Category: HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 27 November – Au Revoir St Alphonsus!

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Thought for the Day – 27 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Au Revoir St Alphonsus!

“How good and kind God is to those who lovingly seek Him!
The Lord is good to the soul who seeks Him (Lam 3:25). He is found even by those who do not seek Him – I was found by those who did not seek Me (Rom 10:I2); with far greater willingness, He will anticipate those who seek Him, in order to serve and love Him.

I conclude with a thought from St Teresa.
It is this – The souls of the just should do on earth, through a spirit of love, that which the Blessed do in Heaven.
In Heaven the Saints occupy themselves only with God; all their thoughts are for His glory; all their pleasure is to love Him.
Do you act in the same way.
During your life on earth let God be your only happiness, the only object of your affections, the only end of all your actions and desires, until you arrive at that eternal Kingdom, where your love will be consummated and made perfect and your desires will be completely fulfilled and satisfied.”

Posted in GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on MEDITATION

Thought for the Day – 26 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER, Part III Conclusion

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Thought for the Day – 26 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part III Conclusion

III. CONCLUSION.

Three short fervent Acts:

(1) Thank God for the Light He has given you.

(2) Renew your resolution to abstain from some fault, or to do some good thing, during the day.

(3) Ask the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to aid you to keep your resolutions.
At the end of meditation, always pray for poor sinners and for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

NB: – The acts and prayers of petition should occupy the most of the time. Thus, in a half-hour’s prayer, give three minutes to the preparation; reflect for five minutes and then pray for the balance of the time left to you.

Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of PETITION, QUOTES on MEDITATION

Thought for the Day – 25 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER, II The Body of the Prayer

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

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part II THE BODY OF THE PRAYER.

II. THE BODY OF THE PRAYER.

Use the mind in thinking on some subject as much as is necessary in order to pray fervently. But do not imagine that very much is necessary in order to pray. Do not wait for a great fire to burn up in your soul but cherish any little spark you may feel.

To help your mind, read a text of Scripture or a short Meditation in a book.
St Teresa used a book in her Meditations for seventeen years.

Meditate for a few minutes on any thought which has struck you, that is, think for a short time on the meaning, the lessons it teaches and ask yourself: What have I done about this hitherto? What shall I now do?
But remember, you think only in order that you may pray.

The great benefit of Mental Prayer consists. less in meditation or thinking, than in acts, prayers and resolutions – the fruits of Meditation. The thinking is the needle which draws after it the golden thread of the fruits (the acts, prayers and resolutions)..
The thread is more important than the needle.
The chief part of the time of Meditation should, then, be spent in making:

  1. Acts and Affections:
    Examples. –Acts of Humility: ‘My God, I am nothing in Thy sight.’ Act of Thanksgiving: ‘My God, I thank Thee for Thy goodness.’ Act of Love: ‘ My God, I love Thee with my whole heart. I wish to please Thee in all things. I will only what Thou wiliest. I love Thee because Thou art Infinitely Good. Do with me and mine all that pleases Thee because it is Thy Will.’
    Acts of Love and of contrition are golden chains binding us to God. St Thomas says: ‘ Every Act of Love merits eternal life. Make then many simple but fervent, Acts of Love and Sorrow.
  2. Prayers of Petition:
    In mental prayer, it is extremely useful and, perhaps better than all else, to make many earnest petitions for the graces you wish. Always ask, above all, for (a) the perfect forgiveness of all past sin; (b) the perfect love of God and (c) the Grace of a holy death. …
  3. Resolutions:
    ‘The progress of a soul,‘ says St Teresa, ‘ does not consist in thinking much of God but in loving Him and this love is gained by resolving to do much for Him.‘
    Make one practical resolution which you mean to keep during the day.
Posted in ACT of ADORATION, ACT of CONTRITION, ACT OF FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY, ACT of LOVE, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES on MEDITATION, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Thought for the Day – 24 November – A Method of MENTAL PRAYER

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Thought for the Day – 24 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)


A Method of MENTAL PRAYER
or Meditation According to St Alphonsus.
Excerpt – Part I Preparation

I. PREPARATION.

A recollected life and regular Spiritual Reading are the best remote preparation.
For the immediate preparation, make three short but fervent Acts of Devotion:

(I) An Act of Adoration of God, present to the soul:
Example: O my God, I believe Thou art really here present;
I bow down and adore Thee. Thou art so good, I am so
sinful; Thou art so great, I am only nothingness … etc.

