Tag: theblessednessofthepoor

Posted in GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on GREED, WEALTH, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The BEATITUDES, The FOUR CARDINAL VIRTUES: JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, TEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE

Thought for the Day – 1 December – The Blessedness of the Poor

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 1 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Blessedness of the Poor

“We have established the principle that wealth is, in itself, good and is a gift from God but that, “it is good, insofar, as it leads us towards virtue and evil, insofar, as it leads us towards vice” (Summa Contra Gentiles III 134).
We must now insist, once more, on the necessity of remaining detached from worldly goods and of concentrating our attention primarily on God.
It is an unfortunate fact that only too often, wealth is a spiritual obstacle, for it diverts our attention away from Heaven and towards worldly objects.
If this happens, some of its worse results can be the worship of money, the destruction of high ideals, indifference to the poverty of others, the vain and selfish search for happiness on this earth and complete spiritual blindness.
This is why it is more difficult for the rich man than for the poor man, to save his soul.

“If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to the poor” (Mt 19:21).
This is an evangelical counsel which we may have neither the courage, nor the vocation to pursue.
At least, however, let us seek to purify ourselves of all attachments to wealth.
If we have riches, moreover, let us do our best to use them as instruments of virtue.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/11/28/thought-for-the-day-28-november-the-blessedness-of-the-poor/

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, franciscan OFM, JESUIT SJ, LOVE of NEIGHBOUR, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on POVERTY, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on THE WORLD, QUOTES on VIRTUE, The HEART, The HOLY CROSS, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 20 January – Poor

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 20 January – Hebrews 11:33-39; Luke 6:17-23

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.”

Luke 6:20

“… Anyone of you
who does not renounce
all his possessions,
cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:33

“The Kingdom of Heaven, says the gospel,
is like a mustard seed …
Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven!
Sown like a mustard seed
in the garden of the Virgin’s womb,
He grew up into the Tree of the Cross,
whose branches,
stretch across the world …
Christ is the Kingdom
because all the glory of His Kingdom,
is within Him.
Christ is a Man
because all humanity is restored in Him.
Christ is a Mustard Seed
because the infinitude of divine greatness,
is accommodated to
the littleness of flesh and blood!”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
“Golden Words”
Father & Doctor of the Church

“Keep a clear eye toward life’s end.
Do not forget your purpose
and destiny as God’s creature.
What you are in His sight,
is what you are and nothing more.
Remember that when you leave this earth,
you can take nothing that you have received…
but only what you have given – a full heart
enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage.”

St Francis of Assisi (c 1181-1226)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

“This death … has already levelled
his bow to strike me.
Is it not prudent to prevent its stroke,
by dying now to the world,
that at my death,
I may live to God?”

St Francis Borgia (1510-1572)

“Do not live any longer in yourself
but let Jesus Christ live in you in such a way
that the virtue of this Divine Saviour may be resplendent
in all your actions, in order that all may see in you
a true portrait of the Crucified and sense,
the sweetest fragrance of the holy virtues of the Lord,
in interior and exterior modesty,
in patience,
in gentleness,
suffering,
charity,
humility
and in all others that follow.”

St Paul of the Cross (1604-1775)

“It was God Who created the fruits of the earth
and gave them to men.
… Evil consists in the abuse of these goods,
which, in themselves, are intended
to be aids to perfection.
It is necessary, therefore, to preserve
the proper hierarchical order of all that is good.
We must guard against riveting
our ambitions on earthly objects,
as if tbey were capable of constituting
the goal of our lives.
God has given us these things as possessions,
not as ends in themselves.
He has ordered us to be masters of the world,
not it’s slaves.
Detachment is essential but not a complete surrender of our possessions.
The latter was never commanded but simply indicated, as an evangelical counsel of perfection.
The observance of this counsel, however,
is valueless, if it is not accompanied by detachment.
Worldly possessions, such as money,
are good servants but bad masters!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in "Follow Me", MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on THE WORLD, The BEATITUDES

Thought for the Day – 28 November – The Blessedness of the Poor

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Thought for the Day – 28 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Blessedness of the Poor

“Blessed are the poor in spirit” said Jesus, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).
We should take care to have a proper understanding of the meaning of these words.
Catholic perfection does not actually consist in being poor.
A man can be poor, even voluntarily so, without being vittuous and without receiving any blessing thereby.
“Christian perfection,” explains St Thomas Aquinas, “does not especially consist in voluntary poverty, which is only an instrument of perfection.
Therefore, it cannot be said that where there is greater poverty there is greater sanctity.
The highest perfection can co-exist with great wealth, for we read that Abraham was wealthy and God said to him, ‘Walk in my presence and be perfect‘” (Summa Theologiae, II-II, q 185, a 6 ad 1).

Perfection then, does not consist in poverty as such but, in detachment from worldly possessions.
Whether we are rich or poor, we must have this detachment, if we wish to be true followers of Christ.
It was God Who created the fruits of the earth and gave them to men.
When He had created them, He was pleased with His Work and declared, that all things were good.
Evil consists in the abuse of these goods, which, in themselves, are intended to be aids to perfection.
It is necessary, therefore, to preserve the proper hierarchical order of all that is good.
We must guard against riveting our ambitions on earthly objects, as if tbey were capable of constituting the goal of our lives.

God has given us these things as possessions, not as ends in themselves.
He has ordered us to be masters of the world, not it’s slaves.
Detachment is essential but not a complete surrender of our possessions.
The latter was never commanded but simply indicated, as an evangelical counsel of perfection.
The observance of this counsel, however, is valueless, if it is not accompanied by detachment.
Worldly possessions, such as money, are good servants but bad masters!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci