a very short word, but with its tremendous meaning of pure love, it sums up man's entire relation to God and to his neighbour. - St Aelred of Rievaulx
50. What will be the crown of those who, humble within and humiliated without, have imitated the humility of our Saviour in all its fullness! - St. Bernadette
51. Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment in the interior temple of your spirit, remaining like a baby in the bosom of the heavenly Father, where you will be reborn each moment in the Divine Word, Jesus Christ. - St. Paul of the Cross
52. It is better to be the child of God than king of the whole world. - St. Aloysius Gonzaga
53. Nothing is far from God. - St. Monica
54. To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it - Mother Teresa
55. If we wish to keep peace with our neighbour, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects. - St. Philip Neri
56. Not the goods of the world, but God. Not riches, but God. Not honours, but God. Not distinction, but God. Not dignities, but God. Not advancement, but God. God always and in everything. - St. Vincent Pallotti
57. Whatever you do, think not of yourself, but of God. - St. Vincent Ferrer
58. We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it. - St. Francis of Assisi
59. Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender. - St. Therese of Lisieux
60. Charity unites us to God... There is nothing mean in charity, nothing arrogant. Charity knows no schism, does not rebel, does all things in concord. In charity all the elect of God have been made perfect. - Pope St. Clement I
61. My daughter, I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate. - St. Margaret of Cortona
62. Let us therefore give ourselves to God with a great desire to begin to live thus, and beg Him to destroy in us the life of the world of sin, and to establish His life within us. - St. John Eudes
63. Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession. - St. Isidore of Seville
64. To love God is something greater than to know Him. - St. Thomas Aquinas
65. Prayer reveals to souls the vanity of earthly goods and pleasures. It fills them with light, strength and consolation; and gives them a foretaste of the calm bliss of our heavenly home. - St. Rose of Viterbo
66. It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to man and man to God. But where charity is not found, God cannot dwell. If, then, we possess charity, we possess God, for "God is Charity" - St. Albert the Great
67. Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? - St. Gerard Majella
68. We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone. - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
69. Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him. - St. Dominic Savio
70. When you feel the assaults of passion and anger, then is the time to be silent as Jesus was silent in the midst of His ignominies and sufferings. - St. Paul of the Cross
71. My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavour should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. - St. Isaac Jogues
72. Truly, matters in the world are in a bad state; but if you and I begin in earnest to reform ourselves, a really good beginning will have been made. - St. Peter of Alcantara
73. This world and the world to come are two enemies. We cannot therefore be friends to both; but we must decide which we will forsake and which we will enjoy. - Pope St. Clement I
74. We should have no more use or regard for money in any of its forms than we have for dust. Those who think it is worth more, or who are greedy for it, expose themselves to the danger of being deceived by the Devil. - St. Francis of Assisi
75. You must ask God to give you power to fight against the sin of pride which is your greatest enemy - the root of all that is evil, and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud. - St. Vincent de Paul
76. To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected and reproved. And, therefore, it is a great sign of advancement in perfection. - St. Francis de Sales
77. You cannot please both God and the world at the same time; they are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions. - St. John Vianney
78. Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven. - St. Ephraem
79. Love God, serve God: everything is in that. - St. Clare of Assisi
80. Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of God rather for sinners than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that he came to call not the just, but sinners. - St. Anselm
81. The Blessed Eucharist is the perfect Sacrament of the Lord's Passion, since It contains Christ Himself and his Passion. - St. Thomas Aquinas
82. What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I cannot do. The needs are great and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something. - Mother Theresa
83. The value of our life does not depend on the place we occupy. It depends on the way we occupy that place. - St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
84. They deceive themselves who believe that union with God consists in ecstasies or raptures, and in the enjoyment of Him. For it consists in nothing except the surrender and subjection of our will - with our thoughts, words and actions - to the will of God.... - St. Teresa of Avila
85. No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. So it is with conversation. A single bad word, an evil action, an unbecoming joke, is often enough to harm one or more young listeners, and may later cause them to lose God's grace. - St. John Bosco
86. Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons. - St. John Climacus
87. Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ -St. Jerome
88. What do they not see, who see Him Who sees all things? - Pope St. Gregory the Great
