MESSAGE OF THE DAY
“Off to a fresh start!”
If you are convinced of your "poor quality" - if you know yourself - you will react to events supernaturally. Joy and peace will take a firmer root in your soul, in the face of humiliations, being despised, calumnies ... If these cases, after saying fiat - Lord, whatever you want - you should think: "Is that all he said? He obviously does not know me, otherwise he wouldn't have left it at that." Being convinced that you deserve worse treatment, you will feel grateful to that person, and rejoice at what might have made somebody else suffer. (Furrow, 268)
We are continually experiencing our personal inadequacies. Moreover, there are times when it seems as if all our failings come together, as if wanting to show themselves more clearly, to make us realize just how little we are worth. When that happens, what are we to do? Expecta Dominum [1], hope in the Lord. Live by hope, full of faith and love, the Church says to us. Viriliter age [2], be of good heart. What does it manner that we are made of clay, if all our hope is placed in God? And if at a certain moment you should fall or suffer some setback (not that it has to happen), all you have to do is to apply the remedy, just as, in the normal course of events, you would do for the sake of your bodily health. And then: off to a fresh start!...
When we are faced with weaknesses and sins, with our mistakes even though, by God’s grace, they be of little account — let us turn to God our Father in prayer and say to him, ‘Lord, here I am in my wretchedness and frailty, a broken vessel of clay. Bind me together again, Lord, and then, helped by my sorrow and by your forgiveness, I shall be stronger and more attractive than before!’ What a consoling prayer, which we can say every time something fractures this miserable clay of which we are made. (Friends of God, 94-95)
[1] Ps 26:14 (Introit of the Mass)
[2] ibid
2010/08/30
“Are you living in the presence of God?”
You lack interior life: that is because you do not consider in your prayer other people's concerns and proselytism; because you do not make an effort to see things clearly, to make definite resolutions and fulfill them; because you do not have a supernatural outlook in your study, in your work, in your conversations, and your dealings with others. Are you living in the presence of God? For that is a consequence and a manifestation of your prayer. (Furrow, 447) 2010/08/29
“Forgive everyone”
You will only be good if you know how to see the good points and the virtues of the others. That is why when you have to correct, you should do so with charity, at the opportune moment, without humiliating. And being ready yourself to learn and to improve in the very faults you are correcting. (The Forge, 455) 2010/08/28
“God who created you without you, will not save you without you”
I am copying this example of cowardice from a letter so that you will not imitate it: "I am certainly very grateful to you for keeping me in mind, because I need many prayers. But I would also be grateful if, when you ask Our Lord to make me an apostle, you would not insist on asking him to make me surrender my freedom." (Furrow, 11) 2010/08/27
“Religion is the greatest rebellion of men”
Nowadays the world we live in is full of disobedience and gossip, of intrigue and conspiracy. So, more than ever we have to love obedience, sincerity, loyalty and simplicity: and our love of all these will have a supernatural significance, which will make us more human. (The Forge, 530) 2010/08/26
“Lord, there are so many souls who are so far from you!”
I look at your Cross, my Jesus, and I rejoice in your grace, because your Calvary has won for us the reward of the Holy Spirit. And you give yourself to me, each day, lovingly, madly, in the Sacred Host. And you have made me a son of God, and have given me your Mother to be mine. I can't be satisfied with just giving thanks. My thoughts take flight: Lord, Lord, there are so many souls who are so far from you! Foster those yearnings for apostolate in your life, that many may get to know him and love him and come to feel loved by him. (The Forge, 27) 2010/08/25
“If you lack apostolic zeal you will become insipid”
Following the Master's wishes, you are to be salt and light while being fully immersed in this world we were made to live in, sharing in all human activities. Light illumines the hearts and minds of men. Salt gives flavour and preserves from corruption. That is why if you lack apostolic zeal you will become insipid and useless. You will be letting other people down and your life will be absurd. (The Forge, 22) 
SAINT JOSEMARÍA
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2010/09/02