3,741 reflections
Rather than continually dwelling on her misery and worthlessness, she merely let all thought of self fall away before the infinite majesty of God; and truly the most profitable and genuine way of despising self is to forget oneself altogether.
from God is Love
Nothing is insignificant or negligible in the service of God.
The person who is detached from creatures is not disturbed during prayer or otherwise, and so, without losing precious time, he easily acquires heavenly treasure.
To come to God who is everything and consequently all good, no fatigue must seem to us too great; we must not be put off either by the difficulties we meet on the way, but accept bitterness and welcome every kind of cross with eagerness. By these means, which are precisely those of Jesus Christ, it is not difficult to come to the true God, to live in charity, to walk in love.
Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.
'Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear, forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty’. It seems that this appeal is an invitation to silence; ‘listen ... incline your ear ...’. But to hear, one must forget the house of one’s father, that is, all that binds one to the natural life, that life which was spoken of by the apostle when he said, ‘…if you live according to the flesh you will die’ (Rom. 8:13).
...Jesus has taken command of my ship and has protected it from encountering other vessels. He has kept me in solitude with Himself. Consequently, my heart, by knowing this Captain, has fallen under the spell of His love, and here He keeps me captive. Oh, I love this prison and this powerful King who keeps me captive; and how I love this Captain who amid the waves of the ocean doesn't allow me to suffer shipwreck.
Leave aside any of that faintheartedness that some persons have and think is humility. You see, humility doesn't consist in refusing a favor the King offers you but in accepting such a favor and understanding how bountifully it comes to you and being delighted with it.
Today there is a special need for the Baptism of spirit and fire. In the tremendous struggle between Christ and Lucifer, those who are called to instruct men constitute the vanguard. To arm ourselves for this struggle and to persevere always armed is our most urgent duty. "If salt loses its savor, with what will it be salted?"
I believe I see my task in a clearer and more precise way. This also means seeing my ineptitude ever more deeply, but at the same time also the possibility of being an instrument in spite of everything.
If in periods of physical depression and spiritual discouragement it is difficult for us to gather our energies to lift ourselves up, let us rest in the Lord and not grieve over it.
Believe me, in the presence of Infinite Wisdom, ...one act of humility is worth more than all the knowledge of the world.
