FROM The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. John Croiset:

“OUR other enemies we weaken and overcome by the practice of virtue; whereas, it is in the very practice of virtue itself, that this enemy finds its strength. Our very victories are weapons which the devil makes use of, to vanquish us, by taking occasion from them to inspire us with pride. We may say, that of all vices, there is none that has kept so many souls back in the path of piety, or that has plunged so many from the highest perfection into tepidity, and even into sin. From this spirit of vanity proceed the inordinate desire that we have to be seen, and the excessive eagerness we feel to succeed in all that we undertake.

“In vain do we torment ourselves, to assure ourselves that in all this we are seeking nothing but the glory of God. We have but to listen to our conscience, to be convinced that we seek nothing but our own glory. That excessive uneasiness which the fear of not succeeding causes in us; that sadness and discouragement we experience after a failure; that joy and satisfaction we feel at the sight of the honours and praises we receive, are clear proofs of the spirit of vanity that urges us to act.

“This same spirit also mixes itself up with the practice of the highest virtues: we wish to he highly mortified, to he obliging, courteous, civil, charitable, and we may add, to give great edification to our neighbour, by appearing so. From the same source spring almost all our defects. We fill our minds insensibly with the idea of a pretended merit, which we do not possess, and which this idea alone would make us lose, did we really possess it. We love to recount our adventures. We have always some circumstance of our life ready, as an example of the subject on which we are speaking. One would say, that it is no longer any failing to praise ourselves continually, when we already bear a good reputation. We wish to possess the esteem and the hearts of all. Hence it is that we prefer to omit our obligations, rather than disoblige another; and what is still more extraordinary, we try to cover this ambition and vanity by the specious pretext of civility, charity, and condescension. We falsely persuade ourselves that we must act thus, in order to make virtue less difficult to others. We wish to please both God and men. By this means, we very often fail to please men, and we always displease God. (more…)

FROM The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. John Croiset:

MANY think they are truly humble, as soon as they have a low opinion of themselves. But they deceive themselves, if they are not at the same time well pleased, that others should entertain the same opinion of them. It is not enough that we acknowledge ourselves to possess no virtue or merit. We must believe it. We must be pleased that others believe it. The first step to be taken in gaining this virtue, is to beg it earnestly of God. The next is firmly to convince ourselves, by means of serious and frequent reflection on ourselves, of our poverty and our own imperfections. The remembrance of what we have been, and the thought of what we may be, serve greatly to humble us. The truly virtuous think little of others, and occupy themselves solely with their own imperfections. The truly humble are scandalized at nothing, because they know their own weakness so well. They see themselves so near the precipice, and they are so much afraid of falling, that they are not surprised if others fall. The less we speak of ourselves, the more closely we conform ourselves to true humility. Those affected discourses, by which we wish to make it appear that we have little esteem for ourselves, have no effect usually but to gain us praise. The most certain mark of sincere humility is to have a special love for those who despise us: never to avoid any humiliations that present themselves to us; not to take pleasure in vain thoughts and vain projects for the future, which only serve to nourish a secret pride within us; never to speak to our own advantage; never to complain and not to allow others to complain of anything Almighty God allows to happen to us; to excuse the failings of our neighbour; never to be troubled at our own relapses; to defer to others in all things; never to undertake anything but with diffidence in ourselves, and to have little esteem for what we do. Finally, to pray much, and to speak little. (more…)

"THE SIGHT of Jesus Christ makes me love the Cross so much that I do not think I could be happy without it. I look with respect on those whom God visits with humiliations and adversity, of whatever nature they may be; these are, doubtless, His favorites. In order to humiliate myself, I had only to compare my lot with theirs when I am enjoying prosperity. "The following words never come to mind, but light, peace, liberty, consolation, and love seem to enter along with them; they are: simplicity, confidence, humility, entire abandonment, nothing kept back, the will of God, my rules." --Blessed Claude de la Colombière, as quoted in The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. John Croiset  

IMPORTANT advice for those considering marriage, or already married, from Cana Is Forever (The Nugent Press, 1949) by Fr. Charles Hugo Doyle:

There is something formally prohibitive about a sign on a door reading “No Admittance Except on Business,” and it usually gets results. There would be fewer disappointing marriages if none entered the sacred relationship but those bent on serious business. Believe me, marriage is serious business. It is no lark, no adventure in the vacuous emotion of youth; it is a decision that will affect for life, and perhaps for eternity, not only oneself but one’s partner and any children God may send.

Marriage is a career, one so vital and so splendid that it ranks next to the priesthood and religious life in the trinity of top-flight careers in the world. All other careers are incidental to them. The fact that marriage was the first career ever to be embraced by man is most significant. And our common Father, Adam, when his pure gaze fell upon the first incarnation of unalloyed womanhood, Eve, proclaimed the inviolable law that was to bind all his descendants until the end of time: “Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24.)

The etymological meaning of the word “career” is interesting. It comes from the Latin word carrus–“wagon”–and means literally something that carries one along a road. In this sense, marriage is truly a career–one instituted by God Himself to carry a man and his wife and their children along life’s highway to heaven.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “career”: “As a course of professional life or employment which affords opportunity for progress or advancement in the world.” According to this definition marriage certainly qualifies as a career. History bears this out. There was hardly ever a great deed done by man that did not somewhere bear the fingerprint, no matter how faint, of a fond mother or a loving wife. How often have we not heard successful men humbly proclaim that the Herculean feats they have accomplished they owe to a devoted, saintly wife.

Indeed, not only is marriage a career that affords opportunity for spiritual and temporal progress and advancement in this life, but it reaches far into the next. “Marriage,” said Taylor, “is the mother of the world, and preserves kingdoms, and fills cities and churches, and heaven itself. The state of marriage fills up the number of the elect and hath in it the labor of love and the delicacies of friendship, the blessing of society and the union of hands and hearts. It is indeed the very nursery of heaven.” (more…)

“WHEN water comes down from the heavens as rain, it is always the same in itself, yet, it produces different effects – one in a flower, another in a tree, and yet a third and fourth in an animal or person. So the grace of the Holy Spirit,  like water, adapts itself to the needs of every creature that receives it. In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple, and indivisible, gives grace to each man [or woman] as  He, [the Holy Spirit] wills.” ---  St Cyril of Jerusalem  

"BY the gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to under take without hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved." Prayer Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen. [Source]  

PATRICK O. writes: The article entitled "No Place Like Home" from a couple of days ago brought back a memory. Sometime in the late 1960s I was riding south on the elevated train in Chicago through an area of two- and three-flat apartments. From the train I could see down into the backyards of these old apartment buildings. Trashed yard after trashed yard, an old car here, junk there, bare dirt. But then between the fences of two ugly dumps of a yard there was a yard of grass and beauty. I can still see it. Somebody with real class lives there, in the midst of neighbors who didn't care and were, as the article mentions, without hope.  

RUSS WINTER of Winter Watch analyzes the reported mass shooting in Texas last week in a podcast with Andrew Carrington Hitchcock. This is an excellent overview. Winter believes the primary agenda here is to nationalize the police. In related news, here is another excellent discussion, this time of the recent alleged shooting in Buffalo. The discussion features forensic analysis from a private investigator.  

THIS documentary starts at minute 2:00. (more…)

REMEMBER today those who fought and died in American wars. Some names and faces can be found here.  

"SHE is the only refuge of those who have offended God, the asylum of all who are oppressed by temptation, calamity, or persecution. This Mother is all mercy, benignity, and sweetness, not only to the just, but also to despairing sinners; so that no sooner does she perceive them coming to her, and seeking her health from their hearts, than she aids them, welcomes them, and obtains their pardon from her Son. She knows not how to despise any one, however unworthy he may be of mercy, and therefore denies her protection to none; she consoles all, and is no sooner called upon than she helps whoever it may be that invokes her. She by her sweetness often awakens and draws sinners to her devotion who are the most at enmity with God and the most deeply plunged in the lethargy of sin; and then, by the same means, she excites them effectually, and prepares them for grace, and thus renders them fit for the kingdom of heaven.  God has created this his beloved daughter of so compassionate and sweet a disposition, that no one can fear to have recourse to her.” --- Blosius, (Par. An. fid. p. 1, c. 18)  

ALAN writes:

At 8:30 on weekday mornings in 1956, women in St. Louis could listen to “Music to Sew By” on radio station KCFM. That same year, newspaper columnist Ruth Millett wrote:

      By the time she is 16, there are certain homemaking skills every girl ought to know.

     …..She ought to know how to sew at least well enough to keep her clothes mended and hems at the right length.  If she is encouraged to make some of her own clothes, so much the better…. [“Some Skills Every Girl Should Know,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Aug. 19, 1956, p. 12-l]

 Hems? As in skirts and dresses?

Imagine how quaint those things must sound to Cool People, who are of course immeasurably smarter than people were in 1956.

Can’t you just hear the chorus of Cool People and Feminists saying “How primitive!  How oppressive!”

The Amish might understand the wisdom in such advice, but they are not Cool People. Excluding the Amish, how many American women under age 40 today who are not in the fashion business know how to sew? How many make or mend their own clothes?

