Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:04 Of Marine personnel. Um, just to note on Atlanta thinking about that, uh, the first time I heard talking in church as a senior in high school, it was the first time I've been to a Protestant church and it kinda, I had to keep reminding myself that they didn't have the real presence. And so that was something they could do at the time. You never heard anybody talk in a church? I don't like going to exposition a lot of places because as the priest had to spend so much time correcting people, but it's the same Lord prices are the same yesterday, today and forever. We want to show proper reverence. So that's something we should all make sure we think about any time when his presence. Another thing just since the devil is in this, in the readings today, I just recommend it's readily available. Father chatter up fingers, book on deliverance prayers for the laity, for anybody that would like to avail themselves of that sort of thing.
Speaker 0 00:01:08 Certainly most priests don't do that, but for the river cruise, putting things together so somebody can, can help themselves. And there's also a little thing on internet Christian or on that you can look into if anybody needs that. Or if you notice somebody that needs that brethren rings. So are you that you receive not the grace of God and pay, and then the father and son, Holy spirit. Amen. Why does so many of the people who are saved have to spend so much time in purgatory because they never made up their minds to become truly Holy. They never made up their minds to strive for union with God in this life, but it's doable. It's doable today. We're going to consider some very practical needs for growing in holiness and very proud for me. It's detained in union with God in this life and to do that will draw in largely from the teaching that created doctrine, the church, the great doctor, the interior life, Saint John, and the cross.
Speaker 0 00:02:19 We'll also use some other reliable commentaries on his work that were written by two other comm like masters in the spiritual life for the Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene. And bless it. The father Lucas of Saint Joseph C blessed <inaudible> the first pastor and only found the parish in Tucson, Arizona. And he was later martyred in the Spanish civil war. Now for the sake of clarity, not every quote is going to be cited as usual because it will be cut and pasted and edited. Father Gabriel at st. Mary Magdalen explains the importance of st. John's work quote st. John of the cross teaching applies to all Christians lay or religions that does not require a special state of blood, but only a disposition of the will. Namely the desire of not wanting to be confined to mediocrity and therefore not refusing the generous renunciation required for attaining a more intimate union with God. In other words, this doctrine applies to everyone who does not want to live a Christian life by halves, but who wants to correspond in full measure to his vocation as a child of God and truly give to God the place that belongs to him in his heart, a place of an absolute preference above all others, close quote st. John lacrosse. His teaching applies to everyone who doesn't want to live a Christian life by halves every morning.
Speaker 0 00:04:01 In other words, his teachings for everyone who truly wants to be a Saint who truly wants Christ to reign as the King of their heart, let's turn the st. John across to see how to overcome obstacles to union with God in this life st. John lacrosse, quote, it must first be noted that the evils, which the soul receives come from the world, the devil and the flesh, the world is the least difficult enemy. The devil is the hardest to understand the flesh is the most tenacious of all and it's assaults continue for so long as the old man exists, we ordered conquered any one of these three enemies. It is necessary to conquer all three. And if one is weakened, the other two are weak. And when all three are conquered, no more war remains in the sole close quo in order to conquer any one of these three enemies.
Speaker 0 00:05:02 And that's the world, the devil flesh it's necessary to conquer all three. If one is weekend than the other tour weekend, if one is weekend than other 12 weekend. So the three enemies of the saw the world, the devil and the flesh and the Saint John points out as we conquer one, the other two weekends, let's see how to calm. And don't forget that this is doable today. We're just going to consider the salts of the world on the soul. Saint John lists, three obstacles that the world place isn't the path of union with God. The first obstacle is an inordinate affection for any person. The second obstacle is a disorderly affection for world goods. The third obstacle is the real or parent bad example of our brethren. After a short overview of the principles in fighting the first two obstacles, we'll take a look at each obstacle.
Speaker 0 00:06:02 Then in turn, I gave it up. Saint Mary Magdalene summarizes the principles at stake with the first two obstacles, because both of those concern, a disorderly affection for creatures. Cool. God does not forbid us to love creatures on the contrary. Often commands us to do so, but he wants us to love them. The formality with his will, and without attaching our hearts to them in such a way that we'll enjoy the use of created goods. Would you not refuse God, the preference owed to him close quote, God does not forbid us to love creatures on the contrary. He often commands us to do so, but he wants us to love them and conformity to his will. And without attached in our hearts to them in such a way. Well, in showing you secreted goods, we don't refuse God, the preference owed cable. What does it mean that we shouldn't attach our hearts to create you shouldn't have husband's heart be attached to his wife.
Speaker 0 00:07:06 Shouldn't a mother's heart be attached to her children. And this doesn't sound right. Well, if we would, you use the common everyday meaning or the word attachment, there would be a very great cause for concern. Sure. And oftentimes pies, people read it. These kind of works get themselves wrapped around the axle cause they don't actually understand what is meant here. Here's the key st. John lacrosse is using this term tached in a very specific way. So we need to understand. And what do you mean? So when he speaks of attachments, in fact, it's absolutely essential to understand what do you mean by being attached to, for, to make progress father Gabriel of st. Mary Magdalen explains quote for the same thing. This is the meaning of the word attachment. Love that binds the heart in a way that is not according to the will of God or in an exaggerated manner.
Speaker 0 00:07:58 Close quote, as an attachment is a love that binds the heart in a way that's not according to the will of God or an exaggerated man, plus it. Lucas remarks on this point. Well, st. John knew well, the sensitivity, the human heart and how limited and self centered it's affections can become. He was well aware of the dangers of loving creatures solely for themselves in an effort to prevent such an agent Saint John advocate that we love creatures, not for their personal attraction towards us, but solely through the love of God, like all masters of the spirit you heard, or just a modification of affections without which moral or spiritual advancement is impossible. Those do not learn to properly control. Our hearts will never learn to become saints against such human weakness. Then John proposes the remedy. He forbids the slightest disorderly attachments, which stands in the way of perfection closed.
Speaker 0 00:08:56 So an attachment is a love that binds the heart in a way that's not according to the will of God or in an exaggerated manner. And one obvious danger. The world place. Isn't the path of union God, the first house, but Saint John warrants is just such a love for another person. It's having an inordinate affection for any person. Father Gabriel, this can be found is often fond. Unfortunately in the most legitimate affections, does it not happen at times that a Christian mother cannot resign herself when her daughter wants to enter the convent? I guarantee that happens. But if there are reasonable guarantees that the vocation to genuine to continue to oppose it for fear of the inevitable separation is no longer to love. According to God close quo, father Gabriel continues. Let us not forget. God wants us to love creatures, but he does not want us to be attached to them.
Speaker 0 00:09:53 There are some infections that are not only legitimate, but even Holy and positive will by God to give some examples of this, the mutual love of Christian spouses and the love of mother for children. Do you think it could be the will of God, that the mother, not her children that she forget, then on the contrary, if she should do this, she would offend God. She would commit a grave sin in Saint John of the cross, certainly does not ask us to commit the sins. Then what is st. John on the cross mean when he writes it for getting creatures and of leaving them according to the faction of the will. He is only telling us to avoid every in order to affection every attachment. Once again, for the same, this is the meaning of the word attachment, love that binds the heart in a way that is it not according to the will of God or in any saturated manner.
Speaker 0 00:10:41 This can be from is often found, unfortunately, most legitimate affections close quote, for example, when someone loves a spouse or child in a possessive way, or in a selfish way, not as a child of God, when someone likes pleasure and not love the primary or final hand to be with their spouse, understand the proper level of neighbors that were all faulted by Christ and distinguishing it from a disordered love is such an important point that we'll consider the comments of bliss. It Lucas of Saint Joseph quote, the actual words of st. John across concerning love of neighbor, car quote, love, which is born of sensuality and sensuality, that which is born of God and sin God, this is the difference between these two loves. So that man may distinguish between them close quote. So love, which is born of sensuality and sensuality. That which is born of God and is in God, Saint John of the cross, that is not the enemy of love.
Speaker 0 00:11:42 He wishes the heartbeat purified. So can contain a greater amount. So we've been capable of loving, not only God loving all in God and Foreca, whatever. According him is just and lovable. The spiritual advancement of a soul is like the flight, the higher it sores, the greater the freedom with which it flies and the keeners its side when selfishness or show sympathy motivates our love. It becomes narrow and limited. Such as soul is completely absorbed with self. And there's no room for love of others. When a man begins to love his neighbor, primarily for the love of God, then his spiritual vision increases his heart as liberated and the capacity for loving embraces all, man, the more close to the soul approaches God by its sanctity of life. The more it resembles God as God loves the entire human race collectively, and yet delights in each soul individually.
Speaker 0 00:12:39 So the true friends of God love all mankind and each individual, the saints have excluded no one from their affections yet they did not love each with the same degree of intensity. They had a special love for those who were nearest to God, but a paternal love for those who are most need of it because they were the farthest away from God in proportion to their sanctity, three characteristics, predominate, a sincere practical for all predilection, for those closest to God and a paternal solicitude for those in greatest need close pole plus Lucas, the st Joseph's. So the Saint sincerely loved all mankind in Egypt, the visual, they didn't exclude anyone. You put them. Don't love everybody with the same degree of intensity, they have a special love for those who are the closest to God. The upper maternal love for those who are most in need of it because they're the farthest from God.
Speaker 0 00:13:35 Okay? Now let's consider st. John and cross warnings about disorderly affection for worldly goods. Saint John, with respect to temporal, good things is needful. If that was truly free to itself and moderate accesses with an appetite to pour all kinds of possession and to have no care for them. Now there is to food or clothing or any other creative thing nor us to the Morrow that must direct this pair to something higher, namely to seeking the kingdom of God. That is not fair to God. And the rest has his majesty says shall be added onto us for he that cares the beast will not be forgetful of the, and this way they'll show the teen starts and peace and the senses closing. Cool. Now it's essential to keep in mind. The goal here is that it became union with God in this life, which requires a heart that is free from all attachments, a heart that's free to truly love God in regard to possessions.
Speaker 0 00:14:30 Then as we, as father Gabriel, st Marie magnet points out st. John, only times to avoid every in order to affect you. Every attack, every love that binds the way, the hard way. That's not according to the will of God or an exaggerated mat. Why? Because these attachments draw us away from God. They impede arguing with him to the degree. We're attached to something that isn't God, that's the very degree. We're not attached to God, our heart. We want to have single focus on heart. And that's what st. John lacrosse tells us how to do father Gabriel quote, one had a satisfies taste and appetite would go to the excessive gluttony would evidently attached to such satisfactions or one has been a QVR about food attached to soft life, attached to tobacco, beer cigarettes, soft drinks, etc, or someone that couldn't renounce a legitimate recreation, sports games.
Speaker 0 00:15:24 Other newsman's looking at their phone. Well, there's a duty of office or duty to charity to fulfill what undoubtedly Sean self to be attached to it. Often, each of us is attached a little there much to so many things. These attachments draw us away from them, God and conceal and impede interior life. They impede intimate union. Wasn't God. Saint John does not ask anything that cannot be done even by a lay man who has many duties of state family, and really reality. It's not a matter of suppressing. These of forgetting quite to the contrary. It is a matter of suppressing, all excessive and useless attachments, which are two exclusively worldly. And therefore not according to God, it's not a matter of material separation from things st. Louis was the King of France and he was detached in the way he was supposed to be immensely rich.
Speaker 0 00:16:21 But I think, uh, st. Catherine, correct. So read, fill it out. The Drexel fam you know, right up there with the JP Morgan, what are the richest women in the world, but she was detached to her wealth. So it's not a matter of material separation from things that's not, it's the renunciation of it. Every attachment there should not be attached that's in anyone, not even in one on whom depend the most extensive social duties. A man could be detached from everything, not only domestic life, but also in social political life. Indeed, everyone could so close quotes for the Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalene regarding kind of sessions. And st. John is holding, telling us to avoid every inordinate affection, every attachment, every love that binds the heart in a way that's not cool, the will of God or exaggerated manner. Why? Because he's attachments drag us away from him, God, and they impede our union with him.
Speaker 0 00:17:20 It's not a matter of Metro separation for things, but there are none station of every day. There should not be attachments in anyone. In other words, we should on our possessions, prayer, possessions shouldn't own us. We should own our possessions purpose sessions should not bless it. Lucas and of itself cope the following beautiful passage confirms and illustrates st. John's doctor on the advantage of detachment from creature, Saint John, the moral heart withdraws itself from earthly attachments, the more it prepares itself for the love of God and neighbor. When the affections are afraid from natural motives, the soul loves creatures that God wills them to be loved such a love for results and Liberty of spirit and a greater love of God for his own sake. The deeper love with God becomes the more we love our neighbor since the principle of both of us is the same close quote.
Speaker 0 00:18:23 So the moral heart withdraws itself from earthly attachments, the more it prepares itself for love of God and neighbor, when affections are free from Nasher moderates, the soul loves creatures as God wills them to be loved such a love results in Liberty of spirit and greater of God for his own sake, the deeper our love of God becomes the more we love our neighbor since the principle of both laws. So the same that principle both we'll have this charity, the greater art charity, the greater love of God and the greater love of nature. We continue with st. Jude, the process, third and last warning about the world, which has to do with the real or apparent bad example of our brethren and the necessity of mining our own business. And in terms of money and our own business, we mean exactly that this admonition has to be understood as applying to persons for home.
Speaker 0 00:19:14 We are not actually responsible. Okay? So Saint John, the third cautious very necessary many through not observing it have not only lost the peace and blessings of their souls, but a fall and habitually fall and amend evils and sins. This caution is that thou should keep that set with all villages from sending back thoughts upon what happens in the community. He's speaking here of religious communities, but the principles apply with equal force parish, diocese, or little small town, and still nor from speaking of it, nor should they ever be shocked or Marvel at anything that the us sees or hears put should strive to keep they sold, forgetting all this of it all for thought desire to consider any of these things. Even though they'll live among angels, many things, men will seem to be, to be a mess since that will not understand the substance health take care of for an example, lot's wife, because she was troubled at the petition of the sodomites and look backwards to see what was happening was punished by God who turned her into a statue of salt by this understand that even though may live among devils God, wills the live among them in such a way that they'll know back my thoughts, their business, but abandoned and polling striving to keep that soul peered, since you would God undisturbed by thoughts, either of one thing or another thought mentioned this, take it for certain that communities will never be without some occasional stumbling.
Speaker 0 00:20:39 Since they're never wanting devils, who's drived over through the saints and God permits this in order to exercise them and test them. If they'll do not do this, how can never attain a Holy detachment recollection for hovered good, be the aim and how are great dicey on the devil and trap the either one place or another, and that we're already securely trapped in that not as permit by sold to be distracted in any of these ways, remember that, which is set by the policy change quote, if any man, think of himself to be religious, not broadly as tongue. This man's religion is vain close quote James one 26. This has to be understood. Noah said inward speech then about, for the st. John of the cross. Now I have the privilege of knowing quite a few Holy people. And I mean, Holy, in the formal sense, I don't know a single one who spends any significant amount of time on the Catholic blogs and keeping track of the chaos in the church.
Speaker 0 00:21:37 If someone is in a position of authority, responsibility needs to keep himself informants as far as his duty requires and that's for everyone in their state of life. But no more than that, it's a temptation to go outside what we need to take care of. And we do need to be informed. We're not supposed to be obstetrician, but we have to be very, very careful because there's an appetite to go outside that, huh? As priests, these were spiritual fathers. We have to do keep more track of the chaos in the church than, than other people. So there's a certain degree of that. We have to do. I hate it. It's very dangerous. It's very, very dangerous. Plus Lucas has a very enlightening commentary on this morning.
Speaker 0 00:22:23 The third obstacle, which the world raised against professors is a real or parent bad example of our brother. It is necessary to distinguish between the two basic causes of scandal. Let's be fall prey to our own error or heart, which is not completely purified and filled with charity is very subjective to him. People do not appear as they pack Sheol for other's reflection of what he is himself. In this case, the cause of the scandal is only in the person scan lies. And this explains the words, if that considers any of these things, even though I live among angels, many of them will appear to be a miss since that will not be able to understand the substance element. This is important. The heart is not completely purified to fill with Sherry is very subjective. So things will appear as they actually are. But as a reflection of the person themselves, the other cause of scandals, ignorance or false interpretation of a neighbor's actions, when the soul has not been purified by throw knowledge of its own weaknesses, the hardest not fill a charity.
Speaker 0 00:23:26 One is always looking for defects in his neighbor. This is not true. The saints were sincere lovers. The truth, since they're a realist, they believe that truth has nothing to hide. So accept things as they are not as they would like them to be at other times. It cause the scandals exterior is when we actually see someone performing this action, you know, and in the current state of the church, this is almost the rule. Plus it, look, it's weird now living with angels, but with men who are still struggling to the thorns, Mark temptation, since no one is secure against these dangers, as long as he lives in the world, st. John advises, both charity and prunes and doing what's our neighbors, neither. Should you ever be shocked at Marvel and anything you see or hear since God permits man needles to strive to overcome the scenes.
Speaker 0 00:24:08 Now, the fact that God permits delis, this is sometimes surprising to people. One of the ways that the evil spirits most frequently temperaments is she has thoughts regarding their neighbor's fault. And the devil represents these thoughts vividly and falsely trusting the weak soulless, but about as many misunderstandings, thereby adding sin to sin, then he fills a soul what's mistaken zeal by causing it to believe it just become aware of this weakness. So the soulmate commend the person concerned to God. So one of the most common ways of a man to be tempted is for him to have Padella suggest thoughts regarding his neighbor. The devil represents those thoughts vividly and falsely trustee, the weak soul spoke of broadest misunderstandings. And he fills the soul with mistaken zeal causing to believe it's aware of this weakness. So the soulmate commend person concerned to God. There are souls. So lacking the true spirit of charity. They delight ferreting out the weaknesses of their neighbor, taking themselves free. This defects. They reveal the weaknesses of others and do not understand it ways in divine Providence for sanctifying, his elect and this way, such souls are guilty of the very false they criticize in others.
Speaker 0 00:25:23 God allows us to see our brother fall in his sin. Not only that we can practice patients share, but that we also may profit by their example. When we see the defects and others, we should wonder if we are guilty of the same weaknesses, realizing that if we do not possess them now, we would easily do so at a later day while we're living in this world, no matter where we direct our eyes, we will see the deficiencies in man. If we have the power to love within the recesses of our own soul, we'll be overwhelmed by the multitude of serious defects. Perhaps even the sins we'd find there in first Corinthians 10, 12 st. Paul warns his, he didn't think of himself to stand. That I'm take heed. Lest he fall. Anyone is easily scandalized. The faults of his neighbor displays it's utter ignorance of the laws of divine Providence governing the centrification is sold and demonstrates his lack knowledge of human weakness.
Speaker 0 00:26:15 Such a lack of understanding is nothing more than a pretense for criticizing the neighbor. Well, at the same time, it reveals a complete lack of charity, nothing ever scandalized, the truly great soul who realized the one most harm by a fall, which has been committed as a person committing a fall. Saint John lacrosse uses forceful language, warning us. We should not enjoy peace. Even if we loved among angels, unless we refrained from what is no concern of ours. Now, it seems to me just as a human being, but a that most people or many people, I shouldn't say most, but many people have this whole principle upside down and backwards in our society. They keep track of virtually everything going on in the parish, the Chancery, wrong Hollywood, et cetera. And their kids are running around like a little bunch of little Apaches. It's just completely upside down and backwards.
Speaker 0 00:27:05 The very things that we're supposed to be most concerned with. They're not concerned with this is a trick. It's an inversion of the right order of things. So, so st. John Cross, he's his force plan, which one ask, we shall not enjoy the peace. If we lived among angels, unless we refrained from what is no concern bars, he supplements this strong wise had machine nuts. Even if you were to live among devils gods, to requires you to live oblivious to their shortcomings, keep your soul, peer and audience set of God, being completely on histor by what is transpiring Paul around you? I mean, who cares about Hollywood? These are people that pretend to be other people and you can't believe how many people talked to me about it. I, you know, like who cares seriously? What is going on? You're not going to go with Bolinas.
Speaker 0 00:27:51 Did you pay any attention to that stuff at all? Zippo? Not, not. You can't go anywhere. You're just stuck in the mud. Okay? Even if you were lived to live among devils, God still requires a bit of oblivious. Their shortcomings. Keep your soul pivotable in the sight of God being completely undisturbed by what is transpiring all around. Since Saint John uses such strong language, this doctrine must be of the greatest importance close club busted Lucas essential. Okay, let's close today. We've seen there's three enemies of this. So we know that the world, the devil, the flesh Saint John teaches that the world is at least difficult enemy. The devil is the hardest to understand where the flesh is the most tenacious of all the next time we promote this topic. We'll take a look at his teaching on the dough today. We cook quick, look at the three obstacles that the workplace is in the path of union with God. The first obstacle is inordinate affection for any person. The second ops was disordered affection for worldly goods. And third obstacle is the real apparent bad example of our brother overcoming each one. He's awesome. It's doable. It's doing like everybody that really wants to be a Saint who truly wants Christ to reign as the key, her hearts it's doable. This is doable.
