What Should We Fear: Death Or Life Without Christ?
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As we begin this Lenten season let's do so with careful consideration of these excellent thoughts and daily use of the Litany of Trust. This will greatly help in your spiritual direction during this very special season.
Words To Contemplate Daily During Lent
“Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.”
St. Francis de Sales
“The Lord measures out perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.”
– St. John of the Cross
“You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you’ve already begun.”
-Saint Josemaría Escrivá
“Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves… What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation.”
-Catherine Doherty
“Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”
-Ven. Fulton Sheen
"Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt."
-Pope Francis
“There are ways of being crucified that do not involve rough wood or heavy nails, but a love beyond our capacity to love, which means a love that has been given to us by God…”
-Catherine Doherty
"And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me"
- Luke 9:23.
“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”
-St. Rose of Lima
"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus’ thirst…He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you.”
– Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
"Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded in service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for divine love?"
-Ven. Fulton Sheen
“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”
-St. Gregory Nazianzen
"Nothing, how little so ever it be, if it is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God."
-Thomas a Kempis
“The ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us to make a complete gift of self to God."
–Pope Benedict XVI
"…Although we may be able to do but little, the enemy nevertheless stands more in awe of those whom he knows can fast."
–St. Francis de Sales
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
-Lamentations 3:22-23
"(Lent) is a period of spiritual 'combat' which we must experience alongside Jesus, not with pride and presumption, but using the arms of faith: prayer, listening to the word of God and penance. In this way we will be able to celebrate Easter in truth, ready to renew the promises of our Baptism."
-Pope Benedict XVI
“Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects one’s flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, kindles the true light of chastity.”
-St. Thomas Aquinas
"Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring."
– St. Catherine of Siena
“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.”
-St. Francis de Sales
“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”
-Pope Francis
The Litany of Trust
Fear and doubt consume our human psyche and can affect our relationship with God, the Church, and others. Sister Faustina Maria Pia of the Sisters of Life penned the Litany of Trust. Modeled on the Litany of Humility, the beginning invocations ask Jesus to deliver us. The second movement of the litany allows us to pray, Jesus I trust in you. Following our 40 days of Lent and the celebration of Easter comes the feast of Divine Mercy, and a basic component of the Divine Mercy message was trust. This Lent, deepen your trust in God’s love for you, his guidance, and mercy.
The Litany of Trust
From the belief that I have to earn Your love, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute, Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of Your words and promises, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You, Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will, Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future, Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past, Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment, Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands, Deliver me, Jesus.
From discouragement, Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you are with me in my suffering, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church, Jesus, I trust in you.
That Your plan is better than anything else, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my life is a gift, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You will teach me to trust You, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You are my Lord and my God, Jesus, I trust in you.
That I am Your beloved one, Jesus, I trust in you.
[Provided by the Sisters of Life.]
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