ABANDONING ONESELF TO THE WILL OF GOD IN ADVERSITIES

223rd Meditation

“If we would serenely abandon ourselves to God’s Will in all adversities, we would be on the way to holiness and would be the happiest people on earth” (St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori).

These words come to us from people who have had a profound experience of God. Their advice, drawn from the richness of their path of following Christ, helps us especially in difficult situations. Read More

PLACE OUR TRUST IN GOD

222nd Meditation

“As for trust, it is enough to know our own weakness and to tell the Lord that we wish to place all our trust in Him” (St. Francis de Sales).

Again and again we are invited to lay our weaknesses before the Lord. There is no doubt that we must strive to overcome them, as far as possible. But we will repeatedly experience that we fall back into them. Read More

FAMILIARITY WITH GOD

220th Meditation

“I created you in My image, so that you should find nothing strange when you talk on familiar terms with your Father, your Creator and your God. For you have become the children of My fatherly and divine love through My merciful goodness” (Father’s Message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).

The close contact with our Divine Father is a source of constant joy for us human beings, and indeed it is an essential part of our life; moreover, it is our life. Read More

DIVINE REWARD

219th Meditation

“We serve a great and exalted king, who pays His servants not with regal or imperial, but with divine reward” (St. Arnold Janssen).

Kings and emperors can only repay our services with worldly rewards, with things which they can dispose of, but which are fleeting. What they can offer us is only a share in their earthly power or honour. God, on the other hand, repays each of our services with divine reward, making us partakers of His immortality, of His imperishable being. Read More

“THE CHRISTIAN IS BORN TO FIGHT” (POPE LEO XIII)

218th Meditation

“The fiercer the battle, the surer the victory, with God’s help” (Pope Leo XIII).

Day by day and at different levels, the Father makes us fight this battle. For the duration of our pilgrimage towards the glorious vision of God in eternity, the battle is our constant companion. Blessed are those who engage in it and take their place in the “army of the Lamb”! Read More

TRUE JOY

217th Meditation

“The only reason to be afraid to surrender your whole life to God is to believe that your own project is better” (Esther Maria Magnis).

The author of this sentence describes very well what might prevent us from abandoning ourselves completely to our Heavenly Father. Indeed, there can be no reason, neither of our understanding nor of faith and love, that could discourage us from entrusting ourselves to our loving Father. What, then, makes us hesitate to follow His invitation, as befits love and truth? Read More

INFLAMED BY LOVE

216th Meditation

“If the saints in heaven could return once more to earth, they would strive tirelessly, inflamed with love, to spread the faith throughout the world, with the intention of making known to the whole world the infinite love of God for souls. For the saints know far better than anyone on earth how much the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit deserve to be known. They are enraptured when they see with what glory even the smallest act done to spread the faith is rewarded in heaven” (St. Vincent Pallotti). Read More

THE SPIRITUAL MEANING OF TEMPTATIONS

214th Meditation 

“Without trials God’s providence is not seen, and you cannot obtain boldness before God, nor learn the wisdom of the Spirit, nor can divine longing be established in you” (Isaac of Syria).

Temptation, suffering and persecution are some of the most difficult lessons in our journey of following the Lord. It is not easy for us to reconcile them with the tender love of our Father, even though we know that it always enfolds us and has been assured to us in so many ways. Who would willingly choose to carry such a cross? Read More