Quote for the Day

[George]

For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows, and bread to him who eats; So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It will not return to to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11

Praise be to you Lord Jesus Christ!

[Shin]

'The Church of the Lord is built upon the rock of the apostles among so many dangers in the world; it therefore remains unmoved. The Church's foundation is unshakable and firm against assaults of the raging sea. Waves lash at the Church but do not shatter it. Although the elements of this world constantly beat upon the Church with crashing sounds, the Church possesses the safest harbor of salvation for all in distress. There is a stream which flows down on God's saints like a torrent. There is also a rushing river giving joy to the heart that is at peace and makes for peace. He who read much and understands much, receives his fill. He who is full, refreshes others. So Scripture says: "If the clouds are full, they will pour rain upon the earth." Therefore, let your words be rivers, clean and limpid, so that you may charm the ears of people. And by the grace of your words win them over to follow your leadership. Solomon says: "The weapons of the understanding are the lips of the wise"; and in another place he says: "Let your lips be bound with wisdom." That is, let the meaning of your words shine forth, let understanding blaze out. Let no word escape your lips in vain or be uttered without depth of meaning.'

St. Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan (A.D. c. 340 – 4 April 397)

[George]

My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of great gifts.
Humble your self the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.
For great is the power of God; by the humble he is glorified.
What is too sublime for you, seek not, into things beyond your strength search not.
What is committed to you, attend to; for what is hidden is not your concern.
With what is too much for you meddle not, when shown things beyond human understanding.
Their own false opinion has mislead many, and false reasoning unbalanced their judgment.
Where the pupil of the eye is missing, there is no light, and where there is no knowledge, there is no wisdom.

A stubborn man will fare badly in the end, and he who loves danger will perish in it.
A stubborn man will be burdened with sorrow; a sinner will heap sin upon sin.
For the affliction of the proud man there is no cure; he is the offshoot of an evil plant.
The mind of a sage appreciates proverbs, and an attentive ear is the wise man's joy.
Sirach 3:17-28

[Shin]

and he who loves danger will perish in it.

How easy it is to overreach and to attempt things that we haven't been given the gifts for!


'Conform yourself as closely as possible to His humility and gentleness in dealing with your neighbor. . . Love those who humble and contradict you, for they are more useful to your perfection than those who flatter you.'

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

[George]

True friendship can harbor no suspicion. A friend must speak to a friend as freely as to his second self.
St. Jerome

[George]

One day I unwittingly made a mistake that incensed the master's son. He became furious, snatched me violently from my hiding place, and began to strike me ferociously with the lash and his feet. Finally he left me half dead, completely unconscious. Some slaves carried me away and lay me on a straw mat,where I remained for over a month. A woman skilled in this cruel art (tattooing) came to the generals house.... our mistress stood behind us, whip in hand. The woman had a dish of white flower, a dish of salt and a razor.... When she had made her patterns;
the woman took the razor and made incisions along the lines. Salt was poured into each of the wounds.... My face was spared, but six patterns were designed on my breasts, and sixty more on my belly and arms. I thought I would die, especially when salt was poured in the wounds.....
it was by a miracle of God I didn't die, He had me destined for better things.
St. Josephine Bakhita 

[Shin]

'But, you ask, after I have thus burst the chains of my unholy bondage, will no traces remain, and shall I not still carry the scars on my feet-that is, in my wounded affections? Not so, my child, if you have attained a due abhorrence of the evil; in that case all you will feel is an exceeding horror of your unworthy affection, and all appertaining thereto; no thought will linger in your breast concerning it save a true love of God.'

St. Francis de Sales

[George]

God is there in these moments of rest, and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need. Then the rest of the day can take it's course, under the same effort and strain, perhaps, but in peace. And when night comes, and you look back over the day and see how fragmentary everything has been, and how much you planned that has gone undone, and all the reasons you have been embarrassed and ashamed: Just take everything exactly as it is, put it in God's hands and leave it to Him. Then you will be able to rest in Him - really rest - and start the next day as a new life.
St. Benedicta (Edith Stein)
 

[Shin]

'Divine Redeemer, make me to understand that afflictions here below are as flowers which promise to bear fruits of glory, and that our tears, like sacred oil, consecrate us to immortality.'

St. Gregory

[George]

I am definitely loved and whatever happens to me....I am awaited by this love. And so my life is good.
St. Josephine Bakhita

[George]

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.
St. Therese of Lisieux

[George]

We must need occasionally to relax the mind, and the body requires some recreation also. Cassian relates how Saint John the Evangelist was found by a certain hunter amusing himself by caressing a partridge, which sat upon his wrist. The hunter asked how a man of his mental powers could find time for so trifling an occupation. In reply, Saint John asked why he did not always carry his bow strung? The man answered, Because, if always bent, the bow would lose it's spring when really wanted. "Do not marvel then", the Apostle replied, "if I slacken my mental efforts from time to time, and recreate myself, in order to return more vigorously to contemplation." It is a great mistake to be so strict as to grudge any recreation either to others or one's self.
St. Francis de Sales

[Shin]

It's good to find harmless amusements to refresh the mind.

What is bad is to continually engage in amusements as an end, for their own sake, rather than for the above. This I think mistakes the purpose of entertainment.

[George]

It's good to find harmless amusements to refresh the mind.

What is bad is to continually engage in amusements as an end, for their own sake, rather than for the above. This I think mistakes the purpose of entertainment.

I agree with that. We must pray continually for the Holy Spirit to guide us away from the snares that would enslave us, and ruin our souls.

[Shin]

Amen. 

[George]

I thank God for this illness and these physical discomforts, because I have time to converse with the Lord Jesus.
St. Faustina