We make our annual pilgrimage for various intentions — the primary one is for us is to restore Christendom, starting with making Christ the King of our family. We seek to live radically and pray that our children will understand & embrace their duty. The lives of the saints are pertinent to our journey.
The below practical consideration from #frWeninger for the saints of today (10.28) is one that we sit with often.
My God, preserve me from too much loving my ease, for thereby I should become the enemy of my soul and of my body as well.
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Saint Simon is brought to the idol of the Sun, and Saint Jude to that of the Moon, with the command to sacrifice; and, when both declare that they sacrifice only to the true God, both suffer martyrdom.
Can you also say, with truth, that you sacrifice only to the true God?
How many hours, how much labor, trouble and care have you sacrificed to vanity and pride, to the world, the flesh and the devil?
Do you consider that less punishable than to offer a few grains of incense to a lifeless image?
Oh! learn to despise this way of conducting yourself, and endeavor to live in such a manner that you may truthfully say that you offer sacrifice to the true God alone.
Offer to the Almighty, early in the morning, all your thoughts, words and actions, all your cares and labors, and all that you may have to suffer during the day.
During the day, offer to Him the incense which is most agreeable to Him – that of prayer and good works. Offer Him your self-abnegation, the control of your evil inclinations, especially anger, impatience, and curiosity.
Offer your self-conquest, by forgiving those who wrong you; by abstaining from unchaste and slanderous conversation; from intemperance in eating and drinking – in one word, from everything displeasing to Him.
Offer to Him, especially at night, a repentant and contrite heart, a heart ready to serve Him zealously and constantly.
“A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit; a contrite and humble heart, O God, you wilt not despise.” (Psalms 1) “It is a wholesome sacrifice to take heed to the commandments, and to depart from all iniquity.” (Eccl. 35)
Zeal is an ardent love which makes a man fearless in defence of God’s honor, and earnest at all costs to make known the truth. If we would be children of the Saints, we must be zealous for the faith.
Pictorial Lives of the Saints — Sts. Simon & Jude
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