Dealing with Bad Thoughts When bad thoughts come, you are not consenting to them, but still drive them away as best you can. Yet it would be a mistake to tell them in confession, since they are not sins, and do good to you rather than harm.
Tag Archives | catholic retreats
January 31 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Freedom in Prayer When you hear meditations read to you (or read them yourself) don’t tie yourself down to the particular points of the meditation. Follow your own prayer style as God guides you, completely plunged into Him. Always listen with devotion, but let your spirit remain in deep recollection, resting entirely on the supreme […]
January 30 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Living in the Present Don’t let yourself keep thinking about tomorrow, but live for the present moment, doing at that moment what is pleasing to God. When deep consolations of spirit come, it is a sign that God wishes to strengthen you so that you will be ready to suffer for His love.
January 29 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Resting in God Don’t let yourself become attached to spiritual consolations. When you find yourself in deep recollection which is born of the presence of God, stay that way without trying to make any other kind of prayer. Abandon yourself to God, rest in God, and leave the care of everything to Him.
January 28 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Accepting Love from Others Draw love of God from every person you deal with. However, we must remain completely detached, even dead to our own self-seeking in them. Live completely reposed in God in spirit and truth (Jn 4:23). Let your heart be always humble, gentle, and completely on fire with love.
January 27 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Accepting Humiliations The aversions which you experience, the ridicule, the scorn, the jokes, etc., should be received with great gratitude towards God. These serve as the pyre of love on which the victim of love is burned. Gently drive away all aversions and show yourself cordial to everyone. I leave you free to do as […]
January 26 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Detachment from Self Happy is that soul who is detached from its own pleasures, its own feelings, its own understandings! This is a sublime lesson. God will teach it to you if you place all your happiness in the Cross of Jesus Christ, in dying to all that is not God, on the Cross of […]
January 25 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Finding the Joy on the Cross The great apostle St. Paul could say, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord” (Gal 6:14). And also “I bear the marks of Jesus on my body” (v. 17). Neither should we glory in anything else than to be crucified with Jesus and to bear […]
January 24 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Dryness in Prayer When you do not have interior peace or recollection, and when you are not able to meditate, let it be that way. However, you must remain with loving attention to God in the upper part of your spirit. In situations like this, stand before God like a statue in a niche, detached […]
January 23 ~ Daily wisdom from the writings of St. Paul of the Cross
Trials Prepare for Blessedness I hear that you are experiencing the merciful trials of God. We have to bow our heads and kiss that loving hand which gently lightens the blow. In this union with the Divine Will, we dispose ourselves to receive unspeakable treasures and blessings both now and in eternity
