Less than half a week into my work placement and I’m already starting to understand how tiring working life is. But I guess I’m just rly thankful for the sense of direction I have been blessed with, and the immeasurable love that has been showered upon me in this life. <3
reconciliation
“But Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner. It is an encounter with Jesus, but with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are. “But, Lord, look… this is how I am” - we are often ashamed to tell the truth: ‘I did this, I thought this’. But shame is a true Christian virtue. I do not know if there is a similar saying in Italian, but in our country, those who are never ashamed are called “sin vergüenza” - this means “the unashamed” - because they are people who do not have the ability to be ashamed and to be ashamed is a virtue of the humble; of the man and the woman who are humble.”
-Pope Francis
This has been resounding in my head ever since I first read it from this article here
Really thank God for this sacrament which has given me new life so many times, given me the motivation to pick myself up and walk in His ways again. What an exercise in humility, in facing my weaknesses and my chains that keep me bound to sin… and realizing that no matter how I feel about God I still want to be the image of His son in this world. And that desire doesn’t fade away. Your strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
(via orionfalls)
(via simplly-elegant)
(Source: sextingsatan, via gracie2611)
“As you are aware by now, Christian ethics cannot be reduced to simply doing the right thing or the wrong thing. The fundamental concern that sets the context for all of our individual choices about right and wrong is “What kind of person am I becoming? A person of virtue?” It is even possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. When we do that, we are not becoming people of virtue. Christians are called to allow Christ to form them into people of virtue so that choosing the good becomes a matter of habit. When we choose to follow Jesus, our whole lives should look different. We are called to take up our cross and follow him. We might approach our jobs differently, and spend our money and time differently. We recognize that we are part of the human family and are obligated to ask not just “What should I do?” but also “What are my actions doing to the people around me?”“
-from Brett Salkeld & Leah Perrault’s How Far Can We Go?
“The value of self-possession underlies this whole discussion. Self-possessed people act with freedom: they freely choose to do what is right and good, knowing that this approach is best for them. They are not tossed about by temporary desires and impulses. They are capable of making difficult decisions and resolutely carrying them out. Self-possession is a gift from God, a virtue that we receive and develop with practice. Our consumer culture does not like self-possessed people. Our culture is organized around selling things to people. To sell things to people, we rely precisely on their lack of self-possession. People see an ad for ice cream, then suddenly they need an ice cream, whether it’s good for them or not. The widespread acceptance of masturbation should not be surprising in a consumer culture where we are always encouraged to satisfy ourselves immediately. As followers of Christ, we are invited to live a counter-cultural witness that we are abundantly blessed, not that we need to be immediately gratified to be happy.”
-from Brett Salkeld & Leah Perrault’s How Far Can We Go?
#truth
"He did not say you would not be troubled, you would not be tempted,
you would not be distressed, but He did say you would not be
overcome."
St. Josemaria Escriva
(Source: my-scattered-light, via rainyautumntwilight)
1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Was reading this passage ytd and truly loved it. A gentle and quiet spirit. So different from the things that our generation is taught to prize. Standing out, leaving your mark, getting noticed, being heard above the other voices. But a gentle and quiet spirit, there’s just something so beautiful about the idea.
And I really quite dislike the trend of radical feminism. I do believe that God created men and women to be fundamentally different, not just biologically but in their charism and roles, and really there’s nothing wrong with being the weaker sex as long as we are protected and cherished for just what we are - precious in His sight. :)
(Source: cinnahearts, via simplly-elegant)
Pontius Pilate.
I am so similar to him. Trying to please the world. In all the little things, sometimes without realizing. I exercise and I watch what I eat - for fitness? But tainted by vanity. Social media. What I post and what I refrain from posting - reflective of my interests/personality? But tainted by how I think people would perceive me. And it goes on. Because I guess every second I fail to be radically humble, radically Christian, radically simple and radically genuine, I betray Christ to please the crowds. And sometimes it feels like that’s about 60 seconds a minute, 60 minutes a day, 365 days a year. And sometimes that is draining and I forget that following Christ is JOYFUL and that the joy of the Lord is my strength.
