Road of Hope - Chapter 6
The supernatural life
Supernatural life consists in wholehearted commitment to the will of God.
102. If everybody should approve of you, but God disapprove of your conduct, how terrble for you! If everybody should insult you, falsely accuse you or persecute you, but God praise you, happy are you, for the kingdom of Heaven is yours!(CF.Luke6:22).
103. What use is i if everybody should affirm you, but God disapprove of you? If everybody should mock you, but God affirm you, happy are you! When the crowd cried out, "we must have Barrabas realeased!" (Luke 23:18). Barrabas remained a robber just the same. When the crowd shouted,"Crucify him!" (Luke23:21). Our Lord was still the sinless son of God.
104. If you are faced with ungrateful people who have betrayed you and falsely accused you, what hurts you the most is the irrational malice which purs forth from those you least expected to act thus. Your reaction in such circumstances should be:
to forgive right from the heart
to beg forgiveness fro one's enemies
to pray with love for them to be converted
and then in this way you will not need to rely on the consolation of the world.
105. Rejoice at your own success but thank God when someone else is more successful than you.
106. That which is foolishness in the eyes of men is wisdom in the eyes of God.(Cf.1Cor,3:19,1Cor,1:27)
107. The Cross is foolishness to the jews and a stumbling blocks tto the greeks. But as for us, we glory in the Cross of our Lord.(Cf1Cor,1:22-24,Gal,6:14)
108. To spend the whole day in church does not necessarily means to be holy. If at the same time you still criticize others, you stil react according to the wisdom of the world, or you are still self-centred. John and James were with our Lord often, but yet he has to ask them, "whose spirit do you have?"(Cf.Luke9:55:" you do not understand what spirit it is you share.")
109. Do not say ," I follow my conscience"
Is there any conscience left to follow?
110. Poverty, obedience, mortification, meekness, charity, forgiveness and humility aare all foolishness in the eyes of the world, but supremely important in theeyes of God. That which the world regards as a misfortune, God considers as true happiness.
111. Look at everything from God's point of view and you will see things with different values and different dimensions.
112. In all the manoeuvres and struggles that you may be engaged in, make a discernment in this way: How much is there in this of desire to do God's will, how much of self love, desire of personal advantage, and of self-will? Perhaps there is little of God in all this.
113. "It is for me to plant the seed, for Apollo to water it, but it was God who gave the increase." (Saint Paul)
114. if there is no resurrection, catholics are the most unfortunate people to the world.(Cf.1Cor,15:14,17,19)
115. While you proclaim, "for God and for the Church". stand silently in the presence of God and honestly ask him, "Lord , do you see me working completely for you ? Always you are the essential object of all that i do. I should be ashamed to admit that there were any other stronger motive."
116. As you have dedicated yourself to the service of God, why do you stll compare your life to the life of others, complaining abou the inferiority of various circumstances of your life? Why do you regret serving God because of some losses that you suffer?
117. "Lord, we watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven."(Cf.Lke10:18)." Rejoice that your names are enrolled in heaven." (Luke10:20) rather than rejoice over the performance of a miracle.
Showing posts with label The Road of Hope - Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Road of Hope - Archbishop Nguyen Van Thuan. Show all posts
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Road of Hope - Chapter 5
The interior life
The contemplative life is realised in your actions.
80. Peace is dependent on a victory, and victory is dependent on a struggle. If you desire peace, you will have to fight continuously.
81. Your weapons are meditation, self-denial, the sacraments, the rosary and recollection. Your allies are our Blessed Mother, St Joseph, the angels, your patron saints and your spiritual director. Unless you gradually drop your weapons or betray your allies, you will certainly gain a victory.
82. if you stand on an upper story of a tall building and look down on the road below, yo will see a stream of people running around in all directions. There are all kinds of cars, and all kinds of people fighting and quarrelling with each other, frantically rushing around in circles, all for the sake of love or money, ambition or the competition of life. Only when we throw ourselves into the work of God without any fear will we have a faith that is alive and a fervent apostolic spirit.
83. If you were determined to practice one virtue every year and if you would practice it everyday, very soon you would achieve quite an improvement.
84. The diver seeking the sea bed or the astronaut in his spaceship launch out adventurously in the cause of science:(can you do less?) When you give up everything for our Lord, even to risking your life for him, then the authenticity of your interior life will be evident to others.
85. You wish to set fire to the whole world by the love which the gospel preaches; you wish to conquer the five continents. Your every moment should be a flash of fire, the fire of your duty, of your obedience, of your patience. Such a flame will burn brightly to illuminate the whole world.
86. External silence and, even more interior silence is the atmosphere conducive to the interior life.
87. You do not have to be learned nor extraordinarily talented to become holy. All you require is the grace of God and your own determination. Few people become saints, because it is easier to become learned than to change one's whole life in order to become holy.
88. Although you are eager to serve God well, nevertheless, if this enthusiasm is not accompanied by a deep personal renewal, you will not be pleasing to God.
89. People of the world are frightened of silence because they feel empty when alone. Those people who live an interior life value silence because they discover a new and beautiful world in a a life of intimacy with the Blessed Trinity, a iife which this world cannot give.
90. If in the past you had done your utmost to eliminate one bad habit during each year, correcting yourself a little every day, by today you would have reduced quite a lot of your faults and imperfections.
91. You ask, when do you have to commence to live this interior life? you have to commence it right from this very moment and you have to recommemce it each and everyday.
92. Who must become holy ? Everybody without exception must become holy. Commence with yourself, because God callls everybody.
