I call, and they turn away; I entreat, and they laugh in scorn…
Micah 2:2-3 They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks.
“My child, my beloved child, I sigh from the depths when I see the evil in men’s hearts: how they covet what is not theirs; how they derive profit from others’ misfortune and call it good business; how they deprive the most vulnerable of even the most elemental home, for the sake of their own desires. My child, I am weary of this generation. I call, and they turn away; I entreat, and they laugh in scorn. Child, it is never too late to pray, but this people is hard of heart. You must also fast if you wish even the smallest change in these hardened sinners. Will you do this much? A small change is all I need to call forth greater things. Will you help me?”
Lord, you know my weakness, but I give you all I am able to through prayer and fasting. I link these poor prayers to the Blessed Mother’s for the sake of souls. Lord Jesus, for the sake of your wounds and these souls who wound you, have mercy. Amen.
Posted: January 21st, 2009 under Prayer, Sinners.
Comments: 5
Comments
Comment from Mary Therese
Time: January 22, 2009, 8:31 pm
We must be more attentive to fasting…
Once again, what is fasting?
I think that we need to verbalize our love for Our Love when we do fast. Often we do things, but I’m not sure that we speak to Love when we do fast from TV, a dessert, etc.; or when we do a specific fast such as a Medjugorje day of bread and water or a day of a Good Friday fast… Pelianito is teaching us how to speak to Our Lord, and this would be quite beautiful and powerful to add to our action of fasting, I’m thinking…
Comment from pelianito
Time: January 22, 2009, 9:32 pm
Yes Mary Therese, our Lord loves it when we speak to him with words of love. The saints tell us that prayers from the heart are very pleasing to God. Further, what is very important when fasting is the disposition of the heart. “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:7) I like this quote from St. Louis de Montfort in the Total Consecration to Mary Nos. 231-233 (page 77 in my copy):
“It would be well that on this day (of our consecration), we should pay some tribute to Jesus Christ and our Blessed Lady, either as a penance for our past unfaithfulness to the vows of Baptism, or as a testimony of dependence on the dominion of Jesus and Mary. This tribute should be one in accordance with your fervor, such as a fast, a mortification or an alms, or a candle. IF BUT A PIN IS GIVEN IN HOMAGE, AND GIVEN WITH A GOOD HEART, IT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR JESUS, WHO LOVES ONLY THE GOOD WILL.
If we only knew what even a small penance offered with a good heart gained for us and for those we loved, what joy we would feel in offering these “vain nothings”. May our Lady grant us every grace we need to fast and pray well and with a cheerful heart. We can do nothing without her help.
Comment from pelianito
Time: January 22, 2009, 9:41 pm
I am reminded also of the “sacrifice beads” St. Therese of Lisieux used to keep in her pocket. Read about them here: http://thelittleways.com/how-to-make-sacrifice-beads/
Comment from Mary Therese
Time: January 22, 2009, 10:09 pm
And our Dr. of the Church, St. Therese “The Little Flower”, also came to mind for me… Some of her words on sacrifice:
“How shall I show my love is proved by deeds? Well – the little child will strew flowers…she will embalm the Divine Throne with their fragrance, will sing with silvery voice the canticle of love.
Yes, my Beloved, it is thus that my life’s brief day shall be spent before Thee. No other means have I of proving my love than to strew flowers; that is, to let no little sacrifice escape me, not a look, not a word, to avail of the very least actions and do them for Love. I wish to suffer for Love’s sake and for Love’s sake even to rejoice; thus shall I strew flowers. Not one shall I find without shedding its petals for Thee…and then I will sing, I will always sing, even if I must gather my roses in the very midst of thorns – and the longer and sharper the thorns the sweeter shall be my song.
Comment from pelianito
Time: January 22, 2009, 10:39 pm
How beautiful! Thank you for sharing this Mary Therese.
Write a comment