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April 12
It's diabolical concern that fills your mind with respect to the position he has entrusted to you obedience and the innumerable consequences of which, because of it, you have come. Continue to obey, and you'll have secured the best prize that can promise a soul that loves Jesus. You must not admit any confusion in your mind for any reason, and that at least that "I mean". I understand that the soul in which God dwells, always fear offending God in every step, and this fear becomes unbearable if it relates to the fulfillment of his duties. But that soul is comforted, because it is precisely this fear that will never crumble in failure, if you decide to move on. My brother, if you stay up depends on us, surely the first blow would fall into the hands of the enemies of our salvation. Always trust in divine mercy and we will experience increasing goodness of the Lord.
Those practices, but in itself good, try to remove more and more of you, because if it is true that in the past everything has gone according to God's heart, can not think the same about the future. It is true that the priest, now more than ever, should be accessible to all, but my brother, to do this would require a large collection of virtue. In addition, we know that the world is always evil, and we should not give reason to judgments wicked.
(9 February 1916, Father Basil of Mirabello Sannitico - Letters. IV, p. 191)
April 11
Think of the great neglect he suffered our Lord in the Garden of Olives, and notes in this beloved Son, who asks the Father some relief, but knowing that the Father does not bestow it, and not think about it or decide to ask and, like I never wanted this relief, bravery and courage revived with the work of our redemption. In moments of extreme demoralization, you also asked the Father in heaven that will comfort, comfort you, and if he does not place it, not think about it, but arm yourself with courage and resumes the work of your salvation the cross, like you've never had to lose her and like I never could see the horizon serene. What do you, my little one? You need to see and talk to God in thunder and winds. Should see the brambles and the fire of thorns, and to continue, my little one, you must remove your shoes and give up entirely to your will and your whims.
(December 6, 191.7 to Antoinette Vona - Letters. III, p. 828)
April 9
My daughters, you must resign yourself to what we have inherited from our parents, Adam and Eve. Self-love never dies before us but with us to the grave.My God, what a disgrace, my daughters, for us poor children of Eve. It is necessary to suffer their assaults permanently sensitive and secret practices while in this miserable exile. But why? Perhaps to have to become discouraged and give up the value and way to heaven? No, dearest daughters, take courage; to us simply will not consent to a dear, deliberate, firm and permanent.
And this virtue of indifference is so excellent that our old self, and emotion and human nature as the natural faculties [apparently missing the end of the sentence, ndr] could not even our Lord, who, like son Adam, though free from all sin and all belonging to it in its sensitive part and according to the human faculties, it was by no means indifferent to the contrary, he wished not to die on the cross, being quiet indifference to that kind of death spirit, inflamed by the power of grace, in addition to himself, since he is the man of grace, the new man.
(September 25, 1917, to Raquelina Russo - Letters. III, p. 505)
PRIEST TO THE NEW YORK TIMES: "I AM HAPPY AND PROUD OF MY VOCATION"
Letter from a missionary in Angola
LUANDA, Monday, May 24, 2010 (ZENIT.org). - "I'm just a Catholic priest. I am happy and proud of my vocation. I live for twenty years as a missionary in Angola. " So begins a letter to the Uruguayan Martin Lasarte Salesian missionary sent to the New York Times no response. In it, explained the work quiet for the most disadvantaged in most of the priests of the Catholic Church, however, "not news".
In the letter sent to ZENIT by Father Martin Lasarte said that the April 6 sent to the Daily News and since then has obnetido response. It expresses his feelings in the wake that have attracted media abuse by some priests while surprising how little interest in the media raises the daily work of thousands and thousands of priests."It gives me great pain that people should be signs of God's love has been a dagger in the lives of innocents. No word as to justify such acts. There is no doubt that the Church can not but side with the weak, the defenseless. Thus all measures be taken for the protection, prevention of the dignity of children will always be a top priority, "he says in his letter.However, he adds, "is a curious little story and lack of interest by thousands and thousands of priests who are consumed by millions of children, adolescents and disadvantaged in the four corners of the world.""I think your source of information is not interested that I had to be transported by road in 2002 undermined many malnourished children from Cangumbe to Lwena (Angola) because neither the government and NGOs were available were not authorized, you had to burying dozens of small deaths among war refugees and returnees, who have saved the lives of thousands of people in Moxico by one medical station at 90,000 square kilometers and with the distribution of food and seeds, we have the opportunity education in schools 10 years and more than 110,000 children ... "he says."It is of interest, he adds that other priests have had to relieve the humanitarian crisis of nearly 15,000 people in the barracks of the guerrillas after their surrender, because the food did not reach the government and the UN."And then lists a series of actions, often at risk or loss of life, by colleagues who are ignored by the media."It's not news that a priest of 75 years, Father Robert, in the evening tour the city of Luanda healing the street children, leading them to a shelter, so that detox from gasoline, which alphabetizes hundreds of prisoners ; that other priests, like Father Stefano, having houses of passage for kids who are beaten, abused and even raped or seek shelter. Nor Maiato Frei with 80 years pass from house to house sick and comforting the deseperados "."It's not news that over 60,000 of the 400,000 priests, men have left their land, their family to serve his brothers in leper colonies, hospitals, refugee camps, orphanages for children accused of witch orphans of parents who died with AIDS in for the poorest schools, training centers, care centers or HIV-positive ... especially in parishes and missions by motivating people to live and love. ""It's not news that my friend, Father Mark Aurelius, to save young men during the war in Angola, has Kalulo transported to Dondo and returning to his mission has been gunned down in the road, that Brother Francis, with five women catechists, to go to help the most remote rural areas have died in a road accident, dozens of missionaries in Angola have died from lack of health relief for a simple malaria, others have jumped in the air, to Because of a mine, visiting his people. In Kalulo Cemetery are the graves of the first priests who came to the region ... None of them 40 years. ""It's not news to accompany the life of a priest 'normal' in their day to day in their difficulties and joys silently consuming his life for the community it serves.""The truth is that we try to be news, but simply to bring the Good News, the news that began quietly in the night of Passover. More noise a falling tree that grows a forest, "he stresses."I do not intend to make an apology for the Church and priests, he adds -. The priest is neither a hero nor a neurotic. It's a simple man, whose humanity seeks to follow Jesus and serve his brothers. There is misery, poverty and frailties as in every human being as well as beauty and goodness in every creature ... "."Insisting on a persecutory obsessed and losing a topic overview creates truly offensive cartoons of the Catholic priesthood in which I am offended," he says.He concludes:
"I only ask journalist friend, seek truth, goodness and beauty. That will make noble profession. "
April 4
By the obedience of Jesus meant the heavenly Father this most holy name be proclaimed and believed by all creatures: "Every language - says the apostle - confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father". Is it not precisely this that is verified in the present moment, when everywhere is worshiped the cross? Also on the last day, the damned and the demons, in view of the great glory of Jesus and experience His infinite power, should take part in this proclamation.
We too, if we are followers of Jesus face all the battles of life, participate in their triumphs. Yes, I conclude with St. John Chrysostom, we firmly believe that the divine Redeemer is adorned with so lofty glory, and therefore live their glory, imitating his example and follow your wishes. Otherwise, we would use anything to believe, if it does not correspond to our actions.
(November 4, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 217)
March 3
Sometimes I wonder if souls do not feel chest burn with fire divine, especially when facing him in the sacrament. This seems impossible, especially if it is a priest, a monk. Perhaps the souls who claim they do not feel this fire, do not feel it because maybe his heart is bigger. Only with this benign interpretation I can not apply the shameful label of liars.
There are times that I presented to the mind the severity of Jesus, and that's when I suffer bitterly, I start to consider their jokes and this fills me with joy. I can not not leave me this sweetness, this happiness ... What is, my father, what I feel? I have so much trust in Jesus, even if he saw hell open before me and find me on the edge of the abyss, not become suspicious, I do not despair, trust him.
Such is the confidence that inspires me his meekness. When I get to see the great battles against the devil, with God's help, I passed, so many that you can not count them.
