Tag: gratitude

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 18 August – “Where are the other nine?” – Luke 17:17

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 18 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Pentecost XIII –Within the Octave of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin – Galatians 3:16-22; Luke 17:11-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Where are the other nine?” – Luke 17:17

REFLECTION – “In our own day we see many people at prayer but, unfortunately, we see none of them turning back to give thanks to God … “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” As I think you will remember, it was in these words that our Saviour complained about the lack of gratitude of the other nine lepers. We read that they knew well how to make “supplications, prayers, petitions” since they lifted up their voices, crying out: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” But they lacked the fourth thing required by the Apostle Paul: “thanksgiving” (1Tm 2:1) for they did not turn back nor give thanks to God.

We see still more in our own day ,people who implore God for what they lack but a mere handful who seem to be grateful for the blessings they have received. There is no harm in imploring Him but what causes God not to grant our prayers, is His finding us lacking in gratitude. After all, perhaps it is even an act of mercy on His part, to hold back from the ungrateful, what they are asking for, so that they may not be judged all the more rigorously, on account of their ingratitude! … For, it is sometimes out of mercy that God holds back His mercy! …

So you see, not all those who are healed of the leprosy of this world, I mean their manifest complaints, profit by their cures. Indeed, many are secretly afflicted with an ulcer worse than leprosy, all the more dangerous, in that it is more interior. That is why it was correct that the Saviour of the world should ask, where the other nine lepers were, since sinners avoid cures. So, too, after his sin, God questioned the first man: “Where are you?” (Gn 3:9).” – St Bernard (1090-1153) Cistercian Abbot, Father and Doctor of the Church (Various sermons No 27).

PRAYER – O Lord, we beseech Thee, forgive the transgressions of Thy servants and, forasmuch as by our own deeds, we cannot please Thee, may we find safety through the prayers of the Mother of Thy Son and our Lord. Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in CONTEMPLATIVE Prayer, MORNING Prayers

Thought for the Day – 8 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 8 July

Unsteady Hearts – Learning to give thanks!

The lack of genuine gratitude we experience within our souls and even the sense of selfishness we can have in our prayers to God for deeper feelings toward Him can fill us with disgust.   It doesn’t take much in the way of self reflection to know how unsteady our hearts can be.   Are we really sorry for our sins or do we simply want the psychological relief of unburdening ourselves?   O’Connor sees both her tendencies towards scruples and utter laxity.   Yet, despite these unpleasant truths she can in the end step away from her self concern and self focus and say simply to God “I am thankful.”   In the end, we have to let go of self conscious shame and take hold of what is greater than ourselves and worthy of our attention.

“You’ve done so much for me already and I haven’t been particularly grateful.   My thanksgiving is never in the form of self sacrifice—a few memorised prayers babbled once over lightly.   All this disgusts me in myself but does not fill me with the poignant feeling I should have to adore You with, to be sorry with, or to thank You with.   Perhaps the feeling I keep asking for, is something again selfish—something to help me to feel that everything with me is all right.   And yet it seems only natural but maybe being thus natural is being thus selfish.   My mind is a most insecure thing, not to be depended on.   It gives me scruples at one minute and leaves me lax the next.  If I must know all these things through the mind, dear Lord, please strengthen mine.   Thank you, dear God, I believe I do feel thankful for all You’ve done for me. I want to. I do.”

Excerpt From: Flannery O’Connor. “A Prayer Journal.”

“Praying actualizes and deepens our communion with God.   Our prayer can and should arise above all from our heart, from our needs, our hopes, our joys, our sufferings, from our shame over sin and from our gratitude for the good.”………..Pope Benedict XVI

praying actualizes and deepens-pope benedict