“When God looks upon a soul with eyes of mercy and bends down to forgive it, all its faults are cast into eternal oblivion” (St. Matilda of Hackeborn).
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Saint John Gualbert: Founder of the Order of Vallombrosa
What wonderful flowers grow in God’s garden! We can never admire them enough, especially when we consider the lives of the saints handed down to us. In fact, the Church boasts a great wealth of saints, and each of their lives—as well as their deaths—tells us the story of God’s love for those of His children who decided to follow His ways. However, not all of them did so from the beginning.
Such was the case with Saint John Gualbert.
Born in Florence in 985, he came from a noble family. From a young age, he was destined for military service. His father, a warrior, educated the young John in the fine arts and instilled in him an awareness of the dignity and honor of a warrior. However, there is no mention of an education in religious devotion or Christian virtue.
Send your prophets
Isa 6:1-8
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne; his train filled the sanctuary. Above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet and two for flying; and they were shouting these words to each other: Holy, holy, holy is Yahweh Sabaoth. His glory fills the whole earth. The door-posts shook at the sound of their shouting, and the Temple was full of smoke. Then I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh Sabaoth. ‘Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in its hand a live coal which it had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this it touched my mouth and said: ‘Look, this has touched your lips, your guilt has been removed and your sin forgiven.’ I then heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I, send me.’ Read More
“MY CHILD, GIVE ME YOUR HEART”
“The Lord seeks a heart filled to overflowing with love for God and our neighbour; this is the throne on which He loves to sit and on which He appears in the fullness of His heavenly glory. ‘Son, give Me thy heart,’ He says, ‘and all the rest I Myself will add to thee (Prov. 23:26; Matt. 6:33),’ for in the human heart the Kingdom of God can be contained.” (Seraphim of Sarov).
“PLACING EVERY DAY IN GOD’S HANDS”
“It is important that you place each day in My hands, even when you are tired and worn out.” (Inner Word)
Cunning as Snakes and Yet Innocent as Doves
Mt 10:16-23
‘Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves. ‘Be prepared for people to hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as evidence to them and to the gentiles. But when you are handed over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes, because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will come forward against their parents and have them put to death. You will be universally hated on account of my name; but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. In truth I tell you, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of man comes’.
“HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE”
“I am coming soon; hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Rev. 3:11).
GREAT DECEPTIONS: “Deceptions in the Church”
Today, we conclude the series on the “Great Deceptions.” In previous reflections, I have repeatedly pointed out that self-deception dims the light of spiritual discernment. Thus, one becomes more prone to falling prey to the deceptions that confront us in the world and even within the Church.
Yesterday, I mentioned that overcoming self-deception is important not only on a personal level and for our Christian witness but also for confronting the deceptions of the Antichrist. If we become spiritually blind, we will not be prepared to resist. On the subject of the Antichrist, I recommend listening to my prepared talk on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzGrEYm-kfA
“THE HOUR OF TRIAL”
“Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth.” (Rev. 3:10)
As we reflect on the Father, we join the church in Philadelphia, which received high praise from the Lord for its faithfulness. We can regard it as a model of a faithful church in times of tribulation.
GREAT DECEPTIONS: “A serious deception in 2020”
In yesterday’s meditation, we spoke of the danger that, if we remain trapped in self‑deception and fail to break free from it, our spiritual discernment may become clouded, so that we are no longer able to clearly recognize the deceptions in the world or in the Church—deceptions that, in reality, we should easily detect thanks to our Catholic faith. We must bear in mind that, generally speaking, these are not mere human errors; rather, in matters as important as those mentioned yesterday, it is the “father of lies” who is at work behind the scenes and spares no effort to lead people astray from the path of salvation—or, at the very least, to make that path more difficult.
The deception I will discuss today affects both the world and the Church. In this context, I would like to point out that I have already addressed this topic in depth in several articles available on my website. Within the framework of this meditation, I will limit myself to discussing it in relation to self‑deception and the great deceptions. Given its importance, I strongly recommend reading the more detailed articles at the following links: