Crusaders for Christ
  • Blog
    • Staff only
  • About Us
  • Downloads
    • Catholic Homeschool - Study Guides
    • Handwriting
    • School Planners
    • Coloring Pictures
    • St. Catherine's Academy Gazette
    • Printable Children's books
  • Catholic Reading
    • Saint of the Day
    • Father Muller Books
    • Chapter Books >
      • Jesus of Nazareth - The Story of His Life Simply Told
      • Little Therese
    • Sermons for Children
    • Books We Have Enjoyed
    • This and That
    • The Blessed Mother for the Child in all of us!
  • Julie's Threaded Needle
  • For Moms
    • Popular Instructions on the Bringing Up of Children

The Second Sunday of Lent - Our True Home

2/28/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
My dear children: Last Sunday we found our dear Lord in the desert, today we see Him on Mount Tabor transfigured. What a change! from fasting and prayer in the desert to glory and beauty on the mountain. Our Lord wants to teach us how well we shall be rewarded if for His sake and for the salvation of our soul we fast and pray; then we shall see God in all His infinite glory and majesty in heaven, and full of rapture we shall cry out: Lord it is good for us to be here.

Although we labor for our temporal life we must not forget to labor for our eternal life. Religion obliges us to keep the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church. The man who obeys God and His Church, if he prays, hears the Word of God and frequently receives the Sacraments worthily, that person labors for eternal life.

I have heard of a lady who had a very strange dream. You know how strange most of our dreams are. And this was a strange dream. She was a very rich woman, and the people said that she was a very good woman. One night she dreamed that she went up to heaven and one of the angels showed her through the streets of the beautiful city. She saw such beautiful houses and palaces as she had never seen before. At last she came to one that was just being built. It was more beautiful than those around it, and she asked her guide whose it was. "Oh," said the angel, "that is for your gardener."

The lady was much surprised, and said : "For my gardener ! Why he is only a poor man and has always lived in a little bit of a house." The angel said nothing, but led her on through the streets and avenues of the city. Soon they came to a plain-looking house, low roofed and very simple. Of course it was beautiful, for everything is beautiful in heaven, but it was not like the other fine palaces she had seen. Then she asked the angel whose the little low cottage house was. The angel said, "This is to be your house." "Mine?"said the lady. "Why, I have always lived in a mansion down on the earth” "Yes, I know," said the angel, "but the Great Builder is doing the best He can with the material that is being sent up."

That is a strange dream, but you know what it means. We are all building our lives and characters for heaven, and we are doing it now. Every kind deed, and every true word and every beautiful thought dedicated to God are stones in the building. The kind of house we will live in will depend on the kind of stuff we are putting into our lives now.

There are many who do not labor for eternal life. They give way to curses and blasphemies, they desecrate Sundays and holidays, they are disobedient to their parents and grieve them; they live in enmity with their neighbors and commit frauds and injustices; they eat meat on Fridays and days of abstinence; they neglect to hear Mass on Sundays and holy days, and they keep away from confession and Holy Communion. Why are there so very many who do not labor for eternal life? It is simply because they never think of heaven, they never say to themselves: It is good to be in heaven. They do not consider what a great blessing heaven is, what unspeakable happiness the saints enjoy.

One day a little boy presented himself before the King of Cochin China, who was persecuting the Church and the Christians. He threw himself on his knees before him and asked permission to speak. The permission being granted, he said : "Mandarin, cut off
my head with the sword, that I may go to my country."

"Where is your country?" asked the judge. "It is in heaven," replied the child. "And where are your parents ?" "They are gone home to heaven, and I want to follow them. Oh, sir, give me a stroke with the sword and send me there too."

The mandarin was struck with admiration at the faith and courage of the boy, but refused to grant him his request. But this child received from God the glory of the martyrs on account of his great desire of being a martyr.

Our Divine Lord tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent bear it away. A pious life has many pains and hardships. The Christian who conquers himself is a greater hero than the general who takes fortresses and subdues mighty kingdoms.

There was once a pious widow who did not enjoy much worldly wealth, but possessed that which is so much more precious, the one true Faith. She had a little daughter by the name of Dorothy, who, when she grew up to be a big girl, began to show signs of thoughtlessness, and many a time did the poor mother weep over the faults of her dear child.

When she was ten years old, her mother, although she was poor, sent her to a convent to live for a time under the care of the pious Sisters. Dorothy remained in the convent for two years, after which time she returned to her mother's home. But what a change had come over her during these two years. People who knew her before she went to the convent could not believe that she was the same girl.

She who had been so disobedient and idle was now an example to all her companions by her gentleness, patience, obedience and piety, although she was only a little more than twelve years old. In a short time the people came to know that she was really good.

The priest of the place was full of joy when he saw in his parish one who gave such good example. One day he said to Dorothy: "Tell me what has made you so good ?" "Father," she meekly answered, "I am not good, but I would like very much to be good, and I am trying very hard to be good. "When I was in the convent, one of the Sisters' asked me if I wanted to be good. I said: 'Yes Sister, I would like to be very pious.' 'Then,' said she, 'the easiest way to be pious is to take Jesus Christ for your model, and whatever you do, do it to please Him!'

So when I rise in the morning and say my prayers I think I see the Child Jesus rising when His mother called Him. When I am at work I think I see Jesus helping St. Joseph or Mary in the house; and when I am told to do anything I think I see my dear Jesus told by His Blessed Mother to do this or that, and that I see Him doing it immediately.' "But my child," said the priest, "when people were speaking against you, and calling you a hypocrite, did you not feel angry with them?" "Ah, dear Father," she replied, "that was a heavy cross; but the Sisters had told me that I would have many crosses to bear if I wanted to be good, so when I heard the falsehoods they were telling about me, and the names they called me, I remembered how the Jews called Jesus names and He said nothing, but only prayed to God for their forgiveness. So I did the same." "Then you do sometimes find it difficult to be good?" "Ah, yes, Father, sometimes I am very much tempted, and sometimes I become so very sad and weary that I often think that it is no use trying to be good. But then I remember that Jesus Himself was sometimes weary and sad, especially that time when He saw so many people turning their backs upon Him and leaving Him. Then I think Him saying to me: 'And you my daughter, are you also going to leave me? Surely you will not sin against me after I have been so good to you ?'
"Then I say, 'No, my God, I will never leave Thee. To whom should I go if I left Thee? I will love Thee in weariness as well as in joy till I die; but O my God, help me." "My dear child," said the priest, "you have learned your lesson well, and what is far better, you know how to practice it. Go on as you are doing, fight the good fight and you will have gained much merit for heaven."
What is better than to take Jesus as our model and do everything as Dorothy did for His sake? As long as we are in this world we must fight against sin and our own evil inclinations, and if we do that we shall one day see God in heaven; that is what is meant by the good fight.

The thought of the joys of heaven should encourage us in all our toil and sufferings. Say frequently: it is good to be in heaven. With this maxim on our lips and in our hearts we will be brave enough to toil and suffer and finally merit heaven.
 
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921


 


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of
       March to our dear    
          Saint Joseph      

    Picture
    Student Planners
    Handwriting Books
    Coloring Books
    Bella's Little Shoppe
                      COPYRIGHT
    The purpose of this website is to share the beautiful Catholic resources that God has so richly blessed us with.  All texts unless they are my own words have their sources quoted, and most of them are in the public domain. Any educational items that I have made for or with my children are NOT TO BE USED FOR PROFIT, but are meant to be used for personal use by individuals and families. You may link to our site if you so choose.

    A Saint for everyday and good reading at:

    Picture

    Visit our friends at St. Fiacre's for a good cup of tea!

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012

    Categories

    All
    10th Day Of Christmas
    10th Sun After Pentecost
    10th Sunday After Pentecost
    11th Day Of Christmas
    12 Days Of Christmas
    12th Day Of Christmas
    12th Sun After Pentecost
    13th Sun After Pentecost
    14th Sun After Pentecost
    15th Sun After Pentecost
    16th Sun After Pentecost
    17th Sun After Pentecost
    18th Sun After Pentecost
    19th Sun After Pentecost
    1st Commandment
    1st Sun After Easter
    1st Sun After Epiphany
    1st Sun After Pentecost
    1st Sunday After Epiphany
    1st Sunday Of Advent
    2016-2017 School Planners
    20th Sun After Pentecost
    22nd Sun After Pentecost
    23rd Sun After Pentecost
    24th Sunday After Pentecost
    2nd Day Of Christmas
    2nd Sun After Easter
    2nd Sun After Easter
    2nd Sun. After Pentecost
    2nd Sunday After Epiphany
    2nd Sunday Of Advent
    2nd Sunday Of Lent
    2nd Sun Of Advent
    3rd Day Of Christmas
    3rd Sun After Easter
    3rd Sun. After Epiphany
    3rd Sun After Pentecost
    3rd Sunday Of Advent
    3rd Sunday Of Lent
    3rd Sun Of Advent
    4th Day Of Christmas
    4th Sun After Easter
    4th Sun After Epiphany
    4th Sun After Pentecost
    4th Sunday Of Advent
    4th Sunday Of Lent
    5th Day Of Christmas
    5th Sun After Pentecost
    5th Sunday After Epiphany
    6th Day Of Christmas
    6th Sunday After Epiphany
    7th Day Of Christmas
    8th Day Of Christmas
    8th Sunday After Pentecost
    9th Day Of Christmas
    Admonition
    Advent
    Advent Coloring Pictures
    Advent Time
    Advent To Christmas
    Agnes
    Alban's Day
    All Saints Day
    All Souls Day
    Ambrose
    Ascension Day
    Ascension Thursday
    Ash Wednesday
    Assumption
    Assumption Of The B.V.M.
    Bad Books
    Bellas-boutique89968f2d4e
    Bellas-little-shoppe
    Be Strong
    Bishop-hay
    Blessed Richard Gywn
    Blessed-virgin-mary
    Book Giveaway5ede0bf3e3
    Bridget
    Bvm-coloring-book
    Calling Good Evil And Evil Good
    Candlemas
    Candlemas Ceremonies
    Can-you-explain-catholic-customs
    Cardinal Pie
    Catechism-in-examples
    Catechism In Rhyme
    Catherine Laboure
    Catherine Of Siena
    Catholic Calendar
    Catholic Ceremonies
    Catholic-ebooks
    Catholic-marriage
    Catholic-reading
    Catholics-ready-answer
    Catholics-ready-answer
    Certificates Of Completion
    Charity
    Childrens-books-pdf
    Childrens-meditation
    Childrens-sermons
    Childrens Sermons6a865c90b1
    Childs-history-of-apostles
    Christian-in-the-world
    Christmas
    Christmas Book List
    Christmas-coloring-book
    Christmas-customs
    Christmas Day
    Christmas Eve
    Christmas-octave-prayers
    Christmastide
    Circumcision-of-our-lord
    Circumcision-of-our-lord
    Coloring Book
    Coloring Pictures
    Come The End
    Communion Of Saints
    Confiteor
    Cradle Hymn
    Creeds-and-deeds
    Crusaders-for-christ
    Damien Of Molokai
    Dangers Of The Day
    Daughters Of Charity
    Devotion-to-mary
    Doll-habits-and-costumes
    Dorothy
    Downloads
    Duties-of-a-christian-father
    Duties-of-the-christian-mother
    Dymphna
    Easter Sunday
    Ecclesiastical Year
    Ecclesiastical-year
    Elizabeth Of Hungary
    Ember Friday In Advent
    Ember Saturday In Advent
    Ember Wed. In Advent
    Epiphany
    Epiphany For Children
    Epiphany - House Blessing
    Epiphany The Twelth Night
    Equality
    Evangelist
    Evils Of Worldliness
    Faith
    Faith Of Our Fathers
    False Christs
    False Prophets
    False Worship
    Family And Catholic Customs
    Fasting
    Father Lasance
    Father Muller
    Feast Of The Holy Family
    February 2016
    First Sunday Of Lent
    First Sun. Of Advent
    For Children
    Francis Xavier
    Fraternity Or Brotherly Love
    Genealogy Of St. Joachim And St. Anne
    Genevieve
    Gifts At Christmas
    Give-a-Way
    Glory Be
    God Of Mercy And Compassion
    God The Teacher Of Mankind
    Goffine's Devout Instruction
    Goffine's Devout Instruction
    Good Friday
    Guardian Angel
    Guardian Angels
    Guardian Angels
    Guarding The Eyes
    Hail Mary
    Handwriting Books
    Handwriting Practice
    Heaven
    Heaven Is The Prize
    Heresy
    Hilary - January 14th
    Holy Cross Day
    Holydays And History
    Holy Ghost Novena
    Holy Innocents
    Holy Mass
    Holy Name Of Jesus
    Holy Name Of Mary
    Holy Souls
    Holy Thursday
    Holy Week
    Homeschool
    Honor-thy-father-and-thy-mother
    How Catholics Lose The Faith
    How-to-be-a-saint
    Human Respect
    Human Respect
    Humility
    Immaculate Conception
    In A Little While
    Indifferentism
    Instruction On Advent
    Instruction On Penance
    Instruction On The Feast Of The Holy Rosary
    Issue 42
    Issue 47
    January 2017
    Jesus Christmas
    Jesus With Childen
    Joan Of Arc
    John
    John The Evangelist
    Lectures For Boys
    Lent
    Lenten Catechism
    Lenten Lapbook
    Lenten Printables
    Lent For Children
    Lent To Easter
    Liberal Catholics
    Liberty
    Lisbeth
    Litany Of The BVM
    Little Month Of Saint Joseph
    Little Stories Of Christ's Passion
    Luke
    Maidens For Mary
    March 2016
    Margaret Mary
    Marks Of The Church
    Martinmas
    Mass
    Mass Study Guide
    Matthew - Sept. 21st
    Maundy Thursday
    May 1st
    May - Dedicated To Our Blessed Mother
    Meditations For Lent
    Menu-planner
    Metropolitan-second-reader
    Misericordia-reader
    Modernism
    Mondays-with-father-muller
    Month-of-saint-joseph
    Moral-briefs
    Moral-briefs-chapter-1
    Moral-briefs-chapter-2
    Moral-briefs-chapter-3
    Morning Prayers
    Mothers Day 20132303cd0d22
    Motion-pictures
    My Catholic Faith
    My-catholic-faith-giveaway
    My-prayer-book
    Narcissus
    Nativity
    New Years
    New Years Day
    New Years Eve
    Nov Ninth72cdf219cc
    Nov. Tenth
    One And Only Saving Faith
    On Resignation To The Will Of God
    Our Lady Of Good Counsel
    Palm Sunday
    Parental Rights And Obligations
    Passion Sunday
    Patrick
    Penance
    Pentecost
    Pentecost Sunday
    Plain Lessons In Christian Doctrine
    Pope St. Pius X
    Popular Instruction To Parents
    Position And Prospects
    Practical Aids For Catholic Teachers
    Prayer
    Prayer Against Temptation
    Prayer For Lent
    Prayer For Perseverance
    Prayer To Obtain The Confidence Of One's Children
    Prayer To St. Joseph
    Precious Blood
    Presentation Of The Bvm
    Printable Books
    Prudence And Liberalism
    Purity
    Quinquagesima Sunday
    Quote Of The Day
    Quote Of The Day
    Rearing Of Children
    Reason And Revelation
    Remember Me
    Remember-me
    Remember Tomorrow
    Rita Of Cascia
    Rogation Days
    Roman Missal
    Rosary
    Sacramentals
    Sacred Passion Of Jesus Christ
    Saint Catherine's Academy Gazette
    Saintly ABC's
    Saint Stephen
    Saint Sylvester
    Saint Valentines Day
    Scandal
    School Planners
    Septuagesima Sunday
    Sermon Matter
    Sermon Matters
    Sermons For Chidren's Masses
    Seven Dolors Of The Bvm
    Sexagesima Sunday
    Short Catechism Of Church History
    Short Instructions
    Short Sermons For Every Sun
    Shrove Tuesday
    Signs Of The Times
    Sins Against Faith
    Spiritual Communion
    Spiritual Communion
    Spiritual Works Of Mercy
    Stability-progress
    St. Anne's Day
    Stations Of The Cross Coloring Book
    St. Benedict's Day
    St. Bernadette Soubirous
    St Catherines Academy Gazette
    St. Catherine's Academy Gazette
    Stephen
    St. George
    St-hilary-of-poitiers
    St. John Evangelist
    St. John's Eve
    St. John The Baptist's Day
    St. Joseph
    St. Joseph For Children
    St Lucy
    St Lucy Giveaway
    St. Mary Magdalen
    St Nicholas
    St. Nicholas
    Story Of The Week
    Story Sermonettes
    St-paul-the-first-hermit
    St. Therese
    Student Planners
    Study Guide
    Sufferings And Death Of Jesus
    Sunday After Christmas
    Sunday Within The Octave
    Sun Within The Octave Of Christmas
    Survey
    Survey Doll Costume
    Sweet Name Of Jesus
    Talks To Boys And Girls
    Te Deum
    The Angelus
    The BeeHive
    The Childs Desire
    The Christian Father
    The Christian In The World
    The Christian Mother
    The Church Of The Saints
    The Drops Of Precious Blood
    The Ecclesiastical Year
    The Friends Of Jesus
    The Good Shepherd
    The Greatest And First Commandment
    The Holy Innocents
    The Love Of God
    The New Year
    The Particular Judgment
    The Prodigal Son
    The Sacred Heart
    The Santa Lie
    The Way To God
    The Wondrous Childhood
    This And That
    Thomas A' Becket
    Tomorrows Far Away
    TOM'S CRUCIFIX
    To The Heart Of A Child
    Trinity Sunday
    True Christmas Spirit
    Truth
    Truth And Lies
    Tutorials
    Two Thousand Years Ago
    Valentine's Day
    Veronica Of Milan
    Vigil Of Epiphany
    Whitsunday
    Whom The Lord Loveth
    Whom To Believe
    William- Jan. 10th
    With The Church
    Work And Listen To God!
    Works Of Mercy
    You And Your Neighbor
    Your Cross
    Your Neighbor And You

    RSS Feed

© Crusaders for Christ 2012