Monday, January 25, 2016

How to Avoid Loving God


'There are several ways to avoid loving God: 
Deny that you are a sinner. Pretend that religion is for the ignorant and the superstitious, but not for the learned such as yourself. Insist that the sole purpose of religion is social service. Judge religion by whether or not it is accepted by the important people of the world. Avoid all contemplation, self-examination, and inquiry into the moral state of your soul.'

Archbishop Fulton Sheen  

Painting: Vincent van Gogh, At Eternity's Gate

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Childish Concerns


'Soon we shall be in eternity, and then we shall see how very petty are the things of this earth, and how inconsequential it is whether we are involved in them or not....

'When we were small children, how carefully we collected pieces of wood, stone and such to build huts, and if someone knocked them down we cried... but now we understand how unimportant these things were.  We will feel the same one day in Heaven, when we see that all our preoccupations in this world were nothing but childish concerns. Be faithful to your duties, but be convinced that there is nothing more worthy or more important than eternal salvation and the perfection of your soul.'

St Francis de Sales

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Steering Through the Storm



'We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, 
our intentions fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.' 

St. Francis de Sales




Painting: Nils Kreuger-Vintrig boulevardscen med hästdroska, in US public domain due to age

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Frost Like Ashes

 
'He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs His word!
He spreads snow like wool; frost He strews like ashes.
He scatters His hail like crumbs; before His cold the waters freeze.
He sends His word and melts them; He lets His breeze blow and the waters run.'

Psalm 147:15-18



Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Regarding Imperfections



'We must love our friends notwithstanding their imperfections, 
but we must not love their imperfections.' 

St. Francis de Sales



Painting: Georges de La Tour