Category: QUOTES on VICE

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on VICE, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES, The HEART, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 9 May – Concerning the Manner of Perseverance in the Spiritual Combat until Death

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Thought for the Day – 9 May – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

LXI: … Concerning the Manner of Perseverance
in the Spiritual Combat until Death

“One of the requisites in the Spiritual Combat is perseverance in the continual mortification of our unruly passions – for, in this life, they are never utterly subdued but take root in the human heart like weeds in fertile soil.
This is a battle from which we cannot escape – ours is a foe, we cannot evade.
The fight against passion will last a lifetime and he, who lays down his arms, will be slain.
Moreover, we must combat enemies, who hate us, with unquenchable fury and, are consecrated to our destruction.
The more we would make friends of them, the more they would make
derelicts of us!
But be not daunted by their strength or number, for in this war, he alone is conquered, who voluntarily surrenders and the entire power of our enemies is in the hands of that Captain under Whose banner we fight.
And not only will He preserve us from treachery but, He will be our Champion.
He, Who is infinitely superior to all the foe, will crown you with conquest provided you, as a warrior, rely not on your own finite powers but on His Almighty Power and Infinite Goodness.

If, however, He seems slow in coming to your aid and apparently leaves you in the withering fire of the enemy, be not discouraged, rather fight resolutely in the firm belief that He will convert all things which befall you, to your eventual benefit and, even the unexpected crown of victory will be yours.

For your part, never desert your Commanding Officer, Who, for your sake, did not shrink from death itself and, in dying on Calvary’s hill, conquered the entire world.
Fight courageously under His colours and do not lay down your arms, while there is one foe left.
For, if a single vice is neglected, it will be a beam in your eye and a thorn in your side, constantly hindering you from triumph in your glorious and victorious cause.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VICE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 8 April– Of the Temptation to Form Rash Judgements of Our Neighbour (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 8 April– The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XLIII: … Of the Temptation to Form
Rash Judgements of Our Neighbour (Part One)

“From the same vice of self-esteem and self-conceit arises another most injurious to us, i.e. rash judgement of our neighbour, leading us to despise and disparage him.
And this fault which arises from our pride and evil inclination, is by that same pride, voluntarily nourished and increased! for, as it increases, so does pride also increase, insensibly flattering and deluding us.

For the more we presume to exalt ourselves, the more do we unconsciously depress others; while we imagine ourselves free from those imperfections which we think we perceive in them!

And the cunning tempter, who discovers this most evil disposition in us, is continually on the watch to open our eyes and keep them awake to see, investigate and exaggerate, the defects of other men.
Careless souls know not and believe not, how diligently he studies and contrives to impress upon our minds the little failings of this or that person, when he cannot discover and use our greater faults.
Therefore, as he is watching to do you harm, be you also awake, lest you fall into his snare.
And when he brings before you any defect of your neighbour, banish the thought at once and, if you still feel a temptation to pass judgement upon it, resist the impulse.

Consider that the Office of Judge has not been committed to you and that even if it were, beset as you are by a thousand passions and but too prone to think evil without just cause, you would be unable to form a righteous judgement

And, as an effective remedy against rash judgements, I would remind you to occupy your thoughts with your own defects; so will you perceive, more and more plainly every hour, how much you have to do in yourself and for yourself and you will find neither time nor inclination, to attend to the doings of others.
Besides, by faithfully performing this exercise, you will be enabled, more and more, to purge your inward sight from the malignant humours whence this pestilent vice proceeds.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SELF-DISTRUST, The HEART, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 18 March –Instructions for Mortifying Passions,to Attain the Necessary Virtues (Part Two)

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Thought for the Day – 18 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXIII: … Instructions for Mortifying Passions,
to Attain the Necessary Virtues (Part Two)

“And a last 3 points of advice:

+++ 4. Let your whole heart desire nothing, think of nothing, crave nothing, long for nothing but to conquer that passion with which you are struggling and to attain its contrary virtue.
Be this your world, your Heaven, your earth, your whole treasure and all with
the sole view of pleasing God.
Whether eating or fasting, labouring, or resting, watching or sleeping, at home or abroad, whether engaged in devotion or in manual labour, let all be directed to the conquest and extinction of this passion and, to the attainment of the contrary virtue.

+++ 5. Wage unceasing war against earthly pleasures and comforts, so will no vice have much power to assail you.
For all vices spring from this one root of pleasure – when this, therefore, is cut away by hatred of self, they lose their strength and power.
For, if with one hand you will try to fight against some particular sin, or pleasure and, with the other dally, with other earthly enjoyments, although their guilt be not mortal but only venial, your battles will be difficult and bloody, your victories infrequent and uncertain.
Keep, therefore, constantly in mind these Divine words:
“He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth
his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal.” John 12:25.

“Brethren, we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die. ”

+++ 6. Lastly, it would be well, it maybe even necessary, for you to make, in the first place, a general Confession, with all the necessary conditions that you may be the better assured of your Lord’s favour, to Whom Alone you must look for all grace and victory!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/17/thought-for-the-day-17-march-instructions-for-mortifying-passionsto-attain-the-necessary-virtues-part-one/

Posted in QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 9 March – Of the Devil’s Artifices, In Order to Draw Us Away, From the Path of Holiness (Part One)

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Thought for the Day – 9 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XXXI: … Of the Devil’s Artifices, In Order
to Draw Us Away, From the Path of Holiness
(Part One)

“The fourth device of the Evil One, when he sees us advancing steadily towards holiness, is, to excite within us, a variety of good desires that, by this means, he may lead us away from the exercise of virtue, into sin.

A sick person is perhaps bearing his illness with a patient will.
The cunning adversary knows that by this means, he may attain to a habit of patience and, he immediately sets before him all the good works which, in a different condition, he might be able to perform, and tries to persuade him that if he were but well, he would be able to serve God better and be more useful to himself and others.
Having once aroused such wishes within him, he goes on increasing them by degrees, until he makes the subject restless at the impossibility of carrying them into effect and, the deeper and stronger such wishes become, the more does this restlessness increase.
Then the enemy leads him on gently and with a stealthy step, to impatience at the sickness, not as sickness but as a hindrance to those good works which he so anxiously desires to perform for some greater good.
When he has brought him thus far, with the same art he removes from his mind the end he had in view, to serve God and perform good works and leaves him only, the bare desire to be rid of his sickness.
And then, if this does not happen according to his wish, he is so much troubled, as to become actually impatient and so, unconsciously, he falls from the virtue in which he was exercising himself, into the opposite vice.

The way to guard against and resist this snare, is, to be very careful, when in a state of trial, not to give way to desires after any good work which, being out of your power to execute, would very probably disquiet you.
In such cases, resign yourself, with all patience, resignation and humility, to the conviction, that your desires would not have the effect you think, inasmuch as you are far more insignificant and unstable, than you account yourself to be.

Or else believe that God, in His surer counsels, or on account of your unworthiness, is not pleased to accept this work at your hand but, will rather that you should patiently abase and humble yourself under the Gentle and Mighty Hand of His Will.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The BEATITUDES, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 28 February – ‘One thing is lacking to thee … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 28 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity”– St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin/Gabriel Possenti CP (1838-1862) Confessor, – 1 John 2:14-17; Mark 10:13-21 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“One thing is lacking to thee; go, sell whatever thou has and give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven and come, follow Me.” – Mark 10:21

REFLECTION – “Blessed is the poor man who cried and whom the Lord heard. Blessed is the man poor in offence. Blessed is the man poor in vices. Blessed is the poor man, in whom the prince of this world finds nothing. Blessed is the poor man who, is like that Poor Man Who, although He was rich, became poor for our sake. Matthew fully revealed this when he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” One poor in spirit is not puffed up, is not exalted in the mind of his own flesh. This Beatitude is first, when I have laid aside every sin and I have taken off all malice and I am content with simplicity, destitute of evils. All that remains is that I regulate my conduct. For what good does it do me to lack worldly goods, unless I am meek and gentle?

Although there are many charms of delights in riches, yet there are more incentives to practice virtues. Although virtue does not require assistance and the contribution of the poor person, is more commended, than the generosity of the rich, yet with the authority of the heavenly saying, He condemns, not those who have riches but those who do not know how to use them. The pauper is more praiseworthy who gives with eager compassion and is not restrained, by the bolts of looming scarcity. He thinks that he who has enough for nature, does not lack. So the rich person is the more guilty, who does not give thanks to God, for what he has received but vainly hides wealth given for the common use and conceals it, in buried treasures. Then the offence consists, not in the wealth but in the attitude.

