Category: CONFESSION/PENANCE

Posted in CATECHESIS, CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, St Francis de Sales, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 16 January – It shall be loosed also in Heaven …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 16 January – 1 Peter 5:1-4, 10-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth,
it shall be bound also in Heaven
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth,
it shall be loosed also in Heaven.”

Matthew 16:19

“But He still follows behind us and counsels us,
although we have despised Him,
He still does not cease to call us.
We turn our backs on His face, so to speak,
when we reject His Words,
when we trample His Commandments underfoot
but He, Who sees that we reject Him,
still calls out to us by His Commandments
and waits for us by His patience,
stands behind us and calls us back
when we have turned away.”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“We fight the monsters of Africa
in imagination
but, from lack of attention,
we allow ourselves, in reality,
to be killed by the little serpents
which lie in our way!”

(Intro to the Devout Life III:37)

“Do not content yourself
with confessing your venial sins
merely as to the fact
but accuse yourself too,
of the motive which induced you
to commit them.”

(Introduction to the Devout Life,
Part II, Chapter 19).

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“Yet, after all it is the natural
and most suitable means of preparation.
It helps us to bring into subjection,
that lower nature which rebels against
the sovereignty of our King.
It detaches us from finding our satisfaction
in earthly things.
It is, in itself, an act of obedience to our King.
It renders us humble and teaches us
to put our necks under the yoke.
It saves us from being separated
from the Kingdom we are to share
by the long prison of Purgatory.
Learn from all this, to love penance!”

Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The LAST THINGS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 16 January – ‘ … Our God, … wants us to confess … in this world, so that we may not be ashamed … in the next. … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 16 January – “The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus and the Holy Family” – Saint Pope Marcellus I (Died 309) – 1 Peter 5:1-4, 10-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.” – Matthew 16:19

REFLECTION – “For our wellbeing and salvation, all the Holy Scriptures warn us constantly and humbly, to confess our sins, not only before God but also before a holy and god-fearing man. This is what the Holy Ghost advises us to do through the mouth of James the Apostle: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (5:16) … and the psalmist says: “I confess my faults to the Lord and Thou took away the guilt of my sin” (Ps 31:5).

We are always wounded by our sins and, in the same way, we should always have recourse to the medicine of Confession. For indeed, if God wants us to confess our sins, it is not because He would be unable to know what they are but because, the devil wants to find something of which to accuse us before the Judgement Seat of the Eternal Judge. That is why he would rather we thought more about excusing them than accusing ourselves of them. Our God, to the contrary, being good and merciful, wants us to confess them in this world, so that we may not be ashamed because of them in the next. So, if we confess them, then He, on His part, shows Himself to be merciful; if we acknowledge them, then He forgives … As for ourselves, my brethren, we are really your spiritual physicians, seeking with all concern to heal your souls.” – St Caesarius of Arles (470-543) Bishop, Father of the Church (Sermon to the laity No 59 ).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, graciously hear the prayers of Thy people, that we may be helped by the merits of blessed Marcellus, Thy Pope and Martyr, whose sufferings we celebrate. Through the same 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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, Quote on SELF-ABANDONMENT, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The DIVINE INFANT, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote of the Day – 23 December – Preparation for the Nativity

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 23 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Preparation for the Nativity

“Our preparation, finally, should also embrace the will.
In other words, we should make good resolutions
during our Christmas Novena.
We should resolve to be more fervent in prayer,
to be more mortified and, to make greater efforts
to practise virtue.

Everyday and, if possible, every hour,
let us think of and invoke the Divine Child.
Let us ask Him to help us to model our lives on His,
so that they may be full of humility,
of love for God and for our fellowmen,
of perfect resignation to suffering
and of voluntary mortification and penance,
designed to prove our love for Jesus
and to expiate our sins.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", ADVENT, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, Meditations for ADVENT, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, St JOHN the BAPTIST, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The SECOND COMING

Thought for the Day – 11 December – The Forerunner’s Message

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 11 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations for Advent
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

The Forerunner’s Message

+1. The refrain of St John’s teaching was a very simple and constant one: “Do penance, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It seems strange advice . The Coming of the King of Heaven might be a reason for joy, on the part of those who looked for Him and of dread, on the part of His enemies. But why, for doing penance?
Yet the teaching of St John is true now, as it was at the time his words were first spoken.
Penance is the means of preparation for the Advent of our King. This explains the Saint’s love of penance.
What penance do I practice with this object?

+2. Yet, after all it is the natural and most suitable means of preparation. It helps us to bring into subjection, that lower nature which rebels against the sovereignty of our King.
It detaches us from finding our satisfaction in earthly things. It is, in itself, an act of obedience to our King. It renders us humble and teaches us to put our necks under the yoke. It saves us from being separated from the Kingdom we are to share by the long prison of Purgatory.
Learn from all this, to love penance!

+3. Penance is a necessary preparation for receiving our King when He comes to us in humble form in Holy Communion.
This is why Confession is the preliminary of that sacred feast and why, contrition is necessary. We must purge our souls by prayer and penance and sorrow for sins, if we are to rejoice exceedingly in the Bridegroom’s presence and to hear His Voice
sweetly whispering in our ears.
Do I prepare thus for Holy Communion?

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CONFESSION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 11 December – ‘Make ready then the vessel of your soul …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 December – Advent Preparation and Penance

“Make ready then the vessel of your soul
that you may become a son of God
and an heir of God
and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17);
if, indeed, you are preparing yourself
that you may receive;
if you are drawing near in faith
that you may be made faithful;
if of set purpose,
you are putting off the old man!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“If they, must regard themselves
as useless servants, who have done all their duty,
what must I do, who have done
so small a part of what I ought to have done?”

St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608)

“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

“What hope would you entertain
of the recovery of the man, who,
instead of taking the medicine prescribed by his physician, drank a cup of poison instead?
God! What can the Sacrament of Penance be
to those who conceal their sins but a deadly poison
which adds to their guilt, the malice of Sacrilege?
What, then, does the sinner do, when he conceals
his sins in Confession?
He tramples underfoot, the Blood of Jesus Christ.
And should he afterwards receive the Holy Communion
in a state of sin, he is, according to St Chrysostom,
as guilty as if he threw the Consecrated Host into a sink …
Accursed shame! how many poor souls
do you bring to hell?
… Unhappy souls! they think only of the shame
of confessing their sins and do not reflect
that, if they conceal them, they shall be
certainly damned!”

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

“Unfortunately, our only return for God’s
continual favours, has been negligence,
ingratitude and sin!
Since it is an offence against God,
Who is infinitely good and amiable,
even venial sin cannot properly be atoned for
by the merits of all the Angels
and of all the Saints of Heaven.
Therefore, it was necessary for the Son of God,
made Man, to offer Himself
as a Victim of Expiation, on our behalf.
Remembering His Infinite Merits,
we should humbly ask God –
‘forgive us our debts.‘ that is, our many sins
and failings and, whatever punishment is owing to us,
for every sin demands some expiation,
either in this life or in the next!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in ADVENT QUOTES, CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 10 December – “It is time now for us to rise from sleep!”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 10 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Within the Octave – Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 11:2-10 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“For this is He of Whom it is written:
Behold. I send My Angel before My face,
who shall prepare Thy way before Thee.”

Matthew 11:10

“It is time now for us to rise from sleep!”

St Benedict (c 480-547)

“Penance is a needful thing to the sinner,
who desires to recover health of his soul.
And, in doing penance, there be three things
to be considered:
serious compunction of heart,
confession of mouth
and satisfaction by deed.”

St John Fisher (1469-1535)
Martyr

“Lord, forgive this great sinner.
Give me time to do penance.
No more world, no more sins!”

St Camillus de Lellis MI (1550-1614)

“Our business is, to gain heaven;
everything else, is a sheer waste of time.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 10 November – St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608) Confessor, Patron against sudden death/of a Holy Death, against Apoplexy or Strokes.

“If they, must regard themselves
as useless servants, who have done all their duty,
what must I do, who have done
so small a part of what I ought to have done?”

“Will that magnificent mansion
of the blessed spirits, allow the entrance
of one so miserable, despicable
and sinful as I am?”

[From this fear, however, he was afterwards freed
by a comforting vision. St Augustine
and St Thomas Aquinas, both of whom
he honoured as Patrons, appeared to him,
consoled him and promised him their aid,
especially in that hour on which eternity depends.]

“Although, at the age of 83 years,
I am excused from the law of fasting,
I find, when thinking of my sins
and my indolence in the service
of the Most High, that I am obliged to fast
and to observe other austerities,
in order to appease the wrath of God.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/11/10/quote-s-of-the-day-10-november-st-andrew-avellino-2/

St Andrew Avellino CR (1521–1608)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on DEATH

Thought for the Day – 25 September – CONSIDERATION X, Second Point – How We Must Prepare for Death – ‘Examine what you have done …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 25 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION X

How We Must Prepare for Death
“Prepare to meet thy God.”
(Amos iv.:12)

SECOND POINT.
Therefore, my brother, as it is certain that you will have to die, lose no time in casting yourself at the feet of your Crucified Lord; thank Him for the time, He, in His Mercy, gives you, to make your conscience clear in His Sight and then take all the wickedness of your past life in review, especially the wickedness committed in youth!

Glance over the Divine commands; examine what you have done, the society you have been in the habit of visiting; make a note of all your failings and make a general confession of your whole life …
Oh, how much a good general confession assists a Christian in living a holy life!
Consider that these are examinations for eternity and, therefore, make them as if you were on the point of being examined by Jesus Christ, Who will be your Judge.

Drive away from your heart, every unholy affection, every spiteful feeling; remove now! every scruple concerning the property of others, characters taken away, scandals spread abroad and make up your mind to fly those occasions in which you may be in danger of losing God.
Consider that which seems difficult to you now, at the moment of death will seem to be impossible!

It is of the greatest importance that you should make a resolution to practise eveiy means to preserve yourself in the grace of God – namely, to attend daily Celebration [of the Mass], to meditate upon the eternal truths, to go to Confession and to Communicate at least every week, to examine your conscience every night and, above all, to commend yourself very often to God, calling upon the most Holy Name of Jesus, and this, particularly at the time of temptation.
By so doing we may at least hope to die a happy death and to obtain our eternal salvation.

And, as for the past, you must trust in the Blood of Jesus Christ, Who gives you these lights now because He wishes you to be saved. By living thus and trusting in Jesus, God gives us His assistance and our souls gain strength!
Therefore, make haste, dear reader and give yourself to God, Who thus calls you and you will begin to taste that peace, of which your sin until now has deprived you.
And what greater peace can anyone feel than being able to say, when lying down to rest at night: “If I should die this night, I hope to die in the grace of God,”
If we are awaiting death with resignation when it is God’s Will, it is even consoling to hear the thunders roaring and to feel the earth trembling.

Affections andPrayers

Ah, my Lord, how I thank Thee for the Light Thou givest
me. I have so often left Thee and turned away from Thee but
Thou hast never left me. If Thou hadst, I should have remained blind, as I was willing to be during the years past; I
should have remained obstinate in my sin; I should neither
have felt the wish to leave it, nor the desire to love Thee. Now
I feel very grieved for having offended Thee and a great desire
to remain in Thy grace.
I feel a great aversion to those wretched pleasures which caused me to lose Thy friendship.
All these feelings of sorrow for past sins are graces which come from Thee and make me hope that Thou art willing to pardon and to save me.

Since, therefore, with all my sins, Thou hast not abandoned me but hast wished to save me, behold, Lord, I give myself entirely to Thee. I repent beyond every other evil, of having offended Thee and I would give my life many times over, if it were possible, rather than lose Thy grace. I love Thee, my Highest Good; I love Thee, myJesus, Who died for me and I hope, through Thy Blood Thou wilt nevermore permit me to be separated from Thee. No, my Jesus, nevermore would I lose Thee. I would ever love Thee in life, I would love Thee in death and I would love Thee for all eternity.
Do Thou ever keep me and do Thou increase my love towards
Thee and this I ask through Thy merits.

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, PREPARATION for DEATH, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Thought for the Day – 15 September –CONSIDERATION VII – Sentiments of One Who has Seldom Reflected Upon Death

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 15 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

CONSIDERATION VII

Sentiments of One Who has Seldom Reflected Upon Death
“Set thine house in order, for thou shall die and not live.” (Isa xxxviii: i)

FIRST POINT:
IMAGINE yourself at the bedside of some sick person, to whom, a few hours of life alone remain. Poor creature, see how much he is overcome with pain, with fainting fits, … with want of breath, with cold perspirations, with weakness of the brain – he can scarcely hear, understand, or speak. But the greatest misery he endures is – he feels death is fast approaching and, instead of thinking about his soul and of making his reckoning sure, he thinks alone about his physicians and the remedies which can be applied to free him from the disease and from the pains which are killing him!