(2) An Act of Sorrow for Sin:
Example: O my God, I am heartily sorry for all my sins of thought, word, deed and omission and by the help of Thy
holy Grace I will never sin again.

(3) A Petition for Light and Strength:
Example: O my God, give me light to see Thy holy Will, give me Grace to do Thy holy Will. O .Wisdom of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, direct me in all my ways. O Love of the Sacred Heart, consume me in Thy fire.

Add a Hail Mary to the Blessed Virgin, an Aspiration to St Joseph, your Patron Saints and Angel Guardian.

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, The HOLY NAME, The HOLY NAME of MARY

Thought for the Day – 23 November – ‘Ask and you shall receive’

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Thought for the Day – 23 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
‘Ask and you shall receive‘
Excerpt from Chapter Five:6

“When you need to arrive at some decision, or to give some important advice, ask God’s assistance before you do so. Repeat as often as you reasonably are able during the day: ‘Incline unto mine aid, O God,’ as St Rose of Lima was accustomed to do.

To obtain this assistance from God turn frequently to the Crucifix or to the image of our Blessed Lady (which, of course, you will have in your room) and do not fail to often invoke the Names of Jesus and Mary …
God, being infinitely kind, has the greatest desire to communicate His Graces to us.

The Venerable Father Alphonsus Alvarez saw our Lord, on one occasion, with His Hands filled with Graces, going about seeking souls to whom He might dispense them.
But He will have us ask Him for them: ‘Ask and you shall receive‘ otherwise He will withdraw His Hands.
He will, on the contrary, stretch them out to us and willingly open them, if we invoke Him.
… David declares, God shows, not only Mercy but Great Mercy, to those who beseech Him: For Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Thee (Ps 85:5).”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 22 November –Self-oblation and Love of God

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Thought for the Day – 22 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Self-oblation and Love of God
Excerpt from Chapter Five:5

“Following the example of St Teresa, often offer yourself to God during the day and say:
‘Behold me, O Lord, ready to do what Thou wilt.
Make known Thy holy Will to me; I am eager to do all which Thou askest of me.‘

As the hours go by, make repeated Acts of Divine Love, for, to quote St Teresa again, these Acts of Love are the fuel by which divine love is kept burning within the heart.

One day, when the Venerable Sister Seraphine of Capri happened to see the Convent mule, the thought occurred to her that the poor animal could not love God. She expressed her compassion in these words:
‘Poor brute you can neither know, nor love God.‘
Then a wonderful thing happened – tears welled into the animal’s eyes and forthwith began to flow abundantly.
Do you imitate the saintly sister’s example. When you see, creatures incapable of knowing or loving God, use the intelligence, He has given you, to repeat many Acts of Love.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD

Thought for the Day – 21 November – Recollection

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Thought for the Day – 21 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Recollection
Excerpt from Chapter Five:4

“In order to keep yourself recollected and united to God, as far as the imperfections of human nature permit. endeavour, by means of that which you see and hear, to raise your mind to God and to recall the things of eternity,

For instance, when you see running water, reflect that your life is rushing on in like manner and taking you nearer to death. … When you see graves or the bodies of the dead, think of what will happen to yourself one day. When you see worldly people rejoicing in their wealth or distinction, have pity on their folly and say to yourself – For me, God is sufficient. Some trust in chariots, some in horses but we in the Name of the Lord (Ps 19:8). Let them glory, if they wish, in vanity. Be it mine to glory only in the grace of God and in His holy Love.

