On being learned...

"An overweening desire for knowledge brings many distractions and much delusion.  Many like to be considered learned and to be praised for their wisdom; how much knowledge there is which adds nothing to the good of the soul!  To spend yourself on worldly pursuits which do nothing to further your eternal salvation is unwise.  

It is useless to spend much time in talking; only a holy life and a good conscience will ease your mind and satisfy your soul, enabling you to face God with confidence." 

(The Imitation of Christ, Book One, chapter two)

Who are you learning for, God or you?

"Knowledge is a natural desire in all people.  But knowledge for its own sake is useless unless you fear God.  An unlearned peasant, whose contentment is the service of God, is far better than the learned and the clever, whose pride in their knowledge leads them to neglect their souls while fixing their attention on the stars.

True self-knowledge makes you aware of your own worthlessness and you will take no pleasure in the praises of others.  If your knowledge encompasses the universe and the love of God is not in you, what good will it do you in God's sight?  He will judge you according to your actions."
(Chapter 2, Imitation of Christ)

For what should I hunger?

"Often recall the proverb: “The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing.”1 Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God." (The Imitation of Christ, Book One). 

Seek the Kingdom of Heaven

"This is the greatest wisdom—to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides."  

(Imitation of Christ, Book One). 

Knowledge and humility

Today I wanted to share with you not only a passage from the Imitation of Christ, but also one of my favorite readings from the Divine Office.  It is an Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday that is a beautiful reminder of God's love for His creatures--for us.

from the Imitation of Christ: 

"What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone" (The Imitation of Christ, Book One).

…and from the Divine Office

An ancient homily on Holy Saturday

Something strange is happening—there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.

He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him Adam, the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all.” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendants I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.

For your sake I, your God, became your son; I, the Lord, took the form of a slave; I, whose home is above the heavens, descended to the earth and beneath the earth. For your sake, for the sake of man, I became like a man without help, free among the dead. For the sake of you, who left a garden, I was betrayed to the Jews in a garden, and I was crucified in a garden.

See on my face the spittle I received in order to restore to you the life I once breathed into you. See there the marks of the blows I received in order to refashion your warped nature in my image. On my back see the marks of the scourging I endured to remove the burden of sin that weighs upon your back. See my hands, nailed firmly to a tree, for you who once wickedly stretched out your hand to a tree.

I slept on the cross and a sword pierced my side for you who slept in paradise and brought forth Eve from your side. My side has healed the pain in yours. My sleep will rouse you from your sleep in hell. The sword that pierced me has sheathed the sword that was turned against you.

Rise, let us leave this place. The enemy led you out of the earthly paradise. I will not restore you to that paradise, but I will enthrone you in heaven. I forbade you the tree that was only a symbol of life, but see, I who am life itself am now one with you. I appointed cherubim to guard you as slaves are guarded, but now I make them worship you as God. The throne formed by cherubim awaits you, its bearers swift and eager. The bridal chamber is adorned, the banquet is ready, the eternal dwelling places are prepared, the treasure houses of all good things lie open. The kingdom of heaven has been prepared for you from all eternity.  

(http://www.ebreviary.com/ebreviary/usa2/ebusatriduumprayer3.nsf/d76f03c63d3ce749852573f2000d363f/4762b71c32f112cc8525764600515a0f/$file/triduum_morning_office_2_d.pdf)

Listening to the Master Teacher

"The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ." (The Imitation of Christ, Book One)

We have entered the most holy days of the liturgical year, the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.  As I look back on the past weeks of Lent I see a lot of personal misses and also a number of "gems" which Our Lord has pointed out to me.  I have been reminded that holiness is found in the mundane: fidelity to our vocation, our commitments, our day. Some of the nuggets that have stuck with me are "do the next right thing" (Matthew Kelly, Dynamic Catholic) and "our God is a God of second chances" (Father Robert Barron, Lent Reflections).

The close of Lent should not be seen as an end to penance and sacrifice, but rather as an opportunity to look forward, to see what it was in these past days that needed to change, not for a while, but for good.  

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing excerpts from "The Imitation of Christ".  Written in the 15th Century, it contains timeless advice and admonitions for the spiritual life.  Read each day's selection slowly.  Let it percolate in your heart, challenging you to strive for the holiness God desires for you.  There are no "bench warmers" on the road to sanctity.

When our days on this earth are complete, may we be blessed with hearing: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master." (Mt 25:21).

I will be praying for you,

Melissa

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis
Book One

Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth

He who follows Me, walks not in darkness,” says the Lord. John 8:12. By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ.

WAY 2015 Reading Schedule (January - June)

Mary, Mirror of the Church by Raniero Cantalamessa

January 14-Chapter 4

February 4-Chapter 5

March 11-Chapter 6

April 15-Chapter 7

May 13-Chapter 8

June 10-Chapter 9 and Epilogue
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The Life of St. Catherine of Siena by Raymond of Capua (best translated by Conleth Kearns, O.P.)

January 21-PART TWO, CHAPTERS III, IV, V pp. 126 – 172

February 11-Capua: PART TWO, CHAPTERS VI, part of CHAPTER VII (through number 227 p. 215) pp. 173-215

March 18-Capua: PART TWO, END OF CHAPTER VII (start with # 228), CHAPTER VIII, IX pp. 215 – 257

April 22-Capua: PART TWO, CHAPTERS X, XI, XII pp. 258 – 304

May 20-Capua: PART THREE, CHAPTERS I, II, III, IV pp. 307 – 349

27-7:30pm Monthly holy hour, Confessions and Mass

June 17-Capua: PART THREE, CHAPTERS V, VI pp. 350 – 388 (finish the book)
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Details (two locations):

Springfield meetings are held at Angelus Academy, 7644 Dynatech Court, Springfield, VA in the Art Room (lower level). Meetings run from 7:30-9:00. Members are encouraged to arrive before 7:30pm.

Bristow meetings are held at Holy Trinity Church 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, VA in one of of the classrooms in the Adoration Chapel wing of the parish immediately following the Wednesday parish Holy Hour*. The Bristow group tries to be in their meeting room no later than 8:00pm and concludes by 9:15pm.  *The Holy Hour is held in the main Church sanctuary from 7-8pm.