ST JOSEPH'S ABBEY, SPENCER MA

The lowest place is the only spot on earth which is not open to envy. Here alone there is neither vanity nor affliction of spirit. Yet, “the way of a man is not his own” (Jeremiah 10:23), and sometimes we find ourselves wishing for things that dazzle. When that happens, there is nothing for it but to take our stand among the imperfect and look look upon ourselves as very little souls who, at every instant, need to be upheld by the goodness of God. God reaches out his hand to us the very moment he sees us fully convinced of our nothingness, and hears us cry out, “My foot stumbles, but your mercy is my strength” (Psalm 94:18). Should we attempt great things, however, even under the pretext of zeal, he deserts us. So all we have to do is to humble ourselves, to bear with meekness our imperfections. Herein, for us, lies true holiness. ST. THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX

People’s sense of their worth appears increasingly to depend on what they can accumulate with the power of money. We are constantly being pushed to keep buying, consuming, and distracting ourselves, held captive to a demeaning system that prevents us from looking beyond our immediate and petty needs. The love of Christ has no place in this perverse mechanism, yet only that love can set us free from a mad pursuit that no longer has room for a gratuitous love. Christ’s love can give a heart to our world and revive love wherever we think that the ability to love has been definitively lost. POPE FRANCIS Dilexit Nos (2024)

Once you have had the experience of God's benevolence, you need no longer feel abashed in aspiring to a holier intimacy. Growth in grace brings expansion of confidence. You will love with greater ardor; and knock on the door with greater assurance, in order to gain what do you perceive to be still wanting to you. ‘The one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.’ It is my belief that to a person so disposed, God will not refuse that most intimate kiss of all, a mystery of supreme generosity and ineffable sweetness. ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX   On the Song of Songs

Our Lord says in the Gospel: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” Faith in the divinity of Jesus is the basis of all spiritual life; but we must have a logical faith which surrenders us entirely to Him. In prayer, my dear child, give yourself often to Jesus Christ. You must cast yourself down in your utter nothingness before Him, that will do great good to your soul. Yield up to Christ your body, your soul, your intellect, your heart; tell Him that you want Him to make of you all that he wills; abandon yourself to Him, but do not forget that to give oneself entirely to Christ is to be also given to His mystical body, to our neighbor. BLESSED COLUMBIA MARMION Union With God

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: "Father, those whom you gave me are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me… Br. Daniel told me that soon after Peter died, while he was still in his room,before the funeral home arrived, a dove alighted on his window, and remained there for quite some time, looking in at Peter.   As we know the dove is a traditional symbol of the Holy Spirit. This appearance was particularly touching and fitting because the Holy Spirit was the object of special devotion to Fr. Peter and deeply linked to his monastic vocation. When he was sent off to the university by the monastery for further studies, his special area of study was the role of the Holy Spirit in the writings of William of St. Thierry, and this interest stayed with him throughout his monastic life. For it is through the gift of the Holy Spirit that the mysteries of Christ are opened to us, and of the Father, our origin an...

No beginner can ever drive away a thought if God does not drive it away. Only the strong are capable of struggling with them and banishing them. But even they do not achieve this by themselves, but with God's help rise up to wrestle with them, armed with his weapons. So, when thoughts come, call to our Lord Jesus, often and patiently, and they will retreat; for they cannot bear the warmth of the heart produced by prayer, and flee as if scorched by fire. John of the Ladder tells us to flog our foes with the name of Jesus; for our God is fire, devouring evil. The Lord is quick to help, and will speedily revenge those who wholeheartedly call to Him day and night. ST. GREGORY OF SINAI Philokalia, Instructions to Hesychasts