Corrine, Week 3   p. 21 to 51

Elisabeth sure wants to open up her heart to Felix so her deep spiritual life would be known and shared with him…but she goes to God to pour out her soul, since she is resolved to not nag him.  The great spiritual separation between her and Felix is painful.

 

Her journal entry March 9, 1904 (pg. 35-36) certainly summarizes Christian Living!    Then in parag. 2 “Those things are better carried out that have first been prepared in deliberation with the Master and the Friend”…………that reminded me of the Morning Exercise in St. Francis de Sales’ The Devout Life, Ch. X, summarized:   Morning prayer is a general preparation for all the duties of the day.

1.       Thank and adore God for His mercy in preserving me through the night.

2.       Ask pardon if I’ve offended Him in the night.

3.       This day is given to me that I may gain the future day of eternity. Use this day to that end.

4.       Anticipate the tasks and occasions that I will experience today for serving God.

5.       Consider potential temptations that I may be in danger of offending my God.

6.       Make a resolution to embrace all means whereby I may serve God and to resist all that may hinder my salvation and the glory of God.

7.       How am I going to carry out this resolution. Consider beforehand how I will execute it….people I will encounter…  “For instance, if I know that I shall be obliged to come into contact with some hasty, passionate person, I will not only resolