Think of Our Lord, either as dwelling alone in the seclusion of the tabernacle, or spending whole nights, as was His wont when on earth, in prayer alone upon Mount Olivet. Hear how He invites you to seek such solitude, saying: "When thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret." (Matthew 6:6) . . .
All the saints delighted in solitude; it was their joy; in it they found courage and fortitude for life's conflicts, solace in sorrow, assistance in their work, and a blissful peace which is sought in vain midst the turmoil of the world. Happy banishment, here below most sweet and welcome, hereafter the means of preserving me from eternal exile.
-- Ilg, Meditations
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Satisfied with Their Good Will
Why should we always keep up an air of indifference and coldness toward workmen, servants, children, only opening our mouths when we have some rebuke to give them? Is this charitable? Is this Christian?
. . .
Let us show ourselves satisfied with their good will and make them understand that we love them. Not only will they serve us much better and attach themselves to us with true devotedness, but we shall thus gain their hearts, and it will then be easy for us to secure their fidelity to the duties of religion . . .
-- The Art of Being Happy
. . .
Let us show ourselves satisfied with their good will and make them understand that we love them. Not only will they serve us much better and attach themselves to us with true devotedness, but we shall thus gain their hearts, and it will then be easy for us to secure their fidelity to the duties of religion . . .
-- The Art of Being Happy
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Mere Nothings
In family life and in community life it is by quite little details that we can make those around us happy or unhappy. Mistakes, oversights, want of politeness, want of thought, rudeness, bitter words, raillery -- these things tend to sadden our brethren and to make their lives very painful.
On the contrary, by few charitable attentions we shall help them to find a sort of paradise in their humble home. A plaything given to a child, a word of sympathy addressed to an equal or an inferior, a pleasantry that lightens the heart, a little compliment to encourage good will -- one of those mere nothings that would give pleasure to ourselves in similar circumstances.
-- The Art of Being Happy
On the contrary, by few charitable attentions we shall help them to find a sort of paradise in their humble home. A plaything given to a child, a word of sympathy addressed to an equal or an inferior, a pleasantry that lightens the heart, a little compliment to encourage good will -- one of those mere nothings that would give pleasure to ourselves in similar circumstances.
-- The Art of Being Happy
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Amiability Rules
- Smile habitually.
- Never answer by a No, or a negative sign when a superior commands.
- Spare others all the trouble that you can take on yourself.
- Never show yourself discontented or sulky.
- Repress every impatient gesture, every unguarded word.
- Let a kind word accompany the orders given to inferiors.
- Even when a reproof is well deserved, never administer it with rudeness or bitterness.
- Do not forget the little formulas of politeness . . . "thank you", "if you please", etc.
. . . just as there is no happiness without sacrifice, so also every sacrifice brings with it a little happiness.
-- The Art of Being Happy
Friday, January 18, 2008
Three Hearts
Blessed Benedict Joseph Labre said that to love God as we ought, it would be necessary to have three hearts in one. The first, all on fire for God, would cause us to think continually of God, speak habitually of Him, act constantly for Him, and support with patience, during the term of our life, the sorrows and trials which it may please Him to send us.
The second heart, all love for our neighbor, should cause us to help him in his temporal wants by our alms and still more in his spiritual needs by instruction, counsel, example, and prayer. This second heart should be above all full of tenderness for sinners; asking continually of God to enlighten and bring them to sorrow for sin; it should also be most compassionate toward the holy souls in Purgatory.
But the third heart should be hard as bronze toward self, shunning every kind of sensuality, resisting constantly all self-love, renouncing one's own will, chastising the body by fasting and abstinence, in fine putting to death all the inclinations of corrupt nature.
-- Reading with the Saints
The second heart, all love for our neighbor, should cause us to help him in his temporal wants by our alms and still more in his spiritual needs by instruction, counsel, example, and prayer. This second heart should be above all full of tenderness for sinners; asking continually of God to enlighten and bring them to sorrow for sin; it should also be most compassionate toward the holy souls in Purgatory.
But the third heart should be hard as bronze toward self, shunning every kind of sensuality, resisting constantly all self-love, renouncing one's own will, chastising the body by fasting and abstinence, in fine putting to death all the inclinations of corrupt nature.
-- Reading with the Saints
