Day 7. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: On Temptations
by VP
Posted on Tuesday March 11, 2025 at 12:01AM in Lenten Sermons
"We are all inclined to sin, my children; we are idle, greedy, sensual, given to the pleasures of the flesh. We want to know everything, to learn everything, to see everything; we must watch over our mind, over our heart, and over our senses, for these are the gates by which the devil penetrates. See, he prowls round us incessantly; his only occupation in this world is to seek companions for himself. All our life he will lay snares for us, he will try to make us yield to temptations; we must, on our side, do all we can to defeat and resist him.
We can do nothing by ourselves, my children; but we can do everything with the help of the good God; let us pray Him to deliver us from this enemy of our salvation, or to give us strength to fight against him. With the Name of Jesus we shall overthrow the demons; we shall put them to flight. With this Name, if they sometimes dare to attack us, our battles will be victories, and our victories will be crowns for heaven, all brilliant with precious stones.
See, my children, the good God refuses nothing to those who pray to Him from the bottom of their heart. St. Teresa, being one day in prayer, and desiring to see the good God, Jesus Christ showed to the eyes of her soul His divine Hands; then, another day, when she was again in prayer, He showed her His Face. Lastly, some days after, He showed her the whole of His Sacred Humanity. The good God who granted the desire of St. Teresa will also grant our prayers. If we ask of Him the grace to resist temptations, He will grant it to us; for He wishes to save us all, He shed His Blood for us all, He died for us all, He is waiting for us all in heaven; we are two or three hundred here: shall we all be saved, shall we all go to heaven? Alas! my children, we know nothing about it; but I tremble when I see so many souls lost in these days. See, they fall into hell as the leaves fall from the trees at the approach of winter.
We shall fall like the rest, my children, if we do not avoid temptations; if, when we cannot avoid them, we do not fight generously, with the help of the good God, if we do not invoke His Name during the strife, like St. Anthony in the desert. This saint having retired into an old sepulcher, the devil came to attack him; he tried at first to terrify him with a horrible noise; he even beat him so cruelly, that he left him half dead and covered with wounds. "Well," said St. Anthony, "here I am, ready to fight again; no, thou shalt not be able to separate me from Jesus Christ, my Lord and my God." The spirits of darkness redoubled their efforts, and uttered frightful cries. St. Anthony remained unmoved, because he put all his confidence in God.
After the example of this saint, my children, let us be always ready for the combat; let us put our confidence in God; let us fast and pray; and the devil will not be able to separate us from Jesus Christ, either in this world or the next."
Source: The Spirit of the Cure d'Ars, by l'Abbe Monnin p.130, 1865.
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPGSt. Eulogius of Cordova
by VP
Posted on Tuesday March 11, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
Martyrdom of Saint Eulogius of Cordova, at Cordova cathedral
"GOOD COUNSEL - Eulogius, born of one of the first families of Cordova, was directing the ecclesiastical school of that town, when a violent persecution broke out against the Christian religion on the part of the Moors, who then governed Spain. Eulogius, having been thrown into prison with a large number of Christians, composed during his captivity an "Exhortation to Martyrdom," which was of the greatest avail to the Church in strengthening the faith of the persecuted brethren. Having been restored to liberty on account of the distinguished rank of his family, he did not consult the promptings of human prudence, which would have urged him to surround himself henceforth with greater precautions; but, on the contrary, did not cease to inspire his co-religionists with a generous courage, exciting some to perseverance, and helping others to conquer the obstacles or surmount the dangers with which, out of a false compassion, their parents and friends surrounded them. He was at length remitted to prison, and merited, in his own behoof, that crown which he had been instrumental in procuring for so many others. St. Eulogius was beheaded in 859.
MORAL REFLECTION. No one should hide away the talent which he has received, nor put under a bushel the light intrusted to his safekeeping. "Having different gifts according to the grace that is given, let him teach, that can teach; let him exhort that exhorteth." -(Rom. xii. 6.)" Pictorial Half Hours with the Saint by the Abbe Auguste Lecanu
Prayer for Holy Bishops:
Lord, according to Your promise that the
Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit
for such work.
The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard
by the fire of the Holy Ghost.
So, Good Lord, do now in like manner again with Thy Church Militant;
change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones;
set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars, that may suffer and endure
great labors, watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat;
which also shall not hear the threatenings of princes, persecution,
neither death but always persuade and think with themselves to
suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments,
for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord,
the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout all the world.
Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy
Church. Saint John Fisher (Sermon in 1508) from Saint John Fisher Forum
