[Saint HILDEGARD OF BINGEN ~ XI-XII Century AD; born: Bermersheim, Holy Roman Empire/died: Bingen am Rhein, Holy Roman Empire, aged 81; Abbess, Polymath, Writer, Composer, Mystic, Visionary, Philosopher, Medical Writer and Practitioner, Composer of Sacred Monophony, Virgin, Founder, Doctor of the Church] 10. The Trials of the Soul (from Scivias I, 4) [The first few chapters of Scivias I, 4, form a separate section prior to a discussion of the physiology of human conception and Church teachings on marriage. Two of the chapter titles describe the text as ‘the lament of the soul on the path of error but returning through the grace of God to her mother Zion’ (eh. 1) and ‘the wings of the soul’ (eh. 2), both of which give some indication of the theme. It is tempting to see a link between the spiritual states symbolized in this story and Hildegard’s own tribulations as she gradually gained recognition as a writer and spiritual leader. She returned to a similar plot for her drama of Anima …More
[Saint Benedict of Nursia; V-VI Century AD; born: Nursia, Kingdom of Italy/died: Mons Casinus, Eastern Roman Empire; aged 67; Father of Western Monasticism ~ Order of Saint Benedict, Patron of Europe, Rule of Saint Benedict, Saint Benedict Medal] CHAPTER VIII ~ Of the poisoned bread which a raven CAST AWAY IN A EEMOTE PLACE BY ORDER OF St. BENEDICT. THE communities which the saint had established in various parts of the desert, proving by their piety that they had nothing at heart but the love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, many people of the world were moved to forsake it; and, banishing from their hearts feelings of pride and presumption, came to submit themselves to the yoke of the Lord. But as the wicked have a habit of envying others the benefits and happiness of virtue, although they claim it not themselves, Florence, priest of a church in the vicinity, grandfather of Florence, our sub-deacon, instigated by the spirit of evil, began to thwart the saint's designs. To this end he …More
"The means he employed to accomplish this was to introduce seven young girls, perfectly naked, into the garden of the saint's monastery. When these shameless persons arrived, linking hands, they disported long to enkindle in the hearts of the monks the flame of impure desires. The holy man, beholding them from his cell, fearing they might make some of his youngest and weakest disciples commit sin, and aware that Florence perpetrated this infamy in order to torment him, preferred to submit to envy and withdraw."
St. John Bosco ~~~ Another weapon the devil employs is immodesty, or more frankly, impurity. My dear children, be on your guard. The devil will tempt you with bad books...
[Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort – XVII-XVIII Century AD; born: Montfort-sur-Meu, France/died: Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, France; aged 43, Total consecration to Jesus through Mary] 4. The effects that this devotion produces in a faithful soul 53. Experience will teach you much more about this devotion than I can tell you, but, if you remain faithful to the little I have taught you, you will acquire a great richness of grace that will surprise you and fill you with delight. 54. Let us set to work, then, dear soul, through perseverance in the living of this devotion, in order that Mary's soul may glorify the Lord in us and her spirit be within us to rejoice in God her Saviour. Let us not think that there was more glory and happiness in dwelling in Abraham's bosom - which is another name for Paradise - than in dwelling in the bosom of Mary where God has set up his throne. (Abbot Guerric) 55. This devotion faithfully practised produces countless happy effects in the soul. The most …More
"53. Experience will teach you much more about this devotion than I can tell you, but, if you remain faithful to the little I have taught you, you will acquire a great richness of grace that will surprise you and fill you with delight. 54. Let us set to work, then, dear soul, through perseverance in the living of this devotion, in order that Mary's soul may glorify the Lord in us and her spirit be within us to rejoice in God her Saviour. Let us not think that there was more glory and happiness in dwelling in Abraham's bosom - which is another name for Paradise - than in dwelling in the bosom of Mary where God has set up his throne. (Abbot Guerric)"
[Saint Bridget of Sweden – XIV Century AD; born: Uppland, Sweden/doed: Rome, Papal States; Patron Saint of Europe, Widow, Mystic, Spiritual Writer] Revelation 7 ~ The seventh revelation in the Book of Questions, in which Christ speaks to his bride, blessed Bridget, and praises frequent confession, in order that people may not lose the grace of God that they have. The Son of God speaks: ”When there is fire in a house, a venthole is needed to let out the smoke and allow the inhabitant to enjoy the heat. Likewise, for anyone who desires to keep my spirit and my grace, habitual confession is useful in order to let out the smoke of sin. Although my divine spirit is in itself unchangeable, nevertheless it quickly withdraws from the heart that is not protected by the humility of confession.” Revelation 8 ~ The eighth revelation in the Book of Questions in which Christ speaks to his bride and says that the prayer of people who take their pleasure in carnal and earthly delights, neglecting …More
"I stood there in three ways for your sake. First as a man, whose eye a dagger would penetrate; second, as a man whose heart would be pierced by a sword; third, as a man whose every limb would shake with the pain of pressing affliction. My passion indeed was more bitter to me than a puncture in the eye; yet I suffered it out of love. My mother's sorrow moved my heart more than my own, yet I bore it. All my inner and outer parts, too, shook for a long time from pressing pain and suffering, yet I did not give up nor retreat. Thus I stood in your sight, but you forget and neglect and scorn it all. You will therefore be thrust away like an abortion and a menstrual cloth.”
I know that you post things that seems are meant just for me. Not seems but is meant for me actually. And I thank you very much for all of them Andrew. May GOD Bless you for your posts and all you do on gtv. Best Catholic poster ever!
St. Bernardine of Siena ~~~ The Blessed Virgin Mary has the power of delivering souls from Purgatory by Her prayers, and by applying Her merits for them...
[Saint Jerome – IV-V Century AD; born: Stridon, Roman Empire/died: Bethlehem, Palaestina Prima; aged 75-78, Translation of the Bible into Latin – Vulgate; Doctor of the Church] Chapter 26 Apollinaris, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia, flourished in the reign of Marcus Antoninus Verus, to whom he addressed a notable volume in behalf of the faith of the Christians. There are extant also five other books of his Against the Nations, two On truth and Against the Cataphrygians written at the time when Montanus was making a beginning with Prisca and Maximilla. Chapter 27 Dionysius, bishop of the church of Corinth, was of so great eloquence and industry that he taught not only the people of his own city and province but also those of other provinces and cities by his letters. Of these one is To the Lacedæmonians, another To the Athenians, a third To the Nicomedians, a fourth To the Cretans, a fifth To the church at Amastrina and to the other churches of Pontus, a sixth To the Gnosians and to …More
[Saint Victorinus – III-IV Century AD; born: Roman Greece/died: Pettau, Roman Greece; Spiritual Writer; Martyr under Diocletian] From the Fifth Chapter 1. And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. This book signifies the Old Testament, which has been given into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who received from the Father judgment. 2, 3. And I saw an angel full of strength proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no one was found worthy, neither in the earth nor under the earth, to open the book. Now to open the book is to overcome death for man. 4. There was none found worthy to do this. Neither among the angels of heaven, nor among men in earth, nor among the souls of the saints in rest, save Christ the Son of God alone, whom he says that he saw as a Lamb standing as it were slain, having seven horns. What had not been then announced, and what …More
"8, 9. Twenty-four elders and four living creatures, having harps and phials, and singing a new song. The proclamation of the Old Testament associated with the New, points out the Christian people singing a new song, that is, bearing their confession publicly. It is a new thing that the Son of God should become man. It is a new thing to ascend into the heavens with a body. It is a new thing to give remission of sins to men. It is a new thing for men to be sealed with the Holy Spirit."
[Saint Jerome – IV-V Century AD; born: Stridon, Roman Empire/died: Bethlehem, Palaestina Prima; Translation of the Bible into Latin – Vulgate; Doctor of the Church] 15. What darkness, what raging madness rushing to its own destruction! You say that the mother of the Lord was present at the cross, you say that she was entrusted to the disciple John on account of her widowhood and solitary condition: as if upon your own showing, she had not four sons, and numerous daughters, with whose solace she might comfort herself? You also apply to her the name of widow which is not found in Scripture. And although you quote all instances in the Gospels, the words of John alone displease you. You say in passing that she was present at the cross, that you may not appear to have omitted it on purpose, and yet not a word about the women who were with her. I could pardon you if you were ignorant, but I see you have a reason for your silence. Let me point out then what John says, John 19:25 But there were …More
Ezekiel 44 2 The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ”
"15. What darkness, what raging madness rushing to its own destruction! You say that the mother of the Lord was present at the cross, you say that she was entrusted to the disciple John on account of her widowhood and solitary condition: as if upon your own showing, she had not four sons, and numerous daughters, with whose solace she might comfort herself?"
[Saint John Chrysostom – IV-V Century AD; born: Antioch, Roman Empire/died: Comana, Eastern Roman Empire; aged 59-60, Archbishop; Church Father; Doctor of the Church; "golden-mouthed"] 8. Taking this then into your mind, cease charging the master; learning that it is not by way of deserting him does God let such an one suffer ill, but through desire to crown him, and make him more distinguished. And if you see a sinner punished, remember the paralytic who passed thirty eight years on his bed. For that that man was delivered over then to that disease through sin, hear Christ saying Behold you are made whole; sin no more lest a worse thing happen to you. For either when we are chastened, we pay the penalty of our sins, or else we receive the occasion of crowning if, when we live in rectitude, we suffer ill. So that whether we live in righteousness, or in sins, chastening is a useful thing for us, sometimes making us more distinguished, sometimes rendering us more self-controlled, and …More
" For if it is not possible for one not conversant with it to understand a man's art, much rather is it impossible for the human understanding to comprehend the infinity of the providence of God. For his judgments are unsearchable and his ways past finding out."
"Chapter XI ~ HOW GOOD MEN IN THEIR CONTEMPLATION HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD BEFORE THEM, AND HOW THEY ARE LIFTED UP INTO GOD THEY have the Love of God before them in their inward seeing, as a common good pouring forth through heaven and earth; and they feel the Holy Trinity inclined towards them, and within them, with fulness of grace. And therefore they are adorned without and within with all the virtues, with holy practices and with good works. And thus they are united with God through Divine grace and their own holy lives. And because they have abandoned themselves to God in doing, in leaving undone, and in suffering, they have steadfast peace and inward joy, consolation and savour, of which the world cannot partake; neither any dissembler, nor the man who seeks and means himself more than the glory of God."
[BLESSED JAN VAN RUYSBROEK – XIII-XIV Century AD; born: Ruisbroek, Holy Roman Empire/ died: Groenendael, Holy Roman Empire; aged 87-88, Mystic, Spiritual Writer, Doctor Divinus Ecstaticus] Chapter XI ~ HOW GOOD MEN IN THEIR CONTEMPLATION HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD BEFORE THEM, AND HOW THEY ARE LIFTED UP INTO GOD THEY have the Love of God before them in their inward seeing, as a common good pouring forth through heaven and earth; and they feel the Holy Trinity inclined towards them, and within them, with fulness of grace. And therefore they are adorned without and within with all the virtues, with holy practices and with good works. And thus they are united with God through Divine grace and their own holy lives. And because they have abandoned themselves to God in doing, in leaving undone, and in suffering, they have steadfast peace and inward joy, consolation and savour, of which the world cannot partake; neither any dissembler, nor the man who seeks and means himself more than the glory of …More
"That One Thing which is needful for all men is Divine love. The better part is an inward life, with loving adherence to God. This Mary Magdalen had chosen, and this is chosen by the secret friends of God. But Martha chose an outward, unenclosed, and active life; and that is the other part, in which one may serve God, but which is neither so perfect nor so good. And this part is chosen out of love by the faithful servants of God."
[BLESSED JAN VAN RUYSBROEK – XIII-XIV Century AD; born: Ruisbroek, Holy Roman Empire/ died: Groenendael, Holy Roman Empire; Mystic, Spiritual Writer, Doctor Divinus Ecstaticus] Chapter VII ~ OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS AND THE SECRET FRIENDS OF GOD WE must now observe the great difference which there is between the faithful servants and the inward friends of God. For through grace and the help of God, the faithful servants have chosen to keep the commandments of God, that is, to be obedient to God and Holy Church in all virtues and goodly behaviour: and this is called the outward or active life. But the inward friends of God choose to follow, besides the commandments, the quickening counsels of God, and this is a loving and inward cleaving to God for the sake of His eternal glory, with a willing abandonment of all that one may possess outside God with lust and love. All such friends God calls and invites inwards, and He teaches them the distinctions of inward exercises …More