trust in God
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 57
February 12, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Jenny at Just a Minute hosts this meme on Saturdays. Visit her for more reflections on this psalm.
This psalm has two parts. In the first, we pray and exalt God right in the midst of persecution and danger of death. No matter how awfully we are threatened by earthly evil or the powers of darkness, we sing our growing trust in God.
The second part shows how we awaken from darkness and call the dawn awake. After great suffering we praise God, exalting Him above the heavens and declaring His glory over all the earth.
vs. 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. [The devils consistently seek to set occasions of sin before us. They prepare situations that if we fall into them, will cause us to enter intense darkness - mortal sin. But they fall into the pit themselves because they walk not in the light, but in profound darkness. At the end of the world, that darkness will envelop them forever.
Lord, deliver my fellow man from the grip of these demons so they don't fall into the pits set for them. Deliver me with your truth.]
vs. 7-11 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and chant praise. Awake, O my soul! Awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to thee among the nations. For Thy steadfast love is great to the heavens, Thy faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God! Let Thy glory be over all the earth! [Lord, I can never praise You enough. Everywhere I go I will thank You in the midst of all peoples. The universe cannot hold the steadfastness of Your love nor your faithfulness.
As I see what You have done for me, opening the gates of heaven and offering me a share in Your life for all eternity, I want everyone on earth to see Your glory and be saved. I want all to know Your love in a most personal way. May all praise and glorify You from whom all goodness comes.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 56
February 5, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Jenny at Just a Minute hosts this meme, so join her for other comments on this psalm.
Poor King David! The Philistines were holding him in Geth and things were not going well. David as a prefigure of Christ laments his situation. We can hear Christ sighing through him in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church, the Body of Christ repeating these same prayers today.
vs. 1-7 Have pity on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against me. My adversaries trample upon me all the day; yes, many fight against me. O Most High, when I begin to fear, in You will I trust. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me? All the day they molest me in my efforts; their every thought is of evil against me. They gather together in hiding, they watch my steps. As they have waited for my life , because of their wickedness keep them in view; in Your wrath bring down the peoples, O God . [What can flesh do against anyone of us? We Christians are attacked day and night by the fallen angels and by our fellow man, but the only thing we must fear is the one who can cast us into hell (Lk. 12: 4). We were made for heaven. Although the demons of hell seek to triumph over us, if we trust in God He will bring them down.
Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:10). Lord, watch over our fellow Christians in the lands where they are murdered daily because of their faith. Give me the strength to stand up to persecution and witness faithfully to You no matter how strongly the Adversary attacks under whatever guise he assumes. Let me be willing to die for You.]
vs. 8-14 My wanderings You have counted; my tears are stored in Your flask; are they not recorded in Your book? Then do my enemies turn back when I call upon you; now I know that God is with me. In God, in whose promise I glory, in God I trust without fear; what can flesh do against me? I am bound, O God, by vows to You; Your thank offerings I will fulfill. For You have rescued me from death, my feet, too, from stumbling; that I may walk before God in the light of the living. [We plead for Divine pity with the confidence that our Father in heaven hears us. As He knows when each hair of our head falls, He sees every tear we, His little ones shed. Few of us can stand up to defamation without fighting back, but David and Christ submit it to the Father in the dark of night, glorifying Him.
I am bound to You, O Lord, through my Baptismal vows. Like King David, I am Your anointed one through the merits of Christ. In thanksgiving to You I assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In the sacrament of Confession you have rescued me from death, from every stumble. Keep watch over me that I may walk before You in Your light with the angels and saints. Lord, I am weak. I can glory only in Your promise.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sabbath Moments
February 5, 2011
Awareness of God
Here we are with the Sabbath Moments meme hosted by Colleen at Thoughts on Grace. Visit her to read other bloggers’ moments with the Lord.
Southwest Missouri is sporting lovely snow covered evergreens. In our small town only the sun has been able to clean the streets, so the one in front of the house that gets little sun is snowy and icy. We got another 3 inches yesterday and 4 inches last night. Beauty belongs to God, and I thank Him for a warm house and trust Him to make sure we have the money to pay the next gas bill! It’s all his money anyway.
Father Zuhlsdorf posted about a beautiful concert he attended at Trinity Church in New York this week. It was music from the Sarum Rite and I listened to the whole concert with great pleasure. Byrd and his contemporaries wrote some truly heavenly music I never get tired of hearing. Trinity is the kind of church made for this kind of music. It plays well in the background while you’re doing chores. Awesome performance.
I also worked up an ebook for newcomers to the Traditional Latin Mass. Writing, designing, and laying out stuff is very relaxing for me. Hunting for just the right photo, not so much. I couldn’t have done this without God’s help. So far, feedback has been good. Will write a post about it next week.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 55
January 29, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Today’s psalm is lengthy, so I will comment on only a few verses. Striking are the similarities to our world condition today.
vs. 1-3, 9-11 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not Thyself from my supplication! Attend to me, and answer me; I am overcome by my trouble. I am distraught by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me. Destroy their plans, O Lord, confuse their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go around it on its walls; and mischief and trouble are within it, ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its market place.
[Who among us could not pray this for our nation and the world today? Those supporting the schemes of Satan perpetually contradict themselves and truth. The riots in the Middle East today create great noise and violence. The pro-death factions the world over fill their countries with oppression and bring trouble and death on all. Christians everywhere are hunted and marked for slaughter. The frauds of our markets and in our government are creating terrible poverty. But You, O Lord can destroy their plans and show them up for what they are. Deliver us by the light of Your truth. Give us the strength to stand up to evil without flinching, and to speak the truth without fear.]
vs. 12-14 It is not an enemy who taunts me — then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me — then I could hide from him. But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to hold sweet converse together; within God’s house we walked in fellowship. [The words of Christ to Judas. Lawless enemies are understandable but the stab in the back from a friend is the deepest wound. If, when we are tempted to sin, we would think of ourselves as stabbing Jesus in the back, would we continue? We cannot comprehend the depth of His love or the pain He endured because of our sins. Lord, let me take this reproach to heart and refrain from sin.
We cannot understand what motivates people to the great evil we witness today, other than it being a result of our fallen nature and a militant campaign by Satan. We stand aghast at the blindness of the rich and powerful stirring unrest and violence to gain yet more riches and power. It has been that way throughout history.
Those we thought to be friends may oppose us, joining forces with the evildoers. There is no escape, much as we long for it, except in the arms of our Father who counts each hair of our heads. The final verse says what we must live, "But I will trust in Thee." Lord, give me fortitude to stand with You, completely confident in Your power. Let me never give up or give in to this world.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 54
January 21, 2011
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Praying the Psalms is a meme I like to share with others. The Psalms are the prayers of Christ and the prayers of Everyman, containing glimpses of the depth of God’s love for us. No matter our situation, there’s a Psalm for us to pray.
Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. gives us the background of this Psalm:
The place where David’s prayer was heard is called the Rock of Rescue, a name familiar to the Old Testament man of prayer. When the enemy was closing in on David, perhaps among strangers in the land of Ziph (see 2 Sam. 23: 15-29), there was no human hope. Being heard by God in that desperate moment must have left a deep impression on him. It greatly increased his trust in God.
David kept God before his eyes and did not forget to thank Him for delivery from the enemy. He passed on his faith and trust to the community of God’s chosen people and strengthened them in turn. David was not revengeful when he had Saul at his mercy, as the story proves. He could have destroyed Saul, but spared him as God’s anointed, thus leaving judgment to God to “put an end to them.”
Instead, he promises a votive sacrifice to the Lord for his rescue. All this is very Christlike, who let His enemies go free that He might redeem them and us. When they hated Him without cause (Jn. 15:25), He trusted the more in His heavenly Father. Because He was forgiving, we are redeemed. God will always requite the enemy who masterminds evil both against Christ and His members.
vs. 1-3 Save me, O God, by Thy name, and vindicate me by Thy might. Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth. For insolent men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before them.
[Today the culture of death is in hot pursuit of the helpless of all ages, womb to the aged. These insolent, godless men seek our lives so that they may enrich themselves and control those they choose to leave alive. Our pro-life prayers in the name of Jesus are all that stands between them and even greater carnage. We may not be spared in this life, but by clinging to Christ, we will be saved to eternal life.]
vs. 4-7 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will requite my enemies with evil; in Thy faithfulness put an end to them. With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to Thee; I will give thanks to Thy name, O Lord, for it is good. For Thou hast delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
[How many times have we felt vengeful towards those who have harmed us? Give me the grace to forgive my enemies and pray for their salvation. Lord, let me leave the evildoers to You. I will faithfully assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass each week in thanksgiving, for the only troubles that are truly evil are the ones that would take me away from You.
Only through You will I stand with the triumphant saints on the last day, victorious over the demons of hell who sought my eternal life.]
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sabbath Moments
January 15, 2011
Welcome to Sabbath Moments, those times during the week when we are quiet with God or aware of Him acting in our lives. Please join us with a post of your own by visiting Colleen at Thoughts on Grace and signing up on Mr. Linky.
Every morning when I pray the Divine Office, our part Boxer girl joins me on the bed and snuggles up tight. She is absolutely quiet. I thank God for this rescue dog who is ever an example of what my trust in God and devotion to Him should be. She is a joy, great for laughs, and a wonderful companion.
My relationship with Francie reminds me of Proverbs 8: 30-31: I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times; Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
It was Christ’s delight to be with us, the children of men, playing before the Father. Sometimes I forget that Jesus wishes us to delight in Him the way He delights in us. Francie brings that message home to me.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Being Catholic and Being a Politician – Mutually Exclusive?
January 10, 2011
St. Thomas More : "The King's good servant-but God's first."
Over the past year I and some other Catholic bloggers have wrestled with how to define ourselves regarding politics. In the musings a question arises: Given the evidence of so many Catholic politicians abandoning basic teachings of the Church on the subjects of abortion and gay marriage, to say nothing of their corrupt acts in other areas,
Can a Catholic be a politician and remain faithful to Church teachings, or,
Are being a faithful Catholic and serving as a politician mutually exclusive?
Magister Christianus at Bedlam or Parnassus blog highlighted the heart of the matter in his recent post The Lordship of Jesus Christ which I highly recommend reading in full. He wrote:
…Yet if the one true God, eternally existing as three distinct Persons and fully revealed in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, is the Lord that He claims to be, then there can be nothing to compete for our allegiance. Our first, last, supreme, and everlasting commitment is to that Lord. All other commitments must be viewed within that prior commitment and must be subservient to it…..
Of course, I cannot be completely frank about my relationship with God without being open about Who He is. In other words, I cannot say that I am a Christian, but in my role as a politician claim to be open on the issue of gay marriage. I cannot say that I serve the Lord Jesus Christ without acknowledging what He is, and since He is the word made flesh, this includes acknowledging His teaching.
Or rather, I could do this, if He were not Lord, and now we return to the central issue. If God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is indeed the one Lord of all, then Christians cannot compromise on how their service to this Lord is rendered. It cannot be only as a matter of convenience and it cannot be on purely private or personal terms. It must be all the time, everywhere, and with everyone, and in an age when the exact opposite is being taught to our children through all avenues, there can be no more important lesson for them to learn.
What Magister writes is indeed the heart of the matter. Jesus Christ is Lord. As Father Philip Wolfe, FSSP once shouted from the pulpit, “There can be no compromise with Catholic moral teaching!” And Catholic moral teaching is from the Ten Commandments which enshrine a right relationship with God and the dignity of the human person.
