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Shepherds of Christ |
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Shepherds of Christ |
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August 24, 2011
August 25th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 3 Period II.The Novena Rosary Mysteries
for August 25th are Glorious.
Please pray for Dan.
Please pray for Jimmy.
Pray for everything to do with
Fr. Joe's Cycle B Book.
The Florida Book Store
August 24, 2011
R. St. Bartholomew really lived
He was a martyr
Believe to be same person as
Nathaniel
1st reading talks about 12 gates
that built the city of God
The Church is built on the Apostles
Revelation 21: 9-14
One of the seven angels that had the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came to speak to me and said, 'Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.' In the spirit, he carried me to the top of a very high mountain, and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God. It had all the glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. Its wall was of a great height and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
R. I had a vision once in the grotto
of Holy Spirit Center of the 12 apostles
one face showed up at a time
October 31, 1994
On October 31, the day before All Saints Day, Marty, Gerry Ross and I prayed before Mary's statue in the grotto at the Center. We saw visions for two hours after praying the rosary. Marty and I saw a parade of saints, and the statue of Mary turned into Jesus for a very long time. It was so beautiful! It was as if we were watching a movie. We both saw the same thing.
October 31: Saw all the faces in the grotto, Mary changed into Jesus, then into the Apostles, saw Claude.
Psalm 145: 10-13, 17-18
Yod
Kaph
They shall speak of the glory of your kingship
and tell of your might,
Lamed
making known your mighty deeds to the children of Adam,
the glory and majesty of your kingship.
Mem
Your kingship is a kingship for ever,
your reign lasts from age to age.
Zade
Upright in all that he does,
Yahweh acts only in faithful love.
Qoph
He is close to all who call upon him,
all who call on him from the heart.
John 1: 45-51
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth. Nathanael said to him, From Nazareth? Can anything good come from that place? Philip replied, Come and see. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, There, truly, is an Israelite in whom there is no deception. Nathanael asked, How do you know me? Jesus replied, Before Philip came to call you, I saw you under the fig tree. Nathanael answered, Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel. Jesus replied, You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You are going to see greater things than that. And then he added, In all truth I tell you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.
R. In the Acts of the Apostles
After Jesus ascended into
heaven the apostles chose
a replacement for Judas
Jesus was constantly renewing
the Kingdom
Even before Pentecost they
chose someone from
the group
There was 12 tribes
There was 12 Apostles
In 12 months
we have 12 apostles
We pray for the leadership
of the Church
Oh God made them male and female
And God gave us rules to live by
To empty oneself, to be filled more and
more by Him
God wants men and women to be one
in marriage, one with Him
We were given an elevated knowing
and loving capacity in baptism
To have insight into the Divine
Mysteries
We can transfer relationships we
have with others into our
present life
A person living under abuse can
change their address and
provoke another to try to create
the same dysfunctional scenario
with innocent others at a different
address.
When one is abusive to another
it may be the other who was constantly
provoking them to get a reaction.
R. In China God has given us the
Eucharist exposed in China
Since 1997 we have prayed
before the Blessed Sacrament
We have prayed now 14 years
there and I unite all my
prayers to their prayers
in China
I can see the Eucharist exposed
always in my Heart
China, Jesus said, is a constant
vigil of prayer and love
going out to the world
R. Jesus told me
China was the Eucharistic Center
of the world
Jesus gave me this song
R. For 14 years we have prayed
before Jesus in China
Before we got the Church when
Fr. Carter and I went in
the Church I had a
vision of the Eucharist
exposed and a church full
of people worshipping God
And then we got the Church
Fr. Carter asked the Archdiocese for
the Eucharist in the tabernacle
right away and
Fr. Carter had me take him to China
5 times a week at first
to say Mass because he
said Jesus wanted this and
China was so important
The priests say Mass 3 to 4 times
a month in China and
we pray 4 solid days
always the 13th is the biggest
gathering of the month
Jesus wants this
Some people have reported healings
in China
Song: China
R. Jesus said China was the Eucharistic
Center of the world.
A place of light
A place where Jesus is truly
present no less present
then the day He walked the earth
Jesus is the King
We pray 24 hours a day there
before our King
We have for, at least, 14 years
Fr. Carter said Jesus called us to
China we left Fr. Carter's Jesuit
residence drove to China
and got lost in the parking lot
We laughed
Then the Archdiocese asked us
to continue our work
from C H I N A
I have done 15 years of
13ths
over 11 years of 3 or 4 day retreats
in China
Fr. Carter traveled to China
5 times a week then
3 times later
every week doing
Mass every time
Song: China
R. We have 2 centers God gave to us
To go there is a privilege
To live there is a privilege
R. God has given us these 2 centers
on the 5th I went to Florida,
here is how Mary appeared on
these 5ths
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All 5ths -
Our Lady of Clearwater Florida
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 November 5, 2003 |
 December 5, 2003 |
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From a Lenten Homily, March 24, 2000
Live in the Moment
Todays Gospel in its story certainly points ahead to Jesus in His Passion and death. And as we read passages such as this during the Lenten season, we are reminded once again that the Church in her Liturgy of the Word gives us an opportunity to undergo a purification, an ever deepening cleansing of ourselves so that we may be a more fit instrument for receiving the great graces which are to be given to us at the time of the Resurrection memorial on Easter. And so all in all, Lent is a time of purification to prepare us for ever-greater gifts of the Lord. Its a time of self-discipline, a time to renew our efforts to be self-disciplined in the service of the Lord. Self-discipline is an aspect of purification. And I suggest that one of the most difficult acts of self-discipline in the spiritual journey is to concentrate on the present moment. We have a very strong tendency to disregard the importance of the present moment by focusing in a wrong way on the past or in a wrong way on the future. There are proper occasions for thinking of the past and the future. For example, we have to learn from the past and we have to prepare for the future, but our great emphasis has to be upon the present. There is a Latin axiom which says, age quod agis, age quod agis, which means: do what you are doing, concentrate on the present. And of course we are familiar with that term in the history of spirituality: the sacrament of the present moment. And so the discipline of Lent certainly encourages us to include in a deeper self-discipline a greater determination to get as much as we can out of the present moment. People with a terminal illness have an opportunity as they prepare for death for increased prayer, contrition, love of God. However, some are taken very, very quickly. But for those who have the opportunity of knowing with some certainty the time of their death, Im sure as they look back on their lives, they are saddened by the many times they did not use time and opportunities for the service of the Lord properly, and are overjoyed at those times in which they did use the present opportunity properly. A great means we have of living in the present properly is a greater focus upon our Lord. For if I have that awareness of the fact I am united with Jesus here and now, why should I be concerned so much about the future or the past? Yes, a great help in living in the present and deriving all the good we can from it for ourselves and others is an ever greater focus upon Jesus, because the more I focus upon Jesus and the more I live with Him in the present moment, the more I am satisfied with the present moment. And so let us in our Lenten activity resolve to grow in that self-discipline - which is very difficult at times - to really live in the presence with the fullness of our being as much as is possible, with the help of Gods grace. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of salvation.
end of Father Carter's homily
R. How has your life been
where ever you lived
Look at yourselves
Ask what does God want me
doing here
Loving
Living in peace
Having unity, gratitude
God help us
You are the Bread of Life
You are the Lord of love
God help us to have strength
to serve You as You
deserve to be served
Outpour Your grace to us
Help us to see the light
You are our Divine Redeemer
Oh God outpour Your grace
Help us to be united as Your
holy family loving
each other
Oh God hear us
Oh Most Sacred Heart of Jesus I adore You
R. Oh God bless us abundantly
Oh God help our Church to
be holy
Help us to love to be friends
to be as You want us to be
Doing the work You called
us to
R. Loving You above all
things
Oh God You are the fountain
of life
R. I offer You myself
I want to live to serve You
I want to live in peace, love and joy
Protect us from harm
Help us to obey authority
Help us to obey - Your will in love
Grant us Your healing for our
darkness inside
Help us to be a witness of Your
light to others
Help us to die to our old
untainted ways
Song: Give Me Your Heart Oh Jesus
Psalm 36
Sin is the oracle of the wicked
in the depths of his heart;
there is no fear of God
before his eyes.He sees himself with too flattering an eye
to detect and detest his guilt;
all he says is malicious and deceitful,
he has turned his back on wisdom.To get his way he hatches malicious plots
even in his bed;
once set on his evil course
no wickedness is too much for him.Yahweh, your faithful love is in the heavens,
your constancy reaches to the clouds,
your saving justice is like towering mountains,
your judgements like the mighty deep.Yahweh, you support both man and beast;
how precious, God, is your faithful love.
So the children of Adam
take refuge in the shadow of your wings.They feast on the bounty of your house,
you let them drink from your delicious streams;
in you is the source of life,
by your light we see the light.Maintain your faithful love to those who acknowledge you,
and your saving justice to the honest of heart.
Do not let the foot of the arrogant overtake me
or wicked hands drive me away.There they have fallen, the evildoers,
flung down, never to rise again.
R. God we give You thanks for
all You have done for us
Prayer for Union with Jesus
Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.
I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.
I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.
When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.
-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994
Sing: Come Holy Ghost
R. Dear God we bless Your name
Sing: Holy Is His Name
R. May God be Blessed in the
Most Holy Sacrament of love
In the Blessed Sacrament
of the altar
Oh God You are the King of
heaven and earth
Oh God we adore You
Oh God we love You
Oh God thank You for our
vocation
Oh God thank You for the
Eucharist and Church
in China
Oh God give us the grace
to love You, more and more
to adore You with great
love
Oh God give us the grace
to serve humbly
Oh God give us the grace
to serve with great
love
Oh God help us to love as a family
Oh God help us to want to
serve You more
Sing: Holy God We Praise Thy Name
Prayer from St. Ignatius
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask for any reward,
Save that of knowing
that I am doing your will.
From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p. 12
23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION
Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God
our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,
by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p.1121. SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
no decision is made under the influence of any
inordinate attachment
R. Exercises for the soul
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE
Discerning the Spirits
Our end is to serve God
to go to heaven
Soul of Christ
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Permit me not to be separated from Thee
From the wicked foe defend me
at the hour of my death call me
and bid me come to Thee
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
For ever and ever. Amen.
Litany of the
Most Precious Blood of Jesus
(For public or private use.)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us.
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, save us.
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.
Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, save us.
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.
Blood of Christ, river of mercy, save us.
Blood of Christ, Victor over demons, save us.
Blood of Christ, Courage of martyrs, save us.
Blood of Christ, Strength of confessors, save us.
Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins, save us.
Blood of Christ, Help of those in peril, save us.
Blood of Christ, Relief of the burdened, save us.
Blood of Christ, Solace in sorrow, save us.
Blood of Christ, Hope of the penitent, save us.
Blood of Christ, Consolation of the dying, save us.
Blood of Christ, Peace and Tenderness of hearts, save us.
Blood of Christ, Pledge of Eternal Life, save us.
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from Purgatory, save us.
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, save us.Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord.V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood,
R. And made of us a kingdom for our God.Let Us Pray
Almighty and Eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven. Through the same Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
Sing: Take Lord Receive
Exodus 3: 13-14
Moses then said to God, 'Look, if I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your ancestors has sent me to you," and they say to me, "What is his name?" what am I to tell them?' God said to Moses, 'I am he who is.' And he said, 'This is what you are to say to the Israelites, "I am has sent me to you."'
R. We need to know self
Seek virtues
Excerpt from Priestly Newsletter
Humility is a very important virtue given to us for the spiritual journey.
Humility is both the realization of what we are as creatures of God and the concrete implementation of this realization in our Christian lives. Humility, therefore, is not an exercise in self-depreciation; it is not telling yourself that you are no good, that you really have nothing of any significance to contribute to the service of God. Humility is based on truth. It is compatible with the recognition that God has given a person certain gifts, even great gifts, of nature and grace. If we do not recognize our God-given gifts, we do not thank God for them as we should, nor properly develop these gifts according to His will. God wants us not only to recognize the good that is in us, but also to realize the source of this goodness. Although we have a responsibility to cooperate with His graces, God is the One Who is chiefly responsible for what we are. If one person has advanced to a level in the Christian life that is beyond the level of another, it is ultimately because God has given that person greater graces.
If humility is based on truth and, consequently, allows us to properly recognize our gifts, it also necessitates that we admit to the evil within us, which is also part of the truth and must be acted upon. Humility not only bids us to admit that there is evil in us, but also tells us that, as creatures of God, we should conform to His will and work against this evil side of our persons. In summary, humility allows us to properly evaluate both the good and evil within ourselves.
Here is a quotation from St. Paul which helps us to preserve, and grow in, humility: Who made you so important? What have you got that was not given to you? And if it was given to you, why are you boasting as though it were your own? (1 Cor 4:7).
And in the Letter of James we read: Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. (Jm 4:10)
end of excerpt
Matthew 8: 21-23
Another man, one of the disciples, said to him, Lord, let me go and bury my father first. But Jesus said, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.
Then he got into the boat followed by his disciples.
John 4: 34
But Jesus said:
My food
is to do the will of the one who sent me,
and to complete his work.
John 6: 38
because I have come from heaven,
not to do my own will,
but to do the will of him who sent me.
And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels,
Revelation 20: 9-10
They came swarming over the entire country and besieged the camp of the saints, which is the beloved City. But fire rained down on them from heaven and consumed them. Then the devil, who led them astray, was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet are, and their torture will not come to an end, day or night, forever and ever.
Romans 1: 18 - 2:11
The retribution of God from heaven is being revealed against the ungodliness and injustice of human beings who in their injustice hold back the truth. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them, since God has made it plain to them: ever since the creation of the world, the invisible existence of God and his everlasting power have been clearly seen by the mind's understanding of created things. And so these people have no excuse: they knew God and yet they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but their arguments became futile and their uncomprehending minds were darkened. While they claimed to be wise, in fact they were growing so stupid that they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an imitation, for the image of a mortal human being, or of birds, or animals, or crawling things.
That is why God abandoned them in their inmost cravings to filthy practices of dishonouring their own bodies- because they exchanged God's truth for a lie and have worshipped and served the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen
That is why God abandoned them to degrading passions: why their women have exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices; and the men, in a similar fashion, too, giving up normal relations with women, are consumed with passion for each other, men doing shameful things with men and receiving in themselves due reward for their perversion.
In other words, since they would not consent to acknowledge God, God abandoned them to their unacceptable thoughts and indecent behaviour. And so now they are steeped in all sorts of injustice, rottenness, greed and malice; full of envy, murder, wrangling, treachery and spite, libellers, slanderers, enemies of God, rude, arrogant and boastful, enterprising in evil, rebellious to parents, without brains, honour, love or pity. They are well aware of God's ordinance: that those who behave like this deserve to die-yet they not only do it, but even applaud others who do the same.
So no matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. It is yourself that you condemn when you judge others, since you behave in the same way as those you are condemning. We are well aware that people who behave like that are justly condemned by God. But you-when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing the same yourself-do you think you will escape God's condemnation? Or are you not disregarding his abundant goodness, tolerance and patience, failing to realise that this generosity of God is meant to bring you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only storing up retribution for yourself on that Day of retribution when God's just verdicts will be made known. He will repay everyone as their deeds deserve. For those who aimed for glory and honour and immortality by persevering in doing good, there will be eternal life; but for those who out of jealousy have taken for their guide not truth but injustice, there will be the fury of retribution. Trouble and distress will come to every human being who does evil-Jews first, but Greeks as well; glory and honour and peace will come to everyone who does good-Jews first, but Greeks as well. There is no favouritism with God.
R. God wants us to thank Him
God loves us so much
Ingratitude hurts our relationship
with God
Matthew 25: 26-31
But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has. As for this goodfornothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.
R. Jesus is the King of Kings
Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. P.60-61
136. THE FOURTH DAY
A MEDITATION ON TWO STANDARDS
The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord,
the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our
human naturePRAYER. The usual preparatory prayer.
window at a former Jesuit Seminary
137. FIRST PRELUDE. This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.
138. SECOND PRELUDE. This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.
139. THIRD PRELUDE. This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.
FIRST PART
THE STANDARD OF SATAN
140. FIRST POINT. Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.
141. SECOND POINT. Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.
142. THIRD POINT. Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.
The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.
SECOND PART
THE STANDARD OF CHRIST
143. In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.
144. FIRST POINT. Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.
145. SECOND POINT. Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.
146. THIRD POINT. . . .
end of excerpt
Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. pp. 141-150
313. RULES FOR DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS
IRules for understanding to some extent the different movements produced in the soul and for recognizing those that are good to admit them, and those that are bad, to reject them. These rules are more suited to the first week
314. I. In the case of those who go from one mortal sin to another, the enemy is ordinarily accustomed to propose apparent pleasures. He fills their imagination with sensual delights and gratifications, the more readily to keep them in their vices and increase the number of their sins.
With such persons the good spirit uses a method which is the reverse of the above. Making use of the light of reason, he will rouse the sting of conscience and fill them with remorse.
315. 2. In the case of those who go on earnestly striving to cleanse their souls from sin and who seek to rise in the service of God our Lord to greater perfection, the method pursued is the opposite of that mentioned in the first rule.
Then it is characteristic of the evil spirit to harass with anxiety, to afflict with sadness, to raise obstacles backed by fallacious reasonings that disturb the soul. Thus he seeks to prevent the soul from advancing.
It is characteristic of the good spirit, however, to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and peace. This He does by making all easy, by removing all obstacles so that the soul goes forward in doing good.
316. 3. SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION. I call it consolation when an interior movement is aroused in the soul, by which it is inflamed with love of its Creator and Lord, and as a consequence, can love no creature on the face of the earth for its own sake, but only in the Creator of them all. It is likewise consolation when one sheds tears that move to the love of God, whether it be because of sorrow for sins, or because of the sufferings of Christ our Lord, or for any other reason that is immediately directed to the praise and service of God. Finally, I call consolation every increase of faith, hope, and love, and all interior joy that invites and attracts to what is heavenly and to the salvation of one's soul by filling it with peace and quiet in its Creator and Lord.
