News - August 2016
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August 31, 2016Christ remains primary in your life only when he enjoys the first place in your heart and mind. Thus you must continually unite yourself to him in prayer. Without prayer there is no joy, no hope, no peace. For prayer is what keeps us in touch with Christ.Read More
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August 31, 2016Read More
“In prosperity you cannot always tell a true friend, but in adversity you cannot mistake an enemy.” Sirach 12:8
As we pass through life, we build many relationships. If we lack discernment, we may believe that all those who appear to be our close friends may stick with us through thick and thin. But quite often it happens that those who appear to be our inseparable friends are nowhere to be found in times of adversity - they may avoid us or even go to the extreme of refusing us an easy help. On the other hand, a true friend is one who is born for adversity. -
August 30, 2016I’m happier with my crucifix on my bed of pain than a queen on her throne. It is so good, so sweet and above all, so beneficial to suffer.Read More
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August 30, 2016Read More
“Accept my discipline rather than silver, and knowledge of me in preference to finest gold. For Wisdom is more precious than jewels, and nothing else is so worthy of desire.” Proverbs 8:10-11
Wisdom calls out to us and exhorts us to accept her discipline. Living with Wisdom means to obey her laws and to lead a life which is ruled by God's Will. Knowing that Wisdom is the greatest treasure we can ever receive, let us earnestly seek her with all our soul. One day we will understand her true value - all the gold and silver in the world ranks nothing in comparison with her and those who have obtained her are the richest of all men. -
August 29, 2016The entire life of a good Christian is in fact an exercise of holy desire. You do not yet see what you long for, but the very act of desiring prepares you, so that when he comes you may see and be utterly satisfied.Read More
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August 29, 2016Read More
“You yourselves can bear me out. I said, “I am not the Christ; I am the one who has been sent to go in front of Him.” John 3:28
When we reflect on the life of John the Baptist, we realise that John was someone who was very clear about his mission - he knew exactly who he was and what he was sent to do. From his very childhood, he had given himself to God, and spent the years of his youth and manhood immersed in prayer, and while in prayer received the oracles of God in the desert. John teaches us that we too need prayer and penance to be able to recognise Jesus and stand for the truth, even at the cost of our own lives. -
August 28, 2016If we would completely rejoice the heart of God, let us strive in all things to conform ourselves to His divine will. Let us not only strive to conform ourselves, but also to unite ourselves to whatever dispositions God makes of us.Read More
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August 28, 2016Read More
“Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop worrying about how your disordered natural inclinations may be fulfilled.” Romans 13:14
All of us can put on one of two coverings: either the covering of sinful passions, or the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ. The covering of sinful passions eat away Divine Grace from within our souls, and very soon the infection emits a foul stench. On the other hand, the covering of the Lord Jesus Christ is like a sweet balm for our soul and like an impenetrable armor. Saint Augustine was clothed in Jesus Christ when he read this Gospel passage, and from that moment, sin never had power over him. -
August 27, 2016The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Love; It signifies Love, It produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life.Read More
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August 27, 2016Read More
"Nevertheless, she will be saved by child-bearing, provided she lives a sensible life and is constant in faith and love and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:15
The vocation of a Christian Mother is not simply to give birth in the flesh, but also to give birth spiritually, and this birth, unlike the pain of the flesh, involves the pain of the spirit. Saint Augustine wrote of his mother, "My mother gave birth to me twice", Monica having given birth to her son both in her physical and spiritual wombs. Like the Blessed Mother, who went through the pain of child-bearing at the foot of the Cross, may God strengthen all Christian mothers to live out their exalted vocation! -
August 26, 2016Read More
“Do not scorn the discourse of the wise, but make yourself familiar with their maxims, since from these you will learn the theory and the art of serving the great.” Sirach 8:8
Wise people are those who in their lives have feared God and therefore left a bright legacy for those who wish to learn from them. The Fathers of the Church fit very well into this description. Sometimes we see people who scorn the teachings of the Fathers and instead follow their own ideas. Wise people will take care to study the discourses of the Fathers and in this way will acquire true learning in the ways of God. -
August 26, 2016In the evening we shall be examined on love.Read More
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August 25, 2016Read More
Since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible things eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18
To succeed, we all need to have an aim. For most people, their aims in life belong to this world. Winning the approval of men, enjoying transitory pleasures of sin and amassing wealth using any means, even devious, are among the top few. St. Paul asks us to aim for invisible things which belong to the world to come - righteousness, faith, love and peace. These will last forever, whereas all other things will leave us today or tomorrow. -
August 25, 2016We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. We need silence to be able to touch souls.Read More
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August 24, 2016Read More
Nathanael asked, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree.’ (John 1:48)
Nathanael was conquered by the words of Jesus when the Lord declared to him that He Had seen him under the fig tree even before Philip had called him. Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus wishes to tell us that He knows us more intimately than we know ourselves - no thought of ours escapes His all-perceiving gaze. Our hearts, minds and every thought of ours lies bare before His eyes. Like Nathanael, let us hesitate no longer, but open and give ourselves up to Him Who knows us all. -
August 24, 2016Even where the difficulties are so great as to lead to discouragement and the power of evil so overwhelming as to dishearten, those who can rediscover the simplicity of a child can begin to hope anew.Read More
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August 23, 2016Read More
“Put your hope in the Lord, be strong, let your hearts be bold, put your hope in the Lord” Psalm 27:14 /p When we are downcast, the Spirit of God encourages us to put our hope in the Lord. It's our hope that keeps us afloat in our moments of dryness and spiritual aridity. Hope is a powerful movement caused in our soul by Divine Love whereby it transcends the present and looks forward with confidence to the future, the confidence that the good and loving Lord will surely come to our help in all our distress.
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August 23, 2016Learn to do thy part and leave the rest to Heaven.Read More
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August 22, 2016Read More
“The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning us for ever an utterly incomparable, eternal weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:17
When the Spirit comes into our lives, little by little He makes us realise how short are our lives on this earth, how temporary are the burdens we bear and how great is the reward of eternity. Once this divine truth dawns on us, our sufferings become light, and toil becomes sweet. -
August 22, 2016What a comfort it is this way of love! You may stumble on it, you may fail to correspond with grace given, but always love knows how to make the best of everything.Read More
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