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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 2, 2019 3:28:33 GMT
NOVEMBER 1 The Holy Martyrs
Those who spout vain words and are true Philistines do not form part of the family of Christ. "Who can equal me? Who dares attack me?" Is not this the language of those who pride themselves on their own resources? The just will bring low all that pride. This is what martyrs did. They vanquished the wicked at the very moment when the latter appeared to be victorious.
- Sermon 32, 4
Prayer. Lord, Thou are delightful food for the pure of heart. - Confessions 13, 21
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 3, 2019 2:38:19 GMT
NOVEMBER 2 Good Life - Fearless Death
Scripture says: "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His holy ones." We must look upon the mystery of death with the eyes of faith so that we shall believe what we do not see and shall bear with fortitude the evils to which we are unjustly subjected. Admittedly, it is not in our power to determine how out death may come about. However, it does lie in our power to determine how we live, so that we may die without fear. - Sermon 306, 2
Prayer. O death, when you seized my Lord, you then lost your grip on me. - Sermon 233, 5
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 4, 2019 1:13:09 GMT
NOVEMBER 3 True Health in Immortality
From the time of our birth we are under the necessity of dying. "This sickness must end in death." So say the physicians when they examine the sick. When therefore is true health found? Only when real immortality is reached. And there is no need for food there! Do do not prepare your stomach but your spirit. - Sermon 77, 14
Prayer. Lord, Thou are our Physician, healing the ills of all. Thou reduce the swelling of pride, renew wasted life, and excise what is superfluous. Thou preserve what is necessary, restore what has been lost, and cure what has been corrupted. - Christian Combat, 11, 12
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 4, 2019 1:16:17 GMT
NOVEMBER 4 Fear Everlasting Punishment
God has threatened evildoers with the burning fires of hell and everlasting flames. First compare these two things: death in a moment and punishments that last forever. You fear the former, but it will come whether you wish it or not. You should rather fear everlasting punishment, which will not come to you if you do not wish. - Sermon 279, 9
Prayer. Remember me, O Lord, not according to Thy wrath, but according to Thy mercy. This befits Thee, O Lord, not owing to my merit but to Thy kindness. - Commentary on Psalm 24, 7
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 4, 2019 1:20:24 GMT
NOVEMBER 5 Choose Not to Die Forever
Obviously, you will not escape death, whether you live well or whether you live badly. But if you choose to live well in this life, you will not be cast into eternal punishments. So while you are still alive choose wisely not to die forever! This is shown by Christ in His death and resurrection. By dying He showed what you are going to endure whether you wish to or not. But by rising from the dead, He showed what you also will receive if you lead a good life. - Sermon 279, 9
Prayer. O happy home! O land of safety! May I dwell there in security! From there I shall not seek to depart, for no safer place shall I find. - Sermon 217, 2-3
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 4, 2019 1:23:42 GMT
NOVEMBER 6 Brief Teaching
Here is a brief teaching: you should realize that He gives with mercy when He gives and takes away. Yet do not think that you are neglected by His mercy, since He either bolsters you through His gifts lest you weaken, or corrects you in your pride lest you perish. - Commentary on Psalm 144, 4
Prayer. Lord, Thou have become a refuge for us, that Thou might care for those who deserted Thee. Thou are a refuge so that Thou can encourage and guide Thy children. - Sermon 55, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 4, 2019 1:27:56 GMT
NOVEMBER 7 Fear Only What You Can Avoid
Come now, are you going to avoid death if you do not wish to die? Why do you fear what you cannot avoid? you fear what is going to be even though you do not wish it - death. But you do not fear what will not be if you do not wish it - eternal punishment! You cannot avoid death - you can merely postpone it. It will come even though you are unwilling. - Sermon 279, 9
Prayer. O Lord, I ask Thee for instruction that through my trials I may learn what I should seek. I ask Thee then for eternal life. Please hear me: it is a place at Thy right hand I seek. - Commentary on Psalm 59, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 9, 2019 0:15:28 GMT
NOVEMBER 8 Strength in God's Grace
My brothers and sisters, all our strength lies in the knowledge of God and the reception of His grace - in which David placed all his confidence. Goliath, on the contrary, counted only on himself, on his own strength. Like all proud people, his pride showed itself in his face, and it was in his face that the stone cast by David struck him and felled him. - Sermon 32, 3