89. In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance. - St. Thomas Aquinas
90. Three conditions are necessary for Penance: contrition, which is sorrow for sin, together with a purpose of amendment; confession of sins without any omission; and satisfaction by means of good works. - St. Thomas Aquinas
91. The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead. - St. Thomas Aquinas
92. Whoever wishes to hold the fortress of contemplation must first of all train in the camp of action. - Pope St. Gregory the Great
93. Reprimand and rebuke should be accepted as healing remedies for vice and as conducive to good health. From this it is clear that those who pretend to be tolerant because they wish to flatter-----those who thus fail to correct sinners-----actually cause them to suffer supreme loss and plot the destruction of that life which is their true life. - St. Basil the Great
94. Proud is many a man who looks down on his neighbour because the wool of his gown is finer! Yet as fine as it is, a poor sheep wore it upon her back before it came upon his back, and all the while she wore it, she was after all still only a sheep. And why should he now think himself better than she was simply by having that wool-----wool that, even though it is now his, is still not so truly his as it was truly hers? - St. Thomas More
95. When it's God Who is speaking . . . the proper way to behave is to imitate someone who has an irresistible curiosity and who listens at keyholes. You must listen to everything God says at the keyhole of your heart. - St. John Vianney
96. If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favour of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation. - St. John Vianney
97. The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. - St. Vincent de Paul
98. The Saints were so completely dead to themselves that they cared very little whether others agreed with them or not. - St. John Vianney
99. It is almost certain that excess in eating is the cause of almost all the diseases of the body, but its effects on the soul are even more disastrous. - St. Alphonsus Liguori
100. A good work talked about is a good work spoiled. - St. Vincent de Paul
21 July 2009
Speeding nuns in a Ford Fiesta fined, refuse to pay
From Italy Magazine
Source
The three nuns, Sister Tavoletta, 56, and two others (unnamed) aged 65 and 78, where rushing to see the Pope at 180kmph (112 mph) when the police pulled them over.
They had heard that the Pope had fallen and broke his wrist and they wanted to make sure all was ok.
They almost made it there. The Pope is currently in his summer holiday home in Valle d'Aosta at Les Combes, and they were stopped one hour away from their final destination. The Pope had slipped in the bathroom and fractured his wrist, and the Salesian nuns just had to confirm the news reports personally.
A spokesman for Turin's police, said: "Hopefully Sister Tavoletta will be making sure she confesses her bad driving the next she goes to confession. But in the meantime, she will have to pay the Euros 375 fine.
Sister Tavoletta, however, has no intention of simply accepting the fine. She has hired the services of one of Italy's best known lawyers in driving cases, Anna Orecchini who also lost her driving licence for a month, has not meekly accepted this rebuke. Instead, she will appeal against the fine with the aid of Italy's best known lawyer in driving cases, Anna Orecchioni and will appeal on the ground that their mission was more important that the speeding rules of the Italian state.
Source
21 June 2009
The Year of the Priest
The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Friday also marked the beginning of the Year of the Priest. This is an excellent choice for focus this year, our Priests need payer, always, and this year should remind us of that. Below is a video from Archbishop Nichols, marking this Year of the Priest, during which he encourages praying the Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and revival of the 40 hours devotion. What are you doing in your Parish this year, for your Priest?
The Year for Priests 2009 - 2010: Archbishop Vincent Nichols from Catholic Westminster on Vimeo.
20 June 2009
What is a Browser?
Pretty amazing, this. I can certainly understand that there will be an element of people who are not quite technically aware, but in this clip, an amazing 92% of people did not know the difference between a browser and a search engine!
12 June 2009
Rosary Beads and Fashion
I am struck recently by the number of people I see wearing Rosary beads. Is this a 'fashion statement' of some kind? I'm not against people developing a devotion to the Rosary prayer, and to Our Blessed Lady, but somehow it strikes me that this is not why people are wearing the beads.
Not totally sure how much this bothers me, but it does, to some extent. It would be nice to believe that an outbreak of love to Our Lady was behind this 'fad', but I can't be that gullible to believe it is true. I shall keep praying that it happens, though.
02 June 2009
Festa Della Repubblica
Today is the Festa Della Repubblica, the day Italy changed from a Monarchy to a Republic. After 85 years, with a vote of 12.717.923 in favour of a Republic against 10.719.284 in favour of the monarchy, Italians voted and the reigning Royal Family, the Savoia, were banished from the newly formed Republic. It is only recently they have been allowed to return to Italy.
After many years the celebration of this date lost favour with many, but since 2000 has become more popular again. Falling as it does on a Tuesday this year, it has offered Italians the opportunity to 'bridge' the weekend into the festive day, and many shops and businesses would have been closed yesterday, too. Before the Republic, the Festive day of celebrating Italians was the first Sunday in June.
Buone Feste a tutti!!
31 May 2009
Pentecost
1 And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 And at this sound, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. 7 And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans? 8 And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,
11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.
25 May 2009
Champion's League 09
It's the Champion's League final this Wednesday. Being totally neutral, I can sit back, relax, and enjoy a (hopefully) good final. As an appetiser, here's an ad, showing a bit of 'mind games' between Henry and Giggs:
24 May 2009
Grazie, Capitano
Too often in sport, particularly football, words like legend are thrown around towards players who are little deserving. But every once in a while you get a player who deserves recognition for their contribution to the game.Football generally, particularly the Italian game, specifically AC Milan is important to me. Keeping everything in the correct perspective, football gives occasion of high and low emotions, offers opportunity of fraternity with like minded people, and a certain type of tribal rivalry that, when kept within acceptable norms, is often humorous and enjoyable. It surely doesn't need to be said, I have no time for rivalries that descend into violence.
Today was the last game played in Serie A for Paolo Maldini at the home ground of Milan, the San Siro.
You would expect, that after a 24 year career with the same team, making 901 appearances (his 902nd is next week, in the last game of the season against Fiorentina) that the fans would show their gratitude to a player of the quality of Maldini. And generally that was the case, starting off with the opposing players from today's game, Roma, wearing shirts thanking and praising Maldini, congratulating him personally. Before the match, the crowd showed their appreciation, the atmosphere came through well even on TV. Would have been great to be there. However, once the game kicked off, some banners were unfurled similar to that in the picture that criticised Maldini, for some alleged offense given to the fans during the time the current England manager, Fabio Capello, was manager of Milan. At some points Maldini was whistled by his own supporters, and the club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, was also roundly criticised for perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market.Whatever the points, today was not the day for protest, and re-opening old wounds. Instead, it was a day for remembering a true great of the modern football era, a player who has performed at the top of his game for almost 25 years. Maldini made his debut for Milan when he was just 16 years old, and soon became a regular figure in the team's line-up. The haul of trophies one during Maldini's career is impressive:
7 Serie A titles
5 Champions League titles
5 UEFA Super Cups
5 Supercoppa Italiana
2 Intercontinental Cups
1 FIFA World Club Cup
1 Coppa Italia
Maldini also played 126 times for Italy, 74 of those as captain. The one major honour missing from his impressive CV is a World Cup. He had retired from the Italian national team after the 2002 World Cup, so missed out on the triumph in 2006. Maldini, for all his triumphs and great matches, was rather unfortunate in the international game, being runner up in the 1994 World Cup Final to Brazil, a match that was lost on penalties, and also runner up to France in the Euro 2000 final, a game that Italy were winning until a couple of minutes before the end of the game, France scored to take the final into extra time. They subsequently one by scoring in extra time, taking the title on the then Golden Goal ruling.Still, even taking those disappointments into account, Paolo Maldini has had an amazing career. He is a true great of the game, and fully deserving of all the praise he receives. In a modern game where greed drives players to show disloyalty at every moment, to have achieved 901 top level games with one club is a real achievement. Grazie, Capitano, per tutto.
Paolo's father, Cesare, was a great defender for the club. With sons of his own, maybe the Maldini name will continue to be part of AC Milan into the future. The oldest, Christian, is already part of the youth set up, and if this video clip is anything to go by, there is a future for Daniel Maldini. Only 5 years old in this clip, Daniel makes an excellent tackle on Clarence Seedorf, himself a Champions League winner with three different clubs:
22 May 2009
Archbishop Nichols
I watched the service yesterday on TV, for the installation of the new Archbishop. It was great to see it on the BBC. A video is available, with highlights of the service, at this link
06 May 2009
30 April 2009
Installation of Archbishop Vincent Nichols
The special Mass for the installation of Archbishop Vincent Nichols as Archbishop of Westminster is on the 21st May. It is reckoned around 4,000 people will be there, including Diocesan priests and religious, priests from the Archdiocese of Birmingham, as well as representatives from every parish and school throughout the Diocese. A number of high profile guests are also expected to attend, including all of the Bishops of England and Wales, Catholic Peers and MP's, and Cardinal Mahoney, Archbishop of Los Angeles. In our parish, our representatives are being chosen by draw.
If you are unable to go, but will be by a TV, the Mass will be aired on BBC2 from 11.45am
More info here
If you are unable to go, but will be by a TV, the Mass will be aired on BBC2 from 11.45am
More info here
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