"(49) Here one should consider with what craftiness the enemy deceived her regarding the way of obedience and then placed in her heart the contrary and beyond this, caused her to think that these thoughts proceeded from her. And the wicked one did all this to make her fall into the ditch of mortal sadness which was so dangerous that when she was liberated from it, she said that she had feared she would depart. "
[Saint Catherine of Bologna – XV Century AD; born/died: Bologna/Bologna (aged 49); Virgin; Mystic; Spiritual Writer; Teacher; Artist] (43) On the contrary, now wishing to show by its contrary how to understand and recognize the diabolic messengers through the experience which she had in the above-mentioned diabolical apparition, she says that in all three occasions when the enemy showed himself to her in the way described, it never occurred to her at that moment to wonder if it was the wicked spirit. Instead, immediately and without any verification, she believed that it was the good spirit because, in these apparitions, the false enemy always preached to her that virtue which she loved the most, that is, obedience. Then with much importunity, he insinuated the opposite, putting in her heart thoughts which inclined her to pass judgment on her superiors. (44) And then, after this, under the appearance of contrition, he aroused so much sorrow over these suggestions that he made her stay …More
"Lastly _ to adorn and perfect your soul in the habit of all the virtues, exercise yourself in the inward sets directly opposed to all your disorderly passions."
[Father Dom Lorenzo Scupoli – XVI-XVII Century AD; born: Otranto, Kingdom of Naples/died: Naples, Kingdom of Naples; (aged 79-80); Priest; Spiritual Writer] XIII ~ Of the way to resist the impulses of sense, and of the acts to be performed by the will in order to acquire Habits of Virtue Whenever your reasonable will is attacked by the will of sense on the one hand, and the Divine will on the other, each seeking to obtain the mastery over it, you must make use of various exercises, in order that the Divine will may always govern you. + First _ Whenever you are assailed and buffeted by the impulses of sense, oppose a valiant resistance to them, so that the superior will may not consent. + Secondly _ When the assaults have ceased, excite them anew, in order to repress them with greater force and vigor. Then challenge them again to a third conflict, wherein you may accustom yourself to repulse them with contempt and abhorrence. These two challenges to battle should be made to every disorderly …More
St. Padre Pio ~ You must not only speak to Jesus with your mouth, but also with your heart; yes, in some cases you must speak to Him only with your heart.
slavery to sin and freedom comes from doing Gods will (our Father Prayer)Jesus will reign as king in the house of Jacob inheriting David crown for ever. Once again nobody recognises the Messiah for what he is (great apostasy)
[Saint Catherine of Bologna – XV Century AD; born/died: Bologna/Bologna (aged 49); Virgin; Mystic; Spiritual Writer; Teacher; Artist] (43) On the contrary, now wishing to show by its contrary how to understand and recognize the diabolic messengers through the experience which she had in the above-mentioned diabolical apparition, she says that in all three occasions when the enemy showed himself to her in the way described, it never occurred to her at that moment to wonder if it was the wicked spirit. Instead, immediately and without any verification, she believed that it was the good spirit because, in these apparitions, the false enemy always preached to her that virtue which she loved the most, that is, obedience. Then with much importunity, he insinuated the opposite, putting in her heart thoughts which inclined her to pass judgment on her superiors. (44) And then, after this, under the appearance of contrition, he aroused so much sorrow over these suggestions that he made her stay …More
"(49) Here one should consider with what craftiness the enemy deceived her regarding the way of obedience and then placed in her heart the contrary and beyond this, caused her to think that these thoughts proceeded from her. And the wicked one did all this to make her fall into the ditch of mortal sadness which was so dangerous that when she was liberated from it, she said that she had feared she would depart. "
"(47) So if any of you, beloved sisters, should be tempted in a similar struggle, do not be alarmed nor saddened by thinking that it proceeds from yourself rather than only from diabolic envy which cannot stand it that God be adored and praised. But in eternity, without any respite, he will be blessed and praised and magnified and superexalted in despite and derision of Lucifer and all his companions and the dark brigade. Amen. Amen."
[Father Dom Lorenzo Scupoli – XVI-XVII Century AD; born: Otranto, Kingdom of Naples/died: Naples, Kingdom of Naples; (aged 79-80); Priest; Spiritual Writer] XIII ~ Of the way to resist the impulses of sense, and of the acts to be performed by the will in order to acquire Habits of Virtue Whenever your reasonable will is attacked by the will of sense on the one hand, and the Divine will on the other, each seeking to obtain the mastery over it, you must make use of various exercises, in order that the Divine will may always govern you. + First _ Whenever you are assailed and buffeted by the impulses of sense, oppose a valiant resistance to them, so that the superior will may not consent. + Secondly _ When the assaults have ceased, excite them anew, in order to repress them with greater force and vigor. Then challenge them again to a third conflict, wherein you may accustom yourself to repulse them with contempt and abhorrence. These two challenges to battle should be made to every disorderly …More
"Lastly _ to adorn and perfect your soul in the habit of all the virtues, exercise yourself in the inward sets directly opposed to all your disorderly passions."
"On receiving any insult which tempts you to impatience, it will not be enough to exercise yourself in the three modes of warfare above described, you must do more _ even willingly accept and love the indignity you have endured; desiring to submit to it again, from the same person, and in the same manner; expecting and disposing yourself to bear still harder things."
St. Bernard of Clairvaux ~ The person who thirsts for God eagerly studies and meditates on the inspired Word, knowing that there, he is certain to find the One...
Dietrich Bonhoeffer ~ God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as His instruments and performs His Wonders...
St. Elizabeth of the Trinity ~ Believe that He loves you. He wants to help you Himself in the struggles which you must undergo. Believe in His Love, His exceeding Love.
" She saw him transpierced by iron pins. Her angel told her that it was the deceased brother of that woman who had asked her prayers. "If you wish," he added, "to ask any grace in his favour, it will not be refused to you." "I ask, then," she replied, "that he may be delivered from those horrible irons that transpierce him." Immediately she saw them drawn from the poor sufferer, who was then taken from this special prison and placed in the one occupied by those souls that had not incurred any particular torment."
Chapter XX ~ Diversity of the Pains — King Sancho and Queen Guda — St. Lidwina and the Soul Transpierced — Blessed Margaret Mary and the Bed of Fire. According to the saints, there is great diversity in the corporal pains of Purgatory. Although fire is the principal instrument of torture, there is also the torment of cold, the torture of the members, and the torture applied to the different senses of the human body. This diversity of suffering seems to correspond to the nature of the sins, each one of which demands its own punishment, according to these words : Quia per quce peccat quis, per hac et torquetur — " By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented."1 It is just that it should be so with regard to the chastisement, since the same diversity exists in the distribution of the reward. In Heaven each one receives according to his works, and, as Venerable Bede says, each one receives his crown, his robe of glory. For the martyr this robe is of a rich purple colour, …More
"In the same way, there are now three kinds of men among Christians who are symbolized by the Hebrew people: There are some who rightly believe in God and in my words. There are others who believe in God but distrust my words, because they cannot distinguish between the good and the evil spirit. The third are those who neither believe in me nor in you to whom I have spoken my words."
[Saint Bridget of Sweden/ Heliga Birgitta; XIV Century AD: aged 69-70; born: Uppland, Sweden/died: Rome, Papal States; Widow, Mystic; Spiritual Writer; Founder; Patroness of Europe] Chapter 60 ~ The words of the Son to the bride about the three kinds of Christians that are symbolized by the Jews living in Egypt, and about how the things which have been revealed to the bride should be transmitted, published and preached to ignorant persons by the friends of God. The Son of God spoke to the bride and said: “I am the God of Israel and the one who spoke with Moses. When Moses was sent to my people, he begged for a sign, saying: ‘The people will not believe me otherwise.’ But if the people to whom Moses was sent were the Lord’s people, why did they not believe? You should know that this people consisted of three kinds of men: Some believed in God and Moses. Others believed in God but distrusted Moses, in that they thought that he, perhaps of his own invention and presumption, had presumed to …More
Chapter XX ~ Diversity of the Pains — King Sancho and Queen Guda — St. Lidwina and the Soul Transpierced — Blessed Margaret Mary and the Bed of Fire. According to the saints, there is great diversity in the corporal pains of Purgatory. Although fire is the principal instrument of torture, there is also the torment of cold, the torture of the members, and the torture applied to the different senses of the human body. This diversity of suffering seems to correspond to the nature of the sins, each one of which demands its own punishment, according to these words : Quia per quce peccat quis, per hac et torquetur — " By what things a man sinneth, by the same also is he tormented."1 It is just that it should be so with regard to the chastisement, since the same diversity exists in the distribution of the reward. In Heaven each one receives according to his works, and, as Venerable Bede says, each one receives his crown, his robe of glory. For the martyr this robe is of a rich purple colour, …More
" She saw him transpierced by iron pins. Her angel told her that it was the deceased brother of that woman who had asked her prayers. "If you wish," he added, "to ask any grace in his favour, it will not be refused to you." "I ask, then," she replied, "that he may be delivered from those horrible irons that transpierce him." Immediately she saw them drawn from the poor sufferer, who was then taken from this special prison and placed in the one occupied by those souls that had not incurred any particular torment."
"The Queen redoubled her prayers and good works ; she distributed alms among the poor, caused Masses to be celebrated in all parts of the country, and gave to the convent a magnificent ornament for use of the altar. At the end of forty days the King again appeared. He had been relieved of the burning cincture and of all his other sufferings."
[Saint Bridget of Sweden/ Heliga Birgitta; XIV Century AD: aged 69-70; born: Uppland, Sweden/died: Rome, Papal States; Widow, Mystic; Spiritual Writer; Founder; Patroness of Europe] Chapter 60 ~ The words of the Son to the bride about the three kinds of Christians that are symbolized by the Jews living in Egypt, and about how the things which have been revealed to the bride should be transmitted, published and preached to ignorant persons by the friends of God. The Son of God spoke to the bride and said: “I am the God of Israel and the one who spoke with Moses. When Moses was sent to my people, he begged for a sign, saying: ‘The people will not believe me otherwise.’ But if the people to whom Moses was sent were the Lord’s people, why did they not believe? You should know that this people consisted of three kinds of men: Some believed in God and Moses. Others believed in God but distrusted Moses, in that they thought that he, perhaps of his own invention and presumption, had presumed to …More
"In the same way, there are now three kinds of men among Christians who are symbolized by the Hebrew people: There are some who rightly believe in God and in my words. There are others who believe in God but distrust my words, because they cannot distinguish between the good and the evil spirit. The third are those who neither believe in me nor in you to whom I have spoken my words."
Luther didn't pull Catherine Borza out of a convent. She and several other nuns left willingly, being smuggled out in what had been herring barrels. (I bet they smelled just lovely!) Catherine was the only one whom a priest didn't claim, so Luther got her, About six children, and no descendants. Did Luther break his vows? Without a doubt.