"Forgiveness is not something that can be bought; those to whom it is offered are bankrupts. It is capital advanced to them, which they are to repay with an interest of tears."
Father Ronald Knox
For Reflection:
To what extent have I shown myself to be a "bankrupt?" How has God's mercy been extended to me (think in concrete terms)? What do I think it means to "repay with an interest of tears?" Have I exhibited this disposition of heart? When, how, and why?
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"One of the most perfectly constructed lines in English poetry is, 'To err is human, to forgive, divine.' How perfect is the balance of those words. They enshrine two of the greatest mysteries which, as Christians, we are bound to accept. The doctrine, I mean, that man, being what he is, can rebel against God; and the doctrine that God, being what He is, can forgive man."
Father Ronald Knox
For Reflection:
How do the two "greatest mysteries" expressed by Father Knox encompass the whole of salvation history? How do they apply specifically to me? To what end do they prompt me?
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"Merely to love things above is already to mount on high."
Pope St. Gregory the Great
For Reflection:
On a scale of one to ten, how high am I mounting today? What tells me so?
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"I have been made for heaven, and heaven for me."
Saint Joseph Cafasso
For Reflection:
To what extent am I truly headed toward my eternal destiny?
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"Lord, I will put myself at hell's gate, so that I can stop anyone else from entering there."
Blessed Dominic Barberi
For Reflection:
How can I "put myself at hell's gate" to aid souls from entering there?
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"God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1037
For Reflection:
This teaching of the Church implies that we choose hell for ourselves. Am I in mortal sin? In light of the fact that no one knows when he will be called from this life, what need I do?
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"I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth."
St. Therese of Lisieux
For Reflection:
How do these words of St. Therese resonate with me? Am I willing to take them as my own? If so, what implication does this have for my life now and in the future?
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"In the glory of heaven the blessed continue joyfully to fulfill God's will in relation to other men and to all creation."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1029
For Reflection:
How does this teaching of the Church correlate to her teaching on the communion of saints? How have I personally experienced the reality and truth of this statement? Do I look forward to being a saint and "reigning with Christ" by being of assistance to other men and all creation?
(See tomorrow's Grace Line for one saint who planned on it!)
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"Those who die in God's grace and friendship and are perfectly purified live forever with Christ. They are like God for ever, for they "see him as he is," face to face."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1023
For Reflection:
What do I think it will be like to behold God face-to-face? Do I have an interior hunger to do so?
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"We are each our own devils and we make this world our hell."
Oscar Wilde
For Reflection:
How have I witnessed the truth of this statement? In my life? In the lives of others? Am I living it out right now? How can I surrender to God's grace to make it now so?
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