Purify yourself with your tears. Wash yourselves with mourning. If you weep for yourself, another will not weep for you…. One who is a sinner weeps for himself and rebukes himself, that he may become righteous, for just people accuse themselves of sin. Let us pursue order because, it is written, “Set in order love in me.” I have laid down sin. I have tempered my conduct. I have wept for my transgressions. I begin to hunger. I hunger for righteousness. The sick, when he is seriously ill, does not hunger because, the pain of the illness excludes hunger. What is the hunger for righteousness? What is the bread of which it is said, “I have been young and am old and I have not seen the righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging bread?” Surely, one who is hungry, seeks increase of strength. What greater increase of virtue is there, than the rule of righteousness?” – St Ambrose (340-397) Bishop of Milan, Father and Doctor of the Church( Exposition on the Gospel of Luke, 5).

PRAYER – O God, Who taught blessed Gabriel to meditate continually on the sorrows of Thy most sweet Mother and Who, through her, exalted him by the glory of a holy life and miracles; grant us, we beseech Thee, through his intercession and example so to share in the sorrows of Thy Mother that her motherly protection may save us. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, HYMNS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VICE, St PAUL!, The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – St Peter Damian

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Quote/s of the Day – 23 February – St Peter Damian (1007-1072) Cardinal Bishop, Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

“He who does not attack a vice
but rather, coddles it,
is justly judged guilty
of the death, together with those
who die by that vice!”

“Receive the Body and Blood of Christ
very frequently. The sight of a Christian’s lips
red with the Blood of Christ terrifies the enemy.
He immediately recognises the sign of his own ruin.
He cannot stand the Instrument of Divine Victory,
by which he was taken captive and cast down.”

“Truly, this vice is never to be compared
with any other vice
because it surpasses the enormity of all vices….
It defiles everything, stains everything, pollutes everything.
And as for itself, it permits nothing pure,
nothing clean, nothing other than filth!”

“No-one can fight properly
and boldly for the faith,
if he clings to a fear of being stripped
of earthly possessions.”

Have Mercy, Lord
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

Have mercy, Lord,
on all my friends and relatives,
on all my benefactors,
on all who pray to Thee for me
and on all who have asked me
to pray to Thee, for them.
Give them the spirit of fruitful penance,
mortify them in all vices
and make them flower
in all Thy virtues.
Amen

Paule Doctor Egregie
Let Gentiles Raise the Thankful Lay
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Father and Doctor of the Church
Trans. John Mason Neale, 1854

Let Gentiles raise the thankful lay
Upon their great Apostle’s Day,
Whose doctrine, like the thunder, sounds
To the wide world’s remotest bounds.

O bliss of Paul beyond all thought!
To Paradise, yet living, caught,
He hears the heav’nly myst’ries there,
Which mortal tongue can not declare.

The Word’s blest seed around he flings
And straight a mighty harvest springs
And fruits of holy deeds supply,
God’s everlasting granary.

The lamp his holy lore displays
Hath fill’d the world with glorious rays
And doubt and error are o’erthrown,
That Truth may reign, and reign alone.

Long as unending ages run,
To God the Father laud be done,
To God the Son our equal praise
And God the Holy Ghost, we raise.
Amen.

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/23/quote-s-of-the-day-23-february-st-peter-damian-2/

St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church

Posted in MODESTY, QUOTES on LUST, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VICE, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 14 February – Of the Way to Resist the Sins of the Flesh (Part One of Section II)

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Thought for the Day – 14 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XIX: … Of the Way to Resist the Sins of the Flesh
(II) During the Temptation
(Part One)

“During the temptation, consider whether it proceeds from internal or external causes.
By external, I mean, curiosity of the eyes or ears, immodesty — in dress, habits and conversations which excite to this sin.
The remedies in this case are purity, modesty, the refraining from seeing or hearing anything which excites to this vice and, as I said before, fight against such vices!

The internal are either the rebellion of the flesh, or thoughts of the mind proceeding from our own evil habits or from the suggestion of the devil.
The rebellion of the flesh must be mortified by fasts, disciplines, hair-shirts, vigils and other similar austerities, as discretion and obedience may direct.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE of I:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/12/thought-for-the-day-11-february-of-the-way-to-resist-the-sins-of-the-flesh-part-one/
PART TWO of I:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/13/thought-for-the-day-13-february-of-the-way-to-resist-the-sins-of-the-flesh-part-two/

Posted in QUOTES on CHASTITY, QUOTES on LUST, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on VICE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 12 February – Of the Way to Resist the Sins of the Flesh (Part One of Section I)

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Thought for the Day – 12 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XIX: … Of the Way to Resist the Sins of the Flesh
(I) Before the Temptation
(Part One)

“These sins must be resisted in a way peculiar to themselves and different from the method used against any other temptation.
In order, therefore, to resist successfully, three phases must be observed. The firtst – before the temptation, the second – during the temptation and the third – after the temptation.

