AN AWAKENED EAR

“Open the ear of your heart! Let us listen with awakened ears” (St. Benedict).

It is a great spiritual art to know how to really listen, to listen attentively, as St. Benedict recommends to his monks. We are well aware of the innumerable voices, both from within and without, that seek our attention every day.

Read More

IN PASSING

“Dwell on nothing but God” (Blessed Henry Suso).

We know a similar phrase from St. Augustine, who tells us that we can use all the things of this world, but we should enjoy God alone.

What are these two masters of spiritual life referring to? Was it not our Father who gave us so many wonderful things to rejoice in? No doubt He did! Read More

THE TIME IS PRESSING

“Souls need a certain divine touch, and time presses; do not be afraid of anything, I am your Father; I will help you in your efforts and your work. I will sustain you always and make you enjoy, already here below, peace and joy of soul, making your ministry and your zealous works bear fruit” (Message of the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).

Read More

THE WEDDING GARMENT FOR HUMANITY

“Mankind needs the wedding garment in order to come to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in time and eternity” (Inner Word).

The Church teaches us that we are invited to the Supper of the Lamb and calls us happy.

But to enter the Father’s house forever, we need the wedding garment. This condition applies to all mankind, for all people are invited and none are excluded. However, we cannot enter without the wedding garment. It has been woven for us by the infinite goodness of our Father and washed and made white by the Blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14). Now we are called to put it on. Then we can confidently enter the wedding hall, and the Bridegroom of humanity will assign us the place He has prepared for us.

It is the wedding garment of the Lamb that makes us worthy to enter. This dignity is not ours. Nor is it the dignity we received from God when we were created in His image and likeness. It is not sufficient for eternity because the transgressions of human beings have sullied it in many ways, and they have often strayed so far from God’s ways that they have almost completely spoiled its original dignity.

But the Son of God, sent by the Father, came into the world to redeem humanity. He had to raise human beings from the dust, wounded and bruised, and give them the new life that comes from God. Therefore, we can now awaken to our full dignity, turn completely to God and put on the wedding garment for mankind. We can now enter the New Jerusalem because our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 21:27).

INNER PRAYER

“Abide in inner prayer” (Inner Word).

If we want to remain in intimate contact with our Heavenly Father, we will hardly find a more appropriate means than inner prayer, the constant dialog with God. This consists both in listening attentively – because we recognize His voice – and in raising our heart to our Father.

Read More