So, given the utter and complete corruption in American politics, are we condemned to see the light of Christ extinguished as notorious politicians who strap on the Catholic badge repeatedly trample upon the dignity of the human person and deny God His rightful place in our lives? Are all Catholics who may be called to the vocation of politics destined to betray Christ as we have seen with the Kennedys, Pelosi, Biden, John Kerry, etc.?
Things have looked grim for years, and especially grim since the 2008 election. We might be disposed to throw up our hands in despair, but if we look around we can find that God indeed gives the graces necessary for a Catholic politician to know, love, and serve God in this world without sacrificing his duties to the state. In fact, I believe that a politician’s duties to the state cannot be exercised appropriately without knowing, loving and serving God.
Sir Ellis Clarke, (28 December 1917 – 30 December 2010)
I am indebted to Helen Gonsalves of Catholicseeking for posting about the recent death of Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke in A Man in Love – A Final Tribute to Sir Ellis Clarke.
God answered my questions posed above with a sterling example of a politician in love with God and his faith – who never wavered from the moral center Catholic teaching gave him. Trinidad and Tobago was blessed to have this man as its first president and powerful influence in TT politics.
No doubt it took great courage for him to stand for the truth along the way, to call out for the dignity of the human person, to honor God in his deeds. Just at this time when in the United States we are undergoing fierce battles with our government over basic human rights, we, through the life and death of Sir Ellis Clarke, are shown what a Catholic politician can and should be.
Now, by suffering with joy, prayer and penance, practicing the skill of clear thinking from a solid classical base, voting responsibly in elections, and wise preparation of our children to live a Christ-centered life in secular society, Catholics can change the face of politics in America for the better. We do not need to know the specifics of how this will be done. God knows. God will accomplish it. He is awaiting our oblation. That is enough.
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R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sabbath Moments
December 4, 2010
Sabbath Moments are the times when we rest in the Lord. Colleen at Thoughts on Grace hosts this meme every Saturday, so visit her to read other bloggers’ special moments with God.
This week I made myself be peaceful in the dentist’s chair as I went through the next phase of the crown work. It’s a good thing I had this 4 hour opportunity to offer it up!
In addition to writing a couple of posts for this blog, I worked hard on getting my new business blog ready for live traffic. Design work is such a creative process that I feel close to God when I’m doing it – as if we are partners. Of course, I couldn’t do any art or design work without Him. He is the Author of all that is beautiful and harmonious.
The other big job I did this week was to write an article for the monthly newsletter I publish for Una Voce Arkansas Ozarks. It’s about how Mary and Joseph likely spent the four weeks before Jesus was born. Their advent was far different from ours. This has been quite a meditation for me, as I am filled with admiration for the challenges they faced and their complete trust in God – a lesson I need to learn often. When the newsletter is published I’ll put a link to it at this blog.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Sunday Snippets – A Catholic Carnival
November 28, 2010
Welcome to Sunday Snippets hosted by RAnn at This That and the Other Thing. Visit her to see other bloggers’ posts for the week.
This past week I asked Why Do You Write? Why not take me up on my challenge and pass it around to your fellow bloggers? Sometimes it’s a good idea to ask ourselves why we’re doing something as a way to refocus our energy.
At St. Clement of Rome I ask about your patrons and how they influence your life – another good focusing exercise and one you can share with others.
For Sabbath Moments I mention joining with the Holy Father for the First Sunday of Advent Vespers and a lovely sight Friday morning.
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 46 offers my reflections on this joyous claim of confidence in the Lord.
God bless all my readers and thanks for visiting!
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 46
November 27, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to Praying the Psalms. Jenny at Just a Minute hosts this wonderful meme every Saturday. Visit her for other commentary on this psalm.
Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. gives us an idea of how this Psalm came to be written:
An exceptional triumph of unbounded trust, the literal encounter with God which inspired it must have been one of the most astounding of sacred history. Many regard the original event as that of 2 Kings 18-19, when the mighty Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem in King Hezekiah’s days. He trusted in the Lord like nobody before or after (18:5). He prayed with his people.
While the enemy stood outside and in mockery blasphemed God and His holy city, Isaiah the prophet came forward and spoke for the Lord. That night an angel of the Lord slew 185,000 Assyrians “at the break of dawn.”
vs. 2- 4 God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea; though its waters rage and foam and the mountains quake at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [Nature is formidable as we have seen in hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and volcanoes. But God is with us throughout these destructive moments. Whenever our home is threatened with natural disaster I pray for His protection. I ask Him to send His angels to guard us. These verses remind us that no matter how powerfully nature manifests itself, God is more powerful. Our Father delights in protecting His children, such is the greatness of His love. He desires that we remember this and call upon Him in the midst of all threats.]
vs. 5-8 There is a stream whose rivulets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn. Though nations are in turmoil, kingdoms totter, His voice resounds, the earth melts away, the Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [The stream flowing into the New Jerusalem is the water of Baptism whereby we become children of God and are given a share in His life. We make vows to the Lord and He keeps us safe from harm. Only when we leave His protective care and break our vows do we fall into sin. All manner of evil can surround us, but if we take refuge in God, He will guard us from the worst evil of all - falling into mortal sin and severing our ties with Him. All of the city of God is gladdened when a new soul is washed in the stream and the sinner repents.]
vs. 9-12 Come! Behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things He has wrought on earth: He has stopped wars to the end of the earth: the bow He breaks; He splinters the spears; He burns the shields with fire. Desist! and confess that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. [No matter how bad things appear to our earthly eyes, with our spiritual vision we know that God is more powerful than anything man can set against Him and us with Him.
Christ's name "Emmanuel" means "God with us." He promised to be with us until the end of time. Whatever we do, if we do it in His name, we show His power and love for mankind till the end of ages.
Jesus warned us, "And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Mt.: 10:28). This should be our greatest concern. Nothing else can come close to being a threat to us.
Quite often I am tempted to be drawn into the political issues of our country and the world, and experience fear that those who are clearly outside the Holy City blaspheming God will prevail. With this psalm I can refocus on God, renew acts of faith and trust in Him, and restore my spiritual sight. Our world needs more glorifying of God, more praising of His love and goodness, more embracing of life and the sacrifices necessary to live in a godly way. Lord, with your help I will do this without fear, for you are my stronghold.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
From a Sudden and Unprovided Death…
November 9, 2010
Our neighbor who was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell cancer in May passed away early this morning. He was a good son and brother who saw his mission in life to care for his ailing mother who passed away shortly after he was diagnosed. Please say some prayers for the repose of his soul. God will surely bless him for the many years he made it possible for his family and friends to enjoy his mother who was a lovely person. Filial piety.
Since this is the month of the Poor Souls, I’ve been thinking about the Church’s prayers for deliverance from a sudden and unprovided death. I put them under the page at this site, “Prayers for the Dying.”
It’s always a good idea to remember that we will not know the day or the hour of our passing, and to be ready for it always, trusting in the mercy of God.
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 43
November 6, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Welcome to Praying the Psalms. Join Jenny today at Just a Minute for other reflections on Psalm 43.
This psalm was originally part of Psalm 42 and continues the prayer of longing and hope while in spiritual exile and oppression. The more his enemies taunt him the more steadfast the psalmist becomes.
Nothing answers the tortured and longing soul like the presence of God. Nothing brings us to awareness of the presence of God but His light and fidelity to His promise.
People who attend the Traditional Latin Mass will recognize this Psalm as part of the prayers at the foot of the altar before the priest ascends to chant the Introit. We can recognize the fulfillment of the symbols of God’s presence (Sion, Jerusalem, Temple, Altar) in Psalm 42-43 in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
vs. 1-2 Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me. For You, O God, are my strength. Why do You keep me so far away? Why must I go about in mourning with the enemy oppressing me? [O God, I cannot rescue myself from the powers of darkness. When they assail me I feel far from You and mourn for Your presence. Only Your power and might gives me the strength to overcome temptation and avoid the occasions of sin. Let me remember always that whether I feel You near or not, You are always with me.]
vs. 3-4 Send forth Your light and Your fidelity; they shall lead me on and bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling-place. Then will I go in to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and joy; then will I give You thanks upon the harp, O God, my God! [Christ is my light. He brings me to the altar, the dwelling place of the Holy Trinity, the holy mountain where He is physically present in the tabernacle. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated on the altar is the great Thanksgiving for deliverance from the power of Satan; the eternal Todah celebrated unceasingly on this earth and forever in heaven. I give You my poor thanks from the harp of my heart - a thanksgiving made perfect by the action of Christ Himself.]
vs. 5 Why are you so downcast, O may soul? Why do you sigh within me? Hope in God! For I shall again be thanking Him in the presence of my savior and my God. [I must not give in to discouragement. When I feel empty, it is my own emptiness - my utter lack of reserves as a creature - my awareness of my hollowness and self-centeredness. Foolish soul! As a creature I am utterly dependent on God. He is the One whose grace makes my life possible. Turn from self and look to Him. Be filled with the sure knowledge that He is here and that He is working His miracles of grace in me regardless of how I feel. The greatest miracle is the ability to thank Him in His presence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to join Him in heaven some day.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Keeping the Faith in the Middle of Election Insanity
October 22, 2010
Ever since the 2008 presidential election campaigns and the subsequent bills and behavior of our elected officials I’ve periodically felt overcome with anxiety for myself, my family, and the future of our country. Elected officials have replaced God and the ten commandments with ideologies that lead only to death. If I don’t immediately turn to God – and turn off the talking heads – fear overtakes faith.
As we approach this coming election the craziness in the political swamp is at the highest pitch I’ve ever seen in my life so I’m taking cover in Father Philip Schuster, O.S.B.’s wonderfully simple book, Seeking God’s Will Through Faith, Hope & Charity. Perhaps you will find peace and joy in these words of his:
Often we meet good people who claim no formal church affiliation. It is possible for these people to have some sort of faith. But unless one accepts all that Jesus taught and all that He teaches through His Church today, one cannot possess the fullness of true faith. Those who follow only what seems best to them cannot come to the fullness of supernatural faith.
Think, meditate, on these glories of faith: in faith the God of revelation speaks words of truth. We listen and we believe Him. Faith is listening to God’s voice telling us His secrets about Himself, His plans for us. “In Your light we see light” with the eyes of faith. Faith gives us total security. Faith is the crowning of our human reason, for it fills our mind with revealed truths. In obedience of mind we cling to God’s wisdom and to our salvation. Faith is the foundation of our hope, our charity. Faith lets us see darkly now what one day we hope to see face to face.
…Our own faith can grow, become conviction, and completely change our life, too.
Faith is not contrary to reason; rather, it carries us beyond reason. We see this especially in what we believe about suffering, but also in what we believe about the Eucharist, about baptism, penance, and matrimony, of God’s love for us, of His forgiveness, and so many other wonderful revealed truths. The person of faith sees and knows marvelous truths that remain hidden from the one without faith.
Another great advantage of stressing faith “defined as believing simply because God has spoken” is that then we tend to be much more convinced of the truth, the reality, of what we believe. This is very important. If I stress to myself that God has revealed this truth, then I will know it is true, and I will hold that truth with greater certitude and conviction than if I rely only on my own reasoning power…
If my belief in resurrection and eternal life is based on the Word of God rather than on my own reasoning, then eternal life, with all its promised joys, becomes a reality for me, and I can much better face the crosses in my daily life. For hope then becomes strong, eternal life is for me, and I can experience peace and joy, even in the face of tragedy. Surely this was the faith of the martyrs.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Blessed John Henry Newman – I Have My Mission
October 13, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI’s recent trip held an event long desired and enthusiastically anticipated by Catholics, especially those of English speaking countries. The beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman, one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement in the 19th century was a cause of great celebration.
