Excerpt - Pulpit Themes

[Shin]

Of the many rocks on which virtue may be wrecked, clearly the most dangerous is inordinate affection or passion. It is the most frequent cause of the soul's shipwreck.

Virtue is beautiful, heaven is desirable all admit; yet how few strive to acquire the one and to attain to the other! And why? Passion answers passion, by which they are bound and hurried along to the abyss. This obstacle to salvation must therefore be grappled with and overcome. All the more when we reflect that the chief aim in virtue is, first, to bring the passions under the control of reason; and next, to bring reason in accord with the will of God. Our chief labour then in the matter of salvation is to bring the passions under.

As the causes of shipwreck are wind and storms, so passions are wont to be the chief causes of human misery. Not that winds are in themselves evil; but they are often too strong, with the result that they drive the struggling ship to the rocks. In like manner, passions become injurious and sources of evil only when they prevail against reason. . . There is this difference, however, between the winds of the sea and the winds or commotions of the human heart, that the sailor cannot control the former, but we have power to control and subdue the latter. And if we do so, free from all danger, the perturbations and tumults of mind being subdued, we shall have happiness and peace.

- 'Pulpit Themes by Rev. F.X. Schouppe, S.J.

[Shin]

There's a good deal of help in these three short paragraphs.

What I see is the call to virtue.. which is so neglected, because we do not even think of it or understand what it is, and that it is our vocation, to not only do good, but to do good well, to do it virtuously, and to do all things virtuously.

There is the grave reminder that souls are shipwrecked, and that they are shipwrecked by passions most frequently. By emotions.

And what leads to an out of control emotional life? I think in these times more than any others, there is the a very different and grave cause of it -- our entertainment, especially television. The desire for immediate fulfillment without virtuous work is one that is a long time in overcoming, especially for those raised upon it from childhood. Being raised with such entertainment is in so many ways deadly to the health of the mind, heart, body and most importantly soul.

But we do have power to control and subdue the latter. It takes vigilance and work, especially coming from a starting position so terrible often enough, of having long partaken of rotten sources of emotional stimulation. Ruined for proper emotional health by the drugs of modern entertainment.. changing into a life without short and immediate gratification, takes prayer and miracles of grace.

But with God, our great physician, all things are possible.

If your priest's sermons are poor, or even if not, you might want to read a portion from pulpit themes every Mass day.

There are a number of sermon help books designed for priests to work from in Saints' Books' library. But they're very good for the laity to read too. 

[Shin]

What is man in his relation to Eternity ?

In other words, what are his obligations in regard to eternity ?

1. Man is born for eternity, and thither he hastens, whether he likes it or not. Time, ever-flowing time, is wafting him thither. . . He is master of his eternity, that is, he has it in his power now to decide what his lot in eternity shall be. . . This in itself is full of consolation.

2. Man in this life hangs as it were suspended between two eternities, of which one or the other will be his lot. Which will you choose ? . . If a happy eternity, why live as if you had chosen the other ?

3. Man as a passenger stands on the shore. Two boats are in readiness ; one of which leads to a happy eternity, the other to a miserable eternity. He must choose between them. Which will he enter, the boat of Tesus Christ and holy Church, or the boat of the devil and the world ?

4. When does man enter eternity ? . . How does he enter? . . What does he find there ? . . What does he possess here ? . . How long shall he remain there ? . . What shall he there think of time, and of men still living in time ? . . What shall be his ideas of sin and penance ?

5. How should man prepare himself for eternity ? Should he not do so promptly, efficaciously, and with safety ?

6. Man, seeing that he has a lasting city, not in time, but in eternity, should look to eternity, should live for eternity, should labour for eternity. . .

7. And he should labour indefatigably, for the entire span of his life. And if he should grow tired of labouring, let him remember that eternity will be long enough for rest. . . . From henceforth now, sailth the spirit, that they may rest from their labours; for their works follow them. Apoc. xiv 13. . . There remaineth therefore a day of rest for the people of God. Hebr. iv. 9.

8 Beware then lest eternity be sacrificed for time ; or everlasting happiness for lucre, or pleasure, or petty glory. . .

9. There are men who live for time. There are men who live for eternity. How different will be their lot !