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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 17, 2020 3:02:58 GMT
JANUARY 16 Observe the Local Custom
When my mother reached Milan, she found the church there not fasting on Saturdays. She was troubled, and hesitated as to what she should do. I applied on her behalf to Ambrose for his advice. He replied, "When I go to Rome, I also fast on Saturday: when here I do not. If you go to any church, observe the local custom." - Letter 54, 2
Prayer. Lord, while I was still far away from Thee, Thou coaxed me in a great many ways to hear Thee from afar and be converted to Thee and call upon Thee. - Confessions 13, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 18, 2020 3:15:05 GMT
JANUARY 17 Possess What You Need
My brothers and sisters, seek what is enough for God's work, not what is sufficient for your greediness. Your greediness is no work of God. Your self, your body, your soul, this is all God's work. Inquire what is enough for them, and you shall see how little it is.
- Commentary on Psalm 147, 12
Prayer. Lord, those are Thy best servants who wish to shape their life on Thy answers rather than shape Thy answers on their wishes.
- Confessions 10, 26
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 18, 2020 20:16:29 GMT
JANUARY 18 Keep on Moving
On earth we are wayfarers, always on the go. This means that we have to keep on moving forward. Therefore be always unhappy about what you are if you want to reach what you are not. If you are pleased with what you are, you have stopped already. If you say, "It is enough," you are lost. Keep on walking, moving forward, trying for the goal. Don't try to stop on the way, or to go back, or to deviate from it. - Sermon 169, 18
Prayer. Lord, guard us from all danger and carry us to Thyself. And Thou will be our strong support from childhood to old age; for when our strength is Thine, we are strong. - Confessions 4, 16
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 19, 2020 20:06:56 GMT
JANUARY 19 The Treasures of Scripture
The depth of the Christian Scriptures is boundless. Even if I were attempting to study them and nothing else, from boyhood to decrepit old age, with the utmost leisure, the most unwearied zeal, and with talents greater than I possess, I would still be making progress in discovering their treasures. - Letter 137, 3
Prayer. O Lord my God, let my soul praise Thee that it may love Thee. Let it recount to Thee Thy mercies that it may praise Thee for them all. - Confessions 5, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 22, 2020 20:37:17 GMT
JANUARY 20 The Grace of God
Previously I had tried hard to uphold the freedom of choice of the human will; but the grace of God had the upper hand. The Apostle Paul stated the most obvious truth, when he said: "What have you got that you did not first receive? If you have received all this, why glory in it as if you had not been given it?" - Revisions 2, 27
Prayer. I thank Thee, Lord, my joy and my glory, my hope and my God. I thank Thee for Thy gifts to me. Keep them unharmed for me: they will be the making of me, and I shall be with Thee for my being is Thy gift. - Confessions 1, 20
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 22, 2020 20:55:31 GMT
JANUARY 21 Knowledge by Writings
It is also necessary - may God grant it! - that in providing others with books to read I myself should make progress, and that in trying to answer their questions I myself should find what I am seeking. Therefore, at the command of God our Lord and with His help, I have undertaken not so much to discourse with authority on matters known to me as to know them better by discoursing devoutly of them. - The Trinity 1, 8
Prayer. Lord, let me offer Thee the sacrifice of every thought and word - only first give me what I may offer Thee.
- Confessions 11, 2
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 22, 2020 21:00:03 GMT
JANUARY 22 Getting Dressed
Every morning you put on your clothes to cover your nakedness and to protect your body from the inclement weather. Why don't you also clothe your soul with the garment of faith? Remember every morning the truths of your creed, and look at yourself in the mirror of your faith. Otherwise, your soul will soon be naked with the nakedness of oblivion. - Sermon 58, 13
Prayer. Lord, only this do I ask of Thy great kindness: that Thou convert me totally to Thee and allow no obstacle to hinder me as I wend my way to Thee. - Soliloquies 1, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 24, 2020 2:16:17 GMT
JANUARY 23 Avoid Pride and Grasp Wisdom
After hearing that they should be humble some persons do not wish to learn anything. They think they will be proud if they have anything. It has been made clear to us where God wishes us to be in the depths and where He wishes us to be in the heights. He wishes us to be humble to avoid pride, and He wishes us to be on high to grasp wisdom. - Commentary on Psalm 130, 12
Prayer. While I move and bear this body I pray that I may be pure, generous, just, and prudent. May I be a perfect lover and knower of Thy wisdom. - Soliloquies 1, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 25, 2020 3:40:05 GMT
JANUARY 54 My Weight Is My Love
Gravity keeps everything in its own place. Fire climbs up, while a stone goes down. Elements that are not in their own place are restless until they find it.
This applies also to us. My weight is my love; wherever I go, I am driven by it. By the love of God we catch fire ourselves and, by moving up, find our place and our rest.
- Confessions 13, 9
Prayer. Come, Lord, into my soul, which Thou have prepared for Thy own reception by inspiring in me a longing for Thy goodness. - Confessions 13, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 26, 2020 3:12:44 GMT
JANUARY 25 The Faith of Abraham
Let us every day do our best to advance in God, and to be unsparing with the transitory possessions we are going to leave behind us in this world. Let us pay attention to Abraham's faith, because he was also our father. Let us imitate his devotion and faith. We are Christians, and strangers on earth. Let none of us be frightened; our native land is not in this world.
- Sermon 16A, 13
Prayer. God examines both rich and poor, not according to their lands and houses, but according to the riches of their hearts. - Commentary on Psalm 48 (1), 3
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 27, 2020 2:16:20 GMT
JANUARY 26 Renewed by Love
People are renewed by love. As sinful desire ages them, so love rejuvenates them. Enmeshed in the toils of his desires the psalmist laments: "I have grown old surrounded by my enemies." Love, on the other hand, is the sign of our renewal as we know from the Lord's own words: "I give you a new commandment - love one another." - Sermon 350A, 21
Prayer. Lord, those who are bowed down with burdens Thou lift up, and they do not fall because Thou are their support.
- Confessions 11, 31
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 28, 2020 3:46:52 GMT
JANUARY 27 The Sensitive Person
Give me persons in love: they know what I mean. Give me those who yearn; give me those who are hungry; give me those far away in this desert, who are thirsty and sigh for the spring of the eternal country. Give me those kinds of people: they know what I mean. But if I speak to cold persons, they just do not know what I am talking about. - Sermon on John 26, 4
Prayer. Instruct me, Lord, and command what Thou will. But first heal me and open my ears that I may hear Thy words.
- Soliloquies 1, 5
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 29, 2020 3:21:04 GMT
JANUARY 28 Prayer from the heart
The pure prayer that ascends from a faithful heart will be like incense rising from a hallowed altar. No fragrance can be more pleasing to God than that of His Own Son. May all the faithful breathe out the same perfume.
- Commentary on Psalm 140, 6
Prayer. Lord, I am poor and needy, and Thou are generous to all who appeal to Thee. - Confessions 11, 2
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 30, 2020 3:07:58 GMT
JANUARY 29 Love God's Creation
Suppose a man should make a ring for his betrothed, and she should love the ring more wholeheartedly than the betrothed who made it for her. Certainly, let her love his gift: but if she should say, "The ring is enough. I do not want to see his face again," what would we say of her? The pledge is given her by the betrothed just that, in his pledge, he himself may be loved. God, then has given you all these things. Love Him Who made them. - Sermon on 1 John 2, 11
Prayer. Lord, let those who understand, praise Thee, and let those who understand Thee not, praise Thee too.
- Confessions 11, 31
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Post by Elizabeth on Jan 31, 2020 2:56:59 GMT
JANUARY 30 Putting Up with All That Is Annoying
Now, what does "Let him take up his cross mean"? Put up with all that is annoying: that is how they must follow Me, imitating My conduct and keeping My commandments, they will have many who will try to oppose them, forbid them, dissuade them, and this will be done by those same people who appear to be followers of Christ. - Sermon 96, 4
Prayer. O Lord my God, what is the kernel of Thy deep mystery? How far from it have I been led by the consequences of my sins! - Confessions.
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