Protecting the Fortress of My Soul

      When a person moves toward God: Second rule—In persons who are going on intensely purifying their sins and rising from good to better in the service of God our Lord, the method is contrary to the first rule. For then it is proper to the evil spirit to bite, sadden, and place obstacles, disquieting with false reasons, so that the person may not go forward. And it is proper to the good spirit to give courage and strength, consolations, tears, inspirations, and quiet, easing a taking away all obstacles, so that the person may go forward in doing good.                                                         St. Ignatius of Loyola--Discernment of Spirits                                                                                            

 

     With a heart full of gratitude, sitting before the Lord, I wrote in my journal:

     Oh, My Dear Sweet God, 

     The revelation that You gave me about being a pilgrim on this pilgrimage back to You was a game changer!

Mounted on Hope

  “No one had a more concrete, practical knowledge of her nothingness than Mary; she understood well that her whole being, natural as well as supernatural, would be annihilated if God did not sustain her every moment. She knew that whatever she had, in no way belonged to her, but came from God, and was the pure gift of His liberality. Her great mission and the marvelous privileges which she had received from the Most High did not prevent her from seeing and feeling her ‘lowliness.’ But far from disconcerting or discouraging her in any way – as the realization of our nothingness and weakness often does to us – her humility served as a starting point from which she darted to God with stronger hope. The greater the higher her soul became, the higher her soul mounted in hope. That is why, being really poor in spirit, she did not trust her own resources, ability, or merits, but put all her confidence in God alone.”                                                                                                                             Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen


     As I read this passage from Fr. Gabriel, it became apparent to me that I am not poor in spirit. I felt a deep sting as this realization struck my heart!

      On some level, I believe that I was growing toward this virtue. I have been making a conscious effort to depend upon God – on His help and assistance. But as I looked at my life, my hopes and desires, it was clear that I do not put my hope and trust in God, but in myself and my abilities.

Waving the Red Flag

     “Occasions do not make man weak, but they do show what he is. When we commit a fault, we must not attribute it to a physical cause, such as illness or the weather, but we must attribute it to our own lack of perfection.”                                                                                                                                                                                                               St. Therese of Lisieux

     The blame game started long ago in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed it on Eve and Eve pointed to the serpent – maybe he blamed it on the weather! We have a difficult time recognizing, let alone, owning our faults and imperfections. There is no difficulty for us in seeing the faults of others. We could write a long list without much trouble. It is our own imperfections that we run and hide from, denying or pretending they don’t exist!

Without distinction

     “Lord, if you tell me to love others just as You love them, then You must love them in me and through me. So the closer my union with You, the more I love all without distinction.” St. Therese of Lisieux


     What a challenge -- to love as He loves! St. Therese knew the difficulty of loving prickly personalities. We all have people in our families and in our lives, who test us in ways that are sometimes maddening! These very people have the capability, depending on how we handle it, of helping us become great saints or sinners – it’s up to us.