tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post414196261976904981..comments2024-02-09T02:48:13.776-06:00Comments on Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Heb 12:4-7, 11-15 Love and DisciplineFr. Alfonsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557206560119402976noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-35793634696390235872015-02-08T13:01:30.044-06:002015-02-08T13:01:30.044-06:00I agree, faith is a gift from God, and those who h...I agree, faith is a gift from God, and those who have accepted this gift should share its fruits with others. I think it's important to note that there's a dialogue here: God gives and we accept. God's giving implies that man cannot know and trust God on his own, nor can he save himself; God must grant this knowledge, trust, and salvation to him. Man's accepting implies that man seeks to know and trust God's salvation all the more; he can do this through prayer, fasting and alms-giving. Simply put: God calls, man answers that call. Asserting that faith is a gift does not let believers off the hook: "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:14-16).<br /><br />I appreciate the abundant quotes from the saints, which show the importance of Grace and the Holy Spirit. I would never doubt that these act as the author of man's good works and eventually allow the means of his salvation. However, while I think God has sent His Holy Spirit into the world, given the gift of faith to many, and provides every opportunity for sanctity, the majority of people inside and outside the Church have not responded to this gift. They do not go to Mass, or pray, or help others, or incorporate any kind of discipline in their lives. God has already done His part; man must still do his.<br /><br />And me? I continue to try my best to respond. My reflections are based on experience, good ones and bad ones. Adopting various devotions, prayers, practices, and participating in the sacraments have all helped me, and those around me, immensely. Neglecting these gifts of the Church has set me back and those around me. I find that spiritual discipline can be wonderful thing, and more Catholics should embrace that. We used to in the past, but we seem scared of it today. <br /><br />I don't think I'm being hypocritical in saying that, only critical. And always remember, I criticize out of love, because I care. Therefore, I will try harder to live the devout life, and hope that you join me in this wonderful work. Go in peace. Benedict Augustinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07274188116075677081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-4761712960856267432015-02-08T12:37:45.987-06:002015-02-08T12:37:45.987-06:00Thanks. It's a been a blessing to write them a...Thanks. It's a been a blessing to write them and have readers. Benedict Augustinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07274188116075677081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-52678383065690425842015-02-05T22:18:37.685-06:002015-02-05T22:18:37.685-06:00Dear Benedict,
Most of your meditations complain a...Dear Benedict,<br />Most of your meditations complain about the leaders of the Church and the lack of emphasis in keeping the letter of the law of repentance, fasting, penance, mortifications, confession, etc. which I agree bring me to a greater union with God. But the one thing that you have never talked about is that faith is a gift of God: We cannot earn it by doing these things. You said that “People of good will want to become better, and they convert for this reason.” <br /><br />My 2 questions for you Benedict are: 1. “Where did these people of good will get the desire, the impetus to become better? 2. Do you really think this is the reason for their conversion as you stated?”<br /><br />In his book, ‘Prayer: The Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection’, St Alphonsus Ligouri says, <br />“Without the assistance of God’s grace we can do no good thing: Without me, you can do nothing (Jn 15,5). St Augustine remarks on this passage, that our Lord did not say, ‘Without me, you can complete nothing’, but ‘without me, you can DO nothing’; giving us to understand that without grace we cannot even BEGIN to do a good thing.” Nay more, St Paul writes, that of ourselves we CANNOT EVEN HAVE THE WISH TO DO GOOD. Not that we are sufficient to think anything ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3.5 ). If we cannot EVEN THINK a good thing, MUCH LESS CAN WE WISH IT. The same thing is taught in many other passages of Scripture: God works all in all (1Cor 12,6). I WILL CAUSE YOU to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them (Ezek 36,27). So that, as St Leo I says, “Man does no good thing, except that which God, by his grace, ENABLES HIM TO DO,’ and hence the Council of Trent says: ‘If anyone shall assert that without the previous inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and his assistance, man can believe, hope, love OR REPENT, as he ought, in order to obtain the grace of justification, let him be anathema.’”<br /><br />“…And although the first graces that come to us WITHOUT ANY COOPERATION ON OUR PART, such as the call to faith or TO PENANCE, are, as St Augustine says, granted by God even to those who do not pray; yet the saint considers it certain that the other graces, and specially the grace of perseverance, are not granted except in answer to prayer: ‘God gives us some things, AS THE BEGINNING OF FAITH, EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT PRAY. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray.’ (Capital Letters my emphasis)<br /> <br />You and I and all Catholics who have been graced with an incredible desire for God and His Church are being asked by God “Do you love me more than these?” If the answer is YES, with no one looking at me and I not looking at anyone else, then I will love God (obeying His commandments) and love my neighbor ONLY BECAUSE GOD ASKED THIS OF ME! As he says, “Feed my sheep.” Aren’t we the ones with the faith? Aren’t we the ones who have the food that they are searching for? Shouldn’t WE be the ones praying, doing penance, fasting and making sacrifices so as to have a penitential aspect, atoning for ourselves and for others? Isn’t that what God wants from you and I as His followers?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-19236697707854564962015-02-04T23:18:26.485-06:002015-02-04T23:18:26.485-06:00I appreciate the daily meditation ,and wish the sa...I appreciate the daily meditation ,and wish the same were published in a booklet possible through out the year.May all who are concerned in the preparation of this good work be blessedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com