Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on STRENGTH, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, The HEART, The HOLY GHOST, The WILL of GOD, Thomas a Kempis

Thought for the Day – 18 September – The Divine Counsellor

Thought for the Day – 18 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Divine Counsellor

“Speak Lord, for Thy servant hears.
Give me understanding that I may know Thy testimonies.
Let not Moses, nor any of the Prophets, speak to me but speak Thou rather, O Lord God, the Inspirer and Enlightener of all the Prophets…
They may indeed sound forth words but they give not the Spirit.
Most beautifully do they speak but if Thou be silent, they inflame not the heart…
They declare the commandments but Thou enables us to fulfil them.
They show the way but Thou gives the strength to walk in it…
Speak to me that it may be some comfort to my soul and the amendment of my whole life and also, to Thy praise, glory and everlasting honour!” (Cf The Imitation of Christ Bk III, Ch 2).

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/10/thought-for-the-day-10-december-the-divine-counsellor/
PART TWO:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/17/thought-for-the-day-17-september-the-divine-counsellor/

Posted in MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD

Thought for the Day – 17 September – The Divine Counsellor

Thought for the Day – 17 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Divine Counsellor

“Nobody can speak to our souls with greater efficacy than Jesus Christ, “Listen to the interior Master,” wrote St Margaret Mary Alacoque, “Never do anything without seeking His advice.”

Certain conditions are necesaary, however, before we can hear the Voice of God in the intimacy of our hearts.
First of all, there must be silence and recollection.
Jesus does not speak where there is noise and dissipation and, even if He were to speak, His Voice would not be heard.

It is necessary, now and again – especially in moments of difficulty – to remove ourselves from the external confusion of life, so that we shall be able to hear the Voice of God.
Then, it is true, we shall hear two voices and we shall hesitate …
One is the voice of nature.
When we feel that we have been offended, it urges us to seek revenge or, at least, to let our attitude be known.
When temptation assails us and upsets our peace of mind, we hear a pleasant voice urging us to satisfy our sinful inclinations.
But there is another Voice within us – it is gentle and sweet like Jesus Himself; it is calm, serene and lofty, like all that is eternal.
We must listen to this, not to the other; this we must accept and follow with full deliberation, even if it entails grave sacrifice.

There must be sacrifice, for it is not sufficient to enter an atmosphere of silence and recollection, in order to listen to the Voice of Jesus, our Divine Counsellor.
We must also have the courage and the Christian fortitude to put His advice and teaching into practice!

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

PART ONE HERE;
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/10/thought-for-the-day-10-december-the-divine-counsellor/

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MEDITATION, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SILENCE, QUOTES on THE VOICE OF GOD, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD

Thought for the Day – 10 December – The Divine Counsellor

Thought for the Day – 10 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Divine Counsellor

“It is often difficult and unpleasant to take advice from someone whom we dislike but, when we really like somebody, his advice is always acceptable and we are inclined to take it to heart.
Counsel is the light of the soul, which points out to us which path to follow.
Often we are surrounded by darkness, we do not know which way to turn, for uncertainty and discouragement have paralysed our will.
Now Jesus, as St John tells us, is the light which enlightens every man who comes into this world – He is full of grace and truth (Jn 1:9-14).
If we love Jesus, we shall always receive from Him the light and counsel which we need – His enlightenment is clear and His counsel satisfies fully the needs of our hearts.

How can we have this light and this counsel?
Jesus speaks to our souls in many ways.
He speaks to us when we read the pages of the Gospel; when we recollect ourselves in His presence during meditation; when we visit Him in the Tabernacle and speak to Him really and truly present under the Eucharistic species and, when we ask Him, in all our difficulties, for holy inspiration which will guide us and direct us towards what is good.
God will never deny His light and counsel to a humble supplicant.

Nobody can speak to our souls with greater efficacy than Jesus Christ.
“Listen to the interior Master,” wrote St Margaret Mary Alacoque.
“Never do anything without seeking His advice.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci