“It is better to die at this time than to obey any order that would violate the virginal chastity of truth” (St. Hilary of Poitiers).
Showing all posts by Elija
Prayer and inner cell
Mk 1:29-39 (Reading from the Novus Ordo)
And at once on leaving the synagogue, he went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed and feverish, and at once they told him about her. He went in to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were sick with diseases of one kind or another; he also drove out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was. In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neigh-bouring country towns, so that I can proclaim the message there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out devils.
OPEN THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART
“Let no one doubt the goodness of God, for even if their sins were as black as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. But one thing is necessary: that the sinner open the door of his heart a little to the ray of God’s mercy” (Saint Faustina Kowalska).
The authority of Jesus
Mk 1:21-28
They went as far as Capernaum, and at once on the Sabbath he went into the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority. And at once in their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked it saying, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking one another what it all meant, saying, ‘Here is a teaching that is new, and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation at once spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside. Read More
ONLY HIS MERCY
“I don’t know if the good Lord is pleased with me, but I give myself totally to Him. Oh, how sweet it is to think of nothing at the last moment—neither one’s sins nor one’s virtues—but only of mercy!” (Words of Blessed Édouard Poppe on his deathbed.)
Saint Aelred of rievaulx: A fervent cistercian abbot
Following the interpretations of the Epistle of James, I would like to continue what I began last year: presenting the lives of some of the saints.
The saint we are focusing on today was born in Hexham, England, in 1109. His noble parents took particular care with their son’s education. Aelred received an extensive classical education in his youth at Durham Benedictine Abbey. Under King David I (1124–1153), he initially stayed at the Scottish royal court as a companion to the Scottish princes and later served as an administrator.
Even at court he was noted for his gentleness. Once, when someone at court interrupted him during a discussion and showered him with insults, he listened in deep silence and then, without showing the slightest displeasure, resumed his previous remarks.
GROWING IN LOVE
On one occasion, Saint Gertrude asked the Lord why He had allowed certain people to frighten her. The Lord replied: “When a father’s hand wants to reprimand a child, the rod cannot resist. Therefore, I would like my chosen ones never to blame the people through whom they are purified, but rather to see my fatherly love behind them, for I would never allow even the slightest wind to blow against them if I did not have their eternal salvation in mind. Instead, they should have compassion on those who are stained while they themselves are purified.” Read More
The Power of Prayer
James 5:13–20
Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. My brethren, if any one among you wanders from the truth and some one brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
PERSIST IN PRAYER
“Even though it may seem useless, we must not abandon prayer because of distractions or restlessness of spirit. Those who persevere throughout the time they have set aside for prayer and gently call their spirit back again and again to the object of their prayer will reap great benefits” (St. Philip Neri).
Exhortation to Perseverance
James 5:7–12
Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors. As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath, but let your yes be yes and your no be no, that you may not fall under condemnation.