Tag: fr richard clarke

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FREEDOM, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on WILL (Reasonable or Superior)

Thought for the Day – 21 July – Charity, a Love of Choice

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

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, a Love of Choice

Although God chooses out of the world, those on whom He sets His love and for whom, He destines the rich gifts of grace and glory, yet He never forces their will. He draws them to Himself with the cords of love,but, it is in their power to resist. All men choose deliberately, at some period of their lives, between the love of God and the love of self.
Our homage to God must be a voluntary homage and our love, must be a voluntary love. We must choose God in spite of the difficulties and objections which are raised by our lower nature.
Have I made this choice? Moreover, do I make it in all the details of my life?

It seems logical that every sane man should choose Him, Who contains all perfections, in an Infinite degree. rather than any of the miserable trifles which do not satisfy and will soon pass away.
Yet, how few there are who make a full and complete choice of God!
The Prophet complains (Jeremiah 2:13), “They have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living water and have digged themselves cisterns, broken cisterns which can hold no water.”
Do I not, alas, everyday, choose some passing indulgence, although I know I should please God more and earn His love, if I denied it to myself?

Our Lord tells His Apostles, “You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you.” Therefore, God has chosen us, rather than us Him. He chose to give us grace and carried it through to the end, before we made the choice to prevent it. It was more His than ours. This is true of all vocations, great or small, when we have, through God’s mercy chosen Him, rather than yielded to natural inclination.
O my God, choose me ever and grant that I may ever choose Thee!

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, ON the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE

Thought for the Day – 20 July – Consciousness of Humility

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

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Consciousness of Humility

How are we to know whether we are humble?
If we think we are humble, we may be quite sure that we are not really humble at all! There is no
more certain sign of pride, than to be unaware of its existence in ourselves. Which Saint ever lived,
who did not acknowledge and lament his pride and self-love? A Saint who should believe himself to be thoroughly humble, would be no Saint at all.
How far do I recognise in myself an ever-running sore of pride, making me foul and unsightly before God, who hates the proud and gives grace only to the humble?!

If I find that I take disparaging remarks, attacks and contradictions from others, with patience and good humoor, it is a good sign but, not a certain sign that I am humble.
Pride, which apes humility, often renders man proof, against that which others think. He wraps himself in his cloak of pride and looks down on their opinion of him.
Indifference to the praise and honour of those
around us, is not a certain sign, for this too may come from pride and a spirit of contempt!

But if anyone:

+++ recognises himself as full of pride;
+++ dislikes the idea of being honoured and praised;
+++ desires humiliations and prays for them; or
+++ thinks himself to deserve the worst of everything and the lowest place,

he may hope that he has begun to walk the road which, in the end, may through God’s grace, produce in him the virtue of humility.
Examine yourself on these points, thank God for any signs of progress and lament over still -remaining defects.

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, QUOTES on VANITY, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 18 July – Humility in Success

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

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility in Success

When Saint Peter and his companions had, at this word of Jesus, cast their nets and enclosed the miraculous draught of fishes, Saint Peter’s first impulse was to throw himself at Jesus’ feet and humbly cry,
“Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”
Success, instead of puffing him up, made him recognise his own sinfulness and unworthiness of the favours which God had done him. This should be the effect of success on us — to humble ourselves and declare ourselves unworthy of such benefits as God has bestowed upon us.

Yet success is meant to encourage us. We cannot help being conscious of having done well and given satisfaction and it would be foolish and ungrateful to ignore the fact. But, our spirit must be that of Saint Bernard, who did not deny the marvels God had wrought through him. Instead, he expressed his astonishment that God could make use of such an instrument! So, we should regard it as fresh proof of God’s power and love, that He should work the marvels of His grace through us.

Thus, to humble ourselves amid the approval and applause of others, is no easy task. It is very possible to cry out, “Not unto us, O Lord but to Thy Name be the praise” and, all the time, to be puffed up with pride. The real test is whether we pray at such moments,

“Humble me, O Lord.
Teach me my own nothingness,
make me continually depend on Thee
and in my heart attribute to Thee all the glory
and to myself nothing.”
Such a prayer, if it comes from our heart, is a certain safeguard for our humility.

Posted in HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on ENEMIES, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, SELF-DISTRUST

Thought for the Day – 17 July – Humility under Correction

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

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Humility under Correction

To be forced to recognise defects in ourselves, is always painful to human nature. We should like to think ourselves perfect, or at any rate, free from any very serious faults. In spite of all our efforts, the knowledge of our many imperfections and blemishes, thrusts itself upon us and the difference between the man of goodwill and the lover of self is, that one turns himself with all his energy to cure his defects and, the other, seeks to palliate them, excuse them and hide them, as best he can from himself and others.

One of the best means of exterminating our faults, is to be told of them by others. Here again, another signal difference is seen between the proud man and the humble. The one is grateful for the correction and turns at once to avail himself of it. The other, resents it and is more inclined to think how he can revenge himself on his reprover, than how he may remedy his own defect.
Judged by this test, am I among the proud or the humble? When reproved, is my first impulse vexation and anger, or sorrow and a wish to amend?

There is still another test.
The proud sometimes avail themselves of a reproof and correct their faults because of that reproof. Yet, they seek to conceal from their reprover, the fact that they are following his counsel. They will not acknowledge, that they are being guided by the reprover.
Those who are truly humble, rejoice in letting others see that they are adopting their advice in submitting themselves to reproof, with gratitude, as coming from God and as a favour bestowed on them.
Can I stand this test?

Posted in CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on MERCY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SACRILEGE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 16 July – Charity, a Love of Benevolence

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

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, a Love of Benevolence

By love of complacency, we take personal pleasure in the good of our friend, by love of benevolence, we desire to see that good increased.
The benevolence of charity consists in an ever-present desire that the glory of God, may be promoted by all men who live upon the earth, that His Kingdom may spread, that the number of the Saints may receive continual additions and that sinners may be converted to Him.
This is the chief wish of our hearts and it is ever-present in our minds – that the interests of God will be advanced everywhere.

This love of benevolence includes too, a feeling of grief and sorrow, whenever we hear of anything which is an insult to God’s honour or which diminishes His eternal glory. All the sins of men cause pain, to those in whose hearts supernatural charity is present. All sacrileges, impieties, or forgetfulness of God which they witness, hurts them and causes them to suffer. Above all, they are compassionate to the Sacred Sufferings of Jesus and the Agony, of Body and Mind which our sins caused Him.

Charity, moreover, requires that we shall not be satisfied with a mere feeling of goodwill. Our benevolence must be a practical one. We must do our part to add to God’s glory. In proportion to our charity, will be our devotion of every act and word and thought, to the glory of God. When Saint Paul said, ‘Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,’ he was but inculcating a precept of charity.
What do I do to promote God’s glory?
Alas, how much less than I ought!

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, GOD ALONE!, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN

Thought for the Day – 15 July – Charity, a Love of Complacency

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

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

Charity, a Love of Complacency

Charity is also a love, distinguished by the complacency or pleasure which it takes in the welfare of whomever is its object. Let us apply this to the supernatural charity which has God for its object.

Charity takes pleasure in thinking of God’s Infinite perfections. It rejoices in His unapproachable Majesty. The continual joy of the Angels in Heaven and of the Church on earth is:

Gloria in Excelsis Deo.
Charity rejoices in His Infinite holiness; Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth; in His Power, His Wisdom and His Eternity.
Does my heart rejoice in the thought of God’s Power and Glory and in my complete subjection to Him?

Charity also thinks with complacency of the homage paid to God by Angels and by men.
It thinks of the honour He derives from the holiness of the Saints, from the Immaculate purity of His Holy Mother, from the obedience of the Son of God to His Eternal Father and, from the Sacrifice on Calvary, whereby the world was made once more, the Kingdom of God and filled with tens of thousands of saints.
For all this, do I render thanks to God and rejoice in the glory He derives therefrom.
I thank Thee, O my God, that Thou hast on earth, so many faithful servants who give glory to Thy Name.

Charity, moreover, rejoices exceedingly in the honour done to God, whenever a sinner is reconciled to Him. The Angels rejoice over the sinner doing penance, not so much for his own sake, as because God’s Kingdom is thereby enlarged and His glory increased.
So, too, we ought to rejoice in the conversion of every sinner and all the more because we are sinners. As sinners, we can appreciate better, the injury done to God by sin and the honour He receives when sin is blotted out and the sinner is reconciled to Him.
Do I rejoice in the conversion of sinners and recognise that conversion has increased God’s Kingdom and His glory?

Posted in "Follow Me", CHARITY - Fr Richard Clarke SJ, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, THEOLOGICAL

Thought for the Day – 13 July – The Definition of Charity ‘What is Charity?’

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Thought for the Day – 13 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Today we begin a new seriest with Fr Clarke having completed “Patience.” I believe we still have a week or so of “Humility” to complete.

CHARITY
Meditations for a Month

The Definition of Charity
What is Charity?

Charity is an infused virtue, by which we love God for His own sake and above all things and our neighbour as ourselves, for the love of God.
It is the best gift which God Himself can give, the gift compared to which, all other gifts are insignificant and worthless. It is the end and aim, the perfection and the crown of the Christian life. If we possess it, we have all things; if we possess it not, we have nothing; we are miserable and wretched and poor and blind and naked before God.
Pray that God may teach you to know and to love His Divine gift.

Charity is called an infused virtue, because we can only obtain it, if God shall please to pour it into our soul. No amount of practice can make it ours. No natural benevolence will develop into charity, unless God adds that supernatural character which alone can render it pleasing in His sight and meritorious of eternal life.
We must carefully distinguish natural from supernatural charity and we must beware of being satisfied with the former.

Charity is one of the virtues called “Christian virtues,” inasmuch, as their model and type, is the Life of Christ upon earth because, they unite us to Christ and make us like unto Him.
It is true that charity is, in itself, pre-eminently the Christian virtue and when Saint Paul says, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14), he refers alone to the virtue of charity, with which we must be clothed, if we are to be the servants and followers of our Lord. Can I say I am clothed with charity, so all around me see it? Do they not too often detect in me, a lamentable want of this virtue?

Posted in GOD ALONE!, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JOY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 12 July – The Third Fruit of Patience: – Joy

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

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month
Today is the Last Meditation

The Third Fruit of Patience: – Joy

  1. ‘As it were, sorrowing yet always rejoicing.‘ (2 Cor 6 : 10) This is St Paul’s description of the ministers of Christ, labouring for the salvation of souls. What is true of them, is true of all faithful servants of God. On the surface ,apparent misery but down in the depths of the soul, intense joy. Of this joy, St Paul says: ‘I am filled with comfort and exceedingly abound with joy. in all our tribulation. (2 Cor 7 : 4)
    What is it that works this charm? Patience!. Patient endurance, humble submission to the Will of God, resignation to His Providence.
  2. How is it that out of sorrow, joy can come?
    The reason is that if we are living for God and in dependence upon Him and seeking to promote His glory, then, although in the natural order we may be crushed down with pain and suffering, we shall be full of joy by reason of the supernatural gladness which God bestows upon us. ‘Your joy,‘ says our Lord to His Apostles, ‘no man shall take from you.’ (St John 16 : 22)
    Have I any experience of this joy? If so, I shall thank God for it; if not, I must wait patiently and see whether there may not be some hindrance to it, on my part.
  3. Whence comes this joy?
    From Heaven. This is why it surpasses all earthly joy and makes earthly sufferings sweet. It is the first faint reflection of the Light of Heaven, amid the clouds and darkness of earth – the first foretaste of the joy into which the just will be welcomed by their Lord at the Gate of Heaven.
    If one drop of it sweetens all bitterness on earth and makes all sufferings light, what must be the intensity of joy which will inebriate all those who have here endured tribulation and suffering for Christ’s sake?
Posted in GOD ALONE!, PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on HAPPINESS, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Thought for the Day – 11 July – The Second Fruit of Patience: – Hope

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

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Second Fruit of Patience: – Hope

  1. ‘Patience,’ says St Paul, ‘works out our trial and trial, hope.‘ (Romans 5 : 4) If we humbly accept the sufferings God sends us without rebellion or complaint, then, we reap the reward in rapid growth of hope within our heart. Through the darkness, we descry a bright light in the distance and, although our path be a dreary and a painful one, this prospect cheers us and makes us go on our way, rejoicing.
    In the earlier part of the time of trial, hope was dim and faint but, when we have been proved faithful servants, hope begins to anticipate the future and to fill us with a happiness which makes the present sufferings comparatively light.
    Have I attained that happy state?
  2. Joined to this prospect of the future, is a great confidence in God, in the present! Confidence is part of hope.
    When we have learned, by patience, to trust Him amid sorrow, tribulation, disappointment, then, we have a solid foundation for trusting Him, all the rest of our lives, not only with a sort of blind assurance that all He does is best but, with a consciousness of the happy results to come, from all that patience bids us bear, results, too which we begin to experience even here.
    I must then aim at this confidence and pray that I may gain it, by patience.
  3. St Paul tells us that if we hope for that which we see not, we have to wait for it, for the perfect ,work of patience, is to wait contentedly for the time, when God will give us the good things He has promised us.
    This was the Apostle’s frame of mind when he said: ‘I have fought a good fight, have kept the faith, at the last there is laid up for me, a crown of justice.’ (2 Timothy 4 : 7) So, too, for me, if I persevere to the end, there is laid up a like crown.
    The thought of it shall animate me to fresh patience.
Posted in PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, PURGATORY, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The HOLY SOULS

Thought for the Day – 9 July – The Patience of the Holy Souls

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

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Holy Souls

  1. In Purgatory the suffering is more intense than any suffering of this present life and there is greater need of patience to endure it. But the Holy Souls have their wills in perfect conformity to the Will of God and they cannot be anything but patient amid their torments. They do not and they cannot rebel but their submission does not remove the bitterness of their unceasing sorrow, as they think, how comparatively easy it would have been, for them to avoid, while still on earth, their present anguish, by greater faithfulness to grace and by uniting their actions and sufferings, to the actions and sufferings of the Divine Son of God.
  2. If we could look forward to those sufferings, with an appreciation of what they are, how patient we should be now! We should consider it a privilege to suffer now, as the very best way of avoiding the agony of that fire which will be kindled, by the wrath of God and will, in some way, correspond to our ingratitude and unfaithfulness to our King and Benefactor.
    If no other motive makes me patient, under my earthly sufferings, yet at least, the prospect of long years of far worse sufferings, ought to make me choose the lighter suffering now.
    What am I doing to shorten my Purgatory?

3 The Holy Souls must sometimes think, reproachfully, how little their friends on earth do to aid them in their present sufferings.
Among many other methods of aiding them, I can offer up for them all the pains of mind and body which God sends me, asking God to accept them in alleviation of the sufferings of the holy souls. This will help me to be patient and to suffer willingly and, when my time comes, I shall find that patient suffering for others, will shorten my time of banishment from God, in the fires of Purgatory.

Posted in "Follow Me", PATIENCE - Fr Richard CLARKE, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MARTYRDOM, QUOTES on PATIENCE

Thought for the Day – 8 July – The Patience of the Martyrs

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

PATIENCE
Meditations for a Month

The Patience of the Martyrs

  1. To lay down one’s life for Christ is one of the greatest honours which can be bestowed upon us. it ensures an immediate entrance into Heaven.it gives us a part, such as nothing else can give, of the sufferings of Him, Who laid down His life for us.
    It is a crowning mark of God’s mercy to those who are His especial friends. It is not in the power of all who desire it; it is given to those for whom God has destined it and to none other. It has to be purchased by a long course of faithful service of God.
    If only God would give me such a privilege how happy I should be. If only I could live, so to deserve it!
  2. Even the weak, the timid, the sensitive, can, if God gives them the special grace of Martyrdom, face undismayed, the most cruel tortures. Sometimes they did not feel the pain, even when it was most agonising. The secret joy of their hearts, the thought that they were suffering for Christ – made it seem light to them and gave them fortitude to endure to the end.
    If God should, at a time, give me the happiness of dying for Him, He will take away all the fear and will give me a light, joyous heart even in the midst of the greatest physical sufferings!

3 If there is little or no prospect of my laying down my life for Christ, yet I can, at least, make the offering to Him – I can present myself to suffer anything which He has in store for me.
It may be that I am destined for suffering, worse than death, the prolonged Martyrdom of physical or mental anguish. But one thing I know, that He will never lay upon me suffering beyond that which I am able to bear, and will, with the suffering, give the grace necessary, to endure it with resignation and perhaps even with joy!

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 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 "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", 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 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 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 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 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.