23 October 2012 St John of Capistrano, priest He worked as a lawyer and joined the Franciscan Order. He preached a crusade and gathered a strong army which defeated the Turks in the Battle of Belgrade. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1674) On the virtue of mortification We have a strong inclination for all which pleases our senses. From it springs an infinity of sins and miseries. The resistance to this inclination is called mortification, an act of the will. By mortification we repress and kill the vicious desires which spring from concupiscence. If done from a supernatural motive, the habit of doing it is the virtue of mortification. There is, then, a great difference between an act and the virtue of mortification. Like other virtues, it has different degrees. It becomes more perfect as we acquire greater ease and perseverance in practicing it. “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14:27) What value do we put upon this virtue? What progress have we made in it? All that is outside us, as well as that which is within, shows us the absolute necessity of mortification. Outside us, we have the precept and example of Jesus Christ, the doctrine and example of the Apostles; also the example of all the saints. Where can we find one who has not excelled in the practice of mortification? We have experienced that if we do not at least continually and energetically fight against the irregular desires of our hearts, we fall into every kind of disorder as St Paul reminds us, ‘If by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live’. Without mortification, then, there is no perseverance, no salvation for us. There can be no progress in virtue. If we agree, acknowledge that our want of mortification is because we are so erratic in our resolutions; far from living a spirit of prayer; often unfaithful to many points of the norms and certain obligations of our work. To be mortified is to die to one’s self and the world. To live only to God. It is to conquer, to repress sin in our hearts. To overcome all obstacles to perfection. And to let Jesus reign over us as our sovereign Master. To destroy all that displeases God in us. To love God, as the Apostle St John expresses it, “in deed” (1 Jn 3:18). Finally to follow Jesus, bearing his cross. To die with him, ‘With Christ I am nailed to the cross’. Do we need further argument to induce us to fervently embrace the austerities of mortification? All of us, though weak in health, can mortify ourselves in many ways. Before, we took delight in them; but now? Let us go back to our first fervor. What joy we shall have at death and overflowing happiness in eternity! Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp657-9 Conversion “If you desire to reach the highest pitch of evangelical perfection, O Christian soul, and if you want to unite yourself so intimately with God as to become one spirit with Him, it is necessary to acquaint yourself with the true nature of spirituality. Then you may succeed in this purpose, the sublimest that can be expressed or imagined. “Spiritual life properly consists in knowledge of the infinite power and goodness of God, joined to a true sense of our own wretchedness and inclination to evil; in love of God and hatred of self; in humiliations not only before God, but also before men out of love for God; in the entire renunciation of our own will to follow His; and, as a crown on our work the accomplishment of all this only for the glory of His holy name, with no other intention than to please Him and no other motive than to wish Him loved and served by every creature.” Ref: Dom Lawrence Scupoli, “The Spiritual Combat”, Ch. 1. In “The Vatican II Weekday Missal”, p398 The Laity Spread Their Faith The Divine Wisdom is that sublime science which preserves the savor of salt, so it will not become tasteless, which feeds the light of the lamp, so it may light up the depths of the human heart, guide its secret yearnings, seeking and hopes. The Pope exhorts all laity to assume their responsibility with coherence and vigor. ... The Christian vocation is essentially apostolic. Only in this dimension of service to the Gospel will the Christian find the fulness of his dignity. In fact, the laity are “incorporated in Christ through baptism and constituted People of God; to their measure, made partakers of the sacerdotal, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ”; called to holiness, and are invited to announce and realize Christ’s kingdom until He returns. If you wish to be faithful to this dignity, it is not enough to accept passively those riches of the faith handed down in your tradition and culture. A treasure is entrusted, talents are offered, which ought to be accepted with responsibility, so they may bear fruit in abundance. The grace of Baptism and of Confirmation is renewed by the Eucharist; restored by Penance. It possesses vital energies for vitalizing faith; with the creative dynamism of the Holy Spirit, for directing activities of the members of the Mystical Body. The laity, too are called to this interior spiritual growth, which makes them ‘fellow workers of the Holy Spirit’. With his gifts, he renews, rejuvenates and perfects the work of Christ. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp312-3 Meditations on the Litany of Loreto ‘Morning Star’ -- St John Damascene calls Mary ‘the Star which indicates the rising of the sun’. As the morning star precedes the sun, so does devotion to the most Blessed Virgin precede the sun of divine grace; for St Germanus says, ‘devotion in a soul towards Mary is a sign either that it is already in a state of grace, or it will very soon be so’. Our Lady is ‘the Star of the Sea’ because, St Thomas explains, ‘as mariners, in tempestuous weather, are guided by the star of the sea into port, so are souls guided by Mary over the sea of this world into Paradise’. Hence, St Bernard warns, ‘If you do not wish to be lost in the storm of temptations, turn not your eyes from this star of salvation. If you follow Mary, you will not go astray; if Mary protects you, you cannot fear to be lost; if Mary favors you, you will reach Paradise.’ Ref: “The Glories of Mary.” In “Documentation Service”, V:326 • Our Lady of Consolation, near Honfleur. This chapel is much frequented; two children have been raised to life there, in memory of which their figures are there in silver. — Archives of the place. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of Consolation / “Notre Dame de Comfort”. Honfleur, France. Basilica and National Shrine in Carey, Ohio. Franciscan Friars. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Consolation, near Honfleur, France. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • Our Lady of Comfort or Consolation. Near Honfleur, France. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Comfort. (www/mariedenazareth.com)