To Avoid All That Prevents...

We are coming to the end of one year and the start of another.  It's a time when many of us stop and look into our own selves, engaging in a bit of "spiritual checking up."  How am I doing in my efforts to live for God?  How is my prayer life?  How are things in my "cloistered heart?"

I had not given much thought to any such inventory this year.   And then I came face to face with the following sentences.  I am not overstating things when I say that these stopped me in my tracks.  If I could have one set of questions to help me discern God's Voice, and whether or not any particular inspirations are from Him (or from whomever else), I think this would be it...  

"Have I grown familiar with the Voice of Christ?  
Do I recognize it in the depths of my heart, 
urging me on to give Him all He asks of me? 

Is there any other voice with which I am more familiar, 
     any voice discordant with the Voice of Christ?

Is there a voice urging me to assert my rights?

Is there a voice crying out that I have been wronged, 
     treated unfairly, unjustly?

Is there a voice bidding me to seek praise and notice and appreciation?  

Is there a voice urging me to go along the road of least resistance, 
     discouraging me in my efforts to become spiritual?

And what is my Divine Master saying all this time? ...

He could not be heard amid all this confusion, 
     for His Voice is sweet and soft and low.

His gentle voice is heard only by the soul who listens
     and who, in consequence, 

     applies herself 
     to avoid all that prevents
her hearkening to that low, soft Voice."

(from "Listening to the Indwelling Presence," compiled by a Religious, Pellegrini, Australia, 1940, p. 60)

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Painting by James Abbot McNeill Whistler

This post is linked to Catholic Bloggers Network Monthly Roundup

Blog Awards

Thank you so much to Little Flower's Crown of Roses for the blog award!  I accept with much gratitude, and because I've already written about this award at my other blog, I hope it's okay that I link this back to that post (rather than writing it again here).  A click on this line will take readers to that information.

This also gives me a golden opportunity!  As I was listing blogs to pass the award on to before, I forgot several that would normally have been there.  In a couple of instances, the bloggers had taken a brief "break" (and apparently so did my memory!).   But my friends are writing again, and I am so thankful, for I'd missed their inspiration.  So now I joyfully pass this award to the following inspiring bloggers:

Daughter of the King   at http://hisdaughter02.blogspot.com/
Little Jesus and Me   at http://littlejesusandme.blogspot.com/ 
The Beautiful Gate at http://openingthefloodgatesofmercy.blogspot.com/ 
Thoughts on Grace at   http://colleenspiro.blogspot.com/

What a grand opportunity we have, as bloggers, to share the love of Christ... as far and wide as He wishes.  May we glorify Him greatly in the year(s) to come.

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Christmas Every Moment

                     
                         Celebrate the feast of Christmas every day, even every moment, 
                                                in the interior temple of your spirit.
                                                             St. Paul of the Cross

My Heart at His Feet

How beautiful is the poor little Babe!   

I beg you to take your repose close to Him,

  because He will not fail to love your heart just as it is,

  with all its lack of tenderness and of feeling.

 Do you not see how He receives the breath of the oxen

and the ass, which have no feeling at all?   

How will He not appreciate the operations of your poor heart,

which, even though it lacks tenderness, yet throws itself

 resolutely and firmly at His feet, pledging itself

to be always a faithful servant of His divine Heart.

                                                                                 St. Francis de Sales

This Night

In this night of reconciliation, let none be angry or gloomy.  

In this night that stills everything, let nothing threaten or disturb.  

This night belongs to the sweet One; let nothing bitter or harsh be in it...

In this day of gladness, let us not spread sadness.

St. Ephraem the Syrian

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS