Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
For His Greater Honor
"Take heed that you do not do your justice before men, to be seen of them; otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father Who is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1.)
The lesson taught here is purity of intention; we are to aim not at pleasing men, but God. So we are warned not to trumpet our alms, but to give so secretly that our left hand may not know what our right hand is doing. When we fast we are not to draw a long face; when we pray we are to close the door and pray in secret, and our Father, Who seeth in secret, will repay us.
Yet we are to do all this without scrupulosity.
There is a natural satisfaction in doing what we know we can do well. This is the very essence of the enjoyment we find in field sports or anything else we throw our hearts into. The cricketer is elated when he makes a good hit or a sharp catch, not so much for the sake of the applause it earns as from his very delight in the game. No one cares for a game at which he feels he is a duffer.
Yet, to secure ourselves against vanity and love of display, we must constantly raise our thoughts to God, offering all we do for His glory, taking disappointments and adverse criticism cheerfully, humbling ourselves, and being content to be held cheap, if it be for His greater honor.
-- Barraud, Meditations
The lesson taught here is purity of intention; we are to aim not at pleasing men, but God. So we are warned not to trumpet our alms, but to give so secretly that our left hand may not know what our right hand is doing. When we fast we are not to draw a long face; when we pray we are to close the door and pray in secret, and our Father, Who seeth in secret, will repay us.
Yet we are to do all this without scrupulosity.
There is a natural satisfaction in doing what we know we can do well. This is the very essence of the enjoyment we find in field sports or anything else we throw our hearts into. The cricketer is elated when he makes a good hit or a sharp catch, not so much for the sake of the applause it earns as from his very delight in the game. No one cares for a game at which he feels he is a duffer.
Yet, to secure ourselves against vanity and love of display, we must constantly raise our thoughts to God, offering all we do for His glory, taking disappointments and adverse criticism cheerfully, humbling ourselves, and being content to be held cheap, if it be for His greater honor.
-- Barraud, Meditations
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
An Ounce of Good Life
We must turn to good account whatever talent God has given us. Some have more, some less; but all, if they choose, can have holiness and zeal, and these alone are essential. If I would make others better I must turn my attention first upon myself. An ounce of good life goes further than a ton of correction.
-- Barraud, Meditations
Example serves where precept fails.
-- Barraud, Meditations
Example serves where precept fails.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Nothing More
The most profound degree of humility is to receive humiliations and abjections with the same complacency that vain persons do the greatest honors.
-- St. Francis de Sales
One of the best means to acquire humility is profoundly to engrave in our minds this maxim: Each one is really only what he is in the eyes of God, nothing more.
-- Thomas à Kempis
-- St. Francis de Sales
One of the best means to acquire humility is profoundly to engrave in our minds this maxim: Each one is really only what he is in the eyes of God, nothing more.
-- Thomas à Kempis
Monday, February 4, 2008
Edifice of Perfection
If you wish to raise a lofty edifice of perfection, take humility for your foundation.
-- St. Thomas Aquinas
Vain complacency, coupled with the desire that others would speak of us and praise us, is an evil which makes us forget God and spoils our holiest actions. There is no vice more pernicious to those who would make any progress in the spiritual life.
-- St. Vincent de Paul
-- St. Thomas Aquinas
Vain complacency, coupled with the desire that others would speak of us and praise us, is an evil which makes us forget God and spoils our holiest actions. There is no vice more pernicious to those who would make any progress in the spiritual life.
-- St. Vincent de Paul
