Author Topic: A leopard doesnt change its spots (Read 3627 times)

confederate catholic · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2015, 03:57:04 PM »

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"My brother, if your soul were pure and upright before the Lord, you would be able to profit from all things of this life. If you were to see a wandering peddler, you would say to yourself: 'my soul, from the desire to earn fleeting, earthly goods, the peddler toils a great deal and endures much, concentrating on things which will not ultimately remain under his domain. Why, then, do you not look after those things which are eternal and incorruptible?' Once again, if you were to see those who dispute in court over financial matters, you would say: 'My soul, these people, often having not a single need, show such ardor and quarrel with such shouting between themselves. You, who owe to God a myriad of talents, why do you not implore God, bowing down as one should, to obtain cancellation of that debt?'

"If you were to see a builder making houses, you would again say: 'my soul, these same, even if they build houses from mud, show such great zeal to finish the work they have laid out. You, why are you indifferent to eternal structures and why do you not struggle to erect the abode of God within the soul, forming and joining the virtues by the will?'

"Now, in order not to be prolix in citing various circuмstances one by one, let us say that we must take care to transform our worldly thoughts and observations, which are born of our material perspective on things of the present life, to spiritual ones. Thereby, we shall profit from all things with the help and assistance of Divine Grace" (Saint Ephraim).

confederate catholic · « **Reply #11 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:00:20 PM »

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An elder gave this advice to a certain young man who asked him to tell him how to be saved: "Force yourself, my child, to do whatever the condemned do in prison. Hear them asking continually, with agony written on their faces: 'Where is the Governor? When is he coming? Maybe he has granted a pardon.' They tremble and cry, waiting for the moment when they will be led to the place of execution. Say in your mind, too: 'My sins have condemned me. How shall I face the righteous Judge? How will I defend myself?' Grieve and weep over your sins, so as to be saved."

confederate catholic · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:05:09 PM »

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It is said of a pious abbess, living in our times, that she was once returned to her convent by the authorities, after having been missing for some days. She had been found sitting in the gutters of the worst parts of the city, seemingly a derelict, suffering the abuse of passers-by. Her spiritual daughters, astonished by these circuмstances, hastened to ask her for an explanation. She told them: "You, my children, have me to teach you obedience. But I have no one."

confederate catholic · « **Reply #13 on:** October 19, 2015, 04:07:36 PM »

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"Reflect each day on those things in which you have erred. And if you call on God with contrition concerning these faults, He will surely forgive you of them. Question yourself always, as long as you live, to discover where you fall short; surely at the time of your death, then, you will not suffer from the horrible agony of fear because of your faults. Be always ready to encounter God, and thereby you will be ready to carry out His will. Every single day examine carefully whichever of your passions you have been able to conquer-never trusting in yourself, supposing that somehow with your own power you accomplished something; for God is merciful and He gave you the power to be victorious.

"When, each day, you rise from your bed, remember that you will give an accounting to God for your every deed, for your every word, as well as for your every thought. Thus, you will not sin before God; rather, fear of Him will dwell with you" (Abba Isaias).

we all fall we all can repent and keep going always onward and upward!

Pilar · « **Reply #14 on:** October 19, 2015, 05:04:02 PM »

Quote from: Jaynek

Quote from: confederate catholic
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The sheer POWER of formation on an individual. One's family upbringing, their "culture", forms who we are for life. Our environment, our teachers, teach us what questions to ask, and the best way to look at the world. One's friends, parents, teachers, peers, the school one attends, etc. make near-indelible marks on one's character.

this seems you are leaving no place for Grace. how does a Bartolo Longo fit in this scenario, he was a satanist before his conversion, do we all dispair because of not having a perfect formation? did this thing ever exist? when in church history did we have the perfect society?

we are supposed to be progressing in our faith daily. we should be different today than yesterday. we should be transforming through the sacraments.

Of course, Grace is more important for salvation, but it is much harder to live a good Catholic life without a good formation. There is a constant struggle against bad habits and poor understanding. It is like trying to run a race while carrying a heavy weight.

We are all influenced by Liberalism and Modernism no matter what. I have many children who were born into Tradition (SSPX) and they still struggle like we all do. We are surrounded by perhaps the greatest collection of filth that ever was and in Europe it is even worse. There are perhaps hundreds of children all the way up to young adults, born into SSPX tradition in my town. Many show fruits of holiness, some not, but may come back in the end. They are exposed to the same temptations that all children now are. One of our priests told us that is why he expects a chastisement soon, because children can no longer be expected to reach adulthood without losing their innocence, for the first time in Christendom.

To JayneK, I would say this; many of the things we do, the sins and poor choices we have made out of poor formation and ignorance, once we have converted or recovered ourselves, can and will be used for our sanctification. Just as Our Lord's ugly wounds now shine and glow with the beauty of rare jewels, so will those things we have repented of. Our Lord said, "I make all things new" and He also said "My yoke is sweet and My burden light." While sometimes our past tempts us to despair and be sluggish, if we have truly repented, the memory of those things we are now ashamed of will prevent that most pernicious poison, pride, and once overcome will actually be a source of glory in Heaven.

Finally, I know a person very well (not myself) who converted as an adult and learned more about the Faith in a few years than most of the cradle Catholics know after a lifetime. It is all about desire. Often it has been said that when the Jews convert, they will be the best Catholics. Many of our greatest saints had Jєωιѕн ancestry. They are people of great desire, and once it is focused on God...watch out. :wink: