Monday, July 30, 2012

The Healthy Horse

Some people regard private enterprise as a predatory tiger to be shot. Others look on it as a cow they can milk. Not enough people see it as a healthy horse, pulling a sturdy wagon.
- Winston Churchill

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Innocent Pope

"It is necessary to obey a Pope in all things as long as he does not go against the universal customs of the Church, but should he go against the universal customs of the Church, he need not be followed."
– Pope Innocent III, De Consuetudine

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Forgiveness in Vegas

Source

Arturo Martinez-Sanchez says he had no choice but to forgive the man suspected of sexually assaulting and killing his wife and young daughter in an April 2012 attack that also left him seriously wounded. “I have to forgive him, to go the way of life,” the Las Vegas man said in a July 17 interview. “It’s in the Bible…I forgive him because I believe in God.”

I’m reminded of the death of Garcia Moreno (1821–1875), president of Ecuador who was assassinated. As he lay dying from his knife and gun wounds, the priest at his side commanded him, “You must forgive this. You must forgive your killer.” Moreno replied, “I do forgive him;” he expired soon after.

We do not exercise vengeance, and it is a Divine prerogative to exact justice. Those in authority who have the duty to administer justice are executing a mandate that has its source in Heaven.This does not mean that as individuals we ignore or quietly accept every harm inflicted on us — our Lord (John 18:23) and St. Paul (Acts 23:3) both rebuked their attackers and serve as our example.

We must be more eager to forgive than to retaliate. Justice must also be served.

Blessed are:
* the poor in spirit

* the meek
* they who mourn
* they that hunger and thirst after justice
* the merciful
* the clean of heart
* the peacemakers
* they that suffer persecution for justice's sake

Monday, July 16, 2012

Prayer From the Heart

Lord,

Make my dissipated heart into a recollected one,

My unmortified heart into a mortified one,

My ambitious heart into a humble one,

My faint and timid heart into a brave and courageous one,

My irritable and peevish heart into a mild and patient one,

My sinful heart into a holy one.

- After Fr. Michael MΓΌeller, C.SS.R.