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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 16, 2020 18:47:14 GMT
FEBRUARY 16 God's Mercy Is Our Hope
Driven out of paradise by Thee and exiled in a distant land, I cannot return by myself unless Thou, O Lord, come to meet me in my wandering. My return is based on hope in Thy mercy during all of my earthly life. My only hope, the only source of confidence, and the only solid promise is Thy mercy. - Commentary on Psalm 24, 5
Prayer. My God, let me remember Thou with thanksgiving and proclaim Thy mercies to me. - Confessions 8, 1
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 17, 2020 20:06:04 GMT
FEBRUARY 17 Thou Approached Me
O Eternal Truth and true Love and beloved Eternity: Thou are my God, and for Thee do I sigh night and day. When I first began to know Thee, Thou lifted me up that I might see that there was something to be seen - but I was as yet not able to see it. Then Thou drove back the weakness of my sight, shining upon me most powerfully, and I shook with love and fear.
- Confessions 7, 10
Prayer. Lord, Thou first sought me out and brought me back on Thy shoulder. - Commentary on Psalm 69, 6
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 19, 2020 3:06:34 GMT
FEBRUARY 18 The Inner Light
I entered into my inmost self with Thee, Lord, as my guide; and this I was able to do because Thou were my helper. I entered in and saw with the eye of my soul, the unchangeable Light, very different from earthly lights. It was above my mind but not the way oil is above water or heaven above the earth. It was superior because it made me, and I inferior because I was made by it. Those who know the truth know this light, and those who know it know eternity: it is charity that knows it. - Confessions 7, 10
Prayer. Lord, Thou are the light of my heart and the bread in the mouth of my soul. - Confessions 1 ,13
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 20, 2020 4:26:51 GMT
FEBRUARY 19 Maintaining Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine must be maintained. We must never judge in arrogant haughtiness persons who do not embrace our mode of life. We must never say that it is no use for them to live chastely in the married state, to direct their houses and families in a Christian way, or to heap up for themselves heavenly treasures by their acts of mercy. - Letter 157, 39
Prayer. Lord, Thou get angry but remain calm. - Confessions 1, 4
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 21, 2020 2:58:25 GMT
FEBRUARY 20 Hold Fast to the Love of God
Real love of God will not be in you if the love of the world prevails in you. Hold fast rather to the love of God, so that as God is eternal you too will live forever. For each of us is such as our love is. Do you love the world? Then you will be the earth. Do you love God? What shall I say ? That you will be a god? I dare not say this on my own authority, and so let us hear Holy Scripture: "I have said: you are gods and all of you children of the Most High." - Sermon on John 2, 8
Prayer. Lord, teach me what I should teach, teach me what I should hold fast. - Letter 166, 10
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 22, 2020 3:51:36 GMT
FEBRUARY 21 Let the Better Love Take Over
There are two loves, the love of God and the love of the world. If the love of the world takes possession of you, there is no way for the love of God to enter into you. Let the love of the world take the second place, and let the love of God dwell in you. Let the better love take over.
- Sermon on 1 John 2, 8
Prayer. O to love! To go and be lost to self! To reach God! - Sermon 159, 8
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 23, 2020 4:14:15 GMT
FEBRUARY 22 True Priestly Service
Clearly, there is nothing easier, more pleasureful, or more sought after than the office of bishop, priest, or deacon if this is going to be carried out lightly, amid the blandishments of flatterers. But in the eyes of God, there is nothing more miserable, more regrettable, or more worthy of condemnation. On the other hand, provided this service is carried out as our Master commands, in the eyes of God there is no greater happiness. - Letter 21, 1
Prayer. Lord, Thou are never needy, yet Thou are pleased with gain. Thou are never covetous, yet Thou exact interest on all Thou give us. - Confessions 1, 4
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 23, 2020 21:06:11 GMT
FEBRUARY 23 The Value of Mortification
What else is that cross of ours which the Lord commands us to carry if not the mortality of our flesh? It is a source of distress to us until death is swallowed up in victory. Therefore, it is precisely this cross that we must crucify and pierce with the nails of the fear of God. - Letter 243, 11
Prayer. Are there any persons, Lord, who do not at times let themselves go beyond the strict limits of necessity? I am not one of them, for I am a sinner. - Confessions 10, 31
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 25, 2020 4:17:40 GMT
FEBRUARY 24 Excess in Eating and Drinking
I struggle each day against concupiscence in eating and drinking. It is not something that I can resolve to cut off once and for all and touch no more, as I could concubinage. The bridle put upon the throat must be held with moderate looseness and moderate firmness. Is there anyone, Lord, who is not carried a little beyond the limits of personal need? - Confessions 10, 31
Prayer. O holy God, it is Thee Who give us the power to do what Thou command. - Confessions 10, 31
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 26, 2020 3:45:26 GMT
FEBRUARY 25 Temptations out of the Past
Lord, Thou command me to be continent. Thou have commanded me to abstain from concubinage, and in place of marriage itself - which Thou permit - Thou have counseled something better. Since Thou granted this to me, it has been fulfilled even before I became a dispenser of Thy sacrament. Yet, in my memory, of which I have said many things, there still live images of such things as my former habits implanted there.
- Confessions 10, 30
Prayer. Thy hand, O God Almighty, is able to heal all the infirmities of my soul. - Confessions 10, 30
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 26, 2020 3:48:24 GMT
FEBRUARY 26 True Fasting
Your fast would be rejected if you were immoderately severe toward your servant. Will it be approved if you fail to recognize your brother or sister? I am not asking what food you abstain from, but what you love. Do you love justice? Well, then, let your justice be seen.
- The Value of Fasting 5, 6-7
Prayer. O Lord, Thou will increase Thy gifts more and more in me, so that set free from all concupiscence my soul may follow me to Thee. - Confessions 10, 30
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 28, 2020 2:17:20 GMT
FEBRUARY 27 Everything Works Together for Charity
All these endeavors for fasting are concerned not about the rejection of various foods as unclean, but about the subjugation of inordinate desire and the maintenance of neighborly love. Charity especially is guarded: food is subservient to charity, speech to charity, customs to charity, and facial expressions to charity. Everything works together for charity alone. - Customs of the Catholic Church 33, 70
Prayer. How great was Thy love for us, kind Father! Thou did not spare Thy only-begotten Son but surrendered Him for the sake of us sinners! - Confessions 10, 43
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Post by Elizabeth on Feb 29, 2020 3:50:28 GMT
FEBRUARY 28 Pride - the Beginning of All Sin
No other cause but pride could have been the beginning of our first parents' evil will? For pride is the beginning of all sin. What is pride but the desire of a height out of proportion to our state? Furthermore, it is a height out of proportion to our state to leave God - to whom the soul should cling as its basis - and to become and to be in some way our own basis. - City of God 14, 13
Prayer. Thou, Lord, are the unseen power that brings decline upon the proud.
- Confessions
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