Thousands of women in St. Louis in the 1950s knew how to sew — and did. My mother was one of them, as were other women in our extended family.  I couldn’t count the times during my boyhood when she was seated at her sewing machine and working on this or that garment for family or friends – a monogrammed blouse for herself, a dress for a friend, alterations in my boyhood clothes as I grew, and doll clothes for her niece, among many other projects. My mother used an industrial model sewing machine. But I doubt she ever listened to “Music to Sew By” because the noise of the sewing machine might have drowned out any such music.  She concentrated fully on whatever project was at hand. She did not want or like distractions while she was working. (more…)

"EXCESSIVE sadness seldom springs from any other source than pride." --- St. Philip Neri  

TODAY is the Feast of the Ascension of Christ, which commemorates the stunning and miraculous event witnessed by the Apostles, Mary and more than 100 others outside Jerusalem. Jesus, after instructing his apostles to go into all nations throughout the world, ascended into the heavens, 40 days after his Resurrection.

During forty days after His Resurrection our Lord appeared many times and in diverse places and circumstances to His disciples and others. He walked and talked with them. He permitted them to see and put their hands into His wounds, and He ate with them; thus proving by the most incontestable arguments that He was really risen from the dead, and was again living in His own body. It was also during those forty days that our Saviour gave His Apostles final instructions concerning His Church. (Source)

Jesus told the Apostles that they too would be capable of performing miracles after His departure and he was proven correct. The miracle of his Ascension was additional testimony to His divinity. Only God could suspend the laws of nature in this way.

From a beautiful sermon, “The Ascension of Our Lord,” by the Rev. William Graham:

In the beautiful panorama of hill country that unrolls to the eye of a pilgrim looking eastward from Jerusalem there is no point of view so picturesque or at the same time so rich in sacred memories, as Mount Olivet. Rough and narrow is the stony path winding to its summit, but its many associations more than repay the cost of ascent. On its lower slopes lies the Garden of Olives, lovingly tended by the Franciscan Fathers, who point out the spots in and around where Christ’s agony and prayer began and ended. The brook Cedron that He crossed with His disciples on the sad night of His betrayal He must also have passed in His risen body on His way to the hill, whence while they looked on He was raised up. Alas! a Mohammedan mosque now crowns the spot, and the followers of the prophet point out by favor a stone bearing the imprint of a foot, which, piety suggests, was left by the ascending Christ. Even they, however, reverence the spot consecrated by the last steps on earth of the great prophet Issa.

Since the day when St. Helena built a splendid church on the Holy Hill, whence the ” new ark of alliance” was carried to the ” royal city that is above,” the Church has, every year, on the feast we keep today, solemnly expressed her belief in this final manifestation of Him who ” showed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God” (Acts i. 3). “Forty hours,” says St. Thomas, “He lay a corpse in the tomb, and forty days he walked and talked among His friends.”

We all are “glad and rejoice “today in the glory of our crucified and risen Saviour, and our thoughts mount to the rising, cloud-encircling form of the conquering and triumphant Christ as, clothed in His human nature, He moves towards ” light inaccessible.” In the joy we feel in His victory over sin and death, we realize the force of His parting words: “If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father” (John xiv. 28). Heaven, not earth, was His true goal and resting-place, once He had risen from the grave. It was only out of condescension to the needs of the infant Church that He tarried forty days on earth. (more…)

“CONSIDER FIRST, that our whole mind ought also to be consecrated to divine love, according to the import of that greatest and first commandment of our heavenly Lover. Now, the mind is the seat of thought, and consequently of consideration, meditation, and recollection in God. Wherefore, to love God with our whole mind is to have our thoughts ever turned towards Him; to consider Him; to meditate daily upon Him and His truth, and upon all that relates to Him, or helps to bring the soul to Him; to walk always in His presence; and to keep ourselves recollected in the remembrance of Him. This love of the whole mind was required of all the servants of God even in the old law, and much more in the new, which is the law of love. ˜Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,’ &c., said He, Deut. vi. ‘and these words which I command thee this day shall be in thy heart and thou shalt tell them to thy children, and thou shalt meditate upon them sitting in thy house and walking on thy journey, sleeping, rising; and thou shalt bind them as a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be and shall move between thy eyes, and thou shalt write them on the doors of thy house.’ See, my soul, how strongly thy God inculcates the perpetual remembrance of Him and of His divine law; but more especially of the great commandment of love, which is the fulfilling of the whole law. See how He expects that thy whole mind should be ever full of Him. (more…)