WHAT THE INFANT JESUS TEACHES US.

Socrates advised his followers to have few desires and to desire these as little as possible, in order to remain content, for the man who is full of desires is always uneasy and restless.

This human counsel is very true but, it is incomplete.

It recommends detachment from earthly things but fails to teach the ardent and practical desire for supernatural things.

Jesus Christ teaches us both.

After He has urged us to become gentle and humble like Himself, after He has told us not to worry about the future and not to fret about what to wear and what to eat, He points out the way in which Providence clothes the lilies of the filed and feeds the birds of the air.

Then He adds: “Seek the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be given you besides” (Cf Lk.12:22-31).

We must limit and moderate our desire for earthly goods, therefore but, should ardently yearn to love God, to serve and obey Him in this life and to enjoy Him forever in Heaven.

This is what the Infant Jesus wishes to teach us.”

(an advice from cardinal bacci.)

 

A GREAT DAY FOR US, WE PILGRIMS OF HOPE

 

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL READERS WHO POPPED INTO THIS BLOG THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

MAY THE LORD SHOWER ALL WITH HIS GRACE. AMEN

 PREPARATION FOR THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Let us ask the Divine Child to help us be more fervent in our prayers, to be more mortified and to make greater efforts to practise virtue.

Let Him help us to model our lives upon His so that they may be full of humility, love for God and our fellowmen. Let him guide us for perfect resignation to suffering and of voluntary penance and mortification.

Thus we prove our love for Jesus and expiate our sins.

THE DANGERS OF A CARELESS SOUL

1. There is in human nature a fatal tendency to procrastinate, especially when that which we know we ought to do, is something to which we are naturally disinclined.

All men are naturally disinclined to do violence to themselves and force their pride and self-will, to yield before the sway of Christ, to put on His yoke and carry His cross.

Hence, men put off and make excuses to themselves and fancy that what is difficult to them to-day, will be easy to morrow .

O fatal mistake!

Each day that we postpone the task of submission, it becomes more difficult, more distasteful.

Why then do I not hasten to submit myself entirely to Christ?

+2. From day-to-day, the careless soul thus goes on putting off, crying: “Tomorrow I will amend my ways” and when tomorrow comes, it still cries: “Tomorrow.” How fatal is this folly!

Tomorrow may never come, or, if it comes, you may have forfeited the grace!

“Today, if ye will hear His Voice, harden not your hearts.'

+3. This postponement is always accompanied by some deliberate disobedience to the commands or to the holy inspirations of the Spirit of God.

Thus the careless soul becomes more engrossed in earthly things and more and more disinclined to make the necessary effort. Therefore, it is that, so many will be surprised by the Coming of their Judge at the moment when they least expect Him and are quite unprepared to meet Him.

O Jesus, save me at any cost from the deadly state of the careless soul!

(by Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ)

 

Therefore, let us rejoice and glory in Him, Who made us both His battle and His victory, when He said: “Have confidence, for I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33) … He, Who is unconquered, will fight for us and conquer in us. Then the prince of this darkness shall be cast out (cf Jn 12:31). He is not, to be sure, expelled from the world but from the individual, for when faith enters us, we shut him out and provide a place for Christ…

CHRIST IS OUR GLORY

Let orators keep their eloquence, philosophers their wisdom, rich men their wealth and kings their kingdoms. Christ is our Glory, Property and Kingdom! Our wisdom lies in the “foolishness of our preaching,” our strength, in the weakness of the flesh, our glory, in the stumbling block of the Cross (cf 1 Cor 1:21).” – St Paulinus of Nola (355-431) Bishop, Father of the Church (Letter 38:3-4.6).

 POEM DEDICATED TO MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD

O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,

The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!

Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we

Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,

And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;

And the tempest-tossed Church,—

all her eyes are on thee;

They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair,

For the empire of sin—it had never been there;

None ever had owned thee, dear Mother but He.

And He blest thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Earth gave Him one lodging; t’was deep in thy breast,

And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;

His home and His hiding-place, both were in thee,

He was won by thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

O Purest of Creatures,
Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid
By Fr Frederick W Faber C.Orat. (1814-1863)