Before the temptation the struggle must be against those things which generally occasion it.
First, you must combat the vice but never confront it; on the contrary, avoid to the utmost of your power, every occasion and every person, where you may incur the slightest danger.
And if at times, compelled to converse with such, let it be brief, with a grave and modest demeanour and with words of severity, rather than of excessive tenderness and affability.

Neither be confident in yourself, if you are free of such temptations and, during many years of such exercises, have continued free from temptations of the flesh – for this accursed vice makes its advances secretly, often doing, in an hour, what in many years it had failed to effect and it hurts the more grievously and wounds the more fatally, the more friendly the form it assumes and the less ground of suspicion it seems to give.

And there is often great danger, as experience has shown and still shows, in connections which are indulged in, under fair and lawful pretexts, such as kindred, relations of duty, or, again, great virtue in the person beloved.

For the poisonous pleasure of sense insinuates itself into this over-frequent and imprudent connection, instilling its venom gradually, until it penetrates into the marrow of the soul and darkens the reason more and more, until at last, no account is made of things which are really dangerous, such as mutual glances of tenderness, loving words and the enjoyment of conversation and so, a change creeping over both, they fall at last into destruction, or into some temptation most difficult and toilsome to overcome!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on The HUMAN SOUL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 February – ‘… True faith knows no delay. …’

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One Minute Reflection – 12 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order (1233) – Ecclus 44:1-15; Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And everyone who has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29

REFLECTION – “Jesus said to them, ‘Come after Me; I will make you fishers of men.’” Happy transformation of fishing! Simon and Andrew are what Jesus caught fishing … These men are made similar to fish, caught by Christ, before going themselves to catch other people. “They immediately abandoned their nets and became His followers.” True faith knows no delay. As soon as they heard Him, they believed, they followed Him and they became fishers. “They immediately abandoned their nets.” I think that with those nets, they abandoned all the vices of the life of this world …

“Proceeding a little farther along, He caught sight of James, Zebedee’s son and his brother, John … He summoned them on the spot. They abandoned their father Zebedee, who was in the boat with the hired men and went off in His company.” You will tell me — faith is daring. What indication did they have, what sublime characteristic had they noted which made them follow Him, as soon as He called them? We realise that evidently something Divine came forth from Jesus’ gaze, from the expression on His Face which incited those who looked at Jesus to turn towards Him … Why am I saying all this? It is to show you that the Lord’s Word was active and, that through the least of His Words, He was working on His task: “He commanded and they were made.” (Ps 148:5) With the same simplicity, He called and they followed …: “Hear, O daughter and see; turn your ear, forget your people and your father’s house. So shall the king desire your beauty.” (Ps 45:11-12)

Listen well, brother and follow the path of the Apostles; listen to the Saviour’s Voice, ignore your father according to the flesh and see the true Father of your soul and your mind … The Apostles left their father, left their boat, left all their riches of that time; they abandoned the world and its countless riches; they renounced all that they owned. However, God does not consider the mass of riches but rather, the soul of the person who renounces them. Those people who left only a few things would also have renounced a large fortune, if the need had arisen.” – St Jerome (347-420) Father and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on the Gospel of Mark).

PRAYER – O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, to keep alive the memory of Your most holy Mother’s sorrows, through the Seven holy Fathers enriched your Church with a new family of her Servants, graciously grant that we may be so united with them in their sorrows, as also to share their joys. Who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on VICE, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 10 February – Of the Order to be Observed in the Conflict with our Evil Passions

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Thought for the Day – 10 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

XVII: … Of the Order to be Observed
in the Conflict with our Evil Passions

“It is of great importance that we should know how to observe a due order in this combat, lest, as too many do, to their own great injury, we should fight in a casual or desultory manner.

The order to be observed in the warfare against your enemies and evil inclinations should be as follows:

Look well into your heart and search diligently until you have discovered, by what thoughts and affections it is surrounded and, by what passion it is most tyrannically swayed,
Then, against this vice, first take up arms and direct your attack. If, meanwhile, you should be assaulted by other enemies, turn against the one nearest to you and which, at the moment threatens you but fail not, to return afterwards, to the prosecution of your principal enterprise.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, GOD is LOVE, LENT, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, ST FRANCIS de SALES, The PASSION, To JESUS through MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – In Sexagesima Week, Preparing for Lent

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 February – In Sexagesima Week, Preparing for Lent

“Listen to the Lord’s appeal:
‘Come, then, return to Me
and learn to know Me as your Father,
Who repays good for evil,
love for injury
and boundless charity
for piercing wounds!”

