"It is strange how many enemies we have to fight as soon as we make the resolution to become a saint. It would seem that everything is let loose against us: the devil with his snares; the world and its attractions; nature with its resistance to all good desires; the praise of the good; the mockery of the wicked; the suggestions of the tepid. If God visits us, vanity is to be feared. If God withdraws himself, we fall into dejection. Despair may succeed the greatest fervor.
Our friends tempt us because we are accustomed to try and please them; the indifferent because we fear to displease them. Indiscretion is to be feared in fervor, sensuality in moderation, and self-love everywhere. What is to be done? We have no refuge but in thee, O God. "As we know not what to do, we can only turn our eyes to thee" (2 Chron. 20:12).
Above all, as sanctity does not consist in being faithful for a day or a year but in persevering until death, we must use God as a shield which covers us completely because we are attacked from all sides. "His truth shall compass thee as a shield" (Ps. 91:5).
God must do everything. All the better; there will be no fear of failure. As for ourselves, we have only to acknowledge our powerlessness and to be fervent and constant in asking for help through the intercession of Mary, to whom God refuses nothing; but even this we cannot do without a great grace, or rather without many graces.
--St. Claude de Colombiere, The Spiritual Direction of St. Claude de Colombiere, Retreat Notes, (1674). Translated and arranged by Mother M. Philip, I.B.V.M. (1934).
Reprinted, Ignatius Press (1998), p.60
Meditation: "For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
Say these things. Exhort and correct with all authority. Let no one look down on you" (Titus, 2:11-15).
Prayer: "Beloved children, say:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, purify me. Holy Spirit live in me.
Holy Trinity, reach me.
Pray in this way and all evil will flee from you. Amen.
-Our Lady of San Nicolas, August 12, 1985; Messages of Our Lady of San Nicolas (Argentina)to Gladys Quiroga de Motta [1983-90]. #639, p.147
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