Thought for the Day – 4 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Holy Indifference
“We may wonder whether we are to have a long or a short life.
Nature would choose the first alternative because, the will to live and the fear of death are among the strongest of our basic instincts.
To obtain a long life, we are prepared to promise God that we shall dedicate it to His glory and spend it in doing good works.
But, if God sees that a long life would prove to be an occasion of sin for us and, that we should become too deeply attached to this world and forgetful of Heaven, then we should be resigned to and indeed, content with, a short life.
How many young people like St Maria Goretti, St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, St Dominic Savio and others, have reached the peak of sanctity while still in the flower of their youth?!
If this were the will of God for us, surely we should welcome the advent of an early death?
There is another question which often bothers those who attempt to look into the future.
Shall I be rich or poor?
It is natural to desire wealth and to want to avoid poverty.
Yet, Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor … and woe to the rich!”
It is clear then that wealth is likely to be a greater spiritual danger than poverty, for it can cause us to become more attached to worldly possessions.
We can save our souls whether we are rich or poor, as long as we make right use of whatever we have/
So let the will of God be done!”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci
PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/04/thought-for-the-day-4-september-holy-indifference/