… When you look out over the ocean and see it now calm and tranquil and now lashed to fury by the winds, consider the difference there is between a soul in sin and a soul in the state of grace. When you see a tree which is withered, reflect on the fact that a soul without God is fit for nothing but to be cast into the fire. If you ever happen to see one who has been guilty of some great crime, trembling with shame and fear in the presence of his judge, or his father, or of his Bishop, consider what the terror of the sinner will be in the presence of Jesus Christ, his Judge. When thunder crashes through the . heavens and you grow alarmed, reflect how those miserable souls who are damned, tremble as they hear continually in hell, the thunders of the Divine wrath.”

Posted in GOOD RESOLUTIONS, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, INDULGENCES

Thought for the Day – 20 November – Remembering Indulgences

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Thought for the Day – 20 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Remembering Indulgences
Excerpt from Chapter Five:3

“Here, in passing, I would remind the reader of Indulgences which are attached to various Acts of Devotion and also, I would remind him, of the desirability of renewing, each morning, the intention of gaining, during the day, all the Indulgences possible. …

In like manner, form the intention of gaining too, all the Indulgences granted for saying the Rosary on beads properly blessed, the Angelus three times a day, the Litany of our Blessed Lady, the Salve Regina, the Ave Maria and the Gloria Patri; … for reciting the prayer Anima Christi; for bowing the head at the Gloria Patri and at the Most Holy Names of Jesus and Mary; for hearing Mass; for making half an hour’s mental prayer – for this, there is a Partial Indulgence, and also, if the meditation is made daily, a Plenary on the usual conditions of confession, Communion and praying for the intentions of the Church; for genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament; for kissing the Crucifix …”

Posted in DEVOTIO, EVENING and NIGHT Prayers, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES

Thought for the Day – 19 November – The Practice of Praying Constantly 2

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Thought for the Day – 19 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Excerpt from Chapter Five:2

“Perform your more important Acts of Devotion with great care, such as going to Confession, receiving Holy Communion, reciting the Divine Office and other similar duties.

Whenever you are going to begin some external occupation, like study or work, or the duty of your state in life, do not forget to offer it to God, praying His assistance to enable you to perform it well.
Afterwards, follow the example of St Catharine of Siena and retire often to the cell of your heart, in order to unite yourself to God.
In a word, whatever you do, do it with God and for Him. When you leave your room, or go out of the house and when you return – say a Hail Mary and thus recommend yourself to the Blessed Virgin.

At your meals, whether you find them pleasant to your taste, or not to your liking, offer all to God. On rising from table, say, as grace, some little prayer like this: ‘Lord, how good Thou art to one who has offended Thee!’

During the day give some time to spiritual reading and make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady.
In the evening, say the Rosary, examine your conscience, make Acts of Faith, Hope, Charity and Contrition; promise to serve God more fervently and to receive the holy Sacraments during life and at death and form the intention of gaining all the Indulgences within your power.
When you go to bed, reflect that you have deserved to lie in the fire of hell – then, with a Crucifix in your arms, compose yourself to sleep, saying: ‘In peace, in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest‘ (Ps 4:9).”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 18 November – The Practice of Praying Constantly

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Thought for the Day – 18 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

The Practice of Praying Constantly
Excerpt from Chapter Five:1

“When you awake in the morning, let your first thought be to raise up your mind to God, to offer to His honour whatever you may have to do, or suffer, during the day and, to beseech Him, to assist you with His holy Grace. Then, perform your other morning devotions, making Acts of Love and of Gratitude and praying and resolving, to spend the day as if it were to be the last of your life.

Father Saint-Jure recommends you, every morning, to complete an agreement with God that, every time you make a certain sign, such as placing your hand upon your heart, or raising your eyes to Heaven or to the Crucifix, or the like, you intend thereby, to make an Act of love, of desire to see God loved by all, of oblation of yourself and other acts of the same kind. When you have made these Acts, place your soul in the Wound of the Side of Jesus and under the Mantle of Our Lady and beg of the Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus and Mary, to protect you during the day.