Who knows how many times my faith would have hesitated and my hope and charity would have been weakened, if he had reached out to me and my intellect would have been obscured, if Jesus, eternal sunshine, I had not lit!
I also acknowledge that I am entirely the work of his infinite love. Nothing has denied, indeed, I have to say that has given me more than I asked.
(December 3, 1912, Father Agustin de San Marcos in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 316)
April 2
I hope that the humiliation of the Son of God and the glory that came from the same are the subject of your daily meditations. Consider the anonadamientos the divine Word, the "which - in the words of St. Paul - being the form of God ',' dwelling in him bodily fullness of divinity," humble oneself not considered vile thing to us, to rise to the knowledge of God.
This divine Word, by his full and free will, self-abasement wanted to be like us, hiding the divine nature under the veil of human flesh. St. Paul says so humbled the Word of God who came as to annihilate: "He wiped himself taking the form of a servant". Yes, my sister, he wanted to hide so his divine nature he assumed in all the similarities of man, submitting even to hunger, thirst, fatigue, and, to use the same expression of the Apostle of the Gentiles: "Such to us, having suffered like us, except sin. "
But where, later, there was the ultimate humiliation was his passion and his death, which, being put to human will to the will of his Father, endured many indignities to suffer the most infamous death, and death cross. "He humbled himself - according to Paul - obedient unto death on the cross." This obedience, for the dignity of that was due, at work than I ordered and spontaneity to obey the Father of heaven, because it was not prompted by fear of punishment, it is the only begotten of the Father, nor seduced by the interest in reaching an award, it is God in all things equal to the Father, it pleased both the eternal Creator, who praised "giving it a name - says the apostle - that is superior to any other name."
(November 4, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 217)
March 31
My beloved father, remembering the many courtesies afforded me, I think it is my sacred duty, now approaching the holy Easter, not let it pass without deseársela full of all those graces that can make you happy here on earth and blessed in heaven.
This, my father, is the omen that know him and I think it will be very pleasing. Furthermore, I will not let this solemnity, in my unworthiness, to pray to Jesus rose for her beautiful soul, if it is true that no day I do not forget to pray for you.
In these holy days, more than usual, I am tormented by this Barbablu hard. I ask, then, to pray earnestly to the Lord to not be a prisoner of this common enemy.
But God is with me and comforts, which makes me constantly like, are so sweet I could not describe them.
(March 31, 1912, at P.Benedicto of San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 269)
March 30
My son, be convinced of this: God can reject everything a creature conceived in sin and bears the indelible imprint inherited from Adam, but can not reject in any way sincere desire to love him. Therefore, if for other reasons can not be sure of their heavenly predilection, and if they lend to host who speaks on behalf of the same God will not soothe and comfort, so you must believe at least for this sincere desire that you have to love him.
I pray thee therefore, in God's name, you will not be overcome by the fear that gross me in your letters, that is, the fear of not loving and not fear God, because I think the enemy you want to be misleading . I know, my son, that nobody can love their God with dignity. But when a soul gets all that is on their side, and does it all with good intention, and trust in divine mercy, why will reject Jesus? Is not he who has commanded us to love God with our strength? So if you have given and consecrated everything to God, if, therefore, seeks to fill your heart with God alone, and with a sincere reflection and relentless you discover the best way to serve and love, what reasons have to fear? Maybe because you can not do more? But Jesus asks you yet and therefore can not condemn. The Spirit of God blows when you want, where you want and how you want. On the other hand, you ask our good God that he do what you can not do. Tell Jesus you want a greater love for me?I have no more!Give it to me then, you and I will offer! No doubt, Jesus accepted the offering and you remain calm.
(March 29, 1918, Fray Manuel de San Marco la Catola - Letters. IV, p. 424)
March 29
You ask me a judgment about your love for God. But, dear child, how can you not feel this love yourself in your spirit? What else is this burning desire you manifest myself in your letter? Who has been the heart that burning desire to love the Lord? Did the holy desires do not come from him? If a soul there was nothing but a burning desire to love his God, everything is there, there is the same God, because God is not only where there is no desire for his love. Therefore, it is very quiet in relation to the existence of divine love in your heart. And if this yearning of yours are not satisfied, if you think you want more and more, without actually owning the perfect love, do not see this as a proof that you lack the love of God, appears rather that you should not say neverenough is enough, means that you can not and should not stop you on the path of divine love and holy perfection.
You know that perfect love can be expected when holding the object of this love, which in our case is the same God, so what to do are so many concerns and many discouragements useless?
Want to always want more confidence, and fear not. How can a soul that has been devoted entirely to celestial love, which seeks to please God's help, that you want and crave more and more the purest waters of this divine love, how can I say, that may one day leave of this world arid, cold, without desire of God? How can I say, that the soul leaves this world with the sign of the eternal condemnation? Is not that a contradiction? And believe everything that is not it an offense to the divine goodness, that rejects not only repentant souls, but is always in search of souls obstinate?
(March 29, 1918, Fray Manuel de San Marco la Catola - Letters. IV, p. 424)
Peace and Good
Dear readers, we are in the final stretch of Lent, we will not have another week to deepen it, we will not have another Sunday to reflect on the mysteries of our redemption from the perspective of Lent. I hope we have spent time with Jesus walked in Jerusalem and we have been able to find in this way with him and with the brothers and other followers of Jesus. Today we reflect on the words that our Lord goes still hanging on the cross. The Gospel tells us seven words of Jesus on the cross and in fifth place is the following:"I have thirst" (Jn 19, 28)Bring to mind the image of the crucified Jesus, hanging on the cross and soul and body dehydrated. Fix your mind on the cruel scene in which her lips purest He is tasting the bitterness and acidity of vinegar for His thirst offer their executioners. This is perhaps one of the most chilling cries of Christ on the cross: "I have thirst"! This is one of the most aching cries the ardent thirst that Jesus suffered, since the night before or had not drunk a drop of water. Is your anxiety to quench the thirst that produced the bloody ordeal of martyrdom that was enduring. It was certainly a thirsty body which at that time he was suffering, but also a spiritual thirst of longing for the establishment of the Kingdom of his Father here on earth. The agony and sweat of the garden, bad last night, the roads that day had made some and others, very serious pains of being hung on the cross and shedding so much blood in it, all these were causes of having dried entrails consumed virtue and tongue stuck to the palate, as he was written in Psalm 22. Jesus says: "I have thirst," as if he were among friends who want it, give him a snack to quench your thirst hurtful. Thirst unsuspected causes anxiety in the executed, especially when the forces begin to flag, the air seems to be absent, limbs are exhausted and the view is cloudy. With the thirst to be the Savior suffering so great, Jesus suffered and hid until it was to expire, and then said that we might know a little of their suffering. Thirst overwhelmed him more and, last but not least, breathing is becoming slower and the defendant can not stand the dryness you have in your throat and into her mouth. Oh living Stone and Flint fire love! As you are wounded by love to the cross rod, springs, springs, like the stone that smote Moses, a water source that can refresh your afflicted and dry tongue.San Juan knows the book of Psalms, where is the thirst of the patient just giving vinegar to soothe his anxiety (Ps 69, 22) and another passage which shows the dryness of the mouth of the righteous and the tongue sticks to the throat (Ps 22, 16). Although this passage refers to the thirsty, have no contact with the passage vocabulary Johannine (Jn 19, 28-29).It is true that the synoptic evangelists also describe how the soldiers offered Jesus vinegar to drink a sponge attached to a reed (Mt 27, 48, Mark 15, 36, Luke 23, 36), but do not mention the words of Jesus: "I have thirst," but only San Juan is the specifier and draws attention to others. Especially because San Juan underlying the use of Old Testament to proclaim that Christ fulfilled the old messianic promises, thus accentuating the sense of interpreting the Old Testament, Christ, to explain its mystery as divine word.So we connect to other sed: the spiritual thirst. Seeing Jesus had already fulfilled all things to do and all that He had said and announced the prophets, but lacked drinking vinegar. Here we discover three virtues of the Lord: 1 st. Insatiable thirst for obedience, with which he wished to fulfill the will of God until the end. Most loving Jesus, whose delicacy and drink was the will of your Father! Give me this thirst for obedience so fervent, not quench it out where ever, but by the Divine Will of My Father. 2 nd. Insatiable thirst for an endearing desire to suffer for our love. My Redeemer, grant me the grace to have an unwavering thirst pain for my sins and always alive and growing desire to suffer for my brothers, especially by those who least want to convert to Thee. 3 rd. Insatiable thirst for salvation. Jesus and the shedding of his blood pure and your passion to redeem mankind. My redeemer. Sweet Love of my soul. Grant me the grace to offer together with You to the Father for the salvation of mankind. That no person coming in contact with me, whatever the cause is lost! Amen.
