Category: ABOUT – Meditations with Fr RICHARD F CLARKE SJ

Posted in ON the SAINTS, OUR Cross, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day –7 July – The Patience of the Saints

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Thought for the Day –7 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Saints

  1. To the grace of patience, all the Saints, in great measure, owe their eternal reward. Their crown in Heaven will not be due, so much to what they have done for God, as to what they have suffered for Him. In them, ‘patience has its perfect work’ (St James 1 : 4) and that work has been to prepare them for the eternal joys of Heaven. Oh, how grateful they will be to God for the patience which He has given them to suffer willingly for Him! How grateful they will be for the sufferings which have procured for them, such happiness inexpressible and peace, which knows no end!
  2. The Saints, while still on earth, have a truer view of all the events of life than we have. They value, above all things, even while they are still suffering them, the crosses and afflictions which God sends them. The Apostles counted it joy to suffer shame for Christ’s sake. ‘We glory in tribulation,’ says St Paul.
    St Francis Xavier prayed for more suffering; St Teresa that she might go on suffering until her death. This was no mere sentiment, it was common sense and ordinary prudence. They found a real joy, even here in suffering.
    Have I any such joy? or do I dislike and try to avoid suffering? Here is a test of whether I am like the Saints?
  3. The patience of the Saints was more severely tried than is ours. Not only were they stoned, racked, torn asunder, not only did they suffer want, distress, afflictions (Hebrews 11 : 37) but, they had to endure what was still more difficult – ingratitude, failure, unkindness, false accusations, desolation, darkness. Yet they willingly endured all for Jesus’ sake, never ceasing to love Him through it all. I have my trials, yet none so dreadful as theirs, yet I complain even under my lighter cross!
Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 6 July – The Patience of Jesus Christ

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Thought for the Day – 6 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Jesus Christ

As in all other virtues, so in patience, Jesus Chris is our Teacher and Example. None ever sufferer as He did and, therefore, none had to exercise such patience as He exercised.

  1. How patient He was with those who reviled and abused Him! Never one indignant word, never one angry look, nothing but sweetness and kindness. ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.‘ Oh, when shall I be able to imitate the patience of Jesus! when shall I approach, even at a distance, the Divine Model, Whom I profess to imitate!
  2. How patient He was with His Apostles! How their roughness, selfishness, stupidity, must have jarred upon Him! They misunderstood His word they quarrelled among themselves, His predictions respecting the Passion fell upon deaf ears, they all forsook Him in time of danger yet, He never was ruffled by the faintest breath of anger or impatience. He Who was the Infinite God put up with their inconstancy, selfishness, ambition.
    Once more, how far am I from the gentleness and patience of the Son of God!
  3. In the midst of physical agony such as none other ever tasted, how patient He was! Nothing save a gentle moaning expressive of the agony He was enduring, escaped His lips when the scourges lacerated His Sacred Body and when the nails were driven through His hands and feet. He endured that which even He could not have borne had He not been God and used His Divinity to enable Him to suffer more. Yet, He was always submissive to the Will of God, always taking a sort of strange joy in His acutest agony because, He knew, the rich reward at hand, the long-lived seed, who through Him, would be redeemed from the wrath of God and endless misery.
Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 5 July – Certain Temptations Against Humility

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Thought for the Day – 5 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Certain Temptations Against Humility

It is not easy to be humble when we are praised and flattered. Our self-love swallows, with eagerness, the words of compliment. We think they must be partly true, or at least, we are tempted to exult in the high opinion which others profess of us. Such occasions are very perilous to humility.
We should do well to think of Herod when the people listened to his oration and shouted out, “It is the voice of a god and not of a man.” We read that, because he took the glory to himself instead of giving it to God, he was smitten down by the Angel of the Lord and died miserably (Acts 12).

Yet we cannot help being pleased when others speak kindly of us and we ought to be pleased when our superiors commend us but, we must observe certain precautions.

  • We must take care to rejoice rather in the kindness of others than in their praise.
  • We must strive to forget ourselves, raise our hearts to God and offer Him our success.
  • We must make an act of humility at the thought that, if those who praise us saw us as God sees us, they would despise, not honour us.

If we find we are puffed up by praise, this is fresh proof of our imperfection. The Saints disliked and dreaded praise and, when they were blamed unjustly, thanked God and took it as a mark of His love and favour. Father Lancicius used to consider unjust reproaches as pure gains because they had no drawback of self-reproach or regret.
Which do I accept most gladly, undue praise or undeserved blame?

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 4 July – The Presentation of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 4 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Presentation of Humility

When God gives us consolation and peace of soul, we are in danger of losing our sense of dependence and our humility, unless, we bear in mind that:
+ All this happiness is a gift of God which, at any moment, He might take from us and, if He does but turn His Face from us, our joy will be turned to sorrow and heaviness.
+ We live continually on the edge of a precipice and, without a humble reliance upon God, we shall be sure to plunge over it!
+ Prayer to God is necessary to keep us humble and to keep us from attributing to ourselves, His good gifts.

However great may be the graces given us and, however, high the degree of virtue we may attain, we are never safe, unless we remember that we have, in ourselves, an inextinguishable fount of sin and weakness, of concupiscence and rebellion against God, otherwise, our very graces, may prove our ruin. We must cry out to God each morning as Saint Philip did,
“Watch me, O Lord, this day –
for, abandoned to myself,
I shall surely betray Thee!”
‘Guard me against myself and the traitor within my heart which makes me so often unfaithful to Thee. Heal my soul, which abounds with that, which is displeasing to Thee.‘

Those who have great natural talents are in especial danger unless they cultivate constant dependence upon God. Their very ability, is a danger to them and makes them plume themselves, upon what they are able to effect. Nabuchodonosor did this and for a time God took from him his reason until he recognised his own nothingness. Beware of priding yourself on anything you do, lest God take away that talent which has been the cause of so great an evil!

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SCANDAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Thought for the Day – 3 July –Humiliation!

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Thought for the Day – 3 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humiliation!

Humiliation is a very painful thing and our pride shrinks from it. Yet, it is a necessary step to humility. We must be humbled in order that we may be humble. We must learn, not to shun dishonour, if we are to learn not to crave honour from men.
When some slight is shown us, when we are ignored or distrusted, or judged unfairly, we have an excellent opportunity of advancing in humility, by accepting, with patience and resignation, the contempt and dishonour and, not attempting to defend ourselves or assert our rights and our claim to be treated with consideration and respect.

When we commit some fault which causes others to think less of us, we should be full of sorrow at the thought of having offended God and given bad example to our neighbour but we must not seek to shun the just contempt we have deserved, or allow ourselves to be miserable at the thought of being despised. On the contrary, we must be content to be esteemed according to our merits and must thank God for teaching us this lesson and giving us a greater insight into ourselves.

It is a sure sign of pride, if we seek to shirk the consequences of our fault, as Saul did when he begged Samuel still to honour him before the ancients of Israel (1 Kings 15:30). Such conduct only brings fresh humiliations.
God, who resists the proud, always brings down those who refuse to humble themselves. The devils, who would not willingly bow the knee before Christ made Man, were forced to do so. God, sooner or later, will force all the proud, willingly or unwillingly, to bow before Him.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, PURGATORY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 2 July – Humility under Trials

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Thought for the Day – 2 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility under Trials

When God lays His heavy Hand upon us, we have an excellent opportunity of exercising the virtue of humility and of making great progress in it. There is nothing like a good knockdown blow, for teaching us our own nothingness and for schooling us in submission to God.
If we take the chastisement well and do not allow ourselves to rebel against the Will of God but rather make it an occasion for humbling ourselves the more in His sight, we shall acquire more grace from God and advance more in perfection in a day, than in months of prosperity and spiritual consolation.
How do I bear the trials God sends — well, or ill?

When the time of darkness is upon us and the gloom seems almost intolerable, there is no harm in praying for release from our misery or that God may avert some threatened blow but, the petition must always be accompanied by an act of humility,
“Not my will, but Thine be done!”
If we are patient, God will certainly send us speedy relief; just when we least expect it, peace will be restored to our souls.

Those trials are intended by God to cleanse our souls and to root out the pride which still lurks there, unnoticed by us.
The best prayer for us to offer under them and indeed, at all times and at all seasons, is to cry out to God,
“Humble me, O God and I shall be humbled. Burn out of me now, in this life, all that displeases Thee that I may not have to endure the burning of the life to come!”
Happy are those who in all trouble can offer this prayer!

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke

Thought for the Day – 1 July – The Beauty of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 1 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Beauty of Humility

Humility is not only sweet and pleasant to others; it is beautiful in itself.
Humility is the primary means to attain a likeness to God, since His image in us, cannot be perfect, as long as there is any vestige of pride present in our hearts. When humility has driven out the opposing vice, we then become indeed, like to God. We share the Divine beauty and are the object of the admiration of the holy Angels and even of God Himself, Who then speaks to the soul in the words of the Divine Lover in the Canticles, “Thou art all fair, my beloved and there is no spot in thee.”

Humility is also beautiful because, it is the root whence all other virtues spring. We may say of it that it has, in itself, the combined beauty of all. If we find a man humble, we know that he must, needs be patient, Charitable, unselfish, generous, obedient and, we cannot help admiring and loving him.
Might not my deficiency in these virtues be due to my lack of humility?
O my God, plant this most indispensable and most attractive virtue firmly in my heart!

Nothing will so quickly render us conformed to the Divine Beauty of the Son of God, as humility.
“Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”
If we desire to draw men to ourselves and to attract them, to be efficient in moving their hearts and influencing them for good, we must first learn this lesson of humility from Him, Whose Soul was beautiful beyond that of all the sons of men because none had humility like His.

Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT of REPARATION, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOLY COMMUNION, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The ADORABLE HEART of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 30 June – Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 30 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

The Adorable Heart of Jesus
Meditations for a Month

EXERCISES OF DEVOTION.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
to make amends for the outrages He suffers
in the Blessed Sacrament

O Heart of Jesus, ever on fire with love for men and ever outraged by their ingratitude!
Thou hast done everything on earth, during Thy mortal life, to show Thy Love to men, even so far, as to wear Thyself out and to consume Thyself for them.
Thy Love was repaid then, by nothing but contempt and the most disgraceful insult.
And now that Thou burnest with the self-same love in the Holy Eucharist, where Thou art still dwelling in Thy Sacrament of Love in the midst of us, Thou dost suffer at the hands of ungrateful men the most cruel outrages, although they have no longer the excuse of ignorance and know now, what Thou art.

I see Thee on our Altars expose, during the lapse of so many hundred years, to numberless irreverences, sacrileges and insults, the memory of which fills me with horror and which, are going on now, even amongst those who believe in the True Faith!

Moved by these outrages, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Adorable Heart and weep for Thine outraged Love.
I beg Thy pardon for the ingratitude of which I myself am guilty. I detest the sins which I have committed in Thy Presence by irreverence, coldness, and negligence.
I would make reparation for them, as also, for the abominations committed against Thee by so many heretics and bad Catholics.

Would that by my homage and my grief, I could make amends to Thy injured honour.
Would that by my tears and my blood, I could wash out the insults I deplore.
Would that by some new kind of homage, I could atone for so many irreverences, insults and sacrileges. My life would not be too much to sacrifice for so worthy an object.
Grant me, O Sacred Heart,
by Thine own sweetness
and boundless mercy,
the pardon which I ask for,
and give me grace to keep
the resolution, which I now make,
to do all I can in the future ,
to pay Thee, in the Sacrament of Thy Love,
the profound adoration which I owe Thee
and to show Thee that gratitude
and love which are justly due to Thee.
I resolve to repair my past faults
by the modesty of my deportment
in Thy churches,
by my constancy in visiting Thee,
my devotion and fervo.r in receiving Thee
and, in fulfilment of Thy desire,
I impose upon myself the duty of often
repeating Acts of Reparation
in Thy Presence, as Thou hast deigned to direct,
in order, as far as I can, to atone
for the injuries done Thee by others
and of which Thy very love
makes Thee the Victim in this Divine Sacrament.

Bless, I beseech Thee, this resolve
and give me grace to keep it faithfully.
Amen.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 29 June – The Patience of Mary

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Thought for the Day – 29 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Mary

  1. As Jesus came to suffer, it was necessary that Mary should suffer with Him. This was her greatest privilege and she knew it to be such. She knew it even when her human love broke forth, in the words of expostulation: ‘Son, why hast Thou so dealt with us?‘
    She knew it when she stood broken-hearted beneath the Cross. She knew it when she received, in her arms, the Body of he Son, after He had been taken down from the Cross.
    She knew from first to last that the best proof of our Lord’s Love is to give us a share in His sufferings!
    This was Mary’s consolation; is it mine when I have to suffer?

+++ 2. We do not read much in Sacred Scripture respecting the patience of Mary,but enough to know that Jesus purposely tried her patience.
Why did He prompt holy Simeon to pierce her heart with the prediction of her coming sufferings? Why did He compel her to start in the dark night on the journey to Egypt, when He could, so easily, have defeated Herod’s projects? Why did He not let her know where He was, when He remained behind in Jerusalem? Why did He apparently rebuke her at the marriage of Cana? Why did He allow her heart to be torn by the sight of His Crucifixion?
It was all that she might have a more glorious reward and share His triumph, in a greater degree!

+++ 3 If we could have seen Mary upon earth, we would have been especially struck by her undisturbed peace. This was owing to her perfect patience and readiness to accept everything at God’s Hand.
‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to thy word.’
If I desire peace, this must be the motto of my life.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 28 June – The Reward of Job’s Patience

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Thought for the Day – 28 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Reward of Job’s Patience

‘You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is merciful and compassionate,‘ (St James 5 : 11)

+++ 1. The patience of Job produced, as its first-fruit, humility.
Although he had never lost his patience nor, in any way, rebelled against God, yet, when he heard the Voice of God declaring to him the Divine Majesty, he accuses himself of speaking unwisely, of things which exceeded his knowledge.
‘ I reprehend myself and do penance in dust and ashes.‘ This is the effect of suffering on the friend of God; it does not embitter them, it humbles them.

+++ 2. Job earned the approval of God Himself, having spoken correctly. Against his friends the wrath of God was kindled, for their unkindness, their rash judgement, their censorious words. They were commanded to offer sacrifice for their sins and to ask Job to pray for them, if they desired to escape God’s anger.
Thus God will always justify His faithful servants, if they leave their cause in His Hands!
‘Blessed are those who wait for Him, they will not be disappointed.’
Is this my policy, or am I keen to fight my own battles?

+++ 3. God rewarded Job even in this life for his patience. One by one his relatives came to comfort him and bring him presents. God blessed his flocks, his herds, his family and he became doubly as rich as before. Sons and daughters grew up around him and Job was happy and prosperous.
He died at last, full of days, leaving behind him a name to be honoured, as an example of patience and fidelity, as long as the world lasts and, receiving in Heaven, a rich reward.
Am I earning, by my patience in this life, God’s blessing and an eternal reward in Heaven?

Posted in GOD ALONE!, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SELF-DISTRUST, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 27 June – The Source of Job’s Patience

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Thought for the Day – 27 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Source of Job’s Patience

  1. How was it that Job was able to bear his manifold calamities,with patience?
    It was not that he did not feel them acutely, or that he wrapped himself in a mantle of self-reliant pride. It was simply due to his great subservience to the Will of God.
    His motto was: ‘As it hath pleased the Lord, so let it be done.‘
    He was quite satisfied with whatever was the Divine good pleasure, and so, whatever happened, he could say from his heart ‘Blessed be the Name of the Lord,‘ he could thank God fo    r it, however great the pain and misery resulting to himself.
  2. There was a further secret of Job’s patience.
    He placed his hopes of happiness in the future, not the present: ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth, I know that in my flesh, I shall see God.’
    When man thus realises the love of Jesus, and is able to say. ‘my Redeeme’ (as St Paul said, ‘He loved me and gave Himself for me’) he has, amid all his troubles, a source of consolation which never can dry up. He is able to look to the joyful day of the resurrection.
    In my trials, I must thus look to Jesus and think of the reward to come which shall richly compensate for all present pain.
  3. Job was not only perfectly resigned but, ready for fresh sufferings, if it were God’s Will and, if no rebellion in his heart should follow from the additional calamities.
    ‘Let this be my comfort that afflicting me, He spare not and that I may not contradict the words of the Holy One.’
    Is this my spirit? Have I the generosity to pray for more sufferings and more humiliations? At least I will pray that God may send me, whatever He sees will cleanse me from sin and help me to love Him more and more.
Posted in GOD ALONE!, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING

Thought for the Day – 26 June – The Patience of Job

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Thought for the Day – 26 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Job

The patience of Job is proverbial.
It is held up in Holy Scripture for our imitation. (St James 5 : 11).
It was commended by God Himself and received a rich reward even in this world. It is, therefore, worthy of our study and imitation.

+++1. The patience of Job supported him, not against one kind of misfortune only,but, against a series of all kinds of calamities, coming upon him one after another, in rapid succession. All his goods were taken from him and his children, were one and all killed, by the fall of the house where they were.
Job, so far from murmuring, simply worshipped God, saying: ‘The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Is this my language when I suffer?

+++2. Job’s next misfortune befell his own body. He was smitten with grievous ulcers from head to foot. His wife, seeing his condition, cried out to him that it was better to put an end to his life than to live on in such a state. But Job gently reproved her: ‘If we have received good things at the Hand of the Lord, why should we not receive evil? I too have received good things without number from God’s Hand. Shall I then murmur if I receive a little of the evil, of which I have deserved so much?!’

+++3. But this was not the end of Job’s troubles. His three friends came to comfort him and began to taunt him as a vain man lifted up by pride, who had hardened his heart and thus brought all this misery upon himself.
Poor Job could not restrain the expression of his misery; he poured forth words of sorrow, yet he never lost his patience or His confidence in God.
Do I thus maintain and uphold my trust in God when all around fail or reproach me undeservedly? Am I gentle and patient with them, as vas Job?

Posted in "Follow Me", GOD ALONE!, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 25 June – Some Motives for Patience under Contempt

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Thought for the Day – 25 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

Some Motives for Patience under Contempt

  1. It is always foolish to complain or to be dissatisfied with that which ,of its own nature. is calculated to advance our happiness and our highest interests. Contempt is better suited, than almost anything else, to humble us, if we take it as we ought. It cannot fail to tear up the pride which is so deeply rooted in our hearts and, which is the great obstacle between us and God.
    Ought we not then, to be grateful to those who do us this service?
    Instead of resenting this treatment of us, we ought to thank God and pray for them as our benefactors!
  2. When we look into ourselves, must we not acknowledge that contempt is what ought to be felt towards us?
    It is the fitting disposition, the proper attitude towards one so contemptible as I am. My love of what is fitting ought to make me welcome it as the right and proper thing. I ought, not only to acquiesce in it but, to be pleased at justice being done to me.
    I ought to say to myself when treated with contempt, ‘That is just and right! It is exactly the true view to take of me!’
  3. Above all, I ought to value contempt because it gives me a share in the humiliation of my dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
    He humbled Himself even to death. He was treated with the utmost contempt and ignominy by the very creatures He had made, who owed all to Him and, on whom, He had bestowed countless benefits and lavished unmeasured love.
    What can be better or happier or a greater privilege, than thus to be clad in the livery of my Lord and to be treading, all unworthy as I am, in His footsteps?
    Welcomethen, contempt and ignominy, for Jesus’ sake and as giving me a share in His Divine Life!
Posted in "Follow Me", HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRIDE

Thought for the Day – 24 June – On Patience under Contempt

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Thought for the Day – 24 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

On Patience under Contempt

  1. There are few things as difficult for human nature to bear as contempt.
    To be regarded as not worthy of notice, to be spoken of in terms implying that we are looked down upon, to be passed over as if of no importance in the eyes of others, all this is indeed painful to us and sorely tries our patience.
    When I am thus treated, how do I take it? Am I desirous to prove my importance and the necessity of considering me? If so, I shall not have the patience that I ought to have. I still have much of the spirit of pride left in me. I must pray God to make me more humble.
  2. Why is it that contempt is so painful to us?
    It is because our natural craving is after power and influence. We do not realise our own insignificance. If we did, we should be quite willing to be overlooked.
    We should dislike the high esteem of men. This was the case with the Saints. They shunned honour and courted contempt. St Philip used to go into the Cardinals’ places in St Peter’s on a Feast that he might have the humiliation of being thrust out. St Francis used to kneel down in the refectory and openly accuse himself of gluttony.
    Oh my God! shall I ever obtain this grace of being satisfied to be despised and of disliking to be honoured?
  3. What would be the treatment bestowed upon us if those around us saw us as we are in God’s sight, if they knew all the wicked thoughts and sinful actions of our past life? What would be their estimation of us if they saw us with all the abominations of our soul unveiled; if they beheld our pride and selfishness and sloth and impurity and self-indulgence, our high esteem of ourselves and our indifference to God?!
    Oh how they would despise us then!
    How we ought to despise ourselves now!
Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, SACRED HEART QUOTES, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The ADORABLE HEART of JESUS

Thought for the Day – 23 June – On the Difference between Devotion to the Sacred Heart and Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament

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Thought for the Day – 23 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

The Adorable Heart of Jesus
Meditations for a Month

On The Difference Between Devotion to the
SACRED HEART and Devotion to the
BLESSED SACRAMENT

There have been, from the very beginning, people who asserted that there was no essential difference between Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and that to the Sacred Heart and who consequently, rejected the latter as only adding a new name to a very old Devotion.
But whoever has read, what we have said in the preceding chapters, will readily perceive how far this opinion is removed from the truth, it being evident that these two Devotions differ from each other – firstly, in their objects ; secondly, in the motives for honouring these objects; thirdly, in the essential end of their institution. This is to say, they differ in the three most important points which can distinguish Devotions one from the other.

They differ in the first place in their object; for, in the one is proposed alone the Adorable Heart of Jesus Christ, without any reference to the rest of His Body. In the other the entire Body of Jesus Christ is proposed under the Sacramental Species, without any special reference to His Heart.

They differ, in the second place, in the motives for honouring the object, for in the Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the motive for honouring the Body of Jesus Christ, is the Infinite Dignity of this Adorable Flesh which, through its union with the Word, is worthy of the adoration of Angels and men.
In the Devotion to the Sacred Heart, the essential motive for honouring I, is the love with which It is inflamed and the sufferings It endured, through the ingratitude of men which has relation to the Divine Heart and to no other part of the Body.

In short, in instituting the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament the object was to render to Jesus Christ, abiding amongst us, the adoration, the gratitude and the love which are so justly due to Him in this Ineffable Mystery. It is in order to satisfy these obligations that the Church has instituted the festival of the Blessed Sacrament with its Solemn Octave, with processions, decorations and all the pomp and magnificence with which this Feast is celebrated.
But in that of the Sacred Heart the principal object of its institution is to make reparation to our Lord for the insults His Love has received in the Holy Sacrament through the ingratitude of men — a reparation which Jesus Christ desires should be directed to His Heart which is, as it were, the Source and the Seat of this Love.

Now it is clear that this object is not attained by Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, for this Devotion would still remain intact, even if our Lord had never been outraged in this Mystery.
All that is now done in honour of this Adorable Sacrament would still be justly given without any other aim than to render, to our Lord, the outward marks of respect and gratitude due to His Divine Presence among us.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL

Thought for the Day – 22 June – The Sweetness of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 22 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Sweetness of Humility

The humble are always pleasant to deal with and pleasant in their conversation. They always try to consult the wishes of the person with whom they have to deal. They conduct themselves as his inferior. They forget themselves and their own interests and so, are able to enter into his wishes and see things as he himself sees them. They are ready to give way to him and they have a high esteem for his opinion and their words and behavior show this.
Ask yourselves if these are your own characteristics?

The humble show a special sweetness towards those to whom they are naturally disinclined and whom they are tempted to regard with repugnance and aversion. Instead of turning their back on such and having nothing to do with them, they recognise, in this natural aversion, a sign of pride against which they must struggle and which has to be overcome. They remember that, in themselves, there are defects far greater than those they dislike in others. Remembering this, they not only put up with the disagreeable qualities of others but for this reason, they also determine, with a sort of Divine generosity, to show the greater kindness to them.

This is always the conduct of the Saints. We admire their self-conquest in tenderly nursing those affected with loathsome diseases or in kissing their sores but, we should admire still more, their
gentleness to those who insult them and their sweetness and charity to the coarse, rude and brutal. This is the way to win sinners to Christ! This is the way to attain solid peace and joy of heart. It is the charity of Christ overcoming self which makes the humble always contented and happy.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PATIENCE

Thought for the Day – 21 June – The Patience of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 21 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of Humility

The humble are always patient and these two virtues are most intimately connected with each other.
He who forms a low estimation of himself, is convinced that it is well for him to suffer, to be contradicted, to wait for others, to be thwarted in his projects, to have to bear with the ill temper of others and the unkindness of others.
He regards all this as his due and takes it accordingly.
Am I thus patient and ready to submit to the disagreeable?

On the other hand, impatience is one of the surest signs of hidden pride! If we detect ourselves succombing to impatience and becoming “put our or upset” when we cannot get our own way and carry all before us, we may put it down, as certain, that we are still very deficient in the virtue of humility!
Even physical impatience (except when it arises from weakness and ill health) is a mark of pride. It shows that we have not learned perfectly the lesson of submission. Alas, how impatient I am in spite of long years of striving after virtue. How deeply rooted pride must be in me! How can I
get rid of this most detestable of vices!

One of the best means of acquiring humility is to school ourselves in patience. Everyday a hundred occasions present themselves when we can, if we choose, prevent the rising spirit of impatience. We wait at a friend’s door, or we are hindered by persons who walk in our way, while walking. Some sound annoys us or others take our turn or place. All these are splendid opportunities to acquire humility by schooling ourselves to patient endurance.

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SIN, SELF-DISTRUST, St PAUL!

Thought for the Day – 20 June – Humility in Our Estimation of Ourselves

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Thought for the Day – 20 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility in Our Estimation of Ourselves

There is no better test of humility than the opinion we form about others as compared to ourselves. If we had to make a list of the virtuous, in what position should we place ourselves?
A man who is truly humble will place himself,not only last but least, with a great interval between himself and the rest of mankind! Saint Dominic used to place himself, in spirit, beneath the feet of the very demons, as being far worse than them. Saint Paul declared himself the very worst of sinners.
Can I honestly speak of myself thus? Do I regard myself as the worst of all men in the sight of God?

What should be the ground of this humility?
We must not attempt impossibilities. I ought not to think myself worst of all, unless I really am so. It may be that I cannot truthfully say that I am in the habit of committing mortal sins. How, then, can I be worse than the notorious sinner? Yet, when I think of all the graces God has given me, I must confess that, if He had given them to those who sin most deeply, they would be far better than I am. My only superiority is in greater graces! Humble yourself at the thought of all the graces you have received and of your frequent failures to co-operate with them.

Even if we had never sinned, this would not free us from the obligation of putting ourselves below all and beneath all. Our exemption would be no credit to ourselves. It would simply be a fresh gift of God which ought to make us more vividly conscious, of our vileness and nothingness, in His sight.
We must always be as nothing in His sight but sin makes us worse
than nothing. It makes us a blot upon creation, inferior to the dumb creatures which have never sinned!

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 19 June – Humility and Impulsive Action

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Thought for the Day – 19 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility and Impulsive Action

Actions done on impulse and without reflection, proceed from nature, not from grace. A generous nature acts from generous impulses. A selfish nature acts from the ever-present impulses to provide for the interests of self. Such actions do not obtain grace from God or deserve a reward in Heaven. They mark the direction of the stream but do not assist it on its way.
Ask yourself, “Do I in general act from impulse? In what direction does impulse carry me?”

What has impulsive action to do with humility?
A good deal! It always has pride at its root, like most other faults.
The humble man avoids impulsive action with the greatest care. Impulsive action springs from self and fails to recognise our dependence upon God — and dependence upon God, is of the essence of humility!
Even though, my impulses may be good, yet I must never allow myself to act merely from impulse,but, must try to raise my heart to God and so, supernaturalise even those actions in which there is no time for careful deliberation and prayer.

How dangerous is impulse!
How often I have bitterly regretted actions done on the impulse of
the moment! I knew I had better wait before speaking or acting but I was not willing to resist the desire to gratify my impulsive nature. I was not held back by the secret consciousness that what I was doing was sinful, imperfect and ill judged!
How many imprudent words, how many foolish actions and how many actual sins, have proceeded from my forgetting or refusing to acknowledge, my continual dependence upon God!

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR

Thought for the Day – 18 June – Humility and Curiosity

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Thought for the Day – 18 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility and Curiosity

Curiosity at first sight does not seem to have any direct bearing on humility but, in point of fact, it is very injurious to humility. Those who pry into matters which do not concern them, will find this eagerness after unnecessary information, very injurious to their humility. It is opposed to the quiet, peaceful temper of one, who does his own work ,without concerning himself with that of others. It leads to criticism, the habit of rash judgement and a dissatisfaction with what goes on around us. It makes the mind dissipated and unsettled and fosters an unhealthy activity outside our own sphere of duty.

Curiosity does not mean we should not be eager for knowledge but, not for knowledge which does not, directly or indirectly, help forward the work which God has given us to do. What are the affairs of our neighbours to us? We say, perhaps that to know them, will increase our influence. It certainly will not increase our influence for good. It may puff us up with an idea of our own importance and make us believe that others admire us for it but, to know too much, is not only most dangerous to our humility but, it alienates others from us and makes them fear and dislike us.

Curiosity is one of the effects of pride.
In Eve, it was the immediate effect of her sin of pride.
Before she had indulged a rebellious thought against God, she had no wish for knowledge which God had forbidden.
It is often the stepping-stone from pride to other sins — to evil speaking, to luxury, to greediness, to lying and, above all, to the weakening of faith and hope.
Examine yourself as to whether you indulge in this dangerous habit of curiosity?

Posted in PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PRAYER, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 17 June – Patience during Bereavement

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Thought for the Day – 17 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

Patience during Bereavement

  1. Pure human love, especially the love of father and mother for their children, is one of the most beautiful things in the natural order.
    It interweaves itself with our very nature.
    Husband and wife, brother and sister and above all, the children who are in a special sense our own, are a part of ourselves; they are our own by birth, our own-by constant association, our own by a thousand ties of love.
    Oh, how sorrowful it is to lose one of our little circle, to see the empty place, to miss their looks of love, the sweet sound of their voice.
    Then indeed we have need of patience and must beg that we may not grieve like those who have no hope but, may humbly bow our necks under God’s chastising Hand.
  2. Patience! how are we to obtain it under the crushing blow? How are we to recognise the love of God in thus taking away the light of our eyes from us? It is indeed difficult and, for a time, the absorbing grief may overpower us. But we can always pray, we can always make an act of resignation, we can always say: ‘Not as I will but as Thou wilt!’
    It is the Lord, let Him do what is good in His sight.
    Has this been my conduct when one whom I dearly loved was taken from me?
  3. There are many motives of consolation when friends and dear ones fade away or die. If they died in their innocence, how we, ought to rejoice when we think of them with Christ in Heaven! If they had sinned and done penance, we ought to rejoice that God gave them the grace of dying a good death. We can always console ourselves by praying for them. We can make their departure a reason for living a better and a holier life that we may not fail to meet them again before the Throne of God.
    All this I will do more henceforward.
Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PHYSICAL SICKNESS, ILLNESS, QUOTES on SUFFERING, REDEMPTIVE Suffering

Thought for the Day – 16 June – On Patience in Sickness

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Thought for the Day – 16 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

On Patience in Sickness

  1. It is not easy for those who have always enjoyed robust health to understand how heavy a cross is a long-continued illness. It is not merely the physical pain, although this is often very difficult to bear. It is the discomfort, the weariness, the languor, the depression which accompany sickness; it is the restlessness, the inability to find repose, the loneliness of the long hours.
    What need the sick have of patience! Patience should be the watchword of their life.
    Grant me patience, 0 Lord, patience to suffer for Thee and with Thee and never to murmur even when the pain and suffering is greatest!
  2. There is a form of ill-health which is the most difficult of all to bear with patience; when we go about our usual occupations in a state of suffering which makes everything a burden. We get little sympathy be cause we are still able to do our work, or perhaps ,we are blamed because we are not able to do it as wel as we should.
    Oh, what compassion we should have for those who suffer thus and, if it is our own lot, we should do our best to unite our sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus and ask Him to grant us patience to carry our heavy cross.
  3. We sometimes fancy that when we are ill and unable to do active work for God, we are useless and cannot gain graces for ourselves or for others. This is a great mistake – we can gain more graces in illness than in health. Suffering is more pleasing to God than doing; it earns greater merit, it prepares us more speedily for Heaven, it blots out sin more rapidly. Many of the Saints were sanctified by sickness. Hence bear it willingly, try to rejoice in it!
Posted in DOCTRINE, ON the SAINTS, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Thought for the Day – 15 June – Patience under Temptations

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Thought for the Day – 15 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

Patience under Temptations

  1. If we all have to endure temptations, we must try to endure them well. Temptations are not sins. We may be surrounded by temptations. They may be present to us for hours. We may have a sort of guilty feeling as if we had offended God. Yet, if we are not conscious of having in any way consented to them, if throughout, we have wished them away, then our conscience is free from any stain of sin, even though they may have caused satisfaction to our lower nature and to our baser inclinations. To remember this will help us, not a little, in bearing them patiently.
  2. But there is another consoling consideration with respect to temptation. We may do much for the honour of God and for our own progress in virtue, by our resistance to the tempter. We lay up a store of merit in Heaven. We are purified as in the fire and the dross of venial sins and imperfections is taken away. We must, therefore, be not only patient but cheerful under temptations and thank God for them.
  3. Some of the greatest Saints were subject to terrible temptations. St Paul, who had been rapt to the third Heaven, was tempted by the sting of the flesh; St Alphonsus, by doubts against every article of the Faith, by vanity, presumption and concupiscence; St Rose, by darkness and a seeming hopelessness of being saved – she felt no love of God and feared that she was already among the lost. Yet, these were great Saints and they proved their sanctity by their faithfulness under temptation, by crying out, “Jesus, forsake me not! In Thee, O Lord, I. have trusted, let me not be confounded forever!”
    I will do the same: I will never lose hope, I will never lose my confidence in God.
Posted in PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TEMPTATION

Thought for the Day – 14 June – The Endurance of Temptation

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Thought for the Day – 14 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Endurance of Temptation

  1. Temptations are a necessary element in the career of all the servants of God. ‘Because thou wast acceptable to God‘, says the Angel to Tobias, ‘it was necessary that temptation should try thee.‘ (Tobias 12 : 13.) Temptations, therefore, far from being any mark of God’s anger or displeasure, are a sign of His love and favour. This ought to be our consolation when we are harassed by temptations. St James tells us: ‘My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into divers temptations. (St James 1 : 2.)
    I must take a more cheerful view of temptation than I have hitherto done. I must take it as a mark of God’s favour and then, I shall meet it more bravely.
  2. How is temptation a sign of God’s love? It is an excellent instrument for engendering humility. If we are inclined to think too much of ourselves, nothing brings us to our senses, like some humiliating temptation. It shows us our own weakness and the necessity of continual reliance on God. It produces in us, a spirit of dependence upon God. This is the only way to pass through temptation safely.
    God has promised that He will always make a way to escape from every temptation.
  3. Temptation is also necessary to enable us to feel for others under their temptations. Even our Lord, the Apostle tells us, suffered being tempted that He may be able to succour those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2 : 18.) He knew indeed, from the beginning, all that His servants suffer but, by enduring temptation, He learned it by His own experience, so as to feel their sufferings. We do not even know the sufferings of others, much less can we sympathise with them thoroughly.
    Am I gentle towards those who are tempted, or am I hard and unsympathetic?
Posted in PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on KINDNESS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 13 June – On Complaining

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Thought for the Day – 13 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

On Complaining

  1. When anything pains or annoys us, it is a natural impulse to relieve our feelings by telling our griefs to others, partly from a hope of sympathy, partly because it is a great relief to express our vexation or our sorrow. Such complaints are rarely made without sin!
    It is scarcely possible to speak of what we have suffered, without some breach of the law of charity.
    We must strive to exercise the virtue of patience and stop the rising words in which we are about to pour forth the story of our wrongs.
  2. The effort of keeping silent in such a case soon brings its reward. The pain after a time diminishes, whereas to have expanded upon it, would have made us feel more bitterly than before. Those who know that we have suffered are edified by our silence. Our wrong-doer is often won over by our meekness. Peace comes into our heart.
    Do I suppress for Christ’s sake and to imitate His patience, unkind words rising to my lips? When I have done so, do I not find that patience brings its own reward?
  3. Yet, this does not mean that I am always to bury my griefs in my own heart. Sometimes I cannot do so; out they will come in spite of my efforts. Sometimes it is almost a duty to tell our story to some kind and sympathetic friend; half of our troubles disappear or are sensibly diminished in the mere act of telling.
    But, we must choose one, whom we can trust and respect. We must be careful not to speak bitterly or to abuse others by way of airing our feelings. We must try to excuse others and must tell our story simply and with all charity.
    Do I observe this rule when I am pouring my troubles into the ear of some friend or adviser?
Posted in PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 12 June – On Physical Impatience

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Thought for the Day – 12 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

On Physical Impatience

  1. Physical impatience is that involuntary feeling of irritation which is aroused in us by some external and physical cause. We are looking for something and cannot find it. We are trying to focus our thoughts and some distracting noise renders it impossible. We are trying to compose ourselves to sleep and some troublesome neighbour wakes us just as slumber was creeping over us.
    On account of all such impatience, we should humble ourselves, as being a sign of faults indulged in the past, not of present sin.

2. This sort of physical impatience, anticipating our reason, is very often the result of impatience, pride, self-will long indulged.
The ghost of past sins reappearing to remind us of what we have forgotten and, to keep us humble.
Not always, for St Teresa tells us that owing to ill-health and desolation, she had the greatest difficulty in remaining calm and gentle and in resisting the impulse to speak sharply and disagreeably.
But as a general rule, such physical impatience may be taken, at all events, while we are in good health, as a mark of pride not completely subdued and of self-will, which has not fully learned to submit.

3. How are we to be rid of physical impatience?
Chiefly by schooling ourselves to endure, by bearing willingly, even what we could avoid, by waiting for a long time, ere we knock again, if our first signal produces no effect, by checking the word of complaint or gesture indicative of our suffering. Such little efforts at self-mastery are very pleasing to God; they often cost us a good deal.
They may be concerned with trifles but the victory over ourselves is no trifle.
Learn then to seek to overcome the first movements of physical impatience.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE

Thought for the Day – 11 June – Humility and Criticism

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

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility and Criticism

The spirit of criticism is very dangerous to humility. He who criticises puts himself above the person, or the action, criticised and becomes, the self-constituted judge. He looks down on it and this, even though he gives it his patronising approval. All this is at variance with the spirit of humility. Our attitude to the actions of others should be to try to praise and admire ,as from below, or if we cannot do this, to abstain from speaking if we are able, or to make excuses for those who are obviously at fault.

Unjust and bitter criticism is one of the marks of inveterate pride.
The devil is the accuser of the brethren. Much that he urges against them is true but this is no excuse. Much is false and, in this, those who criticise rashly and uncharitably, are sure to imitate their model. They fall unconsciously into false and rash judgements and, even where they were quite certain that they were correct, they nevertheless, often do serious wrong to those whom they criticise. If they were more humble, they would have a clearer and truer view of the characters and actions, of those around them.

Yet how general is this habit of criticism?
Many who are reputed good Catholics, run down their neighbours with a freedom which shows how little they have imbibed of the spirit of the Church and of her Saints. A Saint is always most gentle in his judgements and words and seeks to imitate his Master, when He said to the poor woman trembling at His feet, “Neither do I condemn thee.”
Ask yourself whether you are free from fault in this respect and promise amendment.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on BAD CONVERSATION, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE

Thought for the Day – 10 June – Humility in Conversation

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Thought for the Day – 10 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility in Conversation

Our Lord tells us that by our words we shall be justified, by our words we shall be condemned and from our words, can be clearly seen whether we are humble or proud.
The proud man always wants to take the lead in the conversation and to lay down the law for the benefit of the rest. The humble man is content to be in the background. The proud man is vexed if he is not listened to, while the humble man is ready to accept such disregard, with peaceful resignation, as a humiliation he welcomes from the Hand of God.
On these points, do I exhibit marks of pride or of humility?

There is, moreover, in the conversation of the proud an undercurrent of self-praise. They talk chiefly about themselves and what they have said and done and, in a tone of boastfulness, more or less, thinly veiled.
The humble seem to forget themselves; they consider what is interesting to
those to whom they speak and they do this because, for God’s sake, they seek to please others rather than themselves.
Try to cultivate this humility in conversation. It will make you loved by
God and by men.

We perceive the contrast between humility and pride, most clearly, when some rebuff is given. See the meekness of the one and the indignation of the other; the patience of the one and the eagerness of the other to assert himself and prove himself in the right.
In this respect, we shall do well to contemplate the perfect humility of the Holy Mother of God at the marriage feast at Cana. In answer to the apparent rebuke which she received from her Son, she uttered not a word of self-justification but an instruction to the servants, to be exact in their obedience to Jesus.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 9 June – The Attainment of Humility

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Thought for the Day – 9 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

The Attainment of Humility

Humility does not spring up in our souls of its own accord. On the contrary, every child of Adam has a deep root of pride within his soul.
It is only by a long and painful process that the generality of mankind can attain humility. We cannot expect to become humble unless we fulfill the necessary conditions.

We must make many acts of humility before we can attain any proficiency in the virtue. Our acts of humility must consist, not merely in protesting to Almighty God that we are vile and worthless ,in His sight and in humbling ourselves before Him by reason of our many sins. Our acts of humility must be practiced towards others by being very gentle towards those who provoke us, by bearing contradictions with patience, by accepting disappointments with patience and rebuffs without complaint. All this is a gradual process and we must not expect proficiency in humility until we have long practiced these means to attain it.

We must pray for humility.
No gift of God can be won without prayer and humility least of all
because it is so opposed to the natural bent of our nature and, can never be had without a special grace from God. Prayer, moreover, is an acknowledgement of our dependence upon God,and humility consists in nothing else, than a recognition of this dependence and an acquiescence in it.
Pray, then, for humility! It is not much use praying for humility unless we also pray for the means that are to implant it in our souls. We must ask God, from our hearts, not to spare us if He sees that we shall not become humble without suffering. We must leave ourselves in His Hands, saying only, “O my God, make me humble at any cost! Amen.”

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The LAST THINGS

Thought for the Day – 8 June – Aids to Humility

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Thought for the Day – 8 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Aids to Humility

To foster in ourselves a spirit of humility, we must not only look back but also look forward.
When we appear before our Lord to be judged, what reason we shall have for shame and for dismay! How can I, who am so full of sin, venture to face Him, Who sees through every disguise and recognises the true nature of every action?
How can I meet Him who has witnessed deeds of evil hidden from the eyes of men and wicked and uncharitable thoughts, indulged in secret!?
When I think of that day, I must be humble.

Nothing will then be such a cause of shame to me as my pride.
Nothing will so turn away the Face of my Judge from me in anger.
If God abhors the proud, how can I look forward to that day without trembling? St Teresa said that when she had the privilege of seeing our Blessed Lord in a vision, the prevailing thought in her mind was, what a terrible thing it would be, if He were to be angry with her.
He will be angry with me, then, unless I learn more humility!
O my God, make me humble at any cost!

What will be the punishment of pride? Will it be the fire of Hell that was prepared for the devil and his angels, simply and solely because of their pride?
None will endure such misery as the proud; not the gluttonous, or the impure, or the covetous, except, so far as their other vices fostered pride in them.
O my God, if nothing else will make me humble, grant that the thought of the lowest Hell, reserved for the proud, may conquer in me that hateful vice of pride!