St Peter Chrysologus (c400-450)
“Golden Words”
Father & Doctor of the Church

Have Mercy, Lord
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Have mercy, Lord,
on all my friends and relatives,
on all my benefactors,
on all who pray to Thee for me
and on all who have asked me
to pray to Thee, for them.
Give them the spirit of fruitful penance,
mortify them in all vices
and make them flower
in all Thy virtues.
Amen

“What better penance
can a heart do
which commits faults,
than to submit
to a continual abnegation
of self-will?”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of the Church

O Jesus, My Sweet Love!
(I too have kept Thee suffering)
Prayer of Contrition
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Jesus, my sweet Love!
I too have kept Thee suffering
through all Thy life.
Tell me, then, what I must do
in order to win Thy forgiveness.
I am ready to do all Thou askest of me.
I am sorry, O sovereign Good,
for all the offences I have committed against Thee.
I love Thee more than myself,
or at least, I feel a great desire to love Thee.
Since it is Thou Who hast given me this desire,
do Thou also give me the strength to love Thee exceedingly.

It is only right that I,
who have offended Thee so much,
should love Thee very much.
Always remind me of the love
Thou hast borne me,
in order that my soul may ever burn
with love of Thee and long to please Thee alone.
O God of love,
I, who was once a slave of hell,
now give myself all to Thee.
Graciously accept me and bind me to Thee
with the bonds of Thy love.
My Jesus, from this day and forever,
in loving Thee will I live
and in loving Thee will I die.

O Mary, my Mother and my hope,
help me to love Thy dear God and mine.
This is the only favour I ask of thee
and through thee, I hope to receive it.
Amen

Posted in OUR Cross, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, QUOTES on VICE, QUOTES on VIRTUE, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior), QUOTES on Will (Sensual or Inferior), The HOLY CROSS, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 4 February – Of the Acts to be Performed in order to Acquire Habits of Virtue (Part FOUR)

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Thought for the Day – 4 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5

The Third Weapon
of the Spiritual Combat

XIII: … Of the Way to Resist the Impulses of Sense
and of the Acts to be Performed by the Will,
in order to Acquire Habits of Virtue (Part Four)

“Remember, again, to mortify and thwart your own wishes, from time to time, in lawful but not necessary things; for many benefits follow such discipline; it will prepare and dispose you, more and more, for self-mastery in other things; you will thus become expert and strong, in the struggle with temptation; you will escape many a snare of the devil and accomplish a work well pleasing to the
Lord.

I speak plainly to you; if, in the way I have taught you, you will persevere faithfully, in these holy exercises for self-reformation and self-mastery, I promise you that in a short time, you will make great progress and will become spiritual, not in name only but in truth!
But in no other manner do I bid you hope to attain to true holiness and spirituality, nor by any other exercises, however excellent in your estimation, although you should seem to be wholly absorbed in them and to hold sweet colloquies with our Lord.

For, as I told you in the first Chapter, true holiness and spirituality consists, not in exercises which are pleasing to us and conformable to our nature, nor is it produced by these but, by such only, as nail that nature, with all its works, to the cross and, renewing the whole man by the practice of the evangelical virtues, unite him to his Crucified Saviour and Creator.

There can be no question that, as habits of vice are formed by many and frequent acts of the Superior Will yielding itself to the sway of the Sensual appetites, so, on the contrary, habits of evangelical virtue are acquired, by the performance of frequent and repeated acts of conformity to the Divine Will, Which calls upon us to exercise ourselves now, in one virtue, now, in another.

For as our will, however fiercely assailed by sin or by the suggestions of our lower nature, can never become sinful or earthly, unless it yield or incline itself to the temptation, so you will never attain to holiness and union with God, however powerfully called and mightily assailed by Divine grace and heavenly inspirations, unless, by inward and, if need be, by outward acts, your will be made conformable to His!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/01/25/thought-for-the-day-25-january-of-the-way-to-resist-the-impulses-of-sense-part-one/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/02/thought-for-the-day-2-february-of-the-way-to-resist-the-impulses-of-sense-part-two/
PART THREE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/03/thought-for-the-day-3-february-of-the-acts-to-be-performed-in-order-to-acquire-habits-of-virtue-part-three/