93. In this world there is nothing as precious as divine grace. With it heaven has commenced in your heart even now in this world.
94. A precious sparkling diamond is formed in a mass of rock in the depths of the earth over millions of years. Do you mature from the interior in the same way?
95. Spread throughout the whole world and proclaim in a loud voice to everyone. "There is one man who has laid down his life for his friends."(Cf.John15:13, 1Cor.15:3, 2Cor.5:14-15, 1Thess.5:9-10).
96. On the screen of a cinema a raging fire makes everybody frightened, but that fire does not burn hot, nor can it cook anything, because it is only the image of a fire. It does not come issuing forth from a red hot furnance.
97. Our love of God has to be absolute. Our Lord teaches us. "A man cannot be the slave of two masters at once." (Matt.6:24). How many masters do you serve?
98. Set aside a few quiet moments every day to help you advance in the interior life. How many minutes have you set aside lately?
99. Some people say there is a crisis of faith or a crisis of authority, but i think there is actually a crisis of holiness. god send trials to ou in order to refine and separate good from bad in you.
100. You might find it hard to understand why St Augustine says in his prayer. "Lord, let me know you, let me know myself." His reason can be understood from Our Lord's question. "What, phillip, here am I, who have been all this while in your company; have you not learned to recognize me yet?" (John14:9). If you do know truly, your life will change completely.
101. There are people whose practice of religion consists of reciting many prayers and attending many masses, but they do not put their faith into practice. This is no different from someone who might ask a friend "Are you well?", and the friend replies, "I eat six meals a day."". Eating a lot meals is not necessarily the same thing as being healthy.
The interior life
The contemplative life is realised in your actions.
80. Peace is dependent on a victory, and victory is dependent on a struggle. If you desire peace, you will have to fight continuously.
81. Your weapons are meditation, self-denial, the sacraments, the rosary and recollection. Your allies are our Blessed Mother, St Joseph, the angels, your patron saints and your spiritual director. Unless you gradually drop your weapons or betray your allies, you will certainly gain a victory.
82. if you stand on an upper story of a tall building and look down on the road below, yo will see a stream of people running around in all directions. There are all kinds of cars, and all kinds of people fighting and quarrelling with each other, frantically rushing around in circles, all for the sake of love or money, ambition or the competition of life. Only when we throw ourselves into the work of God without any fear will we have a faith that is alive and a fervent apostolic spirit.
83. If you were determined to practice one virtue every year and if you would practice it everyday, very soon you would achieve quite an improvement.
84. The diver seeking the sea bed or the astronaut in his spaceship launch out adventurously in the cause of science:(can you do less?) When you give up everything for our Lord, even to risking your life for him, then the authenticity of your interior life will be evident to others.
85. You wish to set fire to the whole world by the love which the gospel preaches; you wish to conquer the five continents. Your every moment should be a flash of fire, the fire of your duty, of your obedience, of your patience. Such a flame will burn brightly to illuminate the whole world.
86. External silence and, even more interior silence is the atmosphere conducive to the interior life.
87. You do not have to be learned nor extraordinarily talented to become holy. All you require is the grace of God and your own determination. Few people become saints, because it is easier to become learned than to change one's whole life in order to become holy.
88. Although you are eager to serve God well, nevertheless, if this enthusiasm is not accompanied by a deep personal renewal, you will not be pleasing to God.
89. People of the world are frightened of silence because they feel empty when alone. Those people who live an interior life value silence because they discover a new and beautiful world in a a life of intimacy with the Blessed Trinity, a iife which this world cannot give.
90. If in the past you had done your utmost to eliminate one bad habit during each year, correcting yourself a little every day, by today you would have reduced quite a lot of your faults and imperfections.
91. You ask, when do you have to commence to live this interior life? you have to commence it right from this very moment and you have to recommemce it each and everyday.
92. Who must become holy ? Everybody without exception must become holy. Commence with yourself, because God callls everybody.
93. In this world there is nothing as precious as divine grace. With it heaven has commenced in your heart even now in this world.
94. A precious sparkling diamond is formed in a mass of rock in the depths of the earth over millions of years. Do you mature from the interior in the same way?
95. Spread throughout the whole world and proclaim in a loud voice to everyone. "There is one man who has laid down his life for his friends."(Cf.John15:13, 1Cor.15:3, 2Cor.5:14-15, 1Thess.5:9-10).
96. On the screen of a cinema a raging fire makes everybody frightened, but that fire does not burn hot, nor can it cook anything, because it is only the image of a fire. It does not come issuing forth from a red hot furnance.
97. Our love of God has to be absolute. Our Lord teaches us. "A man cannot be the slave of two masters at once." (Matt.6:24). How many masters do you serve?
98. Set aside a few quiet moments every day to help you advance in the interior life. How many minutes have you set aside lately?
99. Some people say there is a crisis of faith or a crisis of authority, but i think there is actually a crisis of holiness. god send trials to ou in order to refine and separate good from bad in you.
100. You might find it hard to understand why St Augustine says in his prayer. "Lord, let me know you, let me know myself." His reason can be understood from Our Lord's question. "What, phillip, here am I, who have been all this while in your company; have you not learned to recognize me yet?" (John14:9). If you do know truly, your life will change completely.
