Comments on: Two Lenten Battlefields

By: K.L.B.

K.L.B. — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:29:42 +0000

“To silence and tranquilize the four natural passions – joy, hope, fear, and grief – the following counsels are very helpful, conducive to great merit, and the source of great virtues:
Take care that you always choose
Not the easiest, but the hardest;
Not the most delectable, but the most distasteful;
Not what gives most pleasure, but what is less pleasing;
Not what allows you much rest, but what requires great exertion;
Not what consoles, but what deprives you of consolation;
Not the loftiest and the most precious, but the lowest and the most despised;
Not the desire for anything, but a desire for nothing;
Do not go about seeking the best of temporal things, but the worst;
Desire nothing but to enter for Christ’s sake into total nakedness, emptiness, and poverty with respect to all the things of this world.

These counsels, if well heeded and put into practice, are quite sufficient for entering into the night of sense.”
- St. John of the Cross 1542-1591 (aka, Juan de la Cruz); The Dark Night Of The Soul; Part I-The Ascent to Mount Carmel; Book One-The First Dark Night of Sense and Desire; Chapter XIII-The active and the passive way; the imitation of Christ/The silencing of the passions.

By: Anthony Velez

Anthony Velez — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:26:05 +0000

In processing this matter just a little further, I am reminded of the fact that there is such a thing as a holy restlessness. This kind of restlessness is a reminder that this world is not our home, and that our souls are made for unbroken communion with God. This kind of restlessness can act as a spur to redirect our wayward impulses, as we live by faith in this longing that will not be completely satisfied until God’s Kingdom comes in fullness. Of course, the restlessness that I am struggling with is the one where I inordinately look to experiences, accomplishments, things, and people to provide an impossible satisfaction. And right now, it seems to me that the hitch is that these two kinds of restlessness-es are two sides of the same coin.

By: Roger Green

Roger Green — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:40:14 +0000

restlessness here for sure.

By: Anthony Velez

Anthony Velez — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:53:41 +0000

“Brevity is the soul of wit.” Of course, this post is not very witty, but I just wanted to use that quote.

Regarding what I gave up for Lent: all beverages except water and tea. I’m feeling quite Spartan with some English sensibilities.

By: K.L.B.

K.L.B. — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:05:24 +0000

I’m afraid I’ve grown tired of reading this entry. *LOL*

So… what’d you give up for Lent?

Been eatin’ fish on Fridays?