What are are you working on in your spiritual life?

[Shin]

Is there some particular area that needs work that you are particularly focusing on now?

What is it?

Let's all speak a little about where our focus is and pray for each other to succeed in the place we are working on for our soul's improvement.

Right now I am working on increasing my mortification. When I hear about how the saints live, and how little comfort they took, and what great pains, and how they bore with crosses or rather pursued crosses rather than fled them, I see I do not do this and need to be less weakly reliant on my environment being comfortable for my happiness..

I would like to be able to serve God well and do what I need to do even while uncomfortable, tired, troubled, etc. and to embrace this rather than constantly trying to escape and shake it off, or make it an excuse for not doing much.

So say a prayer for me for this please! It is a large thing! But nothing ventured, nothing gained! Even trying and failing is better than nothing at all.

How about you?

[martin]

That I be humble.
That I be wise.
That I be pure of heart.
That I be chaste in mind I pray daily to St Joseph for a share in all his virtues.
That I be a just person in all my dealings.
That I be chaste in mindand body.
That I be on fire with the love of God.

As for progress in these areas I sometimes feel I’m not making any headway but looking back over the months I can see yes that there has been improvement and it usually starts with a new awareness of my sinfulness that I see more clearly the need to do something about it.
 We discussed before Shin about TV and I put it down to the help of St Joseph that I was able to see it for what it was and as you said about making such a difference to your spiritual progress I can totally identify with that. Now I can see it even more clearly with the passing of time just how big a waste of time it was and the rewards for this small act have so out-weighed the sacrifice that I blush even to call it a sacrifice.
At Mass this morning (being the feast of St Catherine of Sienna) the priest invited the congregation to come forward after the final blessing to receive a blessing with a 1st class relic of  the Saint which he had obtained. What a most holy woman she was.
I feel such an affiliation with you all on this forum who take their faith so seriously.
The presence of the saints here is almost tangible. 

[Shin]

Great to read. 

Yes, there are other areas in my life that I suspect can be compared to sacrificing TV too, that might well wind up with that same before and after perspective that you have. But TV is so fundamental for us often enough. It gives us a lesson we can see may well apply in so many other places.

The more I can focus my activities always on a more spiritual level the better.

The mental barrier, the spiritual pressure against giving these things up.. is stronger than I think whatever you actually get out of them as well. Which in the end is often far more a lot of nothing than one might at first suspect! 

I think part of it is the difference between living in the moment with God and living in whatever you are using for entertainment or distraction.

[Patricia]

As I think everyone on this forum knows by now , I need a lot of confidence in God. I tend to get anxious about the unknown future and I need God's grace to overcome that.
Secondly, I need grace to mortify myself more as regards to fasting. Always have a tough time with that and I know that fasting (even from little goodies) holds the key to many graces.
Third and probably most importantly, I need to forgive people who I thought were very close but have shown their true colors after my husband's death. In particular , one person who never ceases to get on my nerves and keeps hurting me over and over again ever since the death. I think I have forgiven him and then he does something else that opens up old wounds.  Please pray that I may be given patience to deal with this person and grace to forgive him completely.

One good grace that I think came after Lent is I am not inclined to watch tv anymore. I used to watch a lot of news before, but now I just turn the tv off. But I do end up watching when the kids are around and watching their shows.  I have suggested to them to have Wednesday as official ' No T.V. day' in honor of St. Joseph. Let see how that goes. My teenager protested , but my son seems receptive to the idea.

 I hope I'm not adding to the technical problem by posting such a long post. Let me know if I am.

[Shin]

Oh, please, no worries. Post as much as you want.

[Brigid]

I have to go with what Patricia said - trust and confidence in Him is a real biggy for me. It leads me to depression and anxiety, both. The unknown future on earth really gets me all the time. I trust in Him for my eternal future and His Love about that, though. It's all so confusing.

Plus, my desires to give up on prayer (meditation and contemplation) due to my aridity and mental distractions are another one. I just feel like giving up, but it has been such a big part of my life for years. (Luckily I'm bullheaded. )

Some inclinations towards being pharisaical are another one that bothers me right now.

[Bailey2]

Being Martha, "anxious about many things."  When your confessor gives you a penance of doing something nice for yourself, you know you are worrying too much and taking too much of the world on your shoulders (another form of pride, by the way  ).

Procrastinating the mortification of doing jobs I hate doing; sometimes hanging around here to much to do so..... shame on me!   


Patricia, forgiveness doesn't necessitate allowing someone to stay in your life who repeatedly hurts you, verbally or otherwise. You can forgive someone and set your boundaries.  That's self-respect. 

[Shin]

Procrastination and aridity in prayer and so the temptation to slack off.. I know these problems too well!