Capuchin Friar Paul Missionary
3/28/2012
March 28
On Friday morning, was still in bed when Jesus appeared to me. I was very sad and disfigured. He showed me a great multitude of priests, religious and secular, among whom were several church officials, some were celebrating, other clothing themselves and others taking off his vestments.Seeing Jesus caused me much grief distressed, and, so, I wanted to ask him why he suffered so much. No answer. But his gaze is directed toward those priests, and soon after, almost terrified, as if tired of looking, he withdrew his eyes and looked up at me when I noticed two tears horrified her cheeks. He walked away from that crowd of priests with an obvious look of disgust on his face, shouting: "Butchers!". And to me, said, "My son, do not think my agony was three hours, no, I will be in agony until the end of the world because of the souls benefited most from me. During the time of my agony, my son, do not sleep. My soul is in search of a drop of human compassion, but, alas!, Leave me alone under the weight of indifference. The ingratitude and indifference of my ministers makes my agony heavier.Woe is me, how bad are my love! What hurts me most is that his indifference added scorn and disbelief. Many times I have been to annihilate them in the act, had it not been stopped by the angels and the souls in love with me ... Write to your father and tell him what you have seen and I've heard this morning. Tell showing your letter to Father Provincial ... ".Jesus continued speaking, but what he said I can not ever reveal any creature of this world. This appearance gave me such a pain in the body, and much more in the soul, I spent all day killing, and would have thought sweet Jesus die if I had not already revealed ...Unfortunately, Jesus has every reason to lament our ingratitude! Many of our brothers are unhappy love of Jesus with open arms by throwing the infamous sect of Masonry! Pray for them, that the Lord may enlighten their minds and touch their hearts. Encourage our father provincial, who receive generous help of the Lord of heavenly gifts. The good of our mother province must be continuous concern. This should be directed all his efforts. For this purpose should focus our prayers, we are all bound to this.(April 7, 1913, Father Agustin de San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 350)
March 27
I feel the ecstasy has increased in intensity and usually come with such force that all efforts to avoid them are useless. The Lord has brought the soul to a greater detachment from the things of this lower world, and feel that is getting stronger in the holy liberty of spirit.
I think that, at the bottom of this soul, thank you very much God has poured that focus on the compassion of the miseries of others, especially the poor and needy. The very great pity that my soul feels at the sight of a poor, fancies at its core a vehement desire to help him, and if I will attend to, I would strip me to my underwear to dress him.
Also, if I know that a person is afflicted, as in the soul than the body, what I would do before the Lord to see it free from its ills? Provided free to see it, I would load with ease with all their troubles in their favor giving the fruit of their sufferings, if the Lord permits.
Thanks to the gifts that the Lord continues to enrich myself, I feel much better on trust in God. At one time, I often seem to need the aid of others, not now. I know from experience that the true remedy is not to fall to rely on the cross of Jesus, trusting only in him, who wanted to remain hanging for our salvation.
(March 26, 1914, Fr Benedict of San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 460)
March 26
The soul that the Lord puts in such a state, enriched with so much knowledge, should be more talkative, and yet not, it is almost mute. Do not know if this is a phenomenon that occurs only in me. With words too generic, and often meaningless to express the soul gets a small part of what it is doing her husband.
