Sunday

**This week from Catholic Bishop Challoner’s Meditations

….with the humble St. Francis, that what
each one is in the sight of God, that he is, and no more. Listen
again to the FOLLOWING OF CHRIST, (ibid. cap. 14.)
“What is all flesh in thy sight, Lord? How can he be puffed
up with the vain talk of men, whose heart is truly subject
unto God? He will never suffer himself to be moved with
the tongues of them that praise him, who hath established his
confidence in God. For behold, they that talk of him are all
nothing, for they shall pass away with the sound of their words:
but ‘the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever,’
”
(Ps. cxvi.)
Consider, thirdly, that this passion for glory is also unjust
and impious, because it pretends to appropriate to itself what
belongs to God alone. “What hast thou,” saith the apostle,
“that thou hast not received? arid if thou hast received, why
dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?” ( 1 Cor. iv. 7. )
It is also pernicious; it poisons the best of our actions, and
makes us liable to eternal punishment, for those very works,
for which we might otherwise expect an eternal crown. “God
knoweth our hearts,” saith our Lord, (Luke xvi.)

Prayer:   For as many have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ…Alleluia

Monday
CONSIDER, first, that in holy scripture covetousness is termed
“the serving of idols,” and the covetous man is declared
“an idolater,” (Eph. v. 5. Colos. iii. 5.) because he worships
and loves his money more than God; and he “serves the creature
rather than the Creator,” (Rom. i. 25.) The avaricious
man is ever ready to transgress the divine commandments,
rather than forego his worldly interest, to which he sacrifices his
soul and all things; and for the sake of which he hardens his
heart against the cries of the poor. Ah! “there is not a more
wicked thing than” for a man “to love money; such a one setteth
even his own soul to sale,” (Eccles. x. 10.)
Consider, secondly, that the vice of covetousness is the mother
of thefts and robberies, of fraud and deceit, of oppression
of the poor, usury and extortion, and of all kinds of injustice.
It is the cause of bribery and corruption, and of all its consequences.
It has often brought forth heresy and schism, (1
Tim. vi. 10.) and with them a deluge of other crimes: it has
pillaged and destroyed churches, hospitals, and asylums of religion,
and invaded and carried off the patrimony

Prayer:  Our Father, Who art in  Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Tuesday
Consider, secondly, that these riches, so earnestly coveted
by the slaves of the world, are not capable of making the possessors
happy, or of satisfying the heart, even for the short
term of their actual enjoyment. “A covetous man,” saith
Solomon, (Eccles. v. 9.) “shall not be satisfied with money:
and he that loveth riches shall reap no fruit from them.” This
wisest of men had learned by his own experience, that worldly
wealth, instead of affording true contentment and peace of
mind, is generally attended with nothing but “vanity and vexation
of spirit,” (Eccles. ii. 11.)
Consider, thirdly, that riches are truly deceitful, (Matthew
xiii. ) because they promise a happiness which they cannot
give; they are thorns, (ibid.) that wound and gore the soul;
and they expose the possessors to many dreadful dangers of
losing their souls for ever; because it is hard to possess them,
and not to abuse them, or a least set the heart too much upon
them: witness that terrible sentence, (Matt. xix. 24.) “It is
easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than
for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” For
“the men of riches have their consolation” here, (Luke vi. 24. )

Prayer:  O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

 

Wednesday
CONSIDER, first, that the “lust of the flesh” is another raging
plague, which has spread itself over the whole earth. It once
brought down from heaven the waters of the deluge, and another
time consumed with fire and brimstone, whole cities with
their inhabitants: and it daily provokes the vengeance of heaven,
executed by visible or invisible judgments upon thousands
cast down head-long, in the midst of their sinful course, into
the bottomless pit. The word of God by a strong figurative
expression says, (Gen. vi. ) the wickedness of men in this line
was so odious in his sight, that “he was grieved with it to the
heart,” and even “repented that he had made them.”
Consider, secondly, that what makes lust so hateful in the
sight of God, is its particular opposition to his purity and sanctity.
It defiles in a most shameful and beastly manner, that
temple which he has sanctified for himself; more especially
in regard of Christians, whose bodies and souls have both been
consecrated to him in their baptism, to be his temple. First,
“know you not that you are the temple of God,” saith St.
Paul, speaking to all Christians, (1 Cor. iii.) “and that the
Spirit of God dwell eth in you? But if any man violate the
temple of God, him will God destroy.”

Prayer:   Create in me a clean heart of God and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not from thy presence nor take thy Holy Spirit from me.    Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and by thy governing spirit establish me.

Thursday
Consider,  [against impurity] that the flight of the occasions will not
alone suffice to gain the victory over this vice, without frequent
conflicts: for whither shall we flee where the flesh and the
devil will not follow? We must also be diligent in the use of
fervent prayer; frequent the sacraments; daily read and meditate
on divine truths; often have recourse to the precious blood
of Christ by a tender devotion to his sacred passion and death;
and earnestly implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin,
and of all the holy angels and saints: and especially at the beginning
of temptations, we must make a vigorous resistance,
and call upon God to assist us with his grace to overcome
them.
Consider, thirdly, that we must have a lively faith and confidence
in Jesus Christ, with an humble diffidence of our own
strength; for we are weakness and frailty itself, unless supported
by Him. Above all things, the fear and love of God must
be our constant shield against every assault: the fear of his
judgments, and the dreadful punishments prepared for lust;
the love of the divine goodness and perfections, to move us to
an abhorrence of the outrage directed against Him.

Prayer:  Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
*Salve Regina

Friday
… [on chastity including faithfulness in the married state] the apostle says of this virtue, (1
Thess. iv. 3, 7.) “This is the will of God, your sanctification;
that you should abstain from fornication,” and all uncleanness;
“for God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to
holiness.” This virtue of holiness or chastity, by the law of
God, and the sanctity of the Christian calling, is for all married
as well as unmarried. The married must be chaste, by
refraining from every thought, word, or action, not referred to
the holy ends for which matrimony was instituted. The unmarried
must renounce absolutely all carnal pleasures, and all
the irregular motions oat impressions of lust, whether in body
or mind.
Consider, thirdly, that besides the necessity of fervent prayer,
(for “no one can be continent except God give it,” (Wisdom
viii. 21. ) mortification and humility are also necessary to
preserve this virtue. By mortification the flesh is brought under
subjection to the spirit; and by humility the spirit is subjected
to God.. But when the flesh is unmodified, it grows
headstrong and unruly;, and when the spirit is proud, it is
justly abandoned by God to the most shameful passions; against
which humility alone must secure us.

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death.

 

Saturday
CONSIDER, first, that anger, in the sense in which it is numbered
among the capital sins, is “an inordinate love or desire
of revenge-” It is, contrary to justice, whenever the person
with whom we are angry, has not deserved the punishment
which we desire to inflict; or though he has deserved it, if we
observe not the order of justice, but act both as executioners
and judges in our own cause; which is never lawful. It is
contrary to fraternal charity when, let the cause be ever so
just, we prosecute or punish the offender out of hatred or illwill,
rather than the love of justice. In these cases our angey
is contrary to justice or charity, andhiglily criminal.
Consider, secondly, that anger and passion directly destroy
all meekness and, consequently, humility, its inseparable companion;
for anger generally springs from pride and self-love:
it is a stranger to mercy, according to that of Solomon [Prov,
xxvii. 4.] “Anger hath no mercy:” it breaks peace both with
God and our neighbor, and is the mortal enemy of patience
and long-suffering; for it will suffer nothing; much less will
it admit of the “renouncing of our own will,” or submit to
“take up the cross” virtues recommended by Jesus as the
tests of his disciples.
Prayer:  Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.