"Mary's sole object in this world was to keep her eyes constantly focused on God so as to discover His will. Then when she had found out what God wanted, she did it." ~St. Bernadine of Siena
Prayer to Our Lady
Immaculate Mother of Jesus,
We honor You as God's chosen one, beautiful, beloved, and free from all sin. Keep watch over us, pray that we may rise above our sins and failings and come to share the fullness of grace. Be a Mother to us in the order of grace by assisting us to live your obedience, your faith, your hope and your love. Amen.
[copied from CFP handbook.]
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us
[an excerpt from "The Way of Perfection"
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/way.html]
CHAPTER 1
Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance.
When this convent was originally founded, for the reasons set down in the book which, as I say, I have already written, and also because of certain wonderful revelations by which the Lord showed me how well He would be served in this house, it was not my intention that there should be so much austerity in external matters, nor that it should have no regular income: on the contrary, I should have liked there to be no possibility of want. I acted, in short, like the weak and wretched woman that I am, although I did so with good intentions and not out of consideration for my own comfort.
At about this time there came to my notice the harm and havoc that were being wrought in France by these Lutherans and the way in which their unhappy sect was increasing. This troubled me very much, and, as though I could do anything, or be of any help in the matter, I wept before the Lord and entreated Him to remedy this great evil. I felt that I would have laid down a thousand lives to save a single one of all the souls that were being lost there. And, seeing that I was a woman, and a sinner, and incapable of doing all I should like in the Lord's service, and as my whole yearning was, and still is, that, as He has so many enemies and so few friends, these last should be trusty ones, I determined to do the little that was in me -- namely, to follow the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience) as perfectly as I could, and to see that these few nuns who are here should do the same, confiding in the great goodness of God, Who never fails to help those who resolve to forsake everything for His sake.
---
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/way.html]
CHAPTER 1
Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance.
When this convent was originally founded, for the reasons set down in the book which, as I say, I have already written, and also because of certain wonderful revelations by which the Lord showed me how well He would be served in this house, it was not my intention that there should be so much austerity in external matters, nor that it should have no regular income: on the contrary, I should have liked there to be no possibility of want. I acted, in short, like the weak and wretched woman that I am, although I did so with good intentions and not out of consideration for my own comfort.
At about this time there came to my notice the harm and havoc that were being wrought in France by these Lutherans and the way in which their unhappy sect was increasing. This troubled me very much, and, as though I could do anything, or be of any help in the matter, I wept before the Lord and entreated Him to remedy this great evil. I felt that I would have laid down a thousand lives to save a single one of all the souls that were being lost there. And, seeing that I was a woman, and a sinner, and incapable of doing all I should like in the Lord's service, and as my whole yearning was, and still is, that, as He has so many enemies and so few friends, these last should be trusty ones, I determined to do the little that was in me -- namely, to follow the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience) as perfectly as I could, and to see that these few nuns who are here should do the same, confiding in the great goodness of God, Who never fails to help those who resolve to forsake everything for His sake.
---
Prayer of Penitents
(St. Francis's prayer before the San Damiano crucifix.)
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my mind,
give me right faith,
a firm hope
and perfect charity,
so that I may always
and in all things
act according to Your Holy Will.
Amen.
[this prayer recommended by the
Confraternity of Penitents]
Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my mind,
give me right faith,
a firm hope
and perfect charity,
so that I may always
and in all things
act according to Your Holy Will.
Amen.
[this prayer recommended by the
Confraternity of Penitents]
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