Category: Remember Me - CRUSADERS FOR CHRIST

Remember Me - Holy Saturday

4/11/2020

The Gospel in its directions towards holiness opens out to us the path of humility, bidding us walk in it. ‘I say to you that unless you become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’' Have not little children a mother? A mother who receives their earliest confidences, who follows their earliest intelligences, who accepts their first crosses and who is their advocate when they are in disgrace? This is what Mary is to the Christian; for every Christian, whether king or slave, rich or poor, old or young, has stepped down from the throne of his knowledge, the pinnacle of his wealth, the strength of his manhood, to become a child. Devotion to Mary, which would seem to promise only to soften our sentiments and feelings, also raises them, and in that perhaps includes all Christian teaching. The virtues that belong exclusively to Mary, the silence and gentleness, in no way exclude strength and energy. See if there was ever sorrow like to her sorrow. Her Son spares her nothing at the foot of the cross neither His agony nor his death, the tears that accompany it, nor the sight of His mangled and lifeless body. Her strength bears an exact proportion to her weakness. Jesus bore the weight of the sins of men, Mary the weight of their sorrows.
- Mme. Swetchine

The more entirely you give yourself to the Blessed Virgin, the more she will give herself to you. Your confidence will be the measure of her bounty.
- Pere Cestac

Remember Me - Good Friday

4/10/2020

Sacrifice is one of life’s great laws, both in the material and in the moral order ; it is indeed a universal law. What can be achieved without sacrifice? The value of a thing is in proportion to the labor it has cost. The greater the object sought, the grander the renunciation in its attainment. Every state of life, every position, has its sacrifices, a truth commonly referred to as ‘'the reverse of the medal.” And it is remarkable that we only really esteem and admire what represents difficulties overcome, and seek out such results only, to serve as the setting of our treasures. The works and the monuments that nations count as their greatest ornaments, have cost the architect, the student, the composer, untold labor. What application they represent, what efforts of thought and will, what sleepless nights, what depression and discouragement overcome! And these sacrifices were made for the passing shadow of glory. We work so willingly for temporal gains!

The sacrifice of ourselves given to God renders us holy to ourselves. A life of sacrifice is a life drawn from a divine fountain, from the Life of Sacrifice Christ lived on earth, whence was drawn the salvation of the world. The Son of God became man to suffer and to end His earthly life by the supreme Sacrifice of the Cross. All phases of sacrifice are united in His ''Consumniatum est!' The sacrifice is perfect.
- Comtesse de T

Jesus Christ had nowhere to lay His head on earth except the tomb.
- Pascal

Remember Me - Wednesday in Holy Week

4/8/2020

Admire the silence with which Christ suffers His many injuries. Who would not have supposed that Divine Justice would have armed every spectator to revenge such terrible treatment? Or that, at least, Jesus would have defended His innocence with His own sublime eloquence? It is otherwise: “Jesus was silent.’’ Ah, me —the innocent Jesus is accused of so many crimes, before so many judges, in the sight of so many people; an ill-report is His, dangers surround Him, thorns, nails, the cross, await Him—and He is altogether silent. ‘‘Jesus was silent.” He would supply for your pride by His shame, and so He is silent. ‘‘But He held His tongue.”

Learn to hate your impatient volubility, when you have to suffer anything similar. ‘"Come hither my Jesus and teach me silence.” Compare your innocence with His, the accusations you incur with those of Jesus, the reasons for self defense you think you have with those of your Master. Set the sentence you have to fear side by side with that He incurred. “He was silent.” And you ? You can only blush for your querulous loquacity.
- Belledo

In times of agitation, be silent; when your spirit is calm speak.
- Pere Cestac

Remember Me - Tuesday in Holy Week

4/7/2020

We too often forget that maxim of the Saints which warns us to consider ourselves as each day recommencing our progress towards perfection. If we consider it frequently we shall not be surprised at the poverty of our spirit, nor how much we have to refuse ourselves. The work is never finished, we have continually to begin again and that courageously. What we have done so far is good, but what we are going to commence will be better, and when we have finished that, we shall begin something else that will be better still, and then another— until we leave this world to begin a new life that will have no end because it is the best that can happen to us.

It is not then a case for tears that we have so much work to do for our souls, for we need great courage to go ever onwards (since we must never stop), and much resolution to restrain our desires. Observe carefully this precept that all the Saints have given to those who would emulate them: to speak little, or not at all, of yourself and your own interests.
- St. Francis de Sales

You will only love God in proportion as you learn to suffer silently and to prefer Him to every created thing.
- Blessed Margaret Mary

Remember Me - Monday in Holy Week

4/6/2020

The bond of our union with God is the love of God above all things. ‘‘He that dwells in charity dwells in God and God in him” Here is the link of gold which joins the soul of God. Keep that link fast, and do not be afraid when the consciousness of your past sins and of your many temptations seem to come down upon you and overwhelm you as a flood. In those darkest times, be sure that if you love God you are still united with Him. It is not when we walk in the brightness of the noonday only, that we are united with Him. The purest union with God is when we walk with Him in the darkness, without consolation and without joy, having no other guide; our hand in His hand; going on like children, not knowing whither, but obeying the inspirations of God to do or not to do as He wills: out in the bleak cold sky, with no joy in our prayers and no rest of heart, in constant inward fears, with temptations all around but always faithful to the guidance of the Spirit of God. “Whosoever are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God”

There are two axioms in the kingdom of God which never fail; no penitent soul can perish, and no soul that loves God can be lost.
- Cardinal Manning

Never depart from Jesus on earth if thou wouldst live and rejoice with Jesus in heaven.
- Thomas d Kempis

Remember Me - The Sixth Sunday in Lent - Palm Sunday

4/5/2020

'‘The master hath need of them." Observe the poverty of our Blessed Savior. In His days of modest triumph He has nothing but what men choose to lend, or to give Him. And now in our days He is quite as poor as then. Here on earth man is rich. God is poor. "The Heaven of Heavens is the Lord’s, but the earth He has given to the children of men.”

It is as when a good father makes over a property to his eldest son. He has given it, and will not take it back. "The Lord has sworn and will not repent.” Therefore in this world man is master, and our Lord is poor and quite dependent. If He wants bread for His poor He comes for it. If He wants instruction for His little ones He comes to us. Even when He wants to offer the Everlasting Sacrifice, He cannot do it till we give Him the juice of the grape, and the wheaten bread, "and provide an altar, and the priest, and the vestments.” If He wants to soothe the soul of the dying. He cannot carry out His loving wish till we give Him as an alms the oil of peace and gladness.

O how humble of heart our Blessed Lord is when He stoops so low as to tell me that He has need of me! We often say, "I do not choose to be under obligation to this man.” Our Lord and our God wishes most ardently to be under obligation to each of us, that thus He may have a plea for pouring out all His riches on us throughout eternity.
- Fr. Gallwey S.J.

Remember Me - Thursday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent

4/2/2020

"Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart,” St. Bernards remarks, ''What pride is there which the humility of the divine Master cannot extinguish? Verily, it may be said that He alone in reality humbles and abases Himself, and that we, when we seem to humiliate ourselves,' do not lower ourselves at all, but simply take the place which belongs to us. For, being all creatures, guilty perhaps of a thousand misdeeds, we can lay claim to no other right than nothingness and punishment. But our Savior Jesus Christ lowered Himself infinitely beneath that lofty height which belongs to Him.

He is the omnipotent God, the Infinite and Immortal, the supreme Arbiter of all things. And notwithstanding this, He became man, weak, mortal, subject to suffering, obedient even to death. He bore the lack of all temporal things. He, who in heaven, constituted the joy of the angels and of the saints, willed to become the Man of Sorrows and took upon Himself each and all of the miseries of humanity.

The uncreated Wisdom, and of all wisdom the Principle, has borne the shame and mockery due to a fool. The Holy of Holies, and Sanctity in essence, suffered Himself to be reputed a villain and a malefactor. He whom the countless hosts of the blessed in heaven adore, willed to die a disgraceful death upon a cross. And lastly, He who by nature is the Sovereign Good, endured every kind of human misery.

Then, after such an example of humility what ought we not to do—we who are dust and ashes? And what humiliation should ever appear hard to us, who are not only worms of earth but miserable sinners?
- Pope Leo XIII

Remember Me - Wednesday After the Fifth Sunday in Lent

4/1/2020

There is a danger of forming a false idea of holiness. To hear some people talk one would suppose it necessary to leave everything, to throw away all, to bury oneself in a desert and there devote oneself entirely to prayer and mortification. People then reply, that is impossible, so holiness must be left to the saints; and then betake themselves to a myriad of faults, sins, infidelities towards God. That is to say, under the excuse of not being able to become saints, they make themselves quite easy about their state, and slip on swiftly to their own condemnation.