Then, before all things else, be sure to make your meditation, or mental prayer, at least for half an hour.
Meditate especially on the sufferings and contempt endured by Jesus in His Passion.
This is the subject dearest to fervent souls and the one best calculated to set hearts aflame with Divine love.”

Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HEART

Thought for the Day – 17 November – How God Answers the Soul

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Thought for the Day – 17 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

How God Answers the Soul
Excerpt from Chapter Four

In a word, if you wish to please the loving Heart of God, endeavour to speak to Him as often as you can and, with the fullest confidence which He will answer and speak to you in return.
When you withdraw yourself from conversation with creatures to speak to God alone, He will not speak in a Voice which strikes the ear but, in a Voice which reaches the heart

… He will speak by inspiration, by interior light, by manifestations of His Goodness, by a tenderness which touches the heart, by assurance of pardon, by a feeling of peace, by the hope of Heaven, by intimate happiness, by the sweetness of His Grace, by loving and tender embraces of the soul – in a word, He will speak in a Voice easily understood by those whom He Loves and who have given their hearts to Him alone.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, PURGATORY, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 16 November – Speak to God of Heaven

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Thought for the Day – 16 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Speak to God of Heaven
Excerpt from Chapter Three:VII

“It is said that souls who, in this life, have but little longing for Heaven are punished in Purgatory with a peculiar pain, called the pain of languor.
This surely is only just because, to have but little longing for Heaven is to set little value on the happiness of that eternal Kingdom which our Lord opened to us, by His Death.

Remember then, frequently to think of, and long for Heaven. Say to God that your life seems an endless span, so great is your desire to go to Him, to see Him face-to-face and, to love Him.
Long to be set free from your exile, from this world of sin, from the danger of losing Divine Grace in order that you may arrive at that land of love where your heart will be given wholly to God.
Say to Him, over and over again, Lord, as long as I live on this earth, I am in danger of forsaking Thee and of losing Thy Love. When shall I leave this life, wherein I am forever offending Thee? When shall I come to Thee, to love Thee with all my soul and unite myself to Thee, without any danger of losing Thee again?

St Teresa was ever sighing for Heaven in this manner. She used to rejoice when she heard the clock strike because, another hour of life and of the danger of losing God, had passed. She so earnestly desired to die, in order that she might see God, she was dying with the desire to die. This was the subject of the loving poem which she composed: ‘I Die because I Do Not Die‘.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, PRAYERS for the SOULS

Thought for the Day – 15 November – Pray For Your Neighbour

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

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray For Your Neighbour
Excerpt from Chapter Three:VI

“Recommend to God with confidence not only your own needs but also the needs of others.
How pleasing to Him it will be if you sometimes forget yourself and speak to Him of His own glory, of the miseries of others, especially those who mourn in sorrow; of the souls in purgatory, His spouses, who long to behold Him in Heaven and of poor sinners, who live deprived of His grace.

Pray to Him for sinners thus –
‘Lord, Thou art all goodness and worthy of an infinite love – how, then, canst Thou endure in the world, so many souls on whom Thou hast lavished Thy favours and who yet, have no desire to know Thee, who have no desire to love Thee, who even offend and despise Thee?’
Ah, my most amiable God, make Thyself known-make Thyself loved. Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come. May Thy Name be adored and loved by all men.
May Thy love reign in all hearts. Do not let me depart from Thee without granting me some grace for the unhappy souls for whom I pray.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on DOUBT

Thought for the Day – 14 November – Pray In Your Doubts

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Thought for the Day – 14 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray In Your Doubts
Excerpt from Chapter Three:V

“Whenever you are in doubt about anything -whether it regards yourself or others – act like good friends do who always consult one another in their difficulties. Show the same mark of confidence to God; consult Him; ask Him to enlighten you, that you may decide on that which is most pleasing to Him.

Put Thou words in my mouth and strengthen the resolution in my heart (Jud 9:18). Lord, make known to me that which Thou wouldst have me do and I will obey Thee: Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth (i Kings 3:10).”

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN

Thought for the Day – 13 Noivember – Pray After a Fault

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Thought for the Day – 13 Noivember – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray After a Fault
Excerpt from Chapter Three:IV

“Another mark of confidence, highly pleasing to our most loving God, is this – that when you have committed any fault, you are not ashamed to go at once to Him and seek His pardon. Consider that God is so willing to pardon sinners that He laments their perdition, when they depart far from Him and live lives dead to His grace.

… He promises to receive a soul who has forsaken Him, if only the soul returns to His arms … If you come to Me and repent, though your soul be dyed deep crimson with crime, by My grace it shall be made white as snow.

… Attend, especially, devout soul, to what is commonly taught by masters of the spiritual life, who recommend you to have recourse immediately to God after you have fallen, although you should repeat the fall a hundred times in the day.
Having done this, do not be disturbed.
If you remain discouraged and troubled because of the fault committed, you will scarcely speak to God; your confidence will grow less; your desire to love God will grow cold and you will make little or no advancement in the way of the Lord.
On the other hand, by having immediate recourse to God, asking His pardon and promising amendment for the future, your very faults will help you to advance in Divine love. Between friends, who sincerely love one another, it sometimes happens that when one offends the other and then. humbles himself and asks pardon, their friendship becomes stronger than ever.
Do you act in like manner with regard to God – let your faults and falls, only strengthen the bonds of love which unite you to Him.”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on JOY

Thought for the Day – 12 November – Pray In Your Joys

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Thought for the Day – 12 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray In Your Joys
Excerpt from Chapter Three:III

“When you receive some pleasant news, do not act like those unfaithful and thankless souls, who have recourse to God in time of trouble but forget and forsake Him, when things go well. Show Him the fidelity you would show to a sincere friend, who rejoices in your happiness. Go at once and tell Him of your joy and praise Him and give Him thanks, acknowledging your good fortune as a gift from His Hands alone!
Rejoice in the fact that you owe your happiness to Him and place all your joy and comfort in Him – I will rejoice in the Lord (Hab 3:18) Say to Him: My Jesus, I bless and will ever bless Thee, for granting me so many favours, when I deserved at Thy hands not favours but chastisements for the affronts I have offered Thee.

… But, if you love your God, you ought to rejoice more in His blessedness than in your own. He, who has a dear friend, sometimes takes more delight in that friend’s good fortune than if it had been his own.
Comfort yourself, then, in the knowledge that God is infinitely happy. Often say to Him – My beloved Lord, I rejoice more in Thy blessedness than in any happiness of my own, for I love Thee more than I love myself.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Thought for the Day – 11 November – Pray In Your Trials.

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Thought for the Day – 11 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

Pray In Your Trials.
Excerpt from Chapter Three:II

“When you are afflicted with sickness, persecution, temptation, or any other trouble, turn at once to God and ask His aid.
It is enough for you to lay your affliction before Him – to go to Him and say: Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress (Lam 1:20). He will not fail to comfort you, or at least, to give you strength to suffer the trial with patience and, in this case, it will prove a greater good than if He had freed you altogether from it.
Tell Him of all the things which make you fear, or make you sad and say to Him: My God, in Thee are all my hopes. I offer this cross to Thee. I resign myself to Thy Will. Take pity on me and either deliver me from my trial or give me strength to endure it.
He will remember immediately the promise He made in the Gospel, of consoling and comforting all those who have recourse to Him in tribulation: Come to Me all you who labour and are burdened and I will refresh you (Matt II:28).

He will not be displeased if you seek comfort from your friends in the hour of trial but, He wishes you to have recourse principally to Himself.
At least, therefore, when you have had recourse to creatures and they have not been able to console your heart, go to your Creator and say to Him: Lord, men have only words; they cannot afford me consolation. I no longer desire to be consoled by them. Thou alone, art my Hope; Thou alone, my only Love. By Thee alone, do I desire to be comforted and the consolation I ask for, is to do, on this occasion, that which is most pleasing to Thee. Behold, I am ready to endure this trial for the whole of my life and for all eternity, if such be Thy Will. Only help me.

Do not be afraid of offending Him if you sometimes gently complain, saying: Why, Lord, has Thou retired afar off? (Ps 9:1). Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee and that I desire nothing but Thy Love. Have pity on me and help me. Do not abandon me.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 10 November – ON WHAT AND HOW, WE SHOULD CONVERSE WITH GOD

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Thought for the Day – 10 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

ON WHAT AND HOW, WE SHOULD
CONVERSE WITH GOD.
Excerpt from Chapter Three:I

“Never, then, forget His sweet Presence, as do the greater part of men. Speak to Him as often as you can, for He does not grow weary of this, nor disdains it …
If you love Him, you will not be at a loss of what to say to Him. Tell Him all that occurs to you, about yourself and your affairs, as you would tell it to a dear friend.
Do not look upon Him as a haughty King Who will converse only with the superior and on great matters. He, your God, is pleased to lower Himself to you and to hear you communicate to Him, your smallest and most ordinary concerns.

… Say not: Why disclose all my wants to God, since He already sees and knows them better than I do?
Yes, He knows them but, He acts as if He did not know the needs about which you do not speak to Him and for which, you do not seek His aid.
Our Saviour knew that Lazarus was dead and yet, He acted as if He did not know until Martha told Him of it. It was only then, He comforted her by bringing her brother back to life.”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 9 November – IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLETO CONVERSE WITH GOD (2)

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 89November – Meditations with Saint A lphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLE
TO CONVERSE WITH GOD
Excerpt (2) from Chapter Two

“You may sleep but God will place Himself at your side and watch over you continually: I will rest with Him and He will be a comfort in my cares and grief (Cf Wis 8:9,16). When you take your rest He does not leave your bedside. He remains there, always thinking of you, that if you awake in the night He may speak to you by His inspirations and, receive from you in return, some act of love, of oblation, of thanksgiving. Thus, He desires to continue, even in the hours of the night, His sweet and gracious converse with you.
Sometimes too, He will speak to you while you sleep and make you hear His Voice, so that, in waking, you may put into practice that which He has spoken: I will speak to Him in a dream (Num 12:6).

He is there also in the morning, to hear from you some word of affection, of confidence; to be the depository of your first thoughts and of all the actions which you promise to perform that day, to please Him; of all the griefs, too, which you offer to willingly endure for His glory and love.
But as He fails not to present Himself to you at the moment of your waking, do not fail, on your part, to immediately give Him a look of love and, to rejoice, when your God announces to you the glad tidings that He is not far from you (as once He may have been, by reason of your sins) but that, He loves you and would be beloved by you.”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 8 November – IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLETO CONVERSE WITH GOD

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 8 November – Meditations with Saint A lphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

IT IS EASY AND AGREEABLE
TO CONVERSE WITH GOD
Excerpt from Chapter Two

“… It is a great mistake to speak to God with diffidence – to appear before Him as a timid slave, trembling with alarm before his prince – it would be a still greater mistake, to think that conversing with God is wearisome and unpleasant.

Now, you are not required to apply your mind so constantly to prayer as to forget your ordinary work and recreation. ‘Praying always’ means that, without neglecting your ordinary occupations, you treat God as you treat the friends who love you and whom you love.
God is ever near you, even within you – In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 18:28).
He who would speak to God has no door to open; God is pleased when you speak to Him without reserve.
Tell Him of your business, your plans, your griefs, your fears – of all which concerns you. Above all, do so (as I have already said) with confidence and entire freedom. For God is not wont to speak to the soul who does not speak to Him; in fact, being unaccustomed to speak to God, the soul would scarcely understand Him when He spoke.

It is the Will of God that we remember His surpassing Power and His rigorous Justice … but, on the contrary, He wishes that we should treat Him as a most affectionate friend, if we love Him and, that we should speak to Him confidingly and without restraint.”

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 7 November – GOD WISHES US TO SPEAK TO HIM WITH CONFIDENCE AND FAMILIARITY

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 7 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

GOD WISHES US TO SPEAK TO HIM
WITH CONFIDENCE AND FAMILIARITY
Excerpt from Chapter One

“Bear well in mind, you have neither friend, nor brother, nor father, nor mother, nor spouse, nor lover, who loves you more than God.
Divine grace is that great treasure whereby we, vile creatures and poor servants, become the dear friends of our Creator Himself : For it is an Infinite Treasure to men, for they who use it, become the friends of God (Wis 7:14).
In order to fill our hearts with confidence, He emptied Himself, as St Paul says (Phil 2:7), abasing Himself to our level and conversing familiarly with us. … He went as far as to become an Infant, to become poor, to die publicly on a cross; He went as far as to hide Himself under the appearance of bread, in order to become our constant Companion and to unite Himself intimately to us: He who eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me and I in him (John 6:57).

In a word, He loves you as though He had no-one else to love but you alone.
You, too, should love Him alone and all others for His Sake.
Of Him you may say and, indeed, you should say: My Beloved to me and I to Him (Cant, 2:16). My God has given Himself all to me and I give myself all to Him; He has chosen me for His beloved and I choose Him, above all others, for my only Love.

Say, then, to Him, often:

O my Lord! wherefore dost Thou love me thus? What good thing dost Thou see in me? Hast Thou forgotten the injuries I have done Thee? But since Thou hast treated me so lovingly and, instead of casting me into hell, hast granted me so many favours, Whom can I desire to love from this day forward but Thee, my God, my all? … Thou art the God of my heart and the God Who is my portion forever (Ps. 72:25). Thou alone art and shalt be forever, the only Lord of my heart, of my will; Thou my only good, my heaven, my hope, my love, my all: ‘The God of my heart and the God Who is my portion forever.’”

Posted in HOW to PRAY at ALL TIMES, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 6 November – “How to Pray at All Times”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 6 November – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

“How to Pray at All Times”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)

In order to see us to the beginning of Advent, I will be posting short excerpts from this Treatise on Prayer.

This beautiful little work was first published in 1753. It is, therefore, one of the earliest works of St Alphonsus. The Saint entitled it: ‘A method of Conversing Continually and Lovingly with God and, to the title, he added a note to say that it had been translated from the French but that he had ‘ augmented it with holy thoughts, affections and practices. It was surely the Saint’s humility whichmade him thus minimise his part in the composition of the book, for, as a matter of fact, he entirely recast the little French Treatise and made it all his own. His biographer, Father Berthe, could write of it: ‘In this golden little book are to be found the most familiar thoughts of the holy author. (Life Vol I P 575).

It will be easily seen that the Treatise has a twofold message. St Alphonsus, like the Divine Redeemer before him, always puts the thought of God’s justice andthe fear of punishment, before those who are obstinate in sin. But, following again the Redeemer’s example, the saintly Doctor preaches, in burning words the truth that every soul wishing to serve God may go to Him with perfect, unwavering confidence. To such souls God shows, Infinite tenderness and love. This message of confidence to men of goodwill, is the first lesson which the Saint teaches, with convincing force, in the following pages.
The second lesson is deduced from the first – those who wish to serve God should speak to Him frequently, confidingly, lovingly.

Be it remembered, this Treatise is from the pen of a Doctor of the Church every sentence of it bears the impress of his authority. A new translation of it is now given to the faithful in the hope that it will continue its mission of mercy and lead men, in ever increasing numbers, to speak to God, frequently and lovingly.