“When the devil wants to destroy someone, he begins by instilling in that person a great aversion to prayer.” (St. John Vianney)
We must always expect resistance to our progress in the spiritual life. Although it can happen on our path of following Christ that a certain aversion to vocal prayer may arise in contemplative souls, this aversion is not directed against prayer itself but rather points to the need to seek more silent prayer and contemplation.
Beloved Virgin, how many manifestations of love shine forth in you!
In relation to the Father, we see you as a loving daughter; to the Son you are mother and disciple; to the Holy Spirit you are united in a spousal love.
If already here, in our earthly reality, we are moved by the tender love of a human spouse, and can observe how she blossoms and turns her whole heart and attention to her husband, how much more so is it with you, since your Bridegroom is the Holy Spirit Himself!
Bride of the Holy Spirit… What mystery surrounds this title!
How exalted is the election granted to you, beloved Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ!
With astonishment we note that not only the Son of God Himself was entrusted to you, but also all those who belong to Him and sing the song of the redeemed (cf. Rev 14:3). And even more: you are the Mother of all men, and you become light and consolation for those who return home.
Many people come to you full of trust and appeal to your motherly heart, because they understand that your divine Son hears your pleas.
In you, motherly compassion for the earthly needs of your children goes hand in hand with concern for the salvation of their souls.
‘By virtue of grace, I can grant you everything that my Son possesses by virtue of His divine nature’ (Inner Word).
“If people knew what power the dear poor souls have over God’s heart, and if they knew what graces can be obtained through their intercession, they would not be so forgotten. We must pray much for them so that they may pray much for us.” (Saint John Vianney, Curé of Ars)
Could one imagine a daughter of the Heavenly Father more enchanting than you, beloved Virgin Mary?
A daughter who so enraptures her Father that He entrusts to her the most precious thing: His beloved Son.
No, there can be no equal to you.
You are the one whom the Lord has chosen. Only God, the Holy One, knows all your beauty, with which He Himself adorned you; and He knows with what joy and tenderness you filled His Heart, seeing you in the splendour of His grace.
Mt 18:15-20
Jesus said to his disciples: “if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Read More
“How beautiful and great it is to know and serve God! We have nothing else to do in this world but this. Everything else we do is a waste of time.” (St. John Vianney).
“God is searching for you, because from time immemorial He has been intent on bringing back the lost sheep.” (Hildegard of Bingen).
We are learning to understand ever more deeply this movement of our Father’s love.
At a time when, unfortunately, moral confusion scarcely spares even our Holy Church, and many people stray from the path of virtue or never set foot on it in the first place, it is important not to forget that the saints of the early Church, in particular, have given us shining examples of chastity.
We must not forget that these saints, who gave their lives to preserve their chastity, not only bring their light into this darkness but have also received great grace from God for the Church. They are a living reminder of the importance of placing the Lord’s commandments above all else.
One of these radiant women is Susanna. She is not the biblical Susanna, whom we might first think of—the one saved from death by Daniel’s intervention, who restored her honor before all the people—but rather, Susanna of Rome.
