21 April 2013 ‘For God all the glory’ “Am I seeking human approval or God’s? ... If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10) “It is a very small thing that you should judge me ... The Lord alone is my judge.” (1 Cor 4:3-4) “Among the surprises which await us on the day of judgment, not least will be the silence with which Our Lord will greet those actions of ours which merited the applause of men ... On the other hand it can happen that he will weigh in positive terms some actions which have drawn down criticism and censorship upon us ...” (G Chevrot, “In Secret”) A wrong intention destroys the best of actions: the deed can be well done, it can even be beneficial; but, since it is corrupted at source, it loses all value in the eyes of God. Vanity or self-seeking can destroy, sometimes completely, what could have been a deed meriting holiness. Without a right intention, we go astray. Occasionally, receiving some praise is a sign of friendship and can help along the way of goodness. But this praise must be directed towards God in all simplicity. Besides, it is one thing to receive a word of praise, a sign of being well received; another thing is to look for praise. We must always be careful when we are praised or commended. “Since many times our poor soul goes off the right path, as soon as it is applauded ... thus it finds its delight more in being called happy than in actually being so. And that thing which should have been a reason for praising God becomes instead a cause of our separation from him.” (St Gregory the Great, “Moralia”, 10, 47-8) God accepts our actions, even small ones, if we offer them to him with a pure intention. “Do everything for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31) The two small coins that the poor widow put into the box in the Temple (Cf Mk 12:42) became a great treasure in heaven. We have a marvellous aspiration to say repeatedly: “Lord, for myself I want nothing. All for your glory and for Love.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 788) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:394-7 The ‘New Commandment’ of Our Lord “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (Jn 13:34-5) New because the reasons for it are new: the neighbor, one with Christ and the object of the Father’s special love; the Model, always current, establishing a new relationship with men; its degree of fulfilment “... as I have loved you”; and a fresh approach between men. Let us recall Mary’s dedication to the accomplishment of God’s Will and her service to others. So great is Mary’s love for all mankind that she, too, fulfilled Christ’s words when he affirmed: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). (Cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 287) Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:278-80 Consumer Society Man, with his planetary dimension, was never so much aware of all the forces he is capable of putting to use and setting to his own service. Never has he made such use of them. From this point of view, and in this dimension, conviction concerning the progress of mankind is fully justified. In countries and circles with greater technical progress and greater material well-being, side by side with this conviction, goes an attitude which we usually describe as consumer-oriented. This testifies to the fact that the conviction of the progress of man is only partly justified. Indeed, it testifies that the direction taken by progress can kill what is most profoundly and most essentially human in man. The consumer attitude does not take into account all the truth about man. Neither the historical truth, nor the social truth, nor the interior and the metaphysical truth. Rather it is a flight from that reality. Man is created for happiness. Yes! But man’s happiness is not identified with enjoyment! In such enjoyment the consumer-oriented man loses the full dimension of his humanity; he loses deeper feeling and meaning of life. So, such a direction of progress kills what is most deeply and essentially human in man. Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p98 Fortitude and Its Rewards This virtue can become rare in the pleasure-loving and success-hungry environment where most of us live. Religious convictions can easily be suppressed by fear of being criticized, belittled or even ridiculed. About fortitude, Fr Leo J Trese said it is hard not to laugh at the obscene joke, especially if the teller happens to be the boss or a good customer. When the malicious gossip starts, it is hard to insist on changing the conversation or to speak up in defense of the person under attack — particularly when the subject really is a stinker. It is hard to make the boyfriend behave when everybody says a little loving never hurt anyone; especially when boyfriends are rare. Our world of work and recreation may frequently be unsympathetic to virtue. Businessmen often find under-the-table deals as standard operating procedure. Risqué shows are bandied about as hilarious entertainment. It is consoling to find that fortitude also brings rewards. The courage of the man born blind in glorifying Jesus before the council was magnificently rewarded. “Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir’, the man replied, ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him’. Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you’. The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.” (Jn 9:35-8 ) Before, sight was restored to his eyes. Now, sight was given to his soul. Christians who stand by their conscience inevitably discover that they have grown in stature in the eyes of other people. Initially, they might have been somewhat afraid they would lose their friends. Afterwards, they realize they have gained respect as well as affection. Their friends find in them a reassuring source of strength. Ref: Cf Fr M Guzman, “Encounters With Christ”, 1990, pp109-10 • Institution of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, at Toledo, in the year 1506, by Cardinal Francis Ximenes, archbishop of that city. — See his Life by Gormez, etc. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Institution of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, Toledo, Spain (1506). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Institution of the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception in 1503. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)