of perfection and others from imperfection.” —St. John of the Cross
Show me, Christ, how to make progress in the spiritual life, today.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
—Colossians 3:12–14 (ESV)
Christ spoke to St. Catherine of Siena: “You achieve every virtue and every defect by means of your neighbor. Those who hate Me, therefore, injure their neighbor and therefore themselves, who are their own chief neighbors. This injury is both general and particular. It is general, because you are obliged to love your neighbor as yourself. Because you love your neighbor, you should help him spiritually, through prayer and by counseling him with words. Assist him spiritually and temporally with your good will, according to his needs.”
I am part of Your great, compassionate Church.
Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.
—Romans 1:20a (NRSV)
“[T]he whole philosophy of St. Francis revolved around the idea of a new supernatural light on natural things, which meant the ultimate recovery not the ultimate refusal of natural things.” —G. K. Chesterton, writing about St. Francis of Assisi
Help me discern when and how to show disdain for “the things of the world,” and when to praise what is truly You.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
—1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
“While Antony was busy with doing all these things that caused so many to love him, the devil, who could not bear to see a young man with such outstanding virtues, began to attack him. First, he tried to drag Antony away from the life to which he had committed himself. He made Antony remember his wealth … and his family’s social status. The devil tried to stimulate in Antony a desire for material things, the short-lived honors of this world, the pleasures of different kinds of food, and many other attractions that belong to an indulgent life. He reminded Antony of the great difficulty in obtaining the life of virtue. He also reminded him of the body’s weakness. He created great confusion in Antony’s thoughts, hoping to call him back from his intentions.” —St. Athanasius
Give me the courage and patience of saints today, O Lord!
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
—Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
“When Antony thought about the depth of God’s judgments, he asked, ‘Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper, and why are the just in need?’ He heard a voice answering him, “Antony, keep your attention on yourself; these things happen according to God’s judgment, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.’” —The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
Quiet the questions in my heart, O Lord, that keep me from being close to You.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
—Colossians 3:12 (ESV)
“It seems to me that if a little flower could talk, it would tell simply what God has done for it, without trying to hide its blessings. Under the pretext of a false humility it wouldn’t say that it is unsightly and lacking in perfume, that the sun has taken away its beauty and its stem has been broken, while it recognizes just the opposite in itself.” —St. Thérèse of Lisieux
I will praise You today, God, with my life and my words.
[Jesus said,] “[U]nless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 18:3b–4 (NAB)
“You have asked me to say something to you about prayer. Before I speak about the interior life, that is, about prayer, I will speak of certain things that those walking along the way of prayer must practice.
