Meditation - An Essential Part of Our Day

(My Way of Life)

By meditation man perceives that he can find his true place in the universe and his real happiness only through the surrender of himself to God.  In meditation man perceives the goodness and kindness of God to himself, and this begets love, which is the cause of devotion. Through meditation man also perceives his shortcomings and unworthiness, which leads him to lean on the strength of God for his salvation, and so to submit himself to God.  The knowledge of his own defects may make a man sad, but the knowledge of God's goodness gives him joy.  

Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M. and Martin J. Healy, S.T.D.

Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. and The Eucharist

Today we remember Blessed Henry Suso, O.P. (1290-1365) a German Dominican priest, mystic and spiritual writer. 

Some suggest that it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when discussing  this gifted Friar. He had as many critics as he did followers. There is a brief but interesting account of his life in Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, O.P.'s classic St. Dominic's Family - Lives of over 300 Famous Dominicans. You can also get a glimpse into his life and writings at New Advent.

His best known work, A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom, is one well worth reading and pondering. Here is a Eucharistic prayer from that book for your use and reflection:

 A Prayer To Be Said When  Thou Goest To Receive Our Lord 
 

(Image Source:Willing Shepherds.org) O Thou living fruit, Thou sweet blossom, Thou delicious paradise apple of the blooming fatherly heart, Thou sweet vine of Cyprus in the vineyard of Engaddi, who will give me to receive Thee so worthily this day that Thou shalt desire to come to me, to dwell with me, and never to separate from me!

Never Give Up Praying!

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

We must pray too because we are fragile and culpable.  We need to admit humbly and truly that we are poor creatures, with confused ideas…We are fragile and weak, and in constant need of interior strength and consolation.  Prayer gives us strength for great ideals, for keeping up our faith, charity, purity, generosity; prayer gives us strength to rise up from indifference and guilt, if we have had the misfortune to give in to temptation and weakness.  Prayer gives light by which to see and judge from God’s perspective and from eternity.  That is why you must not give up praying! Don’t let a day go by without praying a little! Prayer is a duty, but it is also a joy because it is a dialogue with God through Jesus Christ!

St. John Paul II

Eternal Life Requires Two Things

Two things are required in order to obtain eternal life: the grace of God and man’s will. And although God made man without man’s help, He does not sanctify him without his cooperation.

St. Thomas Aquinas