“Jesus conquered the world, not by the sword, but by the cross” (St. Augustine).
I often end “Three Minutes for Abba” by exclaiming, “That’s our Father!” I am always amazed to discover what He is truly like.
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A SAFE REFUGE
“You will always find refuge in me and in your Mother’s heart. No one can take that away from you!” (Inner word)
We urgently need this refuge amid the confusion that surrounds us—a bastion of love and security. We will always need it, even if we have been walking in the Lord’s path for many years and have made steady progress. The refuge is there for us! In His wisdom, our heavenly Father has granted it to us so that we may find our home in the inner sanctuary of our soul. No matter how fiercely the storm rages around us or how the devil tries to frighten us, access to the depths of our heart remains open, and no one can take it away from us. This enclosure, also called the “inner cell,” not only offers us refuge but also the opportunity to deepen the love between the Father and us each day. It is, so to speak, the sacred enclosure of our soul, into which the Evil One cannot enter, because God dwells there.
FALSE UNITY FALLS APART
“Any false unity that is not grounded in Me does not last and falls apart” (Inner Word).
True unity can only come from God and be grounded in Him. Indeed, there is no bond that unites people more deeply than sharing and living the same faith. It is, therefore, a unity that comes from God and fulfills what Jesus asks of the Father in His priestly prayer: “That they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. That they may be one even as we are one, I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one.” (John 17:21, 22b–23a)
SERENITY IN ADVERSITY
“If, in all adversities, we surrender ourselves serenely to God’s will, we will be on the path to holiness and we will be the happiest people in the world.” (St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori)
This is one of those phrases that, if we take it to heart, can present a great challenge for us. We have all been called by our Father to the path of holiness, and we all desire happiness. Indeed, no one could imagine Heaven without happiness.
FIGHT FOR THE FAITH
“Contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
The great treasure of faith requires all our efforts to protect it. It is not only about the inner dimension—about fighting when we suffer temptations, when we succumb to our weaknesses, and when we encounter again and again the abysses of our hearts that have not yet been penetrated by the light of God.
IT IS I
“It is I who forgives, it is I who calls, it is I who perfects” (Inner Word).
On our journey of following Christ, we must never forget that it was not we who chose Him, but He who called us (cf. Jn 15:16). This applies not only to priestly and religious vocations, but to each person individually, as echoed in the Lord’s wonderful declaration through the prophet Isaiah: “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Is 43:1).
GOD’S REWARD IS ALWAYS MAGNIFICENT
“All the good that others do at our suggestion will increase the splendor of our glory in heaven.” —St. John Bosco
It is a joy for us when our good deeds, whether words or actions, encourage others to do the same. This is a joy in itself, and both the good deed and its effect on others fill our Father’s heart with joy and bear witness to His love.
THE GREAT TREASURE OF TRUTH
“Never deny what you have recognized as truth” (Inner Word).
Today’s phrase presents quite a challenge for us Christians. In reality, we should know that we can never deny the truth, because God is truth itself, and professing it aligns with our deepest identity. However, the Holy Scriptures make it clear that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5). And they did not merely fail to accept it; they try to hide it, fight it, and even ridicule it.
LOSS OF THE SACRED
“The Church is losing the memory of the sacred, which it had cultivated with such care for so many centuries” (Inner Word).
One of the dangers of modernist trends and all kinds of innovations in the Holy Church is the growing loss of the sense of the sacred and the transcendent. This memory fades when proper gestures of reverence are neglected, and when it is believed that, to be considerate of Christians of other denominations, one must avoid anything that might scandalize them rather than explain it to them.
NIGHT EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
“Each day has its own mission. At Compline, examine whether you have fulfilled it” (Inner Word).
Certainly, these words are addressed primarily to those who live according to the spiritual order of monasteries or religious communities. However, they are also fruitful and applicable to anyone who desires to lead a serious spiritual life and walk each day hand in hand with the Lord.