Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Mirror of Conscience


                       'Many persons are fond of looking at themselves in a glass, 
                       to observe and improve their bodily appearance.  
                       Few are fond of looking at themselves in the mirror of conscience, 
                       to observe and improve their spiritual condition.  
                       They dread to meet their souls face to face, 
                       or to behold them reflected in their lives.  
                       Like Adam after his fall, they would fain hide themselves, if they could, 
                       from their own eyes, as well as from the Eyes of God.

                       And yet, what could be more profitable to all of us,
                       than to observe and improve our spiritual condition?  
                       What more conducive to our happiness, in time and in eternity?'

(from "Listening to the Indwelling Presence," compiled by a Religious, Pellegrini, Australia, 1940, pp. 159-160) 

                                  Painting:  Charles Edward Perugini, in US public domain due to age


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12 comments:

  1. Nancy,

    I think as our faces age and we find less and less we are happy about when we look into the mirror, we are more inclined to look into the mirror of conscience. I guess that's one advantage of gaining wrinkles and sagging skin!

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  2. I have been thinking about this a lot. I put a lot of time and effort into my running, to be healthy, but yes...because I want to get the baby weight off (for a sixth time!). I often think to myself, if I put as much effort into my spiritual life as I do into my workouts...well, no need to go any further. Thank you for this. I'm printing it out!

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  3. I am going to print this out and hang by the mirror in our house! I have two teenage young ladies about and I am on the wrinkling track!!! Thank goodness the soul can shine. I love the painting as always. I can feel the fabrics... and those beads! God Bless dear Nancy...

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    1. "On the wrinkling track..." I love the way you put that (says one who's farther down that track and starting to build a little hut there). God bless you too!

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  4. This is so insightful,Nancy. Physical beauty fades but the beauty of a soul lasts forever. I love the artwork too!

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    1. Mary, the older (and older) I am, the more I really "get" why God lets physical beauty fade... so we can gain this perspective.

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    2. Exactly. It's one of His "natural cures" :)

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  5. I truly believe the beauty the soul holds is the real beauty that others see from the outside. I wonder how many are afraid to look inside their souls because they forget God's mercy is endless and think that He will never want them for all of smudges that are on their souls. I know I do this to myself on many occasions! Beautiful post, again!

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    1. Patty, I'm struck by your insight about how many of us are afraid to look inside our souls; we forget God's mercy so easily. I do this to myself too... oh, indeed. thank you!

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