August 29th
Spiritual Warfare [ref Presentation Ministries]
“Our battle is not against human forces but against the principalities and powers, the rulers of this world of darkness, the evil spirits in regions above.” —Ephesians 6:12
“The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day.” —Catechism of the Catholic Church, 409
Although the Lord reveals to us in His word that we are in a spiritual war, most Christians don’t seem to take this very seriously. How much do you hear about spiritual warfare from the pulpit? If you brought up spiritual warfare in your parish council meetings, what would be the reaction? A few Christians try to “push” spiritual warfare, but they are usually dismissed as “fundamentalist” and not given a hearing. Consequently, many Christians give little thought to the Biblical revelation that we are in a war against evil spirits, and of course they’re very likely to lose a war that they don’t believe they’re in.
Aug 28th
Parable of the Prodigal Son
1. Saint Luke writes that an ungrateful son, disdaining to remain in subjection to his father, went one day to demand from him his inheritance that he might live as he pleased. Having obtained it he turned his back upon his father and went his way to live in vice in a far distant country. This prodigal son is a figure of the sinner who, abusing the liberty which God has granted him, forsakes God and lives in iniquity far away from him.
O my Lord and my Father, this is what I have done: when, to satisfy my capricious desires, I have so often forsaken Thee to live at a distance from Thee, deprived of Thy grace.
2. But as it happened to the prodigal son that, having left his father, he was reduced to so great misery that he was unable to satisfy himself with the husks which the swine refused to eat, so does it happen to the sinner when he forsakes God: he can nowhere find contentment nor peace because, at a distance from God, all the pleasures of the earth cannot satisfy his heart.
The prodigal son, seeing himself reduced to such a state of misery, said within himself, “I will arise and go to my father.” Do thou, Christian, in like manner, arise from the filth of sin and return to your heavenly Father, who will not reject you.
Yes my God and my Father, I confess that I have done evil in forsaking Thee. I am sorry for it and repent of it with my whole heart. O do not cast me off now that I return to Thee penitent and resolved never more to depart from before Thy feet. My dear Father, forgive me, pardon me, give me the kiss of peace and receive me into Thy favor.
3. The prodigal son, on his return, cast himself with humility at his father’s feet and said, “Father, I am not worthy to be called thy son.” Upon which his father embraced him with tenderness, and, forgetting all his past ingratitude, welcomed him with the greatest affection and was overjoyed at regaining his son who was lost.
Most tender Father, suffer me to cast myself with sorrow at Thy feet for my multiplied offenses against Thee. I am not worthy to be called Thy son, having so many times forsaken and despised Thee but I know that Thou art so good a parent that Thou wilt not reject a repentant child. If hitherto I have not loved Thee, I will now love Thee above all things and will willingly undergo any suffering for Thy love. Assist me with Thy holy grace that I may never remain faithful to Thee. O Mary, God is my Father; Thou art my mother. Be not forgetful of me.
– The Way of Salvation and of Perfection, By St. Alphonsus De Liquori, Meditation LXXXIV
August 25th
Follow Marcus on TikTok for daily inspiration https://www.tiktok.com/@marcusastanley/video/7665747695478361357?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
August 20th
Believe me that the mortification of the senses in seeing, hearing, and speaking, is worth much more than wearing chains or haircloth.
― Saint Francis de Sales; A Year with the Saints (p. 79)
It should be our principal business to conquer ourselves, and, from day to day, to go on increasing in strength and perfection. Above all, however, it is necessary for us to strive to conquer our little temptations, such as fits of anger, suspicions, jealousies, envy, deceitfulness, vanity, attachments, and evil thoughts. For in this way we shall acquire strength to subdue greater ones.—-St. Francis de Sales
August 12th
I never knew about St Michael’s Lent. Until this year. It is also the first year I became aware of Exodus 90 and participated in that journey earlier this year! St. Michael’s Lent is a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and penance that begins on August 15 (the Feast of the Assumption) and ends on September 29 (Michaelmas, the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel) Started by St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century due to his deep devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. Famous for being the period during which St. Francis received the stigmata at Mount La Verna in 1224. You can join on the Hallow app or Exodus 90. Or you can participate without the app! Imagine, people survived before smart phones, internet, and digital everything.
It is good to identify your why. It does not have to be one of these. Purpose: Seeking humility, spiritual protection against evil, and inner purification.
