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“I will say these prayers of aspiration: Ah my Jesus! As the water is joined with the wine in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, so I long to be joined with You and offer myself in sacrifice to the Most Blessed Trinity. Ah my Jesus! What would you have me do for love of you? I desire nothing but to know your will so that I may fulfil it, cost what it may.”(Resolutions 1857 Made of Holy Retreat in the Year 1857, 10th July, 3).

ABSOLUTE SELF-GIVING

Prayers of aspiration are brief forms of prayer with which, since ancient times, believers have directed themselves to God in different circumstances. (more…)

“When a man is faithful to his vocation and corresponds with great force of will, he can do very much. And if he is persevering and does not allow himself to slacken in what he has begun, he can do things beyond all explaining – always, however, with the help of God’s grace. Happy the man who is faithful…, who does not presume to rely on himself, but puts all his trust in God; who attributes nothing to himself and all to God; who says nothing of himself either in praise or in blame, but remains silent; who thinks that all he does is done of God, through God and for God.” (Notes concerning the First Vatican Council, 2B.).

WHAT DOES FIDELITY MEAN?

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“God asked forgiveness of the eternal Father for those who crucified him. And he teaches us how we must forgive and love our enemies.” (Reloj de la pasión, en EE p. 199).

WIDENESS OF HEART

It is not easy to forgive those who have offended against us; the tendency to revenge or rancour appears innate. But Jesus went around forgiving freely and asked forgiveness for his executioners from the cross. His heart was wide: he lived out his instruction to forgive enemies (cf. Mt 5:44). Love for enemies was, for Him, the way to be children of God, to be ‘like’ the Father. (more…)

“How important it is nowadays to circulate good books to counteract the flood of bad ones!” (Aut 708).

VEHICLES FOR GOOD

One day my grandfather found me seated in front of the computer. Seeing me so engrossed and for such a long time he came up to me and said, “I have heard that that through this apparatus much evil is received and done.” I answered him, “It’s the new machine for writing. And also you can use it to find the information you need.” My grandfather did not delay in asking me for some fact. When I gave it to him, he opened his eyes and thanked me. But he left me thinking about what he had said: (more…)

“My only goal and all my anxieties were about manufacturing. I can’t overstate it – my obsession approached delirium. Who can say? Perhaps the very intensity of my inclination was the means God used to take away my love for manufacturing.” (Aut 67)

GOD WRITES STRAIGHT…

You do not know the ways of God not the means by which his love, his call will reach you. You do not know the course of your life, in all its breadth, depth and truth, beforehand. It is, to use a simile, like a suspense thriller…only at the end is the suspense and complexity of the plot unveiled. So yes, God keeps being mysterious, as also is (and always will be) the loving (more…)

“Ever since I was a small boy I have been attracted to piety and religion.” (Aut 36).

EVERY GREAT JOURNEY BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP

There are terms which have fallen into disuse. Practically nobody says them. Our mentality, supposedly more adult, cultured, useful, rational, technical, ‘cold’… does not know what to do or how  to react to certain words. It seems that piety has to be seen with sentiment, emotion, feelings. And it seems that it is some sort of sentimental inclination towards a particular reality. At least in certain contexts it is synonymous with devotion, that is, love, reverence and respect for a reality, whatever that may be. (more…)

“The ancient Hebrews had a tradition which said that when God had created all things, he asked the angels what they thought and they all said everything was very good. However, one of the wisest seraphim, first asking permission, said: I notice the lack of a voice heard in the four corners of the earth which will say continuously: Thanks be to God, Thanks be to God, Thanks be to God…” (Carta a la V. M. Antonia París, 24 septiembre 1867, en EC II, p. 1203).

IT IS OF THE WELL-BORN…

Gratitude is one of the greatest human and Christian virtues. Giving thanks means recognising that, if we are what we are, we owe it to others: (more…)

“When you have to correct someone, take the hand of sweetness, which is very effective in this. Sweetness is the great servant of charity and her inseparable companion. Reprimand, considering its nature, is bitter, but given with sweetness and baked in the fire of charity is cordial, kind and delicious.” (Carta Ascética que… escribió al presidente de uno de los coros de la Academia de San Miguel. Barcelona 1862, p. 10).

CORRECTING WITH SWEETNESS

Fr Claret, even as a teenager, perceived the necessity of correcting with sweetness. In his father’s workshop he learned ‘everyone, even the rudest people, (more…)

“The Lord…is the way with the good example he has given us and gives us continually, going ahead of us with the practice of the virtues, doing and teaching. And we, if we are truly Christians, can do no less than follow and imitate him. He is truth itself and so teaches us in his holy Gospel. Finally, he is life which makes us live in the life of grace if we observe his doctrine, because the words he has spoken are spirit and life for us, and also if we receive the holy sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where is the bread of life.”

 (Carta ascética… al presidente de uno de los coros de la Academia de San Miguel. Barcelona 1862, p. 21) (more…)

“The would-be assassin was caught in the act and sent to jail. He was tried and sentenced to death by the judge, not-withstanding the deposition I had made, stating that I forgave him as a Christian, a priest, and an archbishop.”

GENEROUS FORGIVENESS

The author of the attempt on Archbishop Claret’s life in Holguin was condemned to death. But it is interesting to know the preceding details and what happened afterwards. It turns out that it was Claret himself who had interceded for him a year before – without knowing him, but asked by his family members – to be released from the jail where he was imprisoned. (more…)