Believe it also, my father, that this is not small torment to the soul. Here happens to the soul what would happen to a poor shepherd boy if it were introduced on actual stay, where there are endless placed precious objects that he has never seen. The shepherd, leaving the actual stay, surely it would have on his mind all those objects as varied, precious and beautiful, but also safely, I would not know or realize the number and call them by name. He would like to communicate to others what he has seen, would use all its intellectual and scientific potential to achieve, but, seeing that all his efforts fail to make himself understood, he chooses to remain silent.
(March 26, 1914, Fr Benedict of San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 460)
March 25
As soon as I start to pray, then I feel invaded by the heart as a flame of love alive, this flame is unmatched by any other name of this underworld. It is a delicate and sweet flame consumes and does not cause any suffering. It's so sweet and so delicious that the spirit such complacency and feel satisfied, but the way that does not stop wanting it, and, oh God, it's so wonderful to me that they may never come to understand, unless it in heaven.
This desire, far from depriving the soul of this fullness, is increasingly strengthened. The joy felt by the soul there in your heart, far from diminishing as a result of desire, is growing more and more, as it did in the desire to enjoy this vivid flame permanently, because this desire is not offset by the joy, but remains much more alive as a result of the same desire.
From this follow that are increasingly rare occasions when I can reason with the understanding and rejoice with the senses.
(March 26, 1914, Fr Benedict of San Marco in Lamis - Letters. I, p. 460)
March 23
We have a double life: a natural that we get from Adam by carnal generation, and, therefore, is an earthly life, corruptible, loving us and full of lust, the other supernatural, that we get from Jesus through baptism and, therefore, is a spiritual, heavenly obradora virtue. By baptism is in us a real transformation: we die to sin and graft us in Christ Jesus so that we live in his own life. Through Baptism we receive sanctifying grace that gives us life, all heavenly we become children of God, Jesus' brothers and heirs of heaven.
Now if by baptism the Christian dies his first life and raises the second, it is the duty of Christians to seek the things above, not caring at all about the things of this earth. This insinuates himself the Apostle Paul to the Colossians: "So - does this great saint - as they have been raised with Christ, seek those things above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
Yes, the resurrected Christian baptism in Jesus is elevated to a supernatural life, takes the beautiful glorious hope of sitting on the heavenly throne.What dignity! His vocation requires you wish continually the blessed homeland, regarded as a pilgrim in the land of exile, the Christian vocation, say, requires not set your heart on things of this earthly world, all the worry, all the effort of a good Christian , who lives according to his vocation, is led to seek the eternal goods, should get a way of judging things here below to estimate and appreciate only those that help you achieve eternal blessings, and have, moreover, by vile all those that do not serve for this purpose.
(November 16, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 226)
March 22
What should be the motto of a Christian? Let them say the Apostle to the Gentiles: "Do you not know - says the holy apostle, writing to the Romans - that all who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?", And you do not remember all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?Therefore, in the words of St. Paul, baptism, by which we become children of God and heirs of his kingdom, is a model, participation and a copy of the death of Christ. Baptism is a model of the death of Jesus Christ, because, like Jesus through the cross has suffered in the same way to us with the sign of the cross gives us baptism as Jesus was buried in the earth, just as we are submerged in the waters of holy baptism.Baptism is also involved in the death of Jesus, because baptism is applied to the mysteries and therefore has the effect of the death of our Redeemer. The death of Christ in our baptism applies to us just as if it were our own and we we were crucified with him, and under this death as we are we removed all sins, both as to guilt, as punishment.Finally, it is said that baptism is a copy of the death of Jesus. We, in the words of St. Paul, we are baptized "in morte ipsius" in his death, that is, to mimic the death of our Redeemer. So what was the cross for Jesus Christ, that is baptism for us. Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross to die in the flesh, we are baptized to die to sin, to die to ourselves. Jesus Christ suffered on the cross in all its senses, just as we by baptism we must take the mortification of Jesus in all our members, that is precisely what St. Paul writes in his second letter to the Corinthians: "We always in our bodies the sufferings of Jesus, so that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body. "(September 19, 1914, to Raffaelina Cerase - Letters. II, p. 174)