Prayer. We did not exist when we were predestined, we were hostile when we were called, and we were sinners when we were justified. Then let us give thanks to God and not remain ungrateful. - Sermon 158, 3
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 10, 2019 2:34:11 GMT
NOVEMBER 9 We Are the Church
Remember, this church is the house of our prayers, but we ourselves are the house of God. And if we are such, we are being built up during our life here so that we may be dedicated at the end of time. A building, or rather the construction of that building, entails toil. The dedication, however, elicits only joy. But believers in Christ do not constitute a house of the Lord until they are joined together through love! - Sermon 336, 1
Prayer. Look, O Lord, upon the ranks of virgins and holy young men and women. Their king has been brought up in Thy Church. - Holy Virginity 36, 37
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 10, 2019 20:03:27 GMT
NOVEMBER 10 Warming the Cold One
Hence, you who are fervent in spirit, be enkindled with the fire of love. Let your lives glow with the praises of God and irreproachable morals. One person is hot, another cold. Let the one who is hot warm the cold. - Sermon 234, 3
Prayer. Glory to our Lord and to His mercy and to His truth! Out of His mercy He did not fail to make us blessed, nor did He hide from us His truth. The Truth, clad in flesh, came to us and healed through His flesh the inner eye of our heart, that afterward we might be able to see him face to face.
- Commentary on Psalm, 26, 17
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 12, 2019 2:38:55 GMT
NOVEMBER 11 The Miracle of Changes
Brothers and sisters, on this threshing floor grain can degenerate into chaff; and the chaff can be turned back into grain. These changes can take place daily. This life is full of afflictions and consolations. Daily those who seemed good fall and perish; and again those who seemed evil are converted and live. - Sermon 223, 2
Prayer. I pray to Thee, God, Whom no one lets go, unless deceived; Whom no one seeks, unless taught; and Whom no one finds, unless cleansed. Come mercifully to me.
- Soliloquies 1, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 12, 2019 17:07:59 GMT
NOVEMBER 12 Help the Incorrigible
Undoubtedly, it often happens that you try to correct certain depraved and dishonest people who are under your care, but every effort and concern is in vain. They are incorrigible, so they have to be put up with. Such incorrigibles are already in the Church. How then will you separate yourself from them so that you are no longer burdened by them? Rather, be close to them: speak, exhort, coax, threaten, and correct them. - Commentary on Psalm 54, 8
Prayer. Lord, hear my prayer, and let my soul not fail under Thy protection. - Confessions 1, 15
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 14, 2019 3:29:10 GMT
NOVEMBER 13 Final Goal
Diligently, our Lord manifested in His promises and prophecies the ways in which we would arrive at our final goal. He promised human beings divinity, mortals immortality, sinners justification, and the poor a rising to glory. Whatever He promised, He promised to those who were unworthy. Thus, it was not a case of a reward being promised to workers but of grace being given as a gift as its name indicates. - Commentary on Psalm 110, 2
Prayer. Lord, my God, how great Thou are, and yet Thou make Thy home in the humble of heart! It is Thee Who lift up the downtrodden, and Thou are their grandeur. - Confessions 11, 31
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 15, 2019 3:47:31 GMT
NOVEMBER 14 Be Upright of Heart
If you want to be upright of heart, do not be displeased, over anything at all, with God.
If you see the reason for His doing what He does, do not find fault with Him. If the reason escapes you, understand that the thing is done by One with Whom it makes no sense at all to be displeased. - Sermon 15A, 7
Prayer. Blessed are those who love Thee, O God, and love their friends in Thee and their enemies for Thy sake.
- Confessions4, 9
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Post by Elizabeth on Nov 16, 2019 4:05:25 GMT
NOVEMBER 15 Trust
As you know, I have such a good opinion of my brothers that I have refrained from asking them questions. For it seemed to me that in questioning them I might almost appear to suspect some evil. On the other hand, I was aware then as now that all those who have lived with me are familiar with our ideal and rule of life. - Sermon 355, 2
Prayer. Thou, Lord, are the unfailing light, and from Thee I sought to know the existence, nature, and worth of all things, as I listened to Thy teaching and commandments.
- Confessions 10, 40
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