317. 4. SPIRITUAL DESOLATION. I call desolation what is entirely the opposite of what is described in the third rule, as darkness of soul, turmoil of spirit, inclination to what is low and earthly, restlessness rising from many disturbances and temptations which lead to want of faith, want of hope, want of love. The soul is wholly slothful, tepid, sad, and separated, as it were, from its Creator and Lord. For just as consolation is the opposite of desolation, so the thoughts that spring from consolation are the opposite of those that spring from desolation.
318. 5. In time of desolation we should never make any change, but remain firm and constant in the resolution and decision which guided us the day before the desolation, or in the decision to which we adhered in the preceding consolation. For just as in consolation the good spirit guides and counsels us, so in desolation the evil spirit guides and counsels. Following his counsels we can never find the way to a right decision.
319. 6. Though in desolation we must never change our former resolutions, it will be very advantageous to intensify our activity against the desolation. We can insist more upon prayer, upon meditation, and on much examination of ourselves. We can make an effort in a suitable way to do some penance.
320. 7. When one is in desolation, he should be mindful that God has left him to his natural powers to resist the different agitations and temptations of the enemy in order to try him. He can resist with the help of God, which always remains, though he may not clearly perceive it. For though God has taken from him the abundance of fervor and overflowing love and the intensity of His favors, nevertheless, he has sufficient grace for eternal salvation.
321. 8. When one is in desolation, he should strive to persevere in patience. This reacts against the vexations that have overtaken him. Let him consider, too, that consolation will soon return, and in the meantime, he must diligently use the means against desolation which have been given in the sixth rule.
322. 9. The principal reasons why we suffer from desolation are three:
The first is because we have been tepid and slothful or negligent in our exercises of piety, and so through our own fault spiritual consolation has been taken away from us.
The second reason is because God wishes to try us, to see how much we are worth, and how much we will advance in His service and praise when left without the generous reward of consolations and signal favors.
The third reason is because God wishes to give us a true knowledge and understanding of ourselves, so that we may have an intimate perception of the fact that it is not within our power to acquire and attain great devotion, intense love, tears, or any other spiritual consolation; but that all this is the gift and grace of God our Lord. God does not wish us to build on the property of another, to rise up in spirit in a certain pride and vainglory and attribute to ourselves the devotion and other effects of spiritual consolation.
323. 10. When one enjoys consolation, let him consider how he will conduct himself during the time of ensuing desolation, and store up a supply of strength as defense against that day.
324. 11. He who enjoys consolation should take care to humble himself and lower himself as much as possible. Let him recall how little he is able to do in time of desolation, when he is left without such grace or consolation.
On the other hand, one who suffers desolation should remember that by making use of the sufficient grace offered him, he can do much to withstand all his enemies. Let him find his strength in his Creator and Lord.
325. 12. The enemy conducts himself as a woman. He is a weakling before a show of strength, and a tyrant if he has his will. It is characteristic of a woman in a quarrel with a man to lose courage and take to flight if the man shows that he is determined and fearless. However, if the man loses courage and begins to flee, the anger, vindictiveness, and rage of the woman surge up and know no bounds. In the same way, the enemy becomes weak, loses courage, and turns to flight with his seductions as soon as one leading a spiritual life faces his temptations boldly, and does exactly the opposite of what he suggests. However, if one begins to be afraid and to lose courage in temptations, no wild animal on earth can be more fierce than the enemy of our human nature. He will carry out his perverse intentions with consummate malice.
326. 13. Our enemy may also be compared in his manner of acting to a false lover. He seeks to remain hidden and does not want to be discovered. If such a lover speaks with evil intention to the daughter of a good father, or to the wife of a good husband, and seeks to seduce them, he wants his words and solicitations kept secret. He is greatly displeased if his evil suggestions and depraved intentions are revealed by the daughter to her father, or by the wife to her husband. Then he readily sees he will not succeed in what he has begun. In the same way, when the enemy of our human nature tempts a just soul with his wiles and seductions, he earnestly desires that they be received secretly and kept secret. But if one manifests them to a confessor, or to some other spiritual person who understands his deceits and malicious designs, the evil one is very much vexed. For he knows that he cannot succeed in his evil undertaking, once his evident deceits have been revealed.
327. 14. The conduct of our enemy may also be compared to the tactics of a leader intent upon seizing and plundering a position he desires. A commander and leader of an army will encamp, explore the fortifications and defenses of the stronghold, and attack at the weakest point. In the same way, the enemy of our human nature investigates from every side all our virtues, theological, cardinal, and moral. Where he finds the defenses of eternal salvation weakest and most deficient, there he attacks and tries to take us by storm.
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