This reminds me of something I read in a spiritual diary:

"On one of his trips, St. Francis de Sales went to visit St. Jane Frances de Chantal, who was eagerly awaiting him in order to confer with him about her spiritual needs. It had been three years and a half since they had spoken together because of the great many things occupying his time. Upon seeing her, the holy prelate asked: "My dear Mother, since we now have a few free hours, which one of us will speak first?" "'I will," she immediately answered, "because my soul certainly needs guidance." Whereupon, in order to correct her anxiety to speak to him, which she revealed by her quick answer, he said: "Why, Mother, do you still have desires and preferences? I thought I would find you more supernatural. Let us, then, defer speaking of you until we are in Annecy, and for now discuss the affairs of our Congregation." The good, holy Mother, therefore, without a word, set aside her personal matters and, with perfect tranquility, discussed the affairs of the Congregation with the Saint for about four hours. Then he left."

[martin]

As I think everyone on this forum knows by now , I need a lot of confidence in God. I tend to get anxious about the unknown future and I need God's grace to overcome that.
Secondly, I need grace to mortify myself more as regards to fasting. Always have a tough time with that and I know that fasting (even from little goodies) holds the key to many graces.
Third and probably most importantly, I need to forgive people who I thought were very close but have shown their true colors after my husband's death. In particular , one person who never ceases to get on my nerves and keeps hurting me over and over again ever since the death. I think I have forgiven him and then he does something else that opens up old wounds.  Please pray that I may be given patience to deal with this person and grace to forgive him completely.

One good grace that I think came after Lent is I am not inclined to watch tv anymore. I used to watch a lot of news before, but now I just turn the tv off. But I do end up watching when the kids are around and watching their shows.  I have suggested to them to have Wednesday as official ' No T.V. day' in honor of St. Joseph. Let see how that goes. My teenager protested , but my son seems receptive to the idea.

 I hope I'm not adding to the technical problem by posting such a long post. Let me know if I am.

Read this today from St Pio so passing it on to you. 
In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God's behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit. . .You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you tighter than ever to His divine Heart.

[Brigid]

martinfegan posted:

Read this today from St Pio so passing it on to you. 
In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God's behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit. . .You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you tighter than ever to His divine Heart.

I think I'll make copies of that quote of St. Pio's and put it all around my place.

Bailey2 - On one hand I know that anxiety (and depression) are forms of pride, but I don't act on that at all.

[Shin]

martinfegan posted:

Read this today from St Pio so passing it on to you. 
In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God's behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit. . .You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you tighter than ever to His divine Heart.

I think I'll make copies of that quote of St. Pio's and put it all around my place.

Bailey2 - On one hand I know that anxiety (and depression) are forms of pride, but I don't act on that at all.

I'm glad you reminded me about that.

And that is truly a quote to remember!

[AutumnRose]

I am working on fulfiling my calling in the home, by trying every day, with God's help to cultivate a servant heart, and to be a better wife, mother and grandmother. By putting my selfish needs aside and focusing on others I hope each day to imitate Mary, but of course fail on a daily baisis. So each day is a recommitment and a chance to die to self anew. It will take me until eternity to perfect it!

I too have to work on daily mortification, Shin, as I am a lover of comfort. To deny ourselves those little comforts and offer it up as a prayer for others is something we can all do God has made so many little ways to draw closer to Him in holiness, if only we would look around and recognise them

[Bailey2]

Bailey2 - On one hand I know that anxiety (and depression) are forms of pride, but I don't act on that at all.

I didn't get this at all!  I get the anxiety and depression partially due to pride (mild to slightly moderate only, dear)  but the rest?  Was that a joke or serious or what?   


Oh (to bring a little humor), someone up there mentioned TV...... OK, hockey playoff season...... absolutely NO mortification there is allowed.  I already explained this to God and He said it was OK.   

[Brigid]

Bailey2 - On one hand I know that anxiety (and depression) are forms of pride, but I don't act on that at all.

I didn't get this at all!  I get the anxiety and depression partially due to pride (mild to slightly moderate only, dear)  but the rest?  Was that a joke or serious or what?   


Oh (to bring a little humor), someone up there mentioned TV...... OK, hockey playoff season...... absolutely NO mortification there is allowed.  I already explained this to God and He said it was OK.   

Serious - unfortunately. My pride is really big and even knowing the connection, I continue to think with anxiety and depression.  

[Bailey2]

Serious - unfortunately. My pride is really big and even knowing the connection, I continue to think with anxiety and depression.  

Welcome to the club!   

[Brigid]

Serious - unfortunately. My pride is really big and even knowing the connection, I continue to think with anxiety and depression.  

Welcome to the club!