The grace we receive in Baptism, which is intended to reach its full development, is threatened by the same perennial enemies: selfishness, sensuality, doctrinal errors and confusion, laziness, envy, slander, calumny, etc. In all ages we can perceive the wounds of original sin and of personal sins.
We must seek the remedy and antidote in the only place where it is to be found: in Jesus Christ and in his saving doctrine. We must continue contemplating him on the Cross if we truly want to reach the Promised Land at the end of this short journey. That is all what really counts in life.
Since we do not want to reach our destination alone, we will strive to get many others to look at Jesus, our salvation. Place before our eyes his most Holy Humanity, contemplate him in the Mysteries of the ‘Holy Rosary’, in the ‘Way of the Cross’, in the scenes that the Gospels narrate for us, or in the Tabernacle.
Only with great piety will we have the strength against the harassment of a world which seems to want our separation more and more from God, dragging with it anyone who is not on firm and sure ground. We cannot turn our gaze away from God, because we see the havoc that the enemy wreaks around us every day. By himself, nobody is immune.
“Thy face, Lord, do I seek; hide not thy face from me.” (Ps 26) We must grow in fortitude by means of a loving and constant conversation with Jesus, through prayer, keeping presence of God throughout the day, and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
We must remember, too that Our Lord is not only the remedy for our weakness. He is also our Love.
In order to keep Jesus present during the day, we will need ‘human devices’ -- acts of Love and reparation, aspirations, spiritual Communions, ‘glances’ at a picture of Our Lady (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 272) -- some means to remind us that time has elapsed when we have not turned to Our Lord, Our Lady, our guardian angel.
“Ejaculatory prayers do not hinder your work, just as the beating of your heart does not impede the movements of the body.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 516)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:214-9
Virtues which perfect the scope of justice
We unite ourselves to this desire for greater justice, one of the principal characteristics of our age. (cf SCDF, “Instruction on Christian Freedom & Liberation”, 22 March 1986, 38)
We ask our Lord for greater justice and greater peace; we pray, as the Church has always done, for our rulers (cf 1 Tim 2:1-2) that they should be promoters of justice, peace; and a greater respect for the dignity of the person.
We resolve to fulfil, as much as we can, the demands the Gospel makes on our personal lives. We will also practise other manifestations of natural and supernatural virtues such as loyalty, courtesy, cheerfulness.
Above all, faith, which enables us to know a person’s true value; and charity, which leads us to go beyond what strict justice would demand in our dealings with others. We see other people as children of God, as did Christ himself.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:207-8
Charity is for all times and all circumstances
There is nothing more divine, more Christlike, than the meekness and patience in doing good. (cf St Gregory Nazianzen, “Prayer”, 17:9) “Of all the virtues leading to salvation, let us seek mainly those that benefit our neighbour ...
In the things of this world no one lives for himself; all without exception contribute to the common good ... the good of their neighbour. This happens even more fully in the spiritual life ...
“He who lives only for himself and despises his neighbour is useless, is not a man ....” (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on St Matthew’s Gospel”, 77:6)
The practice of charity will usually consist in little details: a smile, an encouraging word, a kind gesture. The “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Mt 5:38) is not the conduct of a Christian; but to do good always, although occasionally such an attitude will not result in any human gain. At least we will have enriched our hearts.
Charity makes us understanding, ready to forgive, fit to live with everyone, so that “those who think and act differently from us in social, political and even in religious matters will also have a claim on our respect and charity. ... Love and courtesy of this kind should not make us indifferent to truth and goodness. ... But we must distinguish between the error and the one in error ...” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Gaudium et spes”, 28)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:340-342
Our Lady
514 -- Have confidence. Return. Invoke our Lady and you’ll be faithful. (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”)
516 -- Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she -- your holy mother Mary -- offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace ... you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle. (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”)
Forming the Spirit
360 -- How frankly you laughed when I advised you to put your youthful years under the protection of St. Raphael, “so that he will lead you, as he did young Tobias, to a holy marriage, with a girl who is good and pretty -- and rich,” I added jokingly. And then how thoughtful you became, when I went on to advise you to put yourself also iunder the patronage of that youthful apostle John, in case God were to ask more of you.
361 -- For you who complain to yourself that they treat you harshly and who feel the contrast between this harshness and the conduct of those of your own blood, I copy these lines from the letter of an army doctor:
“Toward the sick there can be the cold and efficient attitude of an honest doctor, which is obective and useful to the patient, or the weeping tenderness of a family. What would happen at a first-aid station during a battle, when the stream of wounded begins to pour in, if around each stretcher stood a family? One might as well go over to the enemy.”
363 -- You’re disheartened, crestfallen. Men have just taught you a lesson! They thought you really didn’t need their help and so they made you plenty of empty promises. The possibility that they might have to help you with hard cash -- just a few pennies -- turned their friendship into indifference.
Trust only in God and those united to you through him.
Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”
• Our Lady of Good Succor at Nancy, in Lorraine. This Madonna, it is believed, enabled Rene, Duke of Lorraine, to gain a victory over Charles the Bold, the last Duke of Burgundy. — Triple Couronne, n. 55. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Our Lady of Good Help (Montreal, Canada, 1657). (www/divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Good Aid / Help. Nancy, France; Montreal. 1657. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Good Aid (Nancy, Lorraine). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of the Miracle (Italy, 1440) (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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