RULES for a CHRISTIAN LIFE
for all who desire to secure to themselves a happy eternity.
1. Settle in thyself a firm resolution, on no account whatever, to consent to mortal sin. This resolution is the very foundation of a virtuous life: whosoever is not arrived thus far, has not yet begun to serve God. Without this resolution, it is in vain for any one to flatter himself with the hopes of living holily or dying happily.
2. In order to enable thyself to keep this resolution, be diligent in flying all dangerous occasions, such as bad company, lewd or profane books, immodest plays, &c. "For he that loves the danger, shall perish in it." Eccl. 3. v. 27.
3. Watch all the motions of thy heart, and resist the first impressions of evil; keep a guard on thy senses and thy imagination, that the enemy may not surprise thy soul through these avenues. Contemn not small faults, lest by degrees, you fall into greater.
4. Fly an idle life, as the source of all mischief; and take it for a certain truth, that an idle life will never bring a Christian to heaven.
5. Never omit, upon any account, thy morning and evening prayers. In the morning, remember always to present to God the first fruits of the day, by giving him thy first thoughts. Make him an ofiering of all the actions of the day, and renew this oblation at the beginning of every thing thou dost. "Whether you eat or drink," says St. Paul, (1 Cor. x. v. 3.) " or whatsoever else you do, do all for the glory of God."
6. At thy evening prayers, make a daily examination of thy conscience, calling thyself to an account how thou hast past the day; and whatever sins thou discoverest, labour to wash away by penitential tears, before lying down to sleep. Who knows but that night will be thy last? In going to bed, think on the grave; compose thyself to sleep in peace with thy God: and if thou awakest in the night, raise thy thoughts to him who is always watching over thee.
7. Besides morning and evening devotions, set aside some time in the day for prayer, more particularly mental, by an interior conversation of thy soul with God, her only true and sovereign good. In the midst of all thy employments, keep thyself as much as possible in the presence of God, and frequently aspire to him by short ejaculations. Read spiritual books often, as letters or messages sent to thee from heaven; and if thy circumstances permit, assist daily at the sacrifice of the Mass.
8. Frequent the Sacraments, at least once a month, and take especial care to prepare thyself to receive them worthily.
9. Have a great devotion to the Passion of Christ, and often meditate on his sufferings.
10. Be particularly devout to his blessed mother; take her for thy mother, and seek upon all occasions, her protection and prayers; but learn withal to imitate her virtues.
1 1 . Let not a day pass without offering to God some acts of contrition for thy past sins; and strive to maintain in thy soul a penitential spirit.
12. Study to find out thy predominant passion, and labour with all thy power to root it up.
13. Beware of self-love as thy greatest enemy; and often use violence to thyself by self-denials and mortification; remember the kingdom of heaven is not to be taken but by violence. St. Matt. xi. 12.
14. Give alms according to thy ability: For judgment without mercy to him that has not done mercy. James ii. 1 3. Set a great value upon spiritual almsdeeds, by striving all thou canst to reclaim unhappy sinners; and for that end daily bewail their misery in the sight of God.
15. Be exact in all the duties of thy calling, as being to give an account one day to that great Master, who has allotted to each one of us our respective station in his family.
16. Remember always thy last end, and thou shalt never sin. Eccl. vii. 40.
from Think Well On't by Bishop Richard Challoner
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
có Chúa luôn ở trước mặt
Ý tưởng "có Chúa luôn ở trước mặt" cũng là nguyên do hoán cải người đàn bà phóng đãng kia. Một hôm, có một cô gái thuộc loại gái giang hồ nghe đồn rằng thánh Ê-phrêm là một người thánh thiên nhân đức. Cô ta muốn tìm hiểu hư thực như thế nào nên bèn tìm đến để thử thách ngài. Cô gái phóng đãng kia bảo thánh Ê-phrêm rằng cô muôn phạm tội với Ngài. Thánh nhân đã khiến cho nàng phải kinh ngạc khi ngài lập tức đồng ý phạm tội với cô. Nhưng ngài đã ra điều kiện: "Nếu cô muốn phạm tội thì hãy ra giữa chợ mà gặp tôi. Ở đó, ta hãy phạm tội trước mặt mọi người - ngay ở giữa chợ!" Cô gái phóng đãng kia sợ hãi đáp: "Lam sao tôi lại có thể phạm tội trước mặt mọi người như thế được?"
Thánh Ê-phrêm liền tiếp lời: "Vậy thì, làm sao tôi có thể phạm tội trước mặt Thiên Chúa, là Đấng thông biết mọi sự và luôn nhìn thấy mọi việc tôi làm mọi nơi, mọi lúc!" Nghe những lời ấy, cô ta bật khóc nức nở. Cô liền quỳ sấp xuống đất mà xin thánh nhân tha thứ và van xin ngài chỉ dạy cho biết con đường cứu độ. Nếu ý thức được rằng Chúa luôn nhìn thấy viêc ta làm vì ta hằng luôn ở trước nhan thánh Ngài thì chẳng một ai dám phạm tội."
trích diễm sách Tập sống trước nhan thánh Chúa của Thánh An-phong-sô Ma-ria đệ Li-gô-ri
Thánh Ê-phrêm liền tiếp lời: "Vậy thì, làm sao tôi có thể phạm tội trước mặt Thiên Chúa, là Đấng thông biết mọi sự và luôn nhìn thấy mọi việc tôi làm mọi nơi, mọi lúc!" Nghe những lời ấy, cô ta bật khóc nức nở. Cô liền quỳ sấp xuống đất mà xin thánh nhân tha thứ và van xin ngài chỉ dạy cho biết con đường cứu độ. Nếu ý thức được rằng Chúa luôn nhìn thấy viêc ta làm vì ta hằng luôn ở trước nhan thánh Ngài thì chẳng một ai dám phạm tội."
trích diễm sách Tập sống trước nhan thánh Chúa của Thánh An-phong-sô Ma-ria đệ Li-gô-ri
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Of the discretion to be used in the love of our neighbor, that it may not prejudice this peace
CHAPTER VI
Of the discretion to be used in the love of our neighbor, that it may not prejudice this peace.
Experience will inform you that this is the ready way to eternity, for immediately charity – and that is the love of God and of your neighbor – will pour itself into your soul. Christ assures us, he came to send fire into the world, and desires no other but that it burn (Luke xii 49). But though the love of God hath no limit, yet that towards our neighbor hath a limit, and must not exceed its bounds, lest to edify others we destroy ourselves. Never do any action merely for example’s sake, for instead of uncertain gain to them, you will bring undoubted loss upon yourself. Do all things with simplicity and purity, with no other design than to render yourself acceptable to God. Humble yourself in all your works, and you shall come to understand how little you can profit anyone by them of yourself. Consider that zeal for souls cannot justify or recompense the loss of your own peace. Have a longing desire that all may comprehend this truth which you have attained, and inebriate themselves with this precious wine which God so freely promises to all gratis. This thirst for your neighbor’s good is commendable indeed, since you have received it from the hand of our Lord, not acquired it by your own solicitude or indiscreet zeal. God must plant it in your heart and reap it when he pleases. Do not you presume to till or sow, but keep the field of your soul free and well weeded, and let God sow it in his good season. He desires to find your soul stripped and disengaged, that he may engage, unite, and firmly bind it to himself. Let him make choice of you for his workman; sit down and with a holy idleness and disengaged mind, expect till he hire you. Abandon all solicitude, and steer your course alone and unencumbered, that God may clothe you with himself, who will give you what it cannot enter into your thought to desire, if forgetting yourself your soul live only to his love. Thus it will come to pass that with all diligence, or, to speak more properly, without any diligence at all on your part, which may in the least discompose your quiet, you will be able to calm and pacify all your transports and fervors with much moderation, God preserving in you all peace and tranquility. Thus, to be silent is to pierce heaven with your cries; thus, to be idle is the happiest and most gainful of businesses, uniting the soul with God, and disuniting it from all other objects. And this must pass without your thinking that you on your part do anything excepting through his grace, where God must do all; who desires nothing from you in this silent pasture but that you humble yourself before him and offer him a heart disengaged from all terrestrial propensities, with longing desire that the divine will may be perfectly accomplished in you.
Of the discretion to be used in the love of our neighbor, that it may not prejudice this peace.
Experience will inform you that this is the ready way to eternity, for immediately charity – and that is the love of God and of your neighbor – will pour itself into your soul. Christ assures us, he came to send fire into the world, and desires no other but that it burn (Luke xii 49). But though the love of God hath no limit, yet that towards our neighbor hath a limit, and must not exceed its bounds, lest to edify others we destroy ourselves. Never do any action merely for example’s sake, for instead of uncertain gain to them, you will bring undoubted loss upon yourself. Do all things with simplicity and purity, with no other design than to render yourself acceptable to God. Humble yourself in all your works, and you shall come to understand how little you can profit anyone by them of yourself. Consider that zeal for souls cannot justify or recompense the loss of your own peace. Have a longing desire that all may comprehend this truth which you have attained, and inebriate themselves with this precious wine which God so freely promises to all gratis. This thirst for your neighbor’s good is commendable indeed, since you have received it from the hand of our Lord, not acquired it by your own solicitude or indiscreet zeal. God must plant it in your heart and reap it when he pleases. Do not you presume to till or sow, but keep the field of your soul free and well weeded, and let God sow it in his good season. He desires to find your soul stripped and disengaged, that he may engage, unite, and firmly bind it to himself. Let him make choice of you for his workman; sit down and with a holy idleness and disengaged mind, expect till he hire you. Abandon all solicitude, and steer your course alone and unencumbered, that God may clothe you with himself, who will give you what it cannot enter into your thought to desire, if forgetting yourself your soul live only to his love. Thus it will come to pass that with all diligence, or, to speak more properly, without any diligence at all on your part, which may in the least discompose your quiet, you will be able to calm and pacify all your transports and fervors with much moderation, God preserving in you all peace and tranquility. Thus, to be silent is to pierce heaven with your cries; thus, to be idle is the happiest and most gainful of businesses, uniting the soul with God, and disuniting it from all other objects. And this must pass without your thinking that you on your part do anything excepting through his grace, where God must do all; who desires nothing from you in this silent pasture but that you humble yourself before him and offer him a heart disengaged from all terrestrial propensities, with longing desire that the divine will may be perfectly accomplished in you.
Monday, August 1, 2011
How the soul is to keep itself solitary, that God may work in it
CHAPTER V
How the soul is to keep itself solitary, that God may work in it.
You cannot make too much account of your soul, where God resides and delights himself. Set so high a value upon it as to disdain and scorn to permit anything else to enter in and defile it. Let your whole expectation and longing be fixed in the coming of your Lord, who desires to find in it this free and happy disposition, without any other thought, any other wish, any other ill or tendency. Seek not out of your own head, without the advice of your spiritual Father, crosses which you may pretend to suffer for God; but let God dispose of you to suffer for his sake what and how he pleases. Do not you do what you have a mind to, but let God do in you what he hath a mind to. Let you will on all sides be at free liberty, your affections perfectly disengaged; wish no one thing more than another; but if you needs must, let it be in such a manner that if not it, but the contrary were to happen, you would receive no trouble but equal satisfaction. True liberty is in this; to adhere to nothing, to have no dependence, no bias. God works not his wonders but in a thus solitary and disinterested soul. Happy solitude where the walls of Jerusalem are built up! Desert of pleasure, banishment above all fruition of friends and country, where God himself is so securely enjoyed. Take nothing with you for this journey; put off your shoes, for it is a holy land; salute nobody in the way; leave the dead to bury the dead. To the land of the living you are traveling, let nothing mortal bear you company.
How the soul is to keep itself solitary, that God may work in it.
You cannot make too much account of your soul, where God resides and delights himself. Set so high a value upon it as to disdain and scorn to permit anything else to enter in and defile it. Let your whole expectation and longing be fixed in the coming of your Lord, who desires to find in it this free and happy disposition, without any other thought, any other wish, any other ill or tendency. Seek not out of your own head, without the advice of your spiritual Father, crosses which you may pretend to suffer for God; but let God dispose of you to suffer for his sake what and how he pleases. Do not you do what you have a mind to, but let God do in you what he hath a mind to. Let you will on all sides be at free liberty, your affections perfectly disengaged; wish no one thing more than another; but if you needs must, let it be in such a manner that if not it, but the contrary were to happen, you would receive no trouble but equal satisfaction. True liberty is in this; to adhere to nothing, to have no dependence, no bias. God works not his wonders but in a thus solitary and disinterested soul. Happy solitude where the walls of Jerusalem are built up! Desert of pleasure, banishment above all fruition of friends and country, where God himself is so securely enjoyed. Take nothing with you for this journey; put off your shoes, for it is a holy land; salute nobody in the way; leave the dead to bury the dead. To the land of the living you are traveling, let nothing mortal bear you company.
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