“O the supreme folly of those who resist the divine will! In God’s providence, no one can escape hardship. Who resisteth his will ??  A person who rails at God in adversity, suffers without merit; moreover by his lack of resignation he adds to his punishment in the next life and experiences greater disquietude of mind in this life: ?Who resists him and hath had peace?? The screaming rage of the sick man in his pain, the whining complaints of the poor man in his destitution–what will they avail these people, except increase their unhappiness and bring them no relief?  Little man, says St. Augustine, grow up.  What are you seeking in your search for happiness? Seek the one good that embraces all others . Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next.

God wills only our good; God loves us more than anybody else can or does love us. His will is that no one should lose his soul, that everyone should save and sanctify his soul.  Not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance.  This is the will of God, your sanctification.  God has made the attainment of our happiness, his glory. Since he is by his nature infinite goodness, and since as St. Leo says goodness is diffusive of itself, God has a supreme desire to make us sharers of his goods and of his happiness. If then he sends us suffering in this life, it is for our own good.  All things work together unto good.  Even chastisements come to us, not to crush us, but to make us mend our ways and save our souls: ?Let us believe that these scourges of the Lord have happened for our amendment and not for our destruction.”

** St. Alphonsus de Ligouri – Uniformity with God’s Will

“That many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue. That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.”

** Brother Lawrence of the Ressurection, OCD

A friend just sent me a link to a film.  I know nothing of its producers, directors, funders nor do I have any invested interest in the film itself.  I do however, as a child of God feel it a worthy link to pass along to anyone who might be reading this blog.  The expose film is called Blood Money and investigates the industry of Planned Parenthood.  The trailer can be viewed via YouTube.

“Praise therefore, and praise worthily, so that to the utmost of thy power there be in thee no charge, no thought, no contemplation, no care fulness of mind, that is void of the praise of God. Let no worldly prosperity divert thee, nor any worldly adversity restrain thee from His praise. For thus thou wilt praise the Lord with thy whole heart and with love also; thou wilt seek from Him nothing else than Himself, that He may Himself be the goal of thy desire and the reward of thy labours, thy consolation in this life of shadows and thy possession in the blessed life to come. Hereunto wast thou created, that thou shouldst bear a part in His praises for ever and ever, and this thou shalt more fully understand, when thou, being lifted up by the blessed vision of Him, shalt see that by His mere free bounty thou, when thou wast not, wert out of nothing created to such happiness, and created, called, justified, glorified unspeakable bliss. For the contemplation of such things will give to thee a love that shall not weary of praising Him for ever, of whom and by whom and in whom thou shalt rejoice that thou art blessed with good things so great and so unchangeable.”

–Devotions of Saint Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury

** photo from a cemetery near the Pallottine Retreat Center.

I wanted to share a powerful story with whomever might be reading this little blog.  It is a story of something which happens far too often without the world even knowing about its occurrence.  The story makes no headline in the media and sadly  only a handful of souls bears witness to it.  However, I’m going to speak to this matter in my own way to you here now.

Before reading further, I beg you to brace your heart. Here we go…

A few years ago an accomplished woman and brand new mother was making diner for her beautiful baby in a warm and cozy kitchen filled with love and happiness.  As she cooked she listened to the nightly news.  She stopped still when she heard the horrendous report of a mother killing her own 10 week old baby child.  Overcome with anguish and pain over the loss of such an innocent soul this mother was prayerfully determined to do something.  She called the coroners office and found the child had no other relatives so she asked, “I know this sounds crazy but may I burry this child?”.  Permission was granted and so the baby girl, Destiny, through the love of a caring soul was given a Christian burial.

A bad story with a good ending right?  Well, yes and no.  You see, it actually happens that many children are abandoned by the parents after they die.  Perhaps they were prematurely born or perhaps they were sickly and left to struggle for life in the hospital until they met their reward.  Sadly and shockingly this is not an absolutely uncommon situation and it has happened in my small city some 23 times in the past 5 years.

I will not tell the rest of the story here, but will invite you to grab your hankie (or a box of tissues) and watch a 3 minute multi-media presentation at the St. Louis Review newspaper.  Your cry will be for a good cause and your prayers will be so very welcome…

http://www.aeternus.com/innocents/

UPDATED:  I have changed the link to the story because I did not realize the link went behind the newspaper’s subscriber only area.  SORRY!  Click here to see.

You know, every once and awhile a soul can get a little confused by all the distractions of the world.  Living in our day it is difficult to “stay hidden in Christ” and keep our hearts united to His in the midst of our own turmoil and daily mundane struggles.  I think I can say with certainty that we all feel a bit trodden upon at times.  We may do our best to “offer it up” but a soul can get weary!

In the middle of one of my own wearisome battles a certain grace came to me in the form of a comment to this little blog.  Its message of hope in the beauty of a peaceful eternity of love and fellowship with our God and all His holy Angels and Saints came at just the right time.  It was like a loving smack on my tired brain to say, “Hey Lady, stay the course, be strong, never fear, I AM with you!”   Well, it may have been even more than a smack because it produced in me a good old long cry which has invigorated my soul once again.  I thank the sender immensely and will always pray for him!!!  AMEN! AMEN!

Here is the quotation I am passing along.  It is from a sermon by  St. Venerable Bede and is currently prayed in the traditional breviary at II Nocturns.  (I think it was that Nocturn part which inspired me to post the photo above which I took a few weeks ago.  It is of two Great Horned Owls at sunset who happen to be our neighbors.  You may have to play “Where’s Waldo” to spot the 2nd owl.)  I hope the quote will inspire your soul…

“Never shall there be discord anywhere there, but all things in harmony.  For everywhere there, things are in such concord that all the Saints are at unity with each other in one peace and joy.  Everywhere there, all things are tranquil and quiet.  Perpetual is the splendour there ; not like unto the sunlight which we know here, but a light which is the brighter, as it is the more blessed.  For that city, as saith Scripture, needeth not the light of the sun, because the Lord Almighty doth enlighten it by the Lamb which is the Light thereof.  There the Saints shall shine like as the brightness of the firmament, and they that have turned many to righteousness, as the stars, for ever and ever.

And so there is no night there, no darkness, no gathering of clouds, no asperity of heat or cold.  But such is the nature of things there as no eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, except of those only who have been found worthy to enjoy it, whose names are written in the book of life ; and who have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and are before the throne of God, serving him day and night.  There is no old age anywhere there, nor misery of old age, for all are come to perfect manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

But far above all these things is the fellowship there.  That is, to enjoy the companionship of the heavenly citizens : to look upon the choirs of Angels and Archangels, of Thrones and Dominions, Principalities, Powers, and all the heavenly Virtues on high : and to behold the army of the Saints shining more gloriously than the stars ; of the Patriarchs glowing with faith ; of the Prophets rejoicing in hope ; of the Apostles judging the world reformed into twelve tribes of the new Israel ; of the Martyrs resplendent in their ruddy crowns of victory ; and of the Virgins wearing garlands of the purest white.”

“In external matters. In times of great heat, cold or rain; in times of famine, epidemics and similar occasions we should refrain from expressions like these: “What unbearable heat!” “What piercing cold!” “What a tragedy!” In these instances we should avoid expressions indicating opposition to God’s will. We should want things to be just as they are, because it is God who thus disposes them. An incident in point would be this one: Late one night St. Francis Borgia arrived unexpectedly at a Jesuit house, in a snowstorm. He knocked and knocked on the door, but all to no purpose because the community being asleep, no one heard him. When morning came all were embarrassed for the discomfort he had experienced by having had to spend the night in the open. The saint, however, said he had enjoyed the greatest consolation during those long hours of the night by imagining that he saw our Lord up in the sky dropping the snowflakes down upon him.”

– St. Alphonsus de Liguori — Special Practices of Uniformity

I was alerted many months ago to a new translation of Dante’s Purgatory by Anthony Esolen.  I am fairly sure many of you have already read this classic tale (of the trilogy) in which a fictional Virgil navigates his way through the  7 terraced provinces of Purgatory as he is led there to discover and write about the souls who populate the landscape and witness their particular sins and sufferings.

There are many quotations in this poetic masterpiece which speak to the heart of the reader but there is within an  anagogical interpretation which is to be mystically discovered by a soul who prayerfully reads its prose.  It is for this prayerful purpose and as we ourselves are in the midst of traveling through our own novena for the souls who endure sufferings as they penitentially wait in hope, that I will share  quotations from this section of the Divine Comedy.

As Dante leads his reader from the remorseless gates of the inferno and crosses over the threshold of the lands of atonement.  Here a soul must learn to trust in the ultimate power of divine justice and remove from his intellect  his past ways of  knowing in the earthly world he once lived.  A soul here says:

“..I surrendered, yielding to Him who pardoned willingly.

My sins were horrible, but endless grace

has arms of generous goodness thrown so wide

they take in all who turn to them…

No man loses, by their curse’s power,

eternal love, that love cannot return

so long as hope shows any green in flower…

For we can gain

Much profit from what prayers on earth obtain.”

Ah, my friends, should the witness of the afflictions about to be endured by  these heroic trusting souls be unobserved through our daily prayers?  Shall we allow their apology through affliction be had in secret?  Oh, how it is our duty to pray for them and to offer up little mortifications for them daily.  For in truth, their future is known and their ultimate destiny secured.  One day there souls will reach the summit of love and in a blaze of beauty become a heavenly soul of praise which witnesses the eternal glory of our creator.  How awesome a destiny!

I will offer one more quote here as to me it speaks further to the grace of hope for souls. It comes from Canto Fifteen in the poem in which our traveler reaches a ring of pride-filled souls who appreciated too greatly their esteem on earth.  In this district of Purgatory these souls will learn the meaning of the beatitude “beati  misericordes” or “blessed are the merciful”.  As Virgil travels through this land he sees reflections of the heavenly lights from far above…

“So a reflected radiance seemed to come

striking from something on the road ahead,

making my dazzled vision quick to flee…

“Don’t be amazed if you are dazzled still

by Heaven’s family, for he is sent

a herald summoning men to climb the hill.

Soon it shall not oppress you anymore,

but you will look upon these things with joy -

all the delight your nature formed you for.”

And when we’d come before that angel blest,

with a glad voice he said, “Come here and enter

upon a stairway gentler than the rest.”

Climbing, we left him within we heart a voice

singing, “Blest are the merdiful,” behind us,

and, “You who have the victory, rejoice!”

But if love for the highest heavenly sphere

had wrung your yearnings, turning them above,

your breast wouldn’t be troubled by such fear,

For there, the more who say, “This joy is ours,”

the more joy is possessed by every soul,

the more that cloister burns in charity.”…

That Good, ineffable and infinite -

as beams of light stream to a light-filled body -

turns to whoever turn in love to It,

And give according to the warmth It finds,

so that, the greater love you spread abroad,

the more will the eternal Worth reward.

And the more souls that burn in Heaven above,

as mirrors flashing light on one another,

the more there is for all of them to love.”

Oh what a glorious “burning cloister of love” will the final destination be!  Amen!

** photo above from  St Michael’s cemetery in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  A view of a grave marker looking Northward towards Southside row houses and the now defunct Bethlehem Steel Mill Plant furnaces.  This cemetery was photographed by Walker Evans for the Farm Security Administration in 1935.

Thanks once again to my very dear friend who is becoming my Novena secretary (ie. she is always letting me know when to begin all the most important Novenas! God Reward Her!!) I am now passing this notification on to all you great prayer warriors!Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory composed by the great Saint, St. Alphonsus Ligouri.

Day 1

Jesus, my Savior I have so often deserved to be cast into hell how great would be my suffering if I were now cast away and obliged to think that I myself had caused my damnation. I thank Thee for the patience with which Thou hast endured me. My God, I love Thee above all things and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee because Thou art infinite goodness. I will rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of perseverance. Have pity on me and at the same time on those blessed souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession. Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 2

Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy assistance, that I may apply the time yet remaining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 3

My God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. And thou, Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 4

My God! because Thou art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever offend Thee more. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those holy souls that burn in the cleansing fire and love Thee with all their hearts. O Mary, Mother of God, assist them by thy powerful prayers.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 5

Woe to me, unhappy being, if Thou, O Lord, hadst cast me into hell; for from that dungeon of eternal pain there is no deliverance. I love Thee above all things, O infinite God and I am sincerely sorry for having offended Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 6

My Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross, and hast so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, O supreme God; and I am more grieved at my offences against Thee than at any other evil. I will rather die than offend Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 7

God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this their ardent desire! Send them Thy holy Angel to announce to them that Thou, their Father, are now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 8

Oh my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so much grace, and yet despised Thy love and deserved to be cast by Thee into hell. But Thy infinite goodness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I will rather die than ever offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in Purgatory. Mary, Mother of God, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Day 9

My God! How was it possible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! O infinite Goodness, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me! Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee; I promise rather to die than to again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance, and do not permit that I should ever again fall into sin. Have compassion on the holy souls in Purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face, and forever love Thee. Mary, Mother of Mercy, come to their aid with thy powerful intercession, and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.

Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary,

and the Prayer to Our Suffering Savior

for the Holy Souls in Purgatory .

Prayer to Our Suffering Savior for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel Crucifixion, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the Cross, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain which Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them.

R. Have mercy on them, O Lord.

(Recommend yourself to the Souls in Purgatory and mention your intentions here)

Blessed Souls, I have prayed for thee; I entreat thee, who are so dear to God, and who are secure of never losing Him, to pray for me a miserable sinner, who is in danger of being damned, and of losing God forever. Amen.

“I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in heaven there are many mansions. If we reflect, sisters, we shall see that the soul of the just man is but a paradise, in which, God tells us, He takes His delight. What, do you imagine, must that dwelling be in which a King so mighty, so wise, and so pure, containing in Himself all good, can delight to rest? Nothing can be compared to the great beauty and capabilities of a soul; however keen our intellects may be, they are as unable to comprehend them as to comprehend God, for, as He has told us, He created us in His own image and likeness.

As this is so, we need not tire ourselves by trying to realize all the beauty of this castle, although, being His creature, there is all the difference between the soul and God that there is between the creature and the Creator; the fact that it is made in God’s image teaches us how great are its dignity and loveliness. It is no small misfortune and disgrace that, through our own fault, we neither understand our nature nor our origin. Would it not be gross ignorance, my daughters, if, when a man was questioned about his name, or country, or parents, he could not answer? Stupid as this would be, it is unspeakably more foolish to care to learn nothing of our nature except that we possess bodies, and only to realize vaguely that we have souls, because people say so and it is a doctrine of faith. Rarely do we reflect upon what gifts our souls may possess, Who dwells within them, or how extremely precious they are. Therefore we do little to preserve their beauty; all our care is concentrated on our bodies, which are but the coarse setting of the diamond, or the outer walls of the castle.

Let us imagine, as I said, that there are many rooms in this castle, of which some are above, some below, others at the side; in the centre, in the very midst of them all, is the principal chamber in which God and the soul hold their most secret intercourse. Think over this comparison very carefully; God grant it may enlighten you about the different kinds of graces He is pleased to bestow upon the soul. No one can know all about them, much less a person so ignorant as I am. The knowledge that such things are possible will console you greatly should our Lord ever grant you any of these favours; people themselves deprived of them can then at least praise Him for His great goodness in bestowing them on others. The thought of heaven and the happiness of the saints does us no harm, but cheers and urges us to win this joy for ourselves, nor will it injure us to know that during this exile God can communicate Himself to us loathsome worms; it will rather make us love Him for such immense goodness and infinite mercy.”

– Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle

** read more.