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On spiritual reading.

On spiritual reading.

by Cor Jesu Press Admin in Excerpts

Excerpt from The Secret of Sanctity

Do you take as much pains to nourish your soul as your body? 

How do you profit by the word of God?  You speak to Him through prayer; but it is God Who speaks to you through good books and sermons.  The word of God is never without its effect; it either converts its hearers or renders them more culpable.  Are you not too curious?  Are you not of those who cannot read a good book unless its style is perfect; who cannot hear a preacher unless his style is polished? 

Seek the books and preachers who touch your hearts and not those who flatter your ear.  Never let a day pass without reading a good book.  Reading, says St. Bernard, seeks God; meditation finds Him; contemplation enjoys Him.  Reading helps meditation, and meditation leads to contemplation.  If you like the end, adopt the means; if you desire to taste heavenly things, frequently read and meditate upon them. 

Seek in this tree of life the fruit rather than the flower.  God, St. Paul tells us, has not willed to convert the world by eloquence, but by the fruit of His cross, which would have remained without effect if the apostles had employed the arts of oratory.  It is not fine language which touches hearts, but the grace and unction of the Holy Spirit.  The wisdom of God spoke to man in parables and popular language; it will never convert you by means of studied discourses, but by the strength of its spirit and the simplicity of its words.

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The three Hail Mary’s devotion | Two priests discuss.

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Excerpt from Chastity: The Angelic Virtue  “Father Casey, I’ve discovered the besetting sin of Catholics,” announced Father McMahon. “I had long suspected what it was — now I know.” “What is it — combativeness?” “Quite the contrary.  Spiritual discouragement, a species of despair.” Father Casey turned and scrutinized the younger priest who sat dejectedly huddled in the big armchair gloomily eyeing the dying embers.  “My dear Father McMahon,” he said, “methinks it is not so much the sheep that are discouraged, as the shepherd.  Come, get it out of your system.  What image has been shattered? 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And at the end of the next five years?” “What do you mean, Father Casey?” “I asked, what was his condition after practicing the devotion the next five years.” “Oh, he didn’t practice it another five years.  He thought it was doing him no good, and so he got discouraged and quit.  But even at that, I think he had given it a fair tryout.” “Do you call that a refutation of the statement of St. Alphonsus?  St. Alphonsus says that whoever practices this devotion faithfully will be cured; you say you know a case where a man practiced it until he got discouraged and quit, and he was not cured.  Do you call that a refutation?” “Well, how long must one keep up the devotion?” “Until God cures him.  He cannot set down time limits for God.  He must practice the devotion and persevere in practicing it.  If he does so, God will surely cure him.” “That just reminds me of the case of a young man who practiced the devotion until he died, without being cured of his evil habit.  He couldn’t do more than that.  You must admit that that is valid proof.” “The young man, you say, died a bad death?” “No, I did not say that.  On the contrary, he repented and died a most edifying death.  But up to the time of his last illness he had made no progress whatever, despite the fact that he practiced the devotion so faithfully.” “It seems to me that a good death is the greatest grace seated can receive,” said Father Casey.  “Why, certainly,” replied Father McMahon.  “Then how can you say that he found the devotion a failure? 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