This is an error, invented by the spirit of lies, accepted by the world, favored by the passions, which ask no better than to find a plausible pretext for satisfying the conscience. This is not sanctity. Sanctity consists in the accomplishment of the duties God lays upon us. In this way one who fulfills well the duties of his station, and, much more one who fulfills them well for God, will become a real saint—nothing more is needed.
- Pere Cestac

The secret of being always with God and of assuring His continual presence in our hearts is constant prayer.
- St. Isidore

Remember Me - Tuesday After the Fifth Sunday in Lent

3/31/2020

It is a wise rule of life to work every day, within reasonable restrictions, towards limiting eternal needs. "To need nothing,’’ Socrates said, ''is an attribute of divinity, to have need of little is an approach towards divine perfection.” Thus the heathen sage. How many things we might do without! The needs that we create, that we do not know where to check, that, on the contrary we go on adding to indefinitely—all these become a legion of petty tyrants that form up and surround us. Let us be on our guard, for thus we are watched from every point.

We claim to be rich; we are mistaken, we are poor, very poor, indeed, for the needs that we go on multiplying are a crowd of beggars that assault our home; each addition is a fresh charge upon us. We grow poorer as we add to our wants, for each fresh need, each desire for some new thing, increases the mob of supplicants. In appearance we may seem richer, but in fact we are tending towards absolute beggary, for we in our turn come to be always asking—asking that we may supply the needs that have become our masters.
- Msgr. Landriot

The rich differ in nothing from beggars, but in being more miserable, for beggars have need of little, and the rich of much.
- Seneca

Remember Me - Monday After the Fifth Sunday in Lent

3/30/2020

Meditate for a short space on God’s love as shown in the example Christ Himself gives us of the prodigal Son. He takes his whole fortune, leaves his home, gives himself up to dissolute life, squandering his money, and, when reduced to beggary, sinks to the level of a swineherd. Roused to reflection by his misery, he resolves to return home, and his father on seeing this wreck of humanity at once recognizes him, acknowledges him as his son, weeps over him, loving him as before, and restores him to his old costume and position. He is well dressed, feasted with delicacies, music soothes him, friends are invited to meet him, for ''I have got my son back again,” says the loving father; "the one who was lost.”

This is no graceful parable but a truth; it is thus a sinner really is, with regard to God his Father. Rouse yourself therefore, you who are grovelling in self-indulgence; what are you doing ? This is not a hard saying, but a merciful one. The way will be hard during the return journey to God, but what will be your reception? Love. And that, a love that gives you all its best.
- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Do not let us be ashamed of flight, for flight from the world is not a disgrace, but an honor.
- St. Ambrose

Remember Me - The Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday

3/29/2020

The Prophet Elias, persecuted by impious Jezabel, retreats into the desert, and having made a day’s journey in it sinks at the foot of a tree with the prayer: 'It is enough; let me die.’’ An angel descending from heaven, touching the prophet, said: '‘Rise and eat, for a long journey is before you.” Rising, he ate the food brought him by the angel, and in its strength journeyed forty days and forty nights until he reached the Mount of God.

The Prophet Elias is the Christian soul traveling through the desert of life. Often wearied by the weight of existence the exile casts himself down despondently in the shadow of the first rock he meets, and cries, “Lord, I have lived long enough, release me from this world; the source of life and strength is withered within me.” Soul of little faith! Lift your eyes, and see the Angel who is at your side. He holds in his hand food prepared in heaven. Take this strengthening manna and you will rise in full strength for the journey that lies before you. Take this Bread. It is Jesus Christ, and “Christ is life, and life is bread,” as Tertullian says. {De orat.)

How many weak souls drag themselves wearily through the shades of mortal languor, because, though they have known the gift of God, they have forgotten to eat their bread, and their soul is enervated like the body of a man who for a long time has eaten no food.
-Msgr. Landriot

Remember Me - Saturday after the Fifth Sunday in Lent

3/28/2020

When, as often happens in this life, you see deeds done, words become law, in defiance of right, do not be scandalized nor doubt the power of God’s Sovereign Will. Full of consideration for our liberty He permits revolts because He wills only to receive genuine obedience; but all the time that prescriptive right is reserved and will receive full recognition when the time of justice has come. Then will Jesus hold His court of assize, the insurgents summoned before Him will realize from the weight of His sentence that not for a moment did He cease to be their ruler. Bent beneath the burden of His judgment they will say a despairing farewell to the Kingdom of His Glory and retreat to the realm of woe. Alas ! for these eternal exiles for whom is no reprieve.

But Christian souls convinced of the sovereign rights of their Lord, recognize both the sweetness and the honor of obeying him. The grievous spectacle of agitation that alike dishonors and disintegrates society, when human will claims to rule without any superior law to direct or restrain it, shows them clearly how necessary is Christ’s government to the existence of order and of peace. It is for that object I implore you to work, by prayer, by words, by example, by influence. You may not see the triumph on earth of your divine monarch, but it is certain you will see and enjoy in heaven the kingdom of His glory.
- Fere Monsabre

It is very important that we should help each other by prayers.
- St. Teresa

Remember Me - Saturday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/28/2020

St. Ignatius recommends us to dwell sometimes when we contemplate, on this thought, “This is all for me.'' We must try to believe more and more firmly this great truth which arms us well against all hopeless thoughts or enkindles the fire of love. All this contrition is for me and for my sins. How far short, then, my contrition is of what it should be! Blessed Mother of Sorrows, pray for me now and at the hour of my death, that I may see clearly, while I look on the agony of thy Son, the truth of that word : “Know then and see that it was an evil and a bitter thing for thee to have left the Lord thy God." (Jerem. ii.) Alas, I knew not what I was doing. I knew not how evil and bitter a thing it was. I "sinned and said: “What harm hath befallen me?" I sinned, and how little have I as yet realized the force of those words far more applicable to me than to the Jews: “Is this the return that you makest to the Lord, O foolish and senseless people? Is not He thy Father that hath possessed thee, and made thee, and created thee?" (Deut. xxxii.)

“According to the multitude of thy tender mercies, O Lord, blot out my sins. For I will declare my iniquity and I will think for my sins." (Psalm xxxvii.)

All this contrition is for me, to be added to mine. Therefore, when I go to the sacred tribunal, I have something better to rely upon than my own feeble act of contrition. Jesus Christ, my surety, my Savior, is uniting all His great contrition with my most insufficient sorrow.
- Father Gallwey S.J.

Remember Me - Friday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/27/2020

''My kingdom is not of this world" Jesus Christ does not deny that He is king of the world, but only that He reigns in it with the splendor and pomp of its visible princes. How then does He reign in it? By poverty, contempt, obedience, lowliness, by the cross; it is thus that He has brought the empire to His feet. Let me not, my Savior, be behindhand in recognizing my king, however common, however displeasing to my taste, may be the externals of Thy royalty. I am content with Thy surroundings as much for love of Thee as for the sake of imitating Thee; no one can lower himself by growing more like Thee.

"Thou art then a king?" Pilate asks again; and, "I am what thou sayest," Jesus replies. This is the same answer as before, for faith and truth cannot contradict themselves, I believe, again, O Lord, that Thou art the king of my soul, I confess Thee and adore; I will ever cry "Thou art King, my Savior and my God." I will appeal to Thy rights over me when passion claims me as a captive in defiance of my allegiance, sworn to Thee. Am I not in the world just to bear this testimony? I will be faithful, strengthen this resolution in me, ‘formed as it is under the inspiration of Thy grace!
- Pere Arancin S.J.

O Lord Jesus Christ, I adore Thee hanging on the cross. Thy head crowned with thorns ! Thou art the King of Glory, O Christ!
- St. Gregory

Remember Me - Thursday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/26/2020

There is a well known phrase of St. Augustine’s, '‘God does not command what is impossible except as commanding
us to do all that we can towards it and to ask that He will do, in our aid, the share of it that we cannot do.'’ Ah, if you should have to work, to strive, to suffer, to die, even to die upon a cross if God wills it, do not for a moment doubt that the power lies for you already in His hand, if he has not already placed it in yours—the grace to die, to suffer, to strive, to conquer.

But I do not stop at asking you to expect only what is indispensable, from God. Have you ever found God stopping short at what is absolutely necessary? He certainly might do so, and if He did would still do what is just, holy and adorable. But does He ever? Has He ever done it with you? Ah, if ever He has, I will tell you when it was—in the day and hour when your trust in Him failed. David dares to say, “With the perverse Thou wilt be perverse;” that is, towards him who comes to Thee crookedly Thou wilt advance crookedly. How much the more then might one say, “with him who shuts his heart up from Thee, Thy heart will be shut up” and that every distrustful heart closes God's hand. Expect then, unwaveringly, from God an abundance of grace.
- Msgr. Gay

In union with the perfect confidence and hope that the holy and Blessed Virgin Mary placed in Thee, do I hope,
O Lord.
- St. Pius V

Remember Me - Wednesday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/25/2020

Do not scrutinize too closely whether you are doing much or little, ill or well, so long as what you do is not sinful and that you are heartily seeking to do everything for God. Try, as far as you can to do everything well, but when it is done do not think about it; try rather to think of what is to be done next. Go on simply in the Lord’s way and do not torment yourself. We ought to hate our faults, but with a calm hatred, not pettishly nor anxiously. We must learn to look patiently at them, and win through them the grace of self-abnegation and humility. For want of this, and through looking at your imperfections in an unreal way they do but increase upon you. Nothing so causes our tares to thrive as disquietude and impetuousity in striving to uproot them. There is a great temptation to be disgusted at the world, when we are constrained to dwell in it; but God’s providence is wiser than we are. We fancy that if we changed our portion we should be better; possibly—if we changed ourselves. But I am a steadfast foe to all such useless, dangerous, evil desires; even when what we wish for is good in itself, the desire is evil ; since God denies us that particular good thing, and chooses rather to prove us in some other way. He wills to speak to us as to Moses from a burning bush, and we would fain hear Him in a still small voice as when He spoke to the Prophet Elias.
- St. Francis de Sales

Blessed are they that follow in all things the will of God.
- Thomas d Kempis

Remember Me - Tuesday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/24/2020

Among other things needful in the spiritual combat, one is the perseverance with which we must strive continually to mortify our passions, which in this life never die, but on the contrary like evil weeds shoot up every hour.

And this is a battle from which, as it ends only with life, there is no escape; and he who fights not in it is of necessity either taken captive or slain. Besides we have to deal with enemies who bear us an unceasing hatred, so that from them we can never hope either for peace or a truce, because they slay those most cruelly who strive most to make friends of them.

Thou hast no cause however to fear either their power or their number; for in the battle none can be a loser but he who wills it; the whole strength of our enemies is in the hand of the Captain for whose honor we have to fight. And not only will He guard thee from all treachery, but He will even fight for thee, a being mightier than all these enemies. He will give the victory into thy hands, if only thou wilt fight manfully together with Him, and trust not in thyself, but in His power and goodness. And if the Lord give thee not so speedy a victory, be not disheartened, but be the more assured that all things which shall befall thee, those even which to thee may seem furthest from, yea most opposed to thy victory, all will He turn to thy good and profit, if thou wilt but bear thyself as a faithful and generous warrior.
- Scupoli

The soldier's fidelity is proved in battle, and blessed is he who is faithful in adversity.
- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Remember Me - Monday After the Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/23/2020

Blessed is the soul which frequently considereth the last hour, when all must be ended in, this life—joys or sorrows, honors and reproaches. Happy the soul that is as a poor pilgrim traveling towards God—that despiseth all the pomp of the world, however great and enticing. For in that last hour all shall perish—cities, castles, villages, vessels of gold and silver, all dainty meats and flowers, cups of smelling wine. Then shall be dumb the lyre, trumpet, pipe and harp. Then shall be no more sport nor mirth, no more dance nor loud applause, no more songs nor merry laughter, no more the sound of revelry in street or bower—for the hearts of all living shall fail, and the whole earth shall tremble at the presence of God. O how wise is he that daily considereth these things ! Blessed is he that of his own desire keepeth himself away from the many snares and dangers of the world. Blessed is he that watcheth day and night against temptation; for so long as the soul is united to the body, and the body is nourished with the fruit of the earth, man cannot be exempt from sin nor free from temptation, nor assured that he may not fall.

There is nothing that endureth, nothing that abideth on this earth, of which the body of Adam and his sons were formed. Then in all thy works, whatever they may be, wherever thou goest, to what place soever thou proceedest, remember the end of life, and the last hour, which shall come at a time thou thinkest not.
- Thomas a Kempis

He who has made you what you are has the right to require that you should be wholly His.
- St. Augustine.

Remember Me - The Fifth Sunday in Lent - Passion Sunday

3/22/2020

The Prophet Elias, persecuted by impious Jezabel, retreats into the desert, and having made a day’s journey in it sinks at the foot of a tree with the prayer: "It is enough; let me die.’’ An angel descending from heaven, touching the prophet, said: '‘Rise and eat, for a long journey is before you.” Rising, he ate the food brought him by the angel, and in its strength journeyed forty days and forty nights until he reached the Mount of God.

The Prophet Elias is the Christian soul traveling through the desert of life. Often wearied by the weight of existence the exile casts himself down despondently in the shadow of the first rock he meets, and cries, “Lord, I have lived long enough, release me from this world ; the source of life and strength is withered within me.” Soul of little faith! Lift your eyes, and see the Angel who is at your side. He holds in his hand food prepared in heaven. Take this strengthening manna and you will rise in full strength for the journey that lies before you. Take this Bread. It is Jesus Christ, and “Christ is life, and life is bread,” as Tertullian says. {De orat.)

How many weak souls drag themselves wearily through the shades of mortal languor, because, though they have known the gift of God, they have forgotten to eat their bread, and their soul is enervated like the body of a man who for a long time has eaten no food.
- Msgr. Landriot

Remember Me - Fourth Sunday in Lent

3/22/2020

O dear brethren, anticipate the day of Judgment. Be beforehand with it. That day is coming as the rising of tomorrow's sun. The day is not far off when the Great White Throne will be set up, and we shall stand before Him; and the eyes that are as a flame of fire, will search us through and through ; and not His eyes alone, but the eyes of all men will be upon us ! and the ears of men will hear that which the accuser will say against us in that day. There will be no secrecy there; no hiding of our sins, nothing concealed from God, or from that multitude which is around the Great White Throne. What does He require of you now? The Great White Throne is veiled in His mercy. In the holy Sacrament of Penance He sits as the Judge, not arrayed in the splendors which will dazzle and blind us at the Last Day, but as the Good Shepherd, and as the Good Physician, the Friend of Sinners, who is come not to call the just, but sinners, to repentance. There He sits in His mercy. Come to Him then, one by one. Be beforehand with the Day of Judgment. That which you confess now will be blotted out and forgiven in that day. That which you hide now will be in the book of God’s remembrance, laid up for a record in the day of the great assize. It is not much that He requires of us to come and tell it in the ear of one man in His stead—If it be painful to you, if shame cover your face, offer up the pain and the shame as a part of the penance, as Mary Magdalene in the midst of that great banquet. It is precisely for this purpose that the salutary pain may be the medicine of our pride. Dear brethren, then, be beforehand with the Day of Judgment, while the day of grace lasts ; and come to Him as you are.
- Cardinal Manning

Remember Me - Saturday After the Third Sunday in Lent

3/21/2020

Love for our neighbor must be disinterested and generous, but it must be pure, not the indulgence—even at some cost of physical effort—of mere good nature, or, what it is a tendency, if not a fault of the present generation to make it, an outlet of energy, an object of business. Love for our neighbor must not be rash, but sage and discreet. We must render him the services due to him from us ; help to instruct ignorant brethren, to correct them, or soothe them in spiritual or corporal need. But we must not injure our own eternal interests by love to our neighbor. An Ancient philosopher was once asked by a neighbor to do him some kindness at the expense of his honour, and on his refusal was asked sharply, ‘‘What is the good of your being my friend, if your friendship is useless to me?” To which the philosopher answered wisely, “What good is yours to me, if it does me harm?” Our test should be a similar one, and none of us have any right to go beyond the line thus marked.
- Abbee Puyol

Though thou art bound to set a good example, thou must never do it solely with this view; else thou wilt lose all benefit to thyself.
- Scupoli

Remember Me - Friday After the Third Sunday in Lent

3/20/2020

Consider the marvel of Jesus' Heart as corresponding to an infirmity in the heart of man. Just because we love little we love few people; we shut ourselves up to love, we build ourselves a little nest wherein we place the beings most dear to us—a father, a mother, a wife, children, a few friends. What can we do? We have only a drop of love; we husband it, expending it on a few, for even while we give these few all we have, we are not sure of having given them enough.

How different the Heart of Jesus! He loves all men and all with the same zeal. Small and great, rich and poor, the just and the sinner, the waifs and strays of the world. Is there any one He forgets ? Whom has He not loved, tenderly, ardently? What being has ever been found too foul for this most pure Heart, too common for this most noble Heart, too haughty for this humble Heart, too small for this sublime Heart? It seems even as if immensity did not suffice Him, and in His prayers. His words, one surprises bursts of affection in which He embraces all created beings and even worlds unknown to us.
- Msgr. Bougaud

What shall I give back to the Lord for all that He has given to me?
- Psalm cxv.

Remember Me - Wednesday After the Third Sunday in Lent

3/18/2020

Seek not to penetrate into futurity, neither encourage a habit of anticipating good or evil. Our trials do not always come from those occasions we may have foreseen— God frequently takes us by surprise, and sometimes in those objects on which we most fondly rest our hearts and in those moments when we think ourselves most secure. The evils which we have imagined for ourselves often vanish before the eye of reason and it is not in our own power to choose where the blow shall fall.

Let then, the obedience of every day be your daily bread: live upon the will of your God: He provides for you celestial manna. Be satisfied with it; it is not in your power to lay it up in store, or to say how much of it God shall give you. All that you have to do is to use it in such proportions as you receive it.

Strive to live your life in peace, simplicity and resignation. Place your hopes of happiness in God, and not in His creatures, and you will then be secure. For on Him you may rely with full confidence.
- Fenelon

Do all things with holy simplicity, without regard to anything but to please God.
- Scupoli

Remember Me - Tuesday After the Third Sunday in Lent

3/17/2020

What is trial? A rendezvous which God appoints to His creatures that He may test their love. Trial alone, indeed, can provide the opportunity for the proof of man’s free choice between his own will and the will of God ; and the severer the trial the better we can show our love by our generosity in triumphing over it.

When God destines a soul, says the Apostle, to the glory of the elect, He also destines it to reflect the image of His only Son. How can a soul reflect that image in itself? Through glory? Why, as to glory the Son of God was glorious on Thabor, but that glory lasted for an hour. Through strength? Hardly, for it is rare indeed that God predestines a creature to miraculous deeds.

Through holiness, then? Yes; and what is the most striking element in the holiness of the Son of man? The resignation His love evinced in His sufferings. Ecce Homo! Behold the Man! Look at Him as Pilate shows Him to you, with His reed. His crown of thorns, His bruised and disfigured face, dimmed by shame. This is truly the Man of Sorrows, with His burning Heart and His gentle glance. Look well at Him, for such is the model we must copy in its grief, if we are to reflect its rays when we enjoy its vision in the bosom of the Eternal glory.
- Pere Marchal.

When God has chosen a soul which he predestines to become great He marks it with His seal, and God’s seal is a cross.
- Abbe Mounier

Remember Me - Monday After the Third Sunday in Lent

3/16/2020

Whenever you do anything—that is, in general—do all things—that is, each thing in particular—in the name, not only to the name, of our Lord Jesus Christ ; and further give thanks to God through Him. (Col. iii. 17.)

As everything should be offered to God, so everything should be given thanks for to Him; since whatever you offer Him is really His gift. You are a river, grateful to its origin, but only a river; you have to bear back to the ocean what was given to you from it. Observe how the Church, directed in this matter by the Apostle Paul, has instituted two solemn prayers to be said one at the beginning and one at the end of every duty, to commend it to God and to thank Him for it. This thanksgiving is due to God Himself, to God as the Fountain of all good that flows to us, to God the Father and just as He gives us all through the medium of Jesus Christ, so He delights that we should thank Him for all by Jesus Christ.

But somehow the greater part of mankind seems to pay its debts after the pattern of animals feeding greedily under an oak on the acorns that fall abundantly from it, and never thinking of looking up to admire the origin of the gifts.—So few are there among them who really give thanks.
- P. Segneri S.F.
All that Thou takest from me I give Thee; and all that I have not given Thee I owe Thee.
- Madame Swetchine