Well, we're almost back at the Feast of the Assumption, the point in the year where I started blogging these passages from an old book that once belonged to my grandmother. In the next few days, I have a lot of ground to cover, literally, in the real world, and I've decided this is a good place to stop.
Thank you to everyone who has read my posts and clicked on my links throughout the year.
If the Spirit moves me to blog again, I'll let you know in this space.
Please:
Ora pro me Ioanna Wangersky
and
Gaudete in Domino Semper!
-- Jane
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Father Olivaint's Advice
When people try to draw you into religious controversy, observe two things:
- Do not argue, but state the Catholic truth, so far as you know it; and, for the many things that you do not know, say that you have never studied theology, and offer to introduce them to a priest.
- If you must argue, follow this rule of strategy: Never stand on the defensive, but attack the other man's position. Ask him what he has to offer as a substitute for the Catholic faith -- little enough, you will find.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Outspoken Christian
He will then be honest and outspoken and truthful, a hater of falsehood and hypocrisy and cheating and underhand dealing. He will think as he says; and although he may not say all that he thinks, not tell everybody all that he knows, for that might be imprudent, or uncharitable, or even unjust, yet what he does say will be the utterance of his real mind; he will not go about sowing falsehoods to serve a purpose. The simple and direct method, wherever it can be taken, will always be the method of his choice.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Courage and Sanctity
People useless in the world are seldom much good in the Church. Heroic sanctity requires high courage. One reason why sanctity is so rare is because high courage is so rare.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Human Respect
When I feel afraid of the gaze of men, afraid to do before their eyes what my conscience bids me do, let me ask myself: "Do I owe any of these gentlemen money?"
"No, certainly I am not beholden to any of them."
"Why then cringe and cower before them, like a debtor at a meeting of creditors?"
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
"No, certainly I am not beholden to any of them."
"Why then cringe and cower before them, like a debtor at a meeting of creditors?"
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Friday, August 8, 2008
A Boy's Character
Saints Peter and Paul were both men of character, though St. Peter's fall reminds us that under strong temptation mere character cannot be relied on without prayer.
A boy without character takes ever what mechanists call the L.L.R., the line of least resistance. He goes where it is easiest to go, from which fact you may form a probable conjecture where he may go in the end. He will be good with the good, slack with the slack, and wicked in wicked company. He will do nothing for himself, wants to have everything done for him, likes to be as those about him are. He never goes his own way, even when it is the right way.
Well, I fear that is myself all over. I fear I have no character; how am I to get one? By doing what is right, because it is right, by doing what I ought, not that things may go easy with me, but to please God; by doing things that naturally I have no mind to do, when I think that Christ my Savior asks for them.
This rule I may apply to such things as rising promptly in the morning, the labor of study, observing Friday abstinence among non-catholics, hearing Sunday Mass at the loss of an excursion. One cannot but have some character, if one is conscientious.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
A boy without character takes ever what mechanists call the L.L.R., the line of least resistance. He goes where it is easiest to go, from which fact you may form a probable conjecture where he may go in the end. He will be good with the good, slack with the slack, and wicked in wicked company. He will do nothing for himself, wants to have everything done for him, likes to be as those about him are. He never goes his own way, even when it is the right way.
Well, I fear that is myself all over. I fear I have no character; how am I to get one? By doing what is right, because it is right, by doing what I ought, not that things may go easy with me, but to please God; by doing things that naturally I have no mind to do, when I think that Christ my Savior asks for them.
This rule I may apply to such things as rising promptly in the morning, the labor of study, observing Friday abstinence among non-catholics, hearing Sunday Mass at the loss of an excursion. One cannot but have some character, if one is conscientious.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Thursday, August 7, 2008
A New View of Ability
So, if I can make a good speech, or sing well, or have money, it shows the way open to me to make myself of service to others. Really this is a new view, and one not generally taken, of ability and wealth and power! But it is taken by the Creator, who has bestowed those gifts, and by the Judge who will call the receiver to account for them.
. . .
Whatever advantage I enjoy over my companions, I should count it all the greater call on me to be of service to others.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
. . .
Whatever advantage I enjoy over my companions, I should count it all the greater call on me to be of service to others.
-- Joseph Rickaby, SJ, Ye Are Christ's
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Jesus and His Enemies
They overwhelm Him with insults, call Him a Samaritan and a man possessed by the devil, and He calmly answers them, "Which of you shall convince Me of sin?" (John 8:46)
They want to stone Him, and He contents Himself with saying to them, "Many good works I have shown you; for which of these works do you stone Me?" (John 10:32)
-- Hamon, Meditations
They want to stone Him, and He contents Himself with saying to them, "Many good works I have shown you; for which of these works do you stone Me?" (John 10:32)
-- Hamon, Meditations
