Tag Archives: humility

Confronting Pride

08 Sunday Mar 2020

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Young Nun in her Cell_Cesare Laurenti_19 cent

Young Nun in her Cell, Cesare Laurenti, 19th Century

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

This week, we will take a look at the deadly sin or the vice of pride and its antidote, poverty of spirit.

Pride is the greatest sin. It was the first sin in all of creation, causing Satan to rebel against God. Satan fell because he could not accept God’s plan to divinize human beings. Satan could not attack God, so he retaliated against that which God loves most, us.

Pride is the also the first sin of Adam and Eve. Desiring to be like God, they fell for Satan’s deception that God did not have their best interests at heart. This is Satan’s game plan. Time and time again, he tries to convince us that God cannot be trusted with our happiness; and we must follow our own path to achieve happiness.

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The Epiphany of the Lord

05 Sunday Jan 2020

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Adoration-of-the-Magi_01

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” Isaiah 2:2-3

Today the Church celebrates the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek epiphainen, which means “to shine upon,” “to manifest,” or “to make known.” The feast of the Epiphany celebrates how God made Himself known to the world through the mission and divinity of Christ at the Visitation of the Magi (Mt 2:1-12). There are two other epiphanies in Scripture: The Baptism of Jesus (Mk 1:9-11) and the Wedding Feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-11).

And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11

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St. Thérèse: Do All for the Love of God

01 Monday Oct 2018

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St Therese Quote 2Today the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower.” St. Thérèse (1873-1897) was a French Carmelite nun who died in obscurity at the age of 24. Her autobiography Story of a Soul detailed her “Little Way;” doing everything, even the most common and menial tasks, for the love and glory of God. Her thoughts resonated with both religious and laity alike, quickly expanding her renown. She was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. She is one of only 36 Doctors of the Church.

St. Thérèse determined at a young age that she desired to be a great saint but felt she was not capable of the mighty deeds of the great missionaries and martyrs for the faith. In developing her “Little Way,” St. Thérèse said that even the slightest acts of penance or charity for the good of souls, if done well “with love for God and neighbor,” yields countless graces and spiritual merits.

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