101. There are people whose practice of religion consists of reciting many prayers and attending many masses, but they do not put their faith into practice. This is no different from someone who might ask a friend "Are you well?", and the friend replies, "I eat six meals a day."". Eating a lot meals is not necessarily the same thing as being healthy.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Road of Hope - Chapter 4
The call: vocation
Mobilize all your strength to follow God's call
61. "come and follow me." (Matt.4:19). The apostles gave up everything to follow Our Lord. Like them, are you going to decide once and for all to follow him when he calls you once? Or, how many times does he have to call you?
62. Making a decision will always involve some uncertainty. Hesitate, ponder over it, but finally you will have to make a decision.
63. Jesus states clearly the drastic measures that he requires: "If ay man has a mind to come my way, let him renonce self and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (luke9:23) and "if any man comes to me without hating his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes. and his own life too, he can be bo disciple of mine." (Lke14:26). The road to follow has been clearly defined. The call is clear and unambiguous.
64." Go and preach the gospel." (mark16:15). Our Lord requires of those who dare to accept this lofty mission a readiness to die, that is, a fearlessness in tha face of death. If e look back at two thousand years of the Church's history. We can see that in every age and from every class of people there has never been a lack of those illing to die for the gospel.
65. There are some people who, during their life, on everybody else to make decisions for them. Are you one of those?
66. Perhaps you wish to retreat because of some setbacks, or because you meet some people who cannot endure the various difficulties and trials which they encounter. But will you follow Our Lord or those other people?
67. Why are you so surprised that there are so many volunteers who are willing to die and follow the call of our Lord? Remember the words of our Lord, "And behold I am with you all through the days that are coming until the consummation of the world."(Matt.28:20).
68. Outsiders cannot understand why we follow the call of our Lord. They think we are mad. Jesus also was called mad by Herod(Cf.Like23:11). and we are proud to share such divine insanity.
69. Your decision to follow our Lord is not ust the "signing of your name", nor the pronouncing of vows, but it is the continuous day by day sacrifice involved in carrying out this decision during the whole of our life.
70. "And what of us who have forsaken all, and followed you; what is left for us?" (Matt.19:27). You have given up everything to follow our Lord who is your protector. Are you still worrying about anything?
71. Do not be surprised while you are following our Lord if you should hear the call of pleasure, of reputation, of your own body, of parents or of temptations to abandon this road of our lord. Still keep going. Our lord has warned us. "No one who looks behind him, when he has once put his hand to the plough, is fitted for the kingdom of God."(luke9:62).
72. "Follow me."(Matt.9:9). This call still continues to remind you of your commitment during every little task that you perform, and your "yes" also continues until your last breath.
73. Your response of "yes" is easy, but look at how our Lord followed the call right up to his death on the Cross. Deny yourself, carry your cross everyday and nail yourself to that cross.
74. Our Lord commands you. "Go and preach the gospel." (Matt16:15). He does not issue a time-table or draw up a plan. He leaves you to take the nitiative and overcome the difficlties, provided only that ou carry the gospel along with you.
75. The second Vatican councel teaches us to go back to the sources. Rediscover the lives of the Apostles , who people who lived with our divine saviour, who listened to him, who had personal contact with him and who were witnesses to him.
76. A programme which is being carried out well has to be left unfinished. Some zealous activities are reduced to inaction. Some mission at a very high level has to be scaled down to some minor activity. You are upset and discouraged. But has our Lord called you tofollow him or to follow this work or that person ? leave things to our Lord; he will work out everything for the best.
77. You do not trust anyone else you do not delegate work to anyone else, you do not give up your position to anyone else. Are you even more powerfl than God himself?
78. Why is it that you keep such a personal hold over this or that work, and why do you not wish to let it go when the higher authorities wish to transfer you to other duties? That work belongs to our Lord more than it belongs to you; it is his concern.
79. The moment in which you experience self-satisfaction in your apostolic work is the most dangerous moment for you. This is when the devil concentrates all his forces to take you by surprise.
The call: vocation
Mobilize all your strength to follow God's call
61. "come and follow me." (Matt.4:19). The apostles gave up everything to follow Our Lord. Like them, are you going to decide once and for all to follow him when he calls you once? Or, how many times does he have to call you?
62. Making a decision will always involve some uncertainty. Hesitate, ponder over it, but finally you will have to make a decision.
63. Jesus states clearly the drastic measures that he requires: "If ay man has a mind to come my way, let him renonce self and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (luke9:23) and "if any man comes to me without hating his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes. and his own life too, he can be bo disciple of mine." (Lke14:26). The road to follow has been clearly defined. The call is clear and unambiguous.
64." Go and preach the gospel." (mark16:15). Our Lord requires of those who dare to accept this lofty mission a readiness to die, that is, a fearlessness in tha face of death. If e look back at two thousand years of the Church's history. We can see that in every age and from every class of people there has never been a lack of those illing to die for the gospel.
65. There are some people who, during their life, on everybody else to make decisions for them. Are you one of those?
66. Perhaps you wish to retreat because of some setbacks, or because you meet some people who cannot endure the various difficulties and trials which they encounter. But will you follow Our Lord or those other people?
67. Why are you so surprised that there are so many volunteers who are willing to die and follow the call of our Lord? Remember the words of our Lord, "And behold I am with you all through the days that are coming until the consummation of the world."(Matt.28:20).
68. Outsiders cannot understand why we follow the call of our Lord. They think we are mad. Jesus also was called mad by Herod(Cf.Like23:11). and we are proud to share such divine insanity.
69. Your decision to follow our Lord is not ust the "signing of your name", nor the pronouncing of vows, but it is the continuous day by day sacrifice involved in carrying out this decision during the whole of our life.
70. "And what of us who have forsaken all, and followed you; what is left for us?" (Matt.19:27). You have given up everything to follow our Lord who is your protector. Are you still worrying about anything?
71. Do not be surprised while you are following our Lord if you should hear the call of pleasure, of reputation, of your own body, of parents or of temptations to abandon this road of our lord. Still keep going. Our lord has warned us. "No one who looks behind him, when he has once put his hand to the plough, is fitted for the kingdom of God."(luke9:62).
72. "Follow me."(Matt.9:9). This call still continues to remind you of your commitment during every little task that you perform, and your "yes" also continues until your last breath.
73. Your response of "yes" is easy, but look at how our Lord followed the call right up to his death on the Cross. Deny yourself, carry your cross everyday and nail yourself to that cross.
74. Our Lord commands you. "Go and preach the gospel." (Matt16:15). He does not issue a time-table or draw up a plan. He leaves you to take the nitiative and overcome the difficlties, provided only that ou carry the gospel along with you.
75. The second Vatican councel teaches us to go back to the sources. Rediscover the lives of the Apostles , who people who lived with our divine saviour, who listened to him, who had personal contact with him and who were witnesses to him.
76. A programme which is being carried out well has to be left unfinished. Some zealous activities are reduced to inaction. Some mission at a very high level has to be scaled down to some minor activity. You are upset and discouraged. But has our Lord called you tofollow him or to follow this work or that person ? leave things to our Lord; he will work out everything for the best.
77. You do not trust anyone else you do not delegate work to anyone else, you do not give up your position to anyone else. Are you even more powerfl than God himself?
78. Why is it that you keep such a personal hold over this or that work, and why do you not wish to let it go when the higher authorities wish to transfer you to other duties? That work belongs to our Lord more than it belongs to you; it is his concern.
79. The moment in which you experience self-satisfaction in your apostolic work is the most dangerous moment for you. This is when the devil concentrates all his forces to take you by surprise.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Road of Hope - Chapter 3
Perseverance
Anybody can begin but only the saints can keep going right to the end
39. To be fearless means that you must not wander about aimlessly. If you desire to reach the end of this Road of hope, you have to be fearless. How many people were there standing beside our Lord at the foot of the Cross.
40. Do not be afraid to talk to our Lord about everyhing you desire. Think of these words of our Lord." Until now, you have not been making any requests in my name; make them and they will be granted." (John16:24). To be fearless is to love just as a child loves its father.
41. Do not be discouragedd by failures. If you are seeking to do the will of God and meet with failure, that failure may be in God's eyes success, for that is the way God wants it. Look at the example of Jesus on the Cross.
42. Results and success are two different things. There may be no outward signs of results, but instead, an increase in experience, an increase in humility, an increase in your faith in God, and that is your success from a supernatural point of view.
43. There is only one failure and that is not to hope in God. "Hope in God and you will not be disappointed." (cf.Ps.22:5).
44. Do not be a fitful saint; a storm will wipe away externals and reveal the inner reality of sinfulness behind the appearances.
45. The virtuous person radiates a sweet perfume quietly and unobstrusively.
46. Be loyal as you go along the road you are travelling. Peter did not betray our Lord, nor did he accuse our Lord, but on the other hand he did not ackowledge or spport our Lord by even a single word. "I know nothing of the man" (Matt.26:72) he said, seeking to remain safe and avoid being implicated. Peter lost hope in our Lord as the Way and fled from him.
47. You are trembling with fear, you stumble and fall, you met with difficulties misunderstandings, criticisms, disgrace, even a sentence of death. Why do you forgot the gospel? Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered everything. But, if you continue to follow him, you will have your Easter too.
48. Every morning when you get up you start life again, fresh and energetic and full of optimism. if the road runs badly, still continue to go along with our Lord just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus and you will reach the goal.
49. Perseverance is the characteristic of the saints, because "He who endures to the last will be saved." (Matt.10:22).
50. If everybody else should fall by the wayside on the journey, you must still keep pressing forward. People in large numbers are easily seduced. A leader who guides wisely is rare indeed. You have to have the character not to follow the crowd blindly.
51. Although you might feel worn out or less enthusiastic, keep up your spirit. The dark cloud will pass by and not keep blocking out sunlight. Just wait for the cloud to pass over.
52. Do not say, "I have lost inspiration." Why do you work as a result of inspiration? The work of God is in no way comparable to writing poetry. Work because of love and a knoowledge of the fact that you will never lose the love of God.
53. The good thief achieved happiness because of his hope in the love og God; Judas was wretched because he despaired of this love of God.(cf.Matt.27:5, Luke23:42-43).
54. In the darkest hour of desolation Jesus cried out:" My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?" (Matt.27:46). At that moment there stood by the cross his mother Mary. She was silent, but her steadfast love was great enough to support her son until he said. "it is achieved." (John19:30).
55. The body of the son of the widow of Naim was being carried out for burial.(Cf.Luke7:12) and the body of the dead Lazarus was already stinking in the grave.(Cf.John11:39_ but our Lord could still call both to rise from the dead. Have hope and humbly repent of our sins; Our Lord will raise you up also.
56. Everyday you must decrease your self-centredness and increase your love of the neighbour. Everyday lessen your reliance on self and instead increase your trust in God.
57. If you are not determined to persevere, you cannot say ,"I am meek," but rather, "I am a coward."
58. You keep complaining, " If only I were to be in this particlar place, to work with that person, to hold that particular office, surely I would be wonderfully successful."
