Another brother asked Abba Sisoes, 'I have fallen, Abba; what shall I do?' The old main said to him, 'Get up again.' The brother said, 'I have gotten up again, but again have I fallen.' The old man said, 'Get up again and again.' So the brother asked, 'How many times?' The old man replied, 'Until you are taken up either in virtue or in sin. For a man presents himself to judgment in that state in which he is found.' - Sayings of the Desert Fathers
+ + +
My God, I’m so persuaded that You watch over all who hope in You and nothing can be lacking to those who await from You all things, that I have determined to live from now on without any concern, letting go and giving You all of my anxieties. I will sleep and rest in peace because You, O Lord, and only You, have secured my hope.
Men can deprive me of possessions and reputation; illnesses can take away my strength and means to serve You; I myself can lose Your grace because of sin; but I will not lose my hope; I will conserve it until the last instant of my life and all the efforts from demons trying to take it away from me will be useless. I will sleep and rest in peace.
May others expect happiness in their richness and talents; some may lean on the innocence of their lives, or the rigor of their penitence, or above all on the amount of their good works, or the fervor of their prayers. As for myself Lord, all my confidence is my confidence itself. Because You Lord, only You have secured my hope. - Saint Claude de la Colombiere
great post
ReplyDeleteI want this too, please Gunedelod.
ReplyDeleteshould read 'please God'
ReplyDelete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI read this already.
Terry, I want you to know that the prayer you have posted at the bottom has meant a lot to me. I need to pray it more, but it's any eye opener.
ReplyDeleteStay out of serious sin and do the best I can to love God and my neighbor. And always trust, trust, trust.
Is it really that "easy"?
This is an altogether excellent reflection. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteNothing to add, but Amen and thank you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
Mercury - no - it is not easy.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean it was really easy. I just meant is that really "all" there is to it?
ReplyDelete(as in, stop worrying and love Christ and know he's saving you and the rest will follow)
It is hard to believe that Saint Claude de la Colombiere, a Jesuit, was responsible for the propogation of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He, very educated, and St. Margaret Mary Alaqoque with only two years of formal shooling. How different the Jesuits now are.
ReplyDeleteThe Desert Father and the Jesuit--very wise. How we need to be encouaged in our quest for holiness. It is easy to to become discouraged...
Maria - I've asked other devotees of the Jesuits this - do you think the order can come back? I've had several people say that because of its hierarchical nature (which WAS one of its strengths), it would be nothing short of completely miraculous for there to be a change.
ReplyDeleteOf course, we believe in a God who sort of specializes in such things ... :)
Mecury: I think only God and St. Ignatius know :) I do pray for the conversion of the Society nearly every day.
ReplyDeleteSaints are those that have benefited greatly from the prayers of the Righteous.
ReplyDeleteIn the case of eleven of the Apostles, they are all Saints because the Priest par excellance raised them up; they cooperated with the grace He gave them.
Just as a seed is needed that a mighty Oak grow, the prayers of the Faithful are what is needed that we may acquire Saints. This pleases God.
Do we celebrate Saint Adam, or Saint Eve?
No. They did not cooperate with God's grace, and displeased Him.
But we do have Saint Mary Magdalene, the Sinner, the greatest of all Saints.
She began her road to Sainthood when someone prayed for her soul, asking God's grace upon her.
Maybe someone that saw her prostituting herself prayed for her.
Our prayers can help turn peoples hearts to God.
Happened just today.
A friend back east was sitting with her dying grandmother who refused to convert.
The old lady's family helped her refuse; the woman for many years cooperated with their sin.
Strangers began to pray for her soul, and after many years and refusals, she converted; a Priest gave her Extreme Unction.
Pray for her as she is dying, that Satan may not reclaim her soul through those busy bodies.
Pray for more Saints.
*