Abbey-Roads2

Or, “I’ve been insulted by better people than you!”

I love that last line - people accustomed to being humiliated or thrown out of bars and wedding receptions, often use that defense.  (How do I know that?  LOL!)  But seriously, insults, derision, calumnies, defamation, and the like are no laughing matter.  That stuff hurts, and for the victim, it often becomes a source of contempt and even hatred towards the perpetrator.

As usual, Fr. Mark has posted another spiritual gem dealing with the subject, especially emphasizing Our Lord’s command,““I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44). “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Lk 6:28). These are not suggestions; they are not pious recommendations. They are clear precepts of Christ: commandments conceived in His merciful Heart and addressed to each of us without exception.” 

There is a mysterious power in praying for those who have hurt us, in interceding wholeheartedly
— for those who have spoken ill of us,
— for those who have damaged our reputations,
— for those who have incited others to think less of us,
— for those who have hurt us emotionally, physically, or spiritually,
— for those who have been abusive toward us,
— for those who have cursed us,
— for those have broken our hearts, betrayed us, or rejected us. 

Our Lord commands us to pray for them, not only for their sakes, but also for our own. Our own spiritual liberation, our own inner healing from resentment, hatred, and lingering bitterness is contingent upon our persevering obedience to the commandments of Christ in the Gospel.” - Fr. Mark

Fr. Mark has also posted a novena prayer  to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, the days of prayer in preparation for her feast begin today.

Sometimes the Lord expects us to fight harder.  From St. Alphonsus: 

“It is true that when we have recourse to God with confidence in dangerous temptations, he assists us; but, in certain very urgent occasions, the Lord sometimes wishes that we cooperate, and do violence to ourselves to resist temptations. On such occasions, it will not be enough to have recourse to God once or twice; it will be necessary to multiply prayers, and frequently to prostrate ourselves, and send up our sighs before the image of the Blessed Virgin and the crucifix, crying out with tears: Mary, my mother, assist me; Jesus, my Savior, save me; for Thy mercy’s sake, do not abandon me – do not permit me to lose Thee.”

The way is straight - and narrow.  

“Let us keep in mind the words of the Gospel: “How narrow is the gate and straight is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it” (Mat. 7:14). The way to Heaven is straight and narrow: they who wish to arrive at that place of bliss by walking in the paths of pleasure shall be disappointed; and therefore few reach it, because few are willing to use violence to themselves in resisting temptations. “The kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away” (Matt. 11:12). In explaining this passage, a certain writer says, “Vi queritur, invaditur, occupatur.” It must be sought for and obtained by violence: he who wishes to obtain it without inconvenience, or by leading a soft and irregular life, shall not acquire it – he shall be excluded from it.”

One needs resolute determination.

“To save their souls, some of the saints have retired into the cloister; some have confined themselves in a cave; others have embraced torments and death. “The violent bear it away.” Some complain of their want of confidence in God; but they do not perceive that their lack of confidence arises from the weakness of their resolution to serve God. St. Teresa used to say, “Of irresolute souls the Devil has no fear.” And the wise Man has declared, that “desires kill the slothful” (Prov. 21:25). Some would wish to be saved and to become saints, but never resolve to adopt the means of salvation, such as meditation, the frequentation of the sacraments, detachment from creatures; or, if they adopt these means, they soon give them up. In a word, they are satisfied with fruitless desires, and thus continue to live in enmity with God, or at least in tepidity, which, in the end, leads them to the loss of God. Thus in them are verified the words of the Holy Ghost, “desires kill the slothful.” - St. Alphonsus