No! Do the work which Our Lord has entrusted to you. You are in the place where he has placed you. Go straight ahead. If you bustle about in all directions you will not reach the end.
59. In your soul there are two persons: John and Judas. Whenever you are striving to persevere, you are following the loyal, faithful John. Whenever you cowardly give up the struggle, you are choosing Judas as your patron and you are burning incense to worship that patron of traitors.
60. But you say, "Too difficult!" This is true. Only something acquired by effort is really worthwhile.
Perseverance
Anybody can begin but only the saints can keep going right to the end
39. To be fearless means that you must not wander about aimlessly. If you desire to reach the end of this Road of hope, you have to be fearless. How many people were there standing beside our Lord at the foot of the Cross.
40. Do not be afraid to talk to our Lord about everyhing you desire. Think of these words of our Lord." Until now, you have not been making any requests in my name; make them and they will be granted." (John16:24). To be fearless is to love just as a child loves its father.
41. Do not be discouragedd by failures. If you are seeking to do the will of God and meet with failure, that failure may be in God's eyes success, for that is the way God wants it. Look at the example of Jesus on the Cross.
42. Results and success are two different things. There may be no outward signs of results, but instead, an increase in experience, an increase in humility, an increase in your faith in God, and that is your success from a supernatural point of view.
43. There is only one failure and that is not to hope in God. "Hope in God and you will not be disappointed." (cf.Ps.22:5).
44. Do not be a fitful saint; a storm will wipe away externals and reveal the inner reality of sinfulness behind the appearances.
45. The virtuous person radiates a sweet perfume quietly and unobstrusively.
46. Be loyal as you go along the road you are travelling. Peter did not betray our Lord, nor did he accuse our Lord, but on the other hand he did not ackowledge or spport our Lord by even a single word. "I know nothing of the man" (Matt.26:72) he said, seeking to remain safe and avoid being implicated. Peter lost hope in our Lord as the Way and fled from him.
47. You are trembling with fear, you stumble and fall, you met with difficulties misunderstandings, criticisms, disgrace, even a sentence of death. Why do you forgot the gospel? Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered everything. But, if you continue to follow him, you will have your Easter too.
48. Every morning when you get up you start life again, fresh and energetic and full of optimism. if the road runs badly, still continue to go along with our Lord just like the disciples on the road to Emmaus and you will reach the goal.
49. Perseverance is the characteristic of the saints, because "He who endures to the last will be saved." (Matt.10:22).
50. If everybody else should fall by the wayside on the journey, you must still keep pressing forward. People in large numbers are easily seduced. A leader who guides wisely is rare indeed. You have to have the character not to follow the crowd blindly.
51. Although you might feel worn out or less enthusiastic, keep up your spirit. The dark cloud will pass by and not keep blocking out sunlight. Just wait for the cloud to pass over.
52. Do not say, "I have lost inspiration." Why do you work as a result of inspiration? The work of God is in no way comparable to writing poetry. Work because of love and a knoowledge of the fact that you will never lose the love of God.
53. The good thief achieved happiness because of his hope in the love og God; Judas was wretched because he despaired of this love of God.(cf.Matt.27:5, Luke23:42-43).
54. In the darkest hour of desolation Jesus cried out:" My God, my God, Why have you forsaken me?" (Matt.27:46). At that moment there stood by the cross his mother Mary. She was silent, but her steadfast love was great enough to support her son until he said. "it is achieved." (John19:30).
55. The body of the son of the widow of Naim was being carried out for burial.(Cf.Luke7:12) and the body of the dead Lazarus was already stinking in the grave.(Cf.John11:39_ but our Lord could still call both to rise from the dead. Have hope and humbly repent of our sins; Our Lord will raise you up also.
56. Everyday you must decrease your self-centredness and increase your love of the neighbour. Everyday lessen your reliance on self and instead increase your trust in God.
57. If you are not determined to persevere, you cannot say ,"I am meek," but rather, "I am a coward."
58. You keep complaining, " If only I were to be in this particlar place, to work with that person, to hold that particular office, surely I would be wonderfully successful."
No! Do the work which Our Lord has entrusted to you. You are in the place where he has placed you. Go straight ahead. If you bustle about in all directions you will not reach the end.
59. In your soul there are two persons: John and Judas. Whenever you are striving to persevere, you are following the loyal, faithful John. Whenever you cowardly give up the struggle, you are choosing Judas as your patron and you are burning incense to worship that patron of traitors.
60. But you say, "Too difficult!" This is true. Only something acquired by effort is really worthwhile.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Road of Hope - Chapter 2
Duty
Duty is the passport to heaven
17. Duty points out the will of God for you during the present moment.
18. There are some people who do not carry their own cross or anybody's else , but who imagine their own cross is too heavy. Some are eager to take upon their own shoulders everyone else's cross, but refuse to carry their own or foist it onto others.
19. Make your duties holy. Help others to holiness by your duties.. Grow in holiness by the way you carry out your duty.
20. If all were faithfull to their duty in life, growth in personal holiness would renew their hearts and bring a like renewal to families and the whole world.
21. Despite a superficail apperance of holiness, a person who neglects his duties in life is counterfeit. Should he works "miracles" they would be out of time and out of place and a cause of confusion. Moreover, such a one would be hard for others to live with.
22. Some lay people mistakenly think holiness consists in fervent prayer, preaching or withdrawal from the world: they draw this inspiration from the image of priests and religious in a former time. On the other hand there are priests and religious who conceive holiness in terms of social and political activity; they would competed with lay people. How chaotic!
23. The word is not renewed because people conceive of holiness as being something outside the carrying out of the duties of their state in life.
24. The workman will become a saint in the workplace. The soldier will become a saint in the army the patient will become a saint in the hospital, the student will become a saint through his studies, the farmer will beome a saint on the farm, the priest will become a saint by his ministry as priest, the public servant will become a saint in the government office. Every step of progress along the road to sanctity is a step of sacrifice in the performance of one's duty.
25. It is not becaus of acts of prophecy nor the performance of miracles tha saints becomme saints. They do not anything extraordinary at all, but simply carry out their ordinary duties.
26. However, the duty of the present moment is not a passive thing, but:
it is an unceasing renewal of yourself,
it is a decision to choose or reject our Lord,
it is a search for the kingdom of God,
it is a belief in the infinite love of God,
it is acting with all the ardour of your heart,
it is reflecting that love of God by means of your love for others,
right at this present moment.
27. Duty is your passport to heaven: "the person who does the will of my Father in heaven, he will enter the kingdom of heaven" (CF.Matt.7:21).
28. Accept the will of God, obey the will of God, love the will of God. Which way will you choose?
29. If our Lord wishes you to endure some disgrace because of your duty, he is actually at that time something of the honour of his Holy Cross.
30. Let your response be "O Lord , the place of my duty is Cavary and i am the holocaust."
31. It is only necessary for you to fulfill your duty of the present moment in order to become a saint. The discovery and revelation of this fact will bring peace and encouragement to your soul.
32. Your death will in fact be your last duty and you must accept it willingly and in a manner filled with love.
33. As you advance in your everyday duties you will come to appreciate: "Our Lord's yoke is easy and his burden light." (Cf.Matt.11:30).
34. Your soul is worried and discontented because yo set a few conditions to the performanc of your duties , or because you do not follow the will of God, or because you put limitations on the way you follow the will of God.
35. If you are not attached to the will of God, moment by moment, you will fall by the wayside on this Road of Hope. This is because you think of your duty as being too uneventful, too unnoticed and hidden and having too much daily monotony.
36. The problem is a very simple one. Before doing anything you should think: " Lord, what must i do?" (Acts22:10). carry out the will of God!
37. God desires it to rain, you desire the same.
God desires it to be sunny, you desire the same.
God desires things to be pleasant, you desire the same.
God desires hardships for you, you desire the same
God desires sufferings for you, yo desire the same
To have but one will with God is the secret of happiness
38. In our everyday lives our Lord bestows on us the happiness of participating in the mystery of the redemption. For each person the cross of the road lies in the road of duty.
Duty
Duty is the passport to heaven
17. Duty points out the will of God for you during the present moment.
18. There are some people who do not carry their own cross or anybody's else , but who imagine their own cross is too heavy. Some are eager to take upon their own shoulders everyone else's cross, but refuse to carry their own or foist it onto others.
19. Make your duties holy. Help others to holiness by your duties.. Grow in holiness by the way you carry out your duty.
20. If all were faithfull to their duty in life, growth in personal holiness would renew their hearts and bring a like renewal to families and the whole world.
21. Despite a superficail apperance of holiness, a person who neglects his duties in life is counterfeit. Should he works "miracles" they would be out of time and out of place and a cause of confusion. Moreover, such a one would be hard for others to live with.
22. Some lay people mistakenly think holiness consists in fervent prayer, preaching or withdrawal from the world: they draw this inspiration from the image of priests and religious in a former time. On the other hand there are priests and religious who conceive holiness in terms of social and political activity; they would competed with lay people. How chaotic!
23. The word is not renewed because people conceive of holiness as being something outside the carrying out of the duties of their state in life.
24. The workman will become a saint in the workplace. The soldier will become a saint in the army the patient will become a saint in the hospital, the student will become a saint through his studies, the farmer will beome a saint on the farm, the priest will become a saint by his ministry as priest, the public servant will become a saint in the government office. Every step of progress along the road to sanctity is a step of sacrifice in the performance of one's duty.
25. It is not becaus of acts of prophecy nor the performance of miracles tha saints becomme saints. They do not anything extraordinary at all, but simply carry out their ordinary duties.
26. However, the duty of the present moment is not a passive thing, but:
it is an unceasing renewal of yourself,
it is a decision to choose or reject our Lord,
it is a search for the kingdom of God,
it is a belief in the infinite love of God,
it is acting with all the ardour of your heart,
it is reflecting that love of God by means of your love for others,
right at this present moment.
27. Duty is your passport to heaven: "the person who does the will of my Father in heaven, he will enter the kingdom of heaven" (CF.Matt.7:21).
28. Accept the will of God, obey the will of God, love the will of God. Which way will you choose?
29. If our Lord wishes you to endure some disgrace because of your duty, he is actually at that time something of the honour of his Holy Cross.
30. Let your response be "O Lord , the place of my duty is Cavary and i am the holocaust."
31. It is only necessary for you to fulfill your duty of the present moment in order to become a saint. The discovery and revelation of this fact will bring peace and encouragement to your soul.
32. Your death will in fact be your last duty and you must accept it willingly and in a manner filled with love.
33. As you advance in your everyday duties you will come to appreciate: "Our Lord's yoke is easy and his burden light." (Cf.Matt.11:30).
34. Your soul is worried and discontented because yo set a few conditions to the performanc of your duties , or because you do not follow the will of God, or because you put limitations on the way you follow the will of God.
