Thought for the Day – 25 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Sacrifices of Life
“When we say that we must be prepared to make any sacrifice, even to die, rather than offend God and risk eternal damnation, we mean exactly what we say.
“If thy right eye is an occasion of sin to thee,” Jesus says in the Gospel, “pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy members should perish than that thy whole body should be thrown into hell. And if thy right hand is an occasion of sin to thee, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy members should be lost, than thy whole body should go into hell” (Mt 5:29-30).
We are prepared to do all this when there is a question of preserving mortal life; we are prepared to undergo an amputation in order to avoid death.
Are we prepared to do as much for eternal salvation?
Sometimes, when we wish to set ourselves free from the danger of sin, we must deprive ourselves of things that are dear to us; we must suppress our natural instincts and affections and we must impose on ourselves severe penances and bodily mortifications.
All this is demanded from us by Jesus in these words which seem hard and almost cruel but are none other than a just and necessary commandment.
In certain grave cases, heroism is necessary for all – now is the time of heroes!
Are we courageous for Christ and for eternal life with Him?”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
PART ONE HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/03/thought-for-the-day-3-september-the-sacrifices-of-life/
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