“Whenever we think of Christ we should recall the love that led him to bestow on us so many graces and favors, and also the great love God showed in giving us in Christ a pledge of his love; for love calls for love in return. Let us strive to keep this always before our eyes and to rouse ourselves to love him.”

                             ~St. Teresa of Avila

For Reflection:

Three ways we can “rouse” ourselves to love Jesus more is to 1) be consistent with our daily prayer; 2) make use of the sacraments more regularly; 3) perform loving acts towards others to manifest our love for Him. Sometimes these take dying to self – hence the need to “rouse ourselves.” Which, if any, of these three do I need to implement in my spiritual life?

In Conversation with God Vol 5 - Ordinary Time: Wks 24-34 Francis Fernandez-Carvajal Click Here For More Information: TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK: SATURDAY 45. THE SIN AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT 45.3 United to Christ, we will grasp the horror of sin, discrimination and sensitivity of conscience. Today many have lost or are losing their sense of sin. Consequently, they are losing their sense of God. Unnatural behaviour contrary to divine law is now treated as the normal course of things in films, on television, in the press...Occasionally people deplore the visible sad consequences of this behaviour as it affects individuals and society, but without reference being made to the Creator...The filthiness of sins requires a point of reference. That standard is the holiness of God. The Christian can perceive a lack of love in himself once he becomes fully aware of the love of Christ...Let us ask Our Mother Mary, herself so docile to the motions of the Holy Spirit, to teach us to develop a delicate and discriminating conscience.