St Lawrence Justinian speaking of people who are thus dying, observes “Nothing, save themselves, suffices to occupy their thoughts.”
His relatives and friends should, at least, warn him of the dangerous state in which he is but no, there is not one amongst them who has the courage to tell him that he is dying and, instead of advising him to take the Holy Sacraments, all refuse to tell him, lest they should give him offence by so doing.
O my God from this moment, I indeed thank Thee that when I am dying Thou wilt allow me to be assisted by the dear brothers of my Congregation, whose only interest will then be my eternal salvation and, who will all endeavour, as far as they can, to make my death a glorious one!

But, although they do not warn him that death is approaching, nevertheless, the sick man, seeing the family in such confusion, the number of doctors who are so busily talking, the many and numberless remedies which are tried, is filled with terror and confusion and amidst the continued attacks of fear, remorse and distrust, says within himself: “Alas! perhaps the end of my days is already come! ” What then will be the feelings of the dying man when he is told that he is dying?
“Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live.”
With what fear, will he not be told that his illness is mortal, he must make his peace with God and receive the Blessed Sacrament and bid farewell to the world?
What! he exclaims, must I leave the world and all I possess, this house, that villa, those relations, friends, conversations, games and amusements? He is told that he must, for already is the lawyer come and then he has to sign this document: “I bequeath, I bequeath.”
And what does he take away with him?
Nothing, except what he is covered with which, within a very short time, will decay with him in the grave.
Oh what grief and sadness will the dying man feel, when he sees the tears of his household and the silence of his friends, who keep silence, not having the heart to speak in his presence!

But the greatest punishment he will have to bear, will be the dreadful stings of conscience which, in that tempest, as it were, will be felt so much more because of the corrupt life which he has led, up to the hour of his death, notwithstanding the seasonable advice of his spiritual fathers and the many resolutions made which have been either never performed or else entirely neglected and forgotten.
He will then exclaim: “O wretched one who I am, God has granted me so many lights, I have had so much time to make my conscience clear in His Sight and yet, I have not
done it and at length, death has overtaken me! What would
it have cost me to fly from that occasion of sin, to keep myself from that friendship and to avail myself of Confession? And even though it should have cost me much, nevertheless, I ought to have done everything I could, to save my immortal soul which was and is, all-important.
Oh, that I had carried that good resolution into practice. Oh, that I had continued as I began.
Then indeed should I be happy now!
But I did not do it, and now there is no time!”

The feelings of dying men, such as I have described, who have been, during life, so forgetful of their conscience, resemble the feelings of those who are forever lost, who, when in hell, lament over their sins as being the cause of their punishment but they lament without finding any relief or remedy.

Affections and Prayers

O Lord, if at this moment the news of my approaching death were to be brought to me, such would be my sentiments of grief.
But I thank Thee for giving me this light and this time to
amend.
No, my God, I do not wish to fly again from Thee, it ,
is so many times that Thou hast sought me. Justly indeed
ought I now to fear, lest, if I do not return to Thee again and come to Thee, Thou wilt altogether abandon me. Thou didst give me a heart to love Thee but I have put it to so bad a use; I have loved the creature, but I have not loved Thee, Who art my Creator and my Redeemer and Who didst give Thy life for me!

Instead of loving Thee, Oh,how many times have I not displeased Thee and turned away from following Thee! I was fully aware that, in committing that sin, I should displease Thee and yet, I did commit it.
My Jesus, I am truly sorry for it; I mourn over it with all my heart – I would indeed be changed.
I renounce all the pleasures of the world, so that I may love, and please Thee, O God of my soul.
Thou hast given me so many proofs of Thy love, I should wish to give Thee some proofs of my love before I die.
From this time I will accept every infirmity and every cross, every scorn and every vexation, which I must receive from men, only give me strength to endure the same in peace, for I wish to endure them all, to gain Thy Love.

I love Thee, O Infinite Goodness, more than anything, only give me more love and holy perseverance.

Posted in CATECHESIS, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, St Francis de Sales, St PETER!, The WORD, VENIAL SIN

Quote/s of the Day – 1 September – Arise!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 1 September – Pentecost XV – Galatians 5:25-26; 6:1-10; Luke 7:11-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Young man,
I say to thee,
arise!”

Luke 7:14

“Rather blessed are those
who hear the Word of God
and keep it.’”

Luke 11:28

“She began to bathe His feet with her tears
and wiped them with the hair of her head
and kissed His feet
and anointed them with ointment.”

Luke 7:38

“Make ready then the vessel of your soul
that you may become a son of God
and an heir of God
and joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17);
if, indeed, you are preparing yourself
that you may receive;
if you are drawing near in faith
that you may be made faithful;
if of set purpose,
you are putting off the old man!”

St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Do not content yourself
with confessing your venial sins
merely as to the fact
but accuse yourself too,
of the motive which induced you
to commit them.”

(Introduction to the Devout Life,
Part II, Chapter 19).

“Christ was more concerned
with St. Peter’s repentance and remorse,
than with his sin.”

(The Spirit of St. François de Sales, VII, 8)

​St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on PRIESTS, the PRIESTHOOD and CONSECRATED LIFE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 August –Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth … Matthew 16:19

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 26 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Pope Zephyrinus (Died 217) Martyr and Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland – 1 Peter 5:1-4; 5:10-11; Matthew 16:13-19 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.” – Matthew 16:19

REFLECTION – “Bridegroom and Bride, that is, Christ and the Church, are as one, be it in receiving Confession or in bestowing Absolution. All this makes clear why Christ had to tell each of us: “Go, show yourself to the priest” (Mt 8:4) … It follows that apart from Christ, the Church cannot grant forgiveness and that Christ has no will to forgive, apart from the Church. The Church’s authority to forgive extends only to the repentant, to those, that is, whom Christ has already touched; Christ, on His part, has no intention of regarding, as forgiven, one who despises the Church!

Doubtless, Christ need accept no restraints to His power of Baptising, Consecrating the Eucharist, Ordaining Priests, forgiving sins and the like but, the humble and faithful Bridegroom, prefers to confer such blessings, with the co-operation of His Bride. “What God,” then, “has joined, let no man put asunder” (Mt 19:6). “I say this is a great Mystery and refers to Christ and the Church” (Eph 5:32) … To remove the Head from the Body (Col 1:18) were to ruin the whole Christ, irreparably. Christ, apart from the Church, is no more the whole Christ, than the Church is complete, if separated from Christ. Head and Body go to make the whole and entire Christ.” – Bl Isaac of Stella (c 1100 – c 1170) Cistercian Monk, Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher (Sermon 11, §11-814).

PRAYER – Grant us, Thy servants, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body and, by the intercession of the glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.ThroughJesus 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 ACT of CONTRITION, ACT of REPARATION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, NOTES to Followers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The TRANSFIGURATION

Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori with an Act of Reparation for the Blasphemies of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

As you most probably are aware, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games were marred by some degrading and horrible blasphemies. A parody of the Last Supper was enacted and broadcast with incredible obscenity.
Let us pray St Alphonsus Act of Reparation on our knees with tears and love to Our Saviour:

Act of Reparation
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Indulgence of 3 Years – Once a Day

O Jesus, my Saviour and Redeemer,
Son of the living God,
behold we kneel before Thee
and offer Thee our reparation;
we would make amends,
for all the blasphemies uttered
against Thy Holy Name,
for all the injuries done to Thee
in the Blessed Sacrament,
for all the irreverence shown toward
Thine Immaculate Virgin Mother,
for all the calumnies and slanders,
spoken against Thy Spouse,
the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.
O Jesus, Who hast said:
“If you ask the Father anything in My Name,
He will give it you,”
we pray and beseech Thee,
for all our brethren who are in danger of sin;
shield them from every temptation
to fall away from the true faith;
save those who are even now
standing on the brink of the abyss;
to all of them, give light
and knowledge of the truth,
courage and strength, for the conflict with evil,
perseverance in faith and active charity!
For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus,
in Thy Name, unto God the Father,
with Whom Thou livest and reignest
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
world without end.
Amen.

“Lord it is good for us to be here”
Matthew 17:4

“Lord, let us remain here;
let us never more depart from this place;
for, the sight of Thine Beauty consoles us
more than all the delights of the earth!
Let us, then, brethren,
courageously resolve to bear patiently
with all the sufferings which shall come upon us
during the remaining days of our lives:
to secure Heaven, they are all little
and nothing.
“Your sorrows shall be turned into joy.”
(John 16:20)
When, then, the crosses of this life afflict us,
let us raise our eyes to Heaven
and console ourselves with the hope of Paradise.
Have courage! Let us love God
and labour for Heaven.
There the Saints expect us, Mary expects us,
Jesus Christ expects us –
He holds in His Hand a Crown, to make
each of us a king in that eternal Kingdom!”

“Let us read the lives of the Saints;
let us consider the penances
which they performed
and blush to be so effeminate
and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.”

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

Act of Spiritual Communion
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

I desire, good Jesus,
to receive Thee in Holy Communion
and since I cannot now receive Thee
in the Blessed Sacrament,
I beseech Thee to come to me spiritually
and to refresh my soul with Thy sweetness.
Come, my Lord, my God and my All!
Come to me
and never let me ever again
be separated from Thee by sin.
Teach me Thy blessed ways,
help me with Thy grace to imitate Thy example,
to practise meekness, humility,
charity and all the virtues of Thy Sacred Heart.
My divine Master, my one desire is to do Thy will
and to love Thee, more and more.
Help me, that I may be faithful to the end, in Thy service.
Bless me in life and in death,
that I may praise Thee, forever in heaven,
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-august-st-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori/

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 8 May – Concerning the Examination of Conscience

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

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

LX: … Concerning the Examination of Conscience

“In the Examination of Conscience, consider three things:

  1. The faults committed on the particular day.
  2. The occasions of these faults.
  3. Your need of alacrity in amending those faults and acquiring the contrary virtues.

With regard to the faults committed each day, recall the commendations of Chapter Twenty Six (XXVI: See Links below) which treats of the mode of behaviour to be adopted by one who has fallen into sin.

It goes without saying that you must strive, with the greatest caution and circumspection, to avoid the occasions of these faults.
And as to the amendment of these faults and the acquisition of the
requisite virtues, you must fortify your will by a firm confidence in God, Who will aid you in remedying the evil habits.
If, however, you find that you have triumphed in the struggle over self or excelled in the performance of a good work, beware of vainglory. Even the memory of such victories should not be too much in your thoughts, lest presumption and vanity steal quietly and insidiously, into your heart.
Leave, therefore, your good works, whatever they maybe, to the mercy of God and, forgetting the triumphs of the past, fortify yourself for the struggles of the future.

As to your thanksgiving for the gifts and favours which the Lord has bestowed upon you in the course of the day, humbly acknowledge Him to be the Author of all good and your Protector against myriad unseen foes.
Thank Him for having inspired you with good thoughts and for having given you the opportunities of practicing virtue.
And finally, thank Him for all His unknown gifts of which you will never know!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Chapter Twenty Six (XXVI):

XXVI: … What Are We To Do When Wounded?
(Part One) XXVI: … What Are We To Do When Wounded?
(Part Two)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The HOLY NAME

Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – St John Damascene

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 27 March – St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

Before retiring, The Examination of Conscience:
(or if one prefers, before beginning prayers)
go through all the points
suggested below in your mind and memory.

  1. Give thanks to Almighty God for granting you during the past day, by His grace, His gifts of life and health.
  2. Examine your conscience by going through each hour of the day, beginning from the time you rose from your bed and recall to memory – where you went, how you acted and reacted towards all persons and other creatures and what you talked about. Recall and consider with all care, your thoughts, words and deeds from morning until the evening.
  3. If you have done any good, do not ascribe it to yourself but to God Who gives us all the good things and thank Him.
    Pray that He may confirm you in this good and enable you to do other good works.
  4. But if you have done anything evil, admit that this comes from yourself and your own weakness, from bad habits or weak will. Repent and pray to the Lover of men that He may forgive you and promise Him firmly, never to do this evil again.
  5. Implore your Creator with tears, to grant you a quiet, undisturbed, pure and sinless night and to enable you, in the coming day, to devote yourself wholly to the glory of His holy Name.
  6. If you find a soft pillow, leave it and put a stone in its place, for Christ’s sake. If you sleep in winter, bear it, saying – Some did not sleep at all!”

From The Night Prayers before Retiring but the above image has just been made:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/03/27/quote-of-the-day-27-march-the-night-prayers-before-retiring-st-john-damascene/

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

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)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 3 March – What Are We To Do When Wounded? (Part Two)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 2 March – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)

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

XXVI: … What Are We To Do When Wounded?
(Part Two)

“This exercise is very displeasing to the devil, both because he sees it to be most acceptable to God and, also because, he is enraged to see himself overcome by one,over whom he had been at first victorious.
And, therefore, he seeks by many artful wiles, to make us relinquish it and, through our carelessness and lack of vigilance, he is but too often successful!
The more difficult, therefore, this exercise may seem to you, the greater violence must you do to yourself, renewing it repeatedly, even after a single fall.

And, if after any fall, you feel uneasy, distrustful,and confused in mind, the first thing to be done is to recover your peace and quietness of mind, and together with it, your confidence in God.
Armed with these, turn again to the Lord — for your uneasiness on account of your sin arises, not from the consideration of the offence against God but, of the injury to yourself.

To recover this peace, discard entirely from your mind, the thought of your fall and set yourself to meditate on the unspeakable goodness of God — how He is beyond measure, ready and willing to forgive every sin, how grievous soever; calling the sinner by manifold ways and means, to come to Him that He may unite him to Himself in this life, by His grace, in order to his sanctification and, in the life to come, by His glory, for his eternal beatication.

And having quieted your mind by these and the like reflections, turn your thoughts once more to your fall, according to the instructions given you above.

Again, at the time of sacramental Confession, to which I exhort you to have frequent recourse, recall to mind all your falls and ,with renewed sorrow and indignation at the offence against God and, renewed purpose, never again to offend Him, disclose them with all sincerity to your spiritual Father.”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/03/02/thought-for-the-day-2-march-what-are-we-to-do-when-wounded-part-one/

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST, St Francis de Sales

Quote/s of the Day – 3 March – ‘…I too have kept Thee suffering …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 3 March – The Third Sunday of Lent – Ephesians 5:1-9; Luke 11:14-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“We fight the monsters of Africa
in imagination
but, from lack of attention,
we allow ourselves, in reality,
to be killed by the little serpents
which lie in our way!”

(Intro to the Devout Life III:37)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity 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 CATECHESIS, CHRIST the LIGHT, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 3 March – On Concealing Sins in Confession

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 3 March – The Third Sunday in Lent – Ephesians 5:1-9; Luke 11:14-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Walk then, as children of the Light.
For the fruit of the Light is in all goodness
and justice and truth.”
Ephesians 5:8-9

“And He was casting out a devil
and the same was dumb.”
Luke 11:14

On Concealing Sins in Confession

St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

“THE devil does not bring sinners to hell with their eyes open — he first blinds them with the malice of their own sins. “For their own malice blinded them.” (Wis 2:21) He thus leads them to eternal perdition.
Before we fall into sin, the enemy labours to blind us that, we may not see the evil we do and, the ruin we bring upon ourselves, by offending God.
After we commit sin, he seeks to make us dumb that, through shame, we may conceal our guilt in Confession.
Thus, he leads us to hell by a double chain, inducing us, after our transgressions, to consent to a still greater sin the sin of sacrilege!

… St Augustine says that, to prevent the sheep from seeking assistance by there cries, the wolf seizes them by the throat and thus securely carries them away and devours them.
The devil acts in a similar manner with the sheep of Jesus Christ.
After having induced them to yield to sin, he seizes them by the throat that they may not confess their guilt and thus, he securely brings them to hell.
For those who have sinned grievously, there is no means of salvation but the confession of their sins!
But, what hope of salvation can he have who goes to Confession and conceals his sins and makes use of the tribunal of penance to offend God and to make himself doubly the slave of Satan?
What hope would you entertain of the recovery of the man, who, instead of taking the medicine prescribed by his physician, drank a cup of poison instead?
God! What can the Sacrament of Penance be to those who conceal their sins but a deadly poison which adds to their guilt, the malice of Sacrilege?
In giving Absolution, the Confessor dispenses to his patient the Blood of Jesus Christ; for it is through the merits of that Blood that he absolves from sin.

What, then, does the sinner do, when he conceals his sins in Confession?
He tramples underfoot, the Blood of Jesus Christ.
And should he afterwards receive the Holy Communion in a state of sin, he is, according to St Chrysostom, as guilty as if he threw the Consecrated Host into a sink …
Accursed shame! how many poor souls do you bring to hell?
… Unhappy souls! they think only of the shame of confessing their sins and do not reflect that, if they conceal them, they shall be certainly damned!” (Extract from the Sermon for the Third Sunday of Lent, 1 and 5).

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOD is LOVE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The LORD'S PRAYER, The PASSION, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 2 March – I shall arise

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 2 March – 2 March – Saturday of the Second Week in Lent – Ferial Day – Genesis 27:6-40; Luke 15:11-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“I shall arise and shall go to my Father”

Luke 15:18

“Awake, O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead”

Ephesians 5:14

“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

“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

“Unfortunately, our only return for God’s
continual favours, has been negligence,
ingratitude and sin!
Since it is an offence against God,
Who is infinitely good and amiable,
even venial sin cannot properly be atoned for
by the merits of all the Angels
and of all the Saints of Heaven.
Therefore, it was necessary for the Son of God,
made Man, to offer Himself
as a Victim of Expiation, on our behalf.
Remembering His Infinite Merits,
we should humbly ask God –
‘forgive us our debts.‘ that is, our many sins
and failings and, whatever punishment is owing to us,
for every sin demands some expiation,
either in this life or in the next!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, I BELIEVE!, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on TRUTH, QUOTES on WISDOM, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 2 March – a Robe, a Ring and Sandals …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 2 March – Saturday of the Second Week in Lent – Ferial Day – Genesis 27:6-40; Luke 15:11-32 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“ It is good to give praise to the Lord
and to sing to Thy Name, O most High.
To shew forth Thy mercy in the morning
and Thy truth in the night.”
Psalm 91:2-3

“I shall arise and shall go to my Father”
Luke 15:18

A Robe, a Ring and Sandals
“Awake, O Sleeper and Rise from the Dead”
(Ephesians 5:14)

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“I shall go to my father and say: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you.’” Such is our first confession to our Creator, our merciful Lord, the Judge of our sins. For although He knows all things, God is waiting for an expression of our confession. For “if you confess with your mouth… you will be saved” (Rm 10:10)…

This is how the younger son spoke to himself. But it is not enough just to speak, unless you come to the Father. Where are we to look for Him? Where will we find Him? “He got up.” Get up first of all, you who have hitherto been sitting down asleep. This is what the Apostle Paul says: “Awake, O sleeper and rise from the dead” (Eph 5:14) … Up you get, then and hurry along to the Church — there is the Father, there the Son, there the Holy Ghost. He, Who hears you speaking in the intimate depths of your soul, is coming to meet you and, when you are still far off, He sees you and starts running. He sees your heart; he runs up lest anyone delay you and embraces you … He flings His arms around your neck to raise you up, you who were prostrate, burdened with sins, face to the ground. He turns you over to face Heaven, so that you can seek your Creator there. Christ flings His Arms around you, so as to free your neck from slavery’s yoke and set His gentle yoke upon you… He is embracing you when He says: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you” (Mt 11:28). Such is His manner of embrace if you repent.

He causes a Robe, a Ring and Sandals to be brought. The Robe is the garment of wisdom… spiritual clothing — the wedding garment. What is the Ring if not the seal of a genuine faith and the imprint of truth? And as for the Sandals — these are the preaching of the Gospel.” – (Commentary on Saint Luke’s Gospel VII).

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the CHURCH, The WORD

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 1 March – Faith, Love, Obedience, Penance …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 1 March – Friday of the Second Week in Lent and the Feast of the Holy Shroud – – Genesis 37:6-22; Matthew 21:33-46.– Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“He has not dealt with us
according to our sins,
nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities.”
Psalm 102:10

“They seized Him,
threw Him out of the vineyard
and killed Him.”
Matthew 21:39

The Mystery of God’s Vineyard
Faith, Love, Obedience, Penance …

St Bernard O.Cist. (1090-1153)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Brethren, if we understand the Lord’s Vineyard to be the Church … it seems to me that we here encounter a significant prerogative.
Note,, in a special way, how the Church extended her boundaries all over the world …

By this I understand that company of believers, who were described as “of one heart and soul.” (Acts 4:32) …
For during the persecution it had not been so uprooted that it could not be elsewhere replanted and leased “to other tenants, who will deliver the produce … when the season arrives.”
No indeed, it did not perish, it changed in a new location; it even increased and spread further afield under the blessing of the Lord.
So, brethren, lift up your eyes round about and see if “the mountains were not covered with its shade, the cedars of God with its branches; if its tendrils did not extend to the sea and its offshoots all the way to the river” (Ps 79:11-12).

No wonder this, for it is God’s building, God’s farm (1 Cor 3:9).
He waters it, he propagates it, prunes and cleanses it that it may bear even more fruit.
When did He ever deprive, of His care and labour that which His right Hand planted? (Ps 79:15).
There can be no question of neglect, where the Apostles are the branches, the Lord is the Vine and His Father is the Vinedresser (Jn 15:1-5).
Planted in faith, its roots are grounded in love, dug in with the hoe of discipline, fertilised with penitential tears, watered with the words of preachers and so, it abounds with the wine which inspires joy, rather than debauchery, wine full of the pleasure which is never licentious. This is the wine which gladdens the heart (Ps 103:15) …
Be consoled, daughter of Sion!
Yours is to wonder at the Mystery, rather than bewail the harm — let your heart be expanded to gather together, the fullness of the pagans!” — (Extract from Sermon 30 on the Song of Songs)

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, BREVIARY Prayers, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, HYMNS, JESUIT SJ, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 27 February– “ … Come to Our Help, Watchful Ward of Our Lives”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 27 February– Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The troubles of my heart are multiplied,
deliver me from my necessities.
See my abjection and my labour
and forgive me all my sins.”
Psalm 24:17-18

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled
and whoever humbles himself
will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12

PENANCE
“ … Come to Our Help,
Watchful Ward of Our Lives”

Custodes Hominum Psallimus Angelos
Praise We the Guardian Angels of Men
By St Robert Bellarmine SJ (1542-1621)
Archbishop of Capua, Theologian
Doctor of the Church

Angel-guardians of men,
spirits and powers we sing,
Whom our Father hath sent,
aids to our weakly frame,
Heavenly friends and guides,
help from on high to bring,
Lest we fail through the foeman’s wile.

He, the spoiler of souls,
Angel-traitor of old,
Cast in merited wrath
out of his honoured place,
Burns with envy and hate,
seeking their souls to gain
Whom God’s mercy invites to Heaven.

Therefore, come to our help,
watchful ward of our lives:
Turn aside from the land,
God to thy care confides
Sickness and woe of soul,
yea and what else of ill
Peace of heart to its folk denies.

Now to the Holy Three
praise evermore resound:
Under Whose Hand Divine
resteth the triple world
Governed in wondrous wise,
glory be Theirs and Might
While the ages unending run.
Amen

This Hymn/Prayer/Reflection by St Robert Bellarmine,was added to the Roman Breviary in 1608, by command of Pope Paul V. It is for Vespers in the Office for “the Holy Guardian Angels. Double of the second class, 2 October.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the BRIDEGROOM, CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on the PRIESTHOOD, St PETER!, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 February –Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth … Matthew 16:19

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 22 February – The Feast of the Chair of St Peter at Antioch –1 Peter 1:1-7; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.” – Matthew 16:19

REFLECTION – “Bridegroom and Bride, that is, Christ and the Church, are as one, be it in receiving confession or in bestowing absolution. All this makes clear why Christ had to tell each of us: “Go, show yourself to the priest” (Mt 8,4)… It follows that apart from Christ, the Church cannot grant forgiveness and that Christ has no will to forgive, apart from the Church. The Church’s authority to forgive extends only to the repentant, to those, that is, whom Christ has already touched; Christ, on His part, has no intention of regarding as forgiven, one who despises the Church.

Doubtless, Christ need accept no restraints to His power of Baptising, Consecrating the Eucharist, Ordaining Priests, forgiving sins and the like but, the humble and faithful Bridegroom, prefers to confer such blessings, with the co-operation of His Bride. “What God,” then, “has joined, let no man put asunder” (Mt 19,6). “I say this is a great mystery and refers to Christ and the Church” (Eph 5,32)… To remove the Head from the Body (Col 1:18) were to ruin the whole Christ, irreparably. Christ, apart from the Church, is no more the whole Christ, than the Church is complete, if separated from Christ. Head and Body go to make the whole and entire Christ.” – Bl Isaac of Stella (c 1100 – c 1170) Cistercian Monk, Abbot, Theologian, Philosopher (Sermon 11, §11-814).

PRAYER – O God, Who when giving blessed Peter, Thine Apostle, the keys of the Heavenly Kingdom, bestowed on him the power of binding and loosing, grant that by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins. 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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD is LOVE, LENT 2024, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, SACRED HEART QUOTES

Quote/s of the Day – 21 February – Repent

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 21 February – 21 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8; Matthew 12:38-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The sign of Jonah”

Matthew 12:39

“It was, too, to lead the Ninevites
to firm repentance and to convert them
to Him, Who would deliver them from death,
amazed as they were by the sign accomplished in Jonah …
In the same way, God permitted man
to be swallowed by that great monster,
the author of disobedience,
not so that he should altogether vanish away
and die but because God, had prepared beforehand,
the salvation fulfilled by His Word
by means of the “sign of Jonah.”

St Irenaeus (130-208)
Bishop of Lyons, Martyr and Father

“To do penance is to bewail
the evil we have done
and to do no evil to bewail.”

“But He still follows behind us and counsels us,
although we have despised Him,
He still does not cease to call us.
We turn our backs on His face, so to speak,
when we reject His Words,
when we trample His Commandments underfoot
but He, Who sees that we reject Him,
still calls out to us by His Commandments
and waits for us by His patience,
stands behind us and calls us back
when we have turned away.”

St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“What are we doing?
If we really love the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
we should offer penance and sacrifices
in order to make reparation for our sins
and the sins of others
and, to propitiate this adorable Heart,
Which ardently desires to bestow
new favours upon us.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DYING / LAST WORDS, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 21 February – REPENTANCE

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Lenten Journey with the Angels and the Saints – 21 February – Ember Wednesday – 3 Kings 19:3-8; Matthew 12:38-50 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“The troubles of my heart are multiplied,
deliver me from my necessities.
See my abjection and my labour
and forgive me all my sins.”
Psalm 24:17-18

“The men of Nineveh will rise up
in the judgement with this generation
and will condemn it;
for they repented
at the preaching of Jonah
and behold, One greater than Jonah is here.”
Matthew 12:41

REPENTANCE

St Romanos Melodios (c490-c556)
Monk, Hymnist, Poet

“Let us meditate on the Ninevites … let us listen to what they did. After the terrifying proclamation made by Jonah before this gluttonous and drunken people … like capable workmen, they made hast to restore the city their evil deeds had destroyed, taking a sure rock for its foundation … – REPENTANCE.

After washing away its filth, in the floods of their tears, they adorned their town with their prayer and converted Nineveh thus pleasing the Merciful One. Its King, a wise man, … prepared animals and flocks as if to bring them along in dowry, saying: “O God, my Saviour, I offer everything to Thee, only reconcile, bring back in grace, the one who prostituted herself and betrayed … Thy purity, for see how, in her love, she offers her repentance to Thee like a gift …”

If I, the sovereign King, have sinned, then strike me down alone and take pity on all these others. But if we have all fallen short, hear the voices of all … May Thy help come upon us and all fear will be dissolved. Nothing will dismay us if Thou receive what we are offering, our repentance …

Rebellious Nineveh throws herself at Thy Feet and I, a miserable King and Thy wretched servant, sit down in ashes, since I am unworthy of my throne (Joh 3:6). Because, I have scorned the crown, I throw dust on my head. Because, I am not worthy of my purple, I have put on sackcloth and burst into lamentation. Therefore, do not despise me, cast a glance upon us, O my Saviour and accept our repentance.

Son of the One God, O only God, protect those who love Thee, in Thy mercy … As in former days Thou took pity on the Ninevites … so today, release from judgement, those who sing to Thee and grant forgiveness in return for my Confession … Since I have no works worthy of Thy glory, at least save me, my Saviour, for my words of contrition, Thou Who loves repentance.” (Hymn ‘Nineveh’)

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, LENT, LENT 2024, LENTEN THOUGHTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on GOSSIP, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LUST, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PERSEVERANCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PURITY, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on the POOR

Quote/s of the Day – 16 February – Planting a Lenten Garden (Last minute Ideas)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 16 February – Friday after Ash Wednesday

Planting a Lenten Garden

Five Rows of Squash:

  1. Squash gossip
  2. Squash indifference
  3. Squash unkindness
  4. Squash temper
  5. Squash the idols of greed and lust

Six Rows of Peas:

  1. Prayer
  2. Penance
  3. Perseverance
  4. Purity
  5. Patience
  6. Politeness

Seven Heads of Lettuce:

  1. Let us be unselfish
  2. Let us be charitable
  3. Let us be obedient
  4. Let us be truthful
  5. Let us be gentle and kind
  6. Let us be repentant
  7. Let us be renewed

No garden is complete without Turnips:

  1. Turn up for Daily Mass
  2. Turn up fo Eucharistic Adoration
  3. Turn up for Daily Morning and Night Prayer

Conclude with Thyme:

Thyme with God, thyme for fasting, thyme for generosity and care of the poor, the sick, the suffering.

Water daily with patience
Feed with love
The Beloved Saviour will provide the growth.

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, GOD ALONE!, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LUST, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 15 February – Of the Way to Resist the Sins of the Flesh (Part Two of Section II)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 15 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 Two)

“Against evil thoughts, from whatever source arising, the remedies are as follows: (1) Occupation in the various duties proper to our state of life; (2) Prayer and meditation.

Prayer should be made in the following manner:
When first conscious of the presence of these evil thoughts, or even of such as may betoken their approach, FLY for refuge at once to the Crucified, saying:
“My Jesus! my sweet Jesus! help me speedily that I may not fall into the hands of this enemy.”
And sometimes, embracing the Cross on which your Lord is extended and repeatedly kissing the wounds of His Sacred Feet, say lovingly:
“O beauteous Wounds! chaste Wounds! holy Wounds!
wound Thou now, this miserable impure heart of mine
and free it from all that offends Thee.”