Newman, a convert from the Anglican Church, was one of the greatest thinkers and shepherds of the Catholic Church in his time. His wisdom has been a buffer to modernism and his holiness a salve to the troubled heart. For those of us in the Traditional Mass movement, Newman has been a shining star – a saint who always spoke the truth in charity.
What he wrote about his purpose in life expresses perfectly what my blog and the rest of my life is all about. May you find inspiration in it, too.
Newman’s Purpose is the Christian Purpose
I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has;
whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.
God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission–I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes,
as necessary in my place as an Archangel in his
–if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another, as He could make the stones children of Abraham.Yet I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good, I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling.Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end,
which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it;
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends,
He may throw me among strangers,
He may make me feel desolate,
make my spirits sink, hide the future from me
–still He knows what He is about.
Blessed John Henry Newman
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
Praying the Psalms – Psalm 37
September 25, 2010
King David Playing the Zither, Andrea Celesti (1637-1712 Venice), oil on canvas, private collection
Join Jenny, our hostess for this meme, at Just a Minute to read other blogger’s thoughts on this Psalm.
This is quite a long Psalm so I will cherry pick some verses for meditation. It is another alphabetic Psalm, which means each verse begins with a letter of the alphabet, and it would have been one the Hebrews memorized and prayed often. To me, this signifies a great importance concerning the ideas expressed in it.
Father Paschal Botz, O.S.B. in his commentary on this Psalm says:
Contentment with God’s dispositions for the just and unjust is poverty of spirit. Patience with the Lord and waiting for His good time to reward and punish will calm our anger and jealousy at the prosperity of the sinner.
Before we can qualify for life in God, we must learn the transitoriness of wealth and the purpose of suffering. The author offers encouragement to the wavering and suggests moderation in ownership of the land, always serene trust in God’s decision.
vs. 1-4 Fret not yourself because of the wicked, be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will dwell in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. [It is tempting to resent the apparent success of those who do evil. We see them on television and in newspapers every day. They are spread throughout the government, the media, and the business world. Their agenda is wealth and power for themselves and poverty and death for others. They apparently enjoy their success and "live it up" with the finest of food, drink, clothes, etc. They seem immune from any bad consequences of their actions and supremely confident in their path.
God tells us not to be obsessed with evildoers who have wealth and power because they will fade away, even though to us it seems that it takes a long time to do so. All his wealth and power didn't keep Teddy Kennedy from the grave, nor will it keep us from the grave and the judgment seat of God.
Psalm 37, Moshe Tzvi HaLevi Berger - "The King's advice is to the one who does good - only he has to merit to dwell in the land. And this land may nurture him with faith, for it is a holy land, a land where the Almighty's blessings will remain forever."
Lord, grant me poverty of spirit and complete trust in You. Let me not look at what my neighbor has, but at the great blessings You have given me. Make a life in You be the desire of my heart. Help me to do good to others and rest secure in You. Lord, I want to always delight in You with the simplicity of a child.]
vs.11 But the meek shall possess the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity. [God is my present and my future. Yes, I struggle with wanting total control over my life and I want to make things happen to my advantage in this world. I get too attached to the spirit and things of this world, ascribe too much importance to them. I need the virtue of detachment.
Lord, make me meek and trusting of You, give me patience to wait on You, help me to see Your plan in my life, let me always seek refuge in You so that I will enjoy eternity with You and all of the just.]
R. Now and forever. Amen.
(Click on the link above to read why I am ending my posts with this.)
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