35. If you are not attached to the will of God, moment by moment, you will fall by the wayside on this Road of Hope. This is because you think of your duty as being too uneventful, too unnoticed and hidden and having too much daily monotony.
36. The problem is a very simple one. Before doing anything you should think: " Lord, what must i do?" (Acts22:10). carry out the will of God!
37. God desires it to rain, you desire the same.
God desires it to be sunny, you desire the same.
God desires things to be pleasant, you desire the same.
God desires hardships for you, you desire the same
God desires sufferings for you, yo desire the same
To have but one will with God is the secret of happiness
38. In our everyday lives our Lord bestows on us the happiness of participating in the mystery of the redemption. For each person the cross of the road lies in the road of duty.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Road of Hope - Chapter 1
Departure
If you are bound with a gold chain you are not ready for this road
1. Our Lord guides you onto this road so that you will 'go out and bear fruit, fruit which will endure' (John 15:16)
The road is called 'The road of hope' becuase it is overflowing with hope, because it is beautiful as hope. Why should you not have hope when you set off with our Lord Jesus Christ on the way to the Father?
2. The ground plan of this Road of Hope has 3 stages:
a. Departure: 'renounce self'
b. Duty: take up your cross daily
c. Perseverance: 'follow me' (Cf.Luke9:23)
3. If you give up everything but still have not denied yourself, actually you have not given up anything at all, because you will gradually gather again to yourself all those things which you gave up in the first place.
4. Abraham set off on his journey because he hoped to reach the Promised land. Moses likewise set out because he hoped to rescue God's people from slavery. Our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven with the hope of saving all mankind.
5. If you leave home and go to a distant place thousands of miles away but continue to bring along with you all the bad habits and the "old man" of sin, hat difference does it make?
6. The saints ar fools for Christ.(Cf.Cor.4:10). The making of saintsis far beyond the scope of the wisdom of the world.
7. If you wish to ser off on this road, you must go regardless of what other people in the word say to ridicule you. The three Wise Men set off hoping to meet the saviour and they met him. saint Francis Xavier set off hoping to save souls and he met them. Saint maria Goretti set out to resist temptation hoping to meet our Lord and she met him.
8. You must lose in order to gain, die in order to live, abandon all else in order to meet the lord. The magi risked dangers and ridicule. Saint Francis Xavier left his parents and gave up all his possesions and the pleasures of the world. Saint Maria Goretti gave up her life.
9. Keep advancing along the road of Hope regardless of the heart-rending pleas of those you love, as Saint Paul tell us. "Bondage and affliction await me."(Acts20:23), and as Jesus said, "Now I must go up to Jerusalem to suffer."(Cf.Matt:16:21).
10. Whether you are rich or poor, whether people praise you or ridicule you, whether you are of noble or humble status, does not matter at all, if you have dtermined to advance along this road, waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
11. Our Lord says, "I am truth" (John14:6). he does not say newspapers are the truth, radio is the truth or television is the truth. Which kind of truth will you follow?
12. keep moving forward relentlessly. Do not give up. Nobody will follow the person who turns back.
13. Do not give in to sensuality; do not give in to laziness; do not give in to selfishness. You can not call black white, bad good or dishonest honest.
14. Are you a person who says 'yes' to everything
Which road ill you take?
Do you say 'yes' to many gods?
Do you say 'yes' to many religions?
Do you say 'yes' to a variety of moral standards?
Do you have a flexible conscience which can fit in with any situation and say 'yes' to its values?
15. Refusal to give in to false values is not pride or egoism or stubborness: rather it proves your wholehearted adhrence to yur own standards.
16. You are prepared to reject wealth and position, to give up your own life in order to preserve your ideal, your honour and your faith. So you will never behave otherwise for to do so means the loss of everything.
Departure
If you are bound with a gold chain you are not ready for this road
1. Our Lord guides you onto this road so that you will 'go out and bear fruit, fruit which will endure' (John 15:16)
The road is called 'The road of hope' becuase it is overflowing with hope, because it is beautiful as hope. Why should you not have hope when you set off with our Lord Jesus Christ on the way to the Father?
2. The ground plan of this Road of Hope has 3 stages:
a. Departure: 'renounce self'
b. Duty: take up your cross daily
c. Perseverance: 'follow me' (Cf.Luke9:23)
3. If you give up everything but still have not denied yourself, actually you have not given up anything at all, because you will gradually gather again to yourself all those things which you gave up in the first place.
4. Abraham set off on his journey because he hoped to reach the Promised land. Moses likewise set out because he hoped to rescue God's people from slavery. Our Lord Jesus Christ came down from heaven with the hope of saving all mankind.
5. If you leave home and go to a distant place thousands of miles away but continue to bring along with you all the bad habits and the "old man" of sin, hat difference does it make?
6. The saints ar fools for Christ.(Cf.Cor.4:10). The making of saintsis far beyond the scope of the wisdom of the world.
7. If you wish to ser off on this road, you must go regardless of what other people in the word say to ridicule you. The three Wise Men set off hoping to meet the saviour and they met him. saint Francis Xavier set off hoping to save souls and he met them. Saint maria Goretti set out to resist temptation hoping to meet our Lord and she met him.
8. You must lose in order to gain, die in order to live, abandon all else in order to meet the lord. The magi risked dangers and ridicule. Saint Francis Xavier left his parents and gave up all his possesions and the pleasures of the world. Saint Maria Goretti gave up her life.