At the moment when temptations to carnal pleasures assail you, I do not advise you to meditate upon certain points recommended in many books as remedies against these temptations, such as the vileness of this vice, its insatiable craving, the bitterness and loathing, the peril and ruin of estate, life, honour, etc which follow in its train.
This is not always a certain method of overcoming the temptation – for, if the mind repels these thoughts on the one hand, on the other, they afford an opportunity and expose us to the danger of taking pleasure in and consenting to, them.
Therefore, the true remedy in all these cases, is flight, not from these thoughts alone but from everything, however contrary to them, which may bring them before us.

Let your meditation, then, for this end, be on the Life and Passion of our Crucified Redeemer.
And, should the same thoughts again, intrude themselves against your will and molest you more than ever, as will very probably happen, be not discouraged on this account, nor leave your meditation but continue it, with all possible intensity, not even turning from it to repel such thoughts but giving yourself no more concern about them than if they, in no way, belonged to you.
There is no better method than this of resisting them, how incessant soever maybe their attacks.

You will then conclude your meditation with this or some similar Supplication:
“Deliver me, O my Creator and Redeemer,
from mine enemies, for the honour of Thy Passion
and of Thine unspeakable goodness.”

Suffer not your thoughts to recur again to the subject; for the bare recollection of it is not without danger!
Neither stay, at anytime, to reason with such temptations, to find out whether you have consented to them or not – for this is a device of the devil, who seeks, under the semblance of good, to disquiet you and make you distrustful and faint-hearted, or hopes, by entangling you in such discussions, to draw you into some sin.

Therefore, in this temptation, when the consent is not evident, it is sufficient that you briefly confess the whole to your Spiritual Father and then, rest satisfied with his opinion, without thinking of it further.
But be sure, faithfully to reveal every thought to him and, neither be restrained from so doing by shame or any other consideration.
For if, in dealing with all our enemies, we need the grace of humility to enable us to subdue them, in this case, more than in any other, we are bound to humble ourselves; this vice being almost always, the punishment of pride!”

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/
PART ONE of II:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/14/thought-for-the-day-14-february-of-the-way-to-resist-the-sins-of-the-flesh-part-one-of-section-ii/

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, CONFESSION/PENANCE, CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, DOCTORS of the Church, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2024, QUOTES on ALMS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FASTING, QUOTES on GOOD WORKS, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, Quotes on SALVATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on the POOR, QUOTES on WATCHING, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – Ash Wednesday – ‘… And so, you must be more earnest in prayer and in alms-giving, in fasting and in watching. …’

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 14 February – Ash Wednesday

“What dost thou have that thou hast not received?”

1 Corinthians 4:7

“She did not leave the temple,
serving with fastings and prayers,
night and day.”

Luke 2:37

“If, in holy Scripture, Christ is the true Sun and the true Day,
there is no hour when Christians
should not adore God frequently and constantly,
so that we, who are in Christ, that is,
in the true Sun and true Day,
should be persevering, throughout the whole day,
in our petitions and prayer.
And when, in the course of time,
the revolving night returns,
there can be no harm from the nocturnal shades,
for those who pray because, to the sons of Light (1 Thes 5:5),
even in the night there is day!
For when is he without light who has Light in his heart?
Or when does he not have sun and day
to whom Christ is Sun and Day?”

St Cyprian of Carthage (200-258)
Martyr, Father of the Church

“… Behold, now is the acceptable time.
behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6).
And so, you must be more earnest
in prayer and in alms-giving,
in fasting and in watching.
He that until now has given alms,
in these days, let him give more –
for as water quencheth a flaming fire,
so does almsgiving wipe out sin (Eccles 3:3).
He that, until now, fasted and prayed,
let him fast and pray still more –
for there are certain sins which are not cast out,
except by prayer and fasting (Mc 27:20).”

“Fasting is the death of sin,
the destruction of our crimes
and the remedy of our salvation.”

St Ambrose (340-397)
Father & Doctor of the Church

“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

“Are we going to neglect our own salvation?
Let us show great compassion
towards the poor
so as to be made worthy of possessing
good things to come for all eternity!”

St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“For the devil may tempt the good
but he cannot find rest in them;
for he is shaken violently
and upset and driven out –
now by their prayers,
now by their tears of repentance
and now. by their almsgiving
and similar good works.”

St Bruno (c1030-1101)

“If you want God to hear your prayers,
hear the voice of the poor.
If you wish God to anticipate your wants,
provide for those of the need,
without waiting for them to ask you.
Especially, anticipate the needs
of those, who are ashamed to beg.
To make them ask for alms,
is to make them buy it!”

St Thomas of Villanova (1488-1555)

“The sacred gift of prayer
is already in the Right Hand of the Saviour;
as soon as ever you shall have emptied yourself of self,
He will pour it into your heart!”

(Letters to Persons in Religion III 19)

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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 CONFESSION/PENANCE, QUOTES on PRESUMPTION, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST, THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT - Fr Lorenzo Scupoli

Thought for the Day – 12 January – How a man may know whether he is active in Self-Distrust and Trust in God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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

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

IV. How a man may know whether he is active
in Self-Distrust and Trust in God

“The presumptuous servant, often supposes that he has acquired
Self-Distrust and Trust in God, when the case is far otherwise!
And this will be made clear to you by the effect produced on your mind by a fall.
If you are so saddened and disquieted thereby, (a fall) as to be tempted to despair of making progress or doing good, it is a sure sign that your trust is in self and not in God.
For he who has any large measure of self-distrust and trust in God, feels neither surprise, nor despondency, nor bitterness, when he falls; for he knows this has arisen from his own weakness and want of trust in God.

On the contrary, being, rendered, thereby, more distrustful of self, more humbly confident in God, detesting above all things, his fault and the unruly passions which have occasioned it and mourning, with a quiet, deep and patient sorrow, over his offence against God, he pursues his enterprise and follows after his enemies, even to the death, with a spirit more resolute and undaunted than before.

I would that these things were well considered by certain persons, so-called spiritual, who cannot and will not be at rest, when they have fallen into any fault.
They rush to their spiritual father, rather to get rid of the anxiety and uneasiness which springs from wounded self-love, than for that purpose which should be their chief end, in seeking him, to purify themselves from the stain of sin and to fortify themselves against its power, by means of the most Holy Sacrament of Penance!”

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli