BE CALM

224th Meditation

“Be calm and carefree, without ever losing vigilance and concentration of soul” (Inner Word).

Combining these two elements is a fine spiritual art. This carefree tranquillity arises from the certainty of knowing oneself to be sheltered in God and to live concretely in this certainty. Then, all situations that come our way will not be overcome primarily through the efforts of our will, that is, by our own strength, which easily leads to inner tension. Rather, they will be faced by listening attentively to the Lord’s directives. Our will then follows the thread of the Holy Spirit, and is docilely and tenderly coupled to Him. Read More

Opting for love

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Heb 10:19-25

We have then, brothers, complete confidence through the blood of Jesus in entering the sanctuary, by a new way which he has opened for us, a living opening through the curtain, that is to say, his flesh. And we have the high priest over all the sanctuary of God. So as we go in, let us be sincere in heart and filled with faith, our hearts sprinkled and free from any trace of bad conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Read More

ABANDONING ONESELF TO THE WILL OF GOD IN ADVERSITIES

223rd Meditation

“If we would serenely abandon ourselves to God’s Will in all adversities, we would be on the way to holiness and would be the happiest people on earth” (St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori).

These words come to us from people who have had a profound experience of God. Their advice, drawn from the richness of their path of following Christ, helps us especially in difficult situations. Read More

PLACE OUR TRUST IN GOD

222nd Meditation

“As for trust, it is enough to know our own weakness and to tell the Lord that we wish to place all our trust in Him” (St. Francis de Sales).

Again and again we are invited to lay our weaknesses before the Lord. There is no doubt that we must strive to overcome them, as far as possible. But we will repeatedly experience that we fall back into them. Read More

The legacy of St. Francis de Sales

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Ps 37:3-4,5-6,30-31

Put your trust in the Lord and do right, make your home in the land and live secure. Make the Lord your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your destiny to the Lord, be confident in him, and he will act, making your uprightness clear as daylight, and the justice of your cause as the noon. Wisdom comes from the lips of the upright, and his tongue speaks what is right; the law of his God is in his heart, his foot will never slip.  Read More

Blessed Henry Suso’s advice for the spiritual life

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Today we are celebrating the memory of Blessed Henry Suso, who is perhaps less well known in the universal Church than in the German-speaking countries. He is a reliable spiritual teacher, and we know how much we are in need of spiritual teachers in these times, which unfortunately are becoming more and more scarce. Therefore, it becomes all the more important to let speak and listen to those teachers who have been given to the Church and who are part of her incorruptible treasure. Let us listen, then, to one of Blessed Henry Suso’s phrases for today’s meditation:

“A serene man must not occupy himself at all times with what he still lacks; rather, he must ask himself what else he could do without.” Read More

FAMILIARITY WITH GOD

220th Meditation

“I created you in My image, so that you should find nothing strange when you talk on familiar terms with your Father, your Creator and your God. For you have become the children of My fatherly and divine love through My merciful goodness” (Father’s Message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).

The close contact with our Divine Father is a source of constant joy for us human beings, and indeed it is an essential part of our life; moreover, it is our life. Read More

The true unity

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1 Cor 1:10-13,17

Brothers, I urge you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, not to have factions among yourselves but all to be in agreement in what you profess; so that you are perfectly united in your beliefs and judgements. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me about you, brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. Read More