9. Keep advancing along the road of Hope regardless of the heart-rending pleas of those you love, as Saint Paul tell us. "Bondage and affliction await me."(Acts20:23), and as Jesus said, "Now I must go up to Jerusalem to suffer."(Cf.Matt:16:21).
10. Whether you are rich or poor, whether people praise you or ridicule you, whether you are of noble or humble status, does not matter at all, if you have dtermined to advance along this road, waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
11. Our Lord says, "I am truth" (John14:6). he does not say newspapers are the truth, radio is the truth or television is the truth. Which kind of truth will you follow?
12. keep moving forward relentlessly. Do not give up. Nobody will follow the person who turns back.
13. Do not give in to sensuality; do not give in to laziness; do not give in to selfishness. You can not call black white, bad good or dishonest honest.
14. Are you a person who says 'yes' to everything
Which road ill you take?
Do you say 'yes' to many gods?
Do you say 'yes' to many religions?
Do you say 'yes' to a variety of moral standards?
Do you have a flexible conscience which can fit in with any situation and say 'yes' to its values?
15. Refusal to give in to false values is not pride or egoism or stubborness: rather it proves your wholehearted adhrence to yur own standards.
16. You are prepared to reject wealth and position, to give up your own life in order to preserve your ideal, your honour and your faith. So you will never behave otherwise for to do so means the loss of everything.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Road of Hope
by Archbishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan
Translated from the vietnamese by Peter Bookall
Contents
Chapter1 Departure
Chapter2 Duty
Chapter3 Perseverance
Chapter4 The call vocation
Chapter5 The interior life
Chapter6 The supernatural life
Chapter7 Prayer
Chapter8 Sacrifice
Chapter9 The Heart
Chapter10 Fortitude
Chapter11 The presence of God
Chapter12 The Church
Chapter13 Faith
Chapter14 The apostle
Chapter15 The holy Mass
Chapter16 Obedience
Chapter17 Poverty
Chapter18 Chastity
Chapter19 The family
Chapter20 Humility
Chapter21 Restraint of speech
Chapter22 Joy
Chapter23 Wisdom
Chapter24 Study
Chapter25 Development
Chapter26 Dedication
Chapter27 Renewal
Chapter28 New life
Chapter29 Suffering
Chapter30 A happy child
Chapter31 Charity
Chapter32 Ordinary Work
Chapter33 Leadership
Chapter34 Examination of conscience
Chapter35 Our blessed mother Mary
Chapter36 Hope
Chapter37 A life of hope
Foreword
The Road of Hope
I haved travelled along life's road, where I have experienced both joys and sorrows; but always I have been oveflowing with hope because I have our Lord and his Mother Mary by my side. If our Lord were to permit me to choose again, I would not choose any other road but this. I have been happpy and full of joy because I have hope in the Lord and I have learned to love.
Today, as Our Lord gives me a few moment to be close by his side, I shall begin to record for you, as I have wanted to do for a long time, the experience of my life. I approach this task with feelings of humility. These are the words of advice of a father, a father who does not have anything new to say to his child. This father simply repeats some words of advice which truly come from the heart, words which so many times before has been gently poured into your ear and your heart in te midst of the noisy activity of the world around you. Be recollected as you contemplate these words which come from a father's heart.
It is my earnest hope that these simple thoughts may spread light and peace so that you may become an apostle animated with a spirit of prayer and a spirit of love. May the grace and peace of our Lord be with you on this journey of hope.
by Archbishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan
Translated from the vietnamese by Peter Bookall
Contents
Chapter1 Departure
Chapter2 Duty
Chapter3 Perseverance
Chapter4 The call vocation
Chapter5 The interior life
Chapter6 The supernatural life
Chapter7 Prayer
Chapter8 Sacrifice
Chapter9 The Heart
Chapter10 Fortitude
Chapter11 The presence of God
Chapter12 The Church
Chapter13 Faith
Chapter14 The apostle
Chapter15 The holy Mass
Chapter16 Obedience
Chapter17 Poverty
Chapter18 Chastity
Chapter19 The family
Chapter20 Humility
Chapter21 Restraint of speech
Chapter22 Joy
Chapter23 Wisdom
Chapter24 Study
Chapter25 Development
Chapter26 Dedication
Chapter27 Renewal
Chapter28 New life
Chapter29 Suffering
Chapter30 A happy child
Chapter31 Charity
Chapter32 Ordinary Work
Chapter33 Leadership
Chapter34 Examination of conscience
Chapter35 Our blessed mother Mary
Chapter36 Hope
Chapter37 A life of hope
Foreword
The Road of Hope
I haved travelled along life's road, where I have experienced both joys and sorrows; but always I have been oveflowing with hope because I have our Lord and his Mother Mary by my side. If our Lord were to permit me to choose again, I would not choose any other road but this. I have been happpy and full of joy because I have hope in the Lord and I have learned to love.
Today, as Our Lord gives me a few moment to be close by his side, I shall begin to record for you, as I have wanted to do for a long time, the experience of my life. I approach this task with feelings of humility. These are the words of advice of a father, a father who does not have anything new to say to his child. This father simply repeats some words of advice which truly come from the heart, words which so many times before has been gently poured into your ear and your heart in te midst of the noisy activity of the world around you. Be recollected as you contemplate these words which come from a father's heart.
It is my earnest hope that these simple thoughts may spread light and peace so that you may become an apostle animated with a spirit of prayer and a spirit of love. May the grace and peace of our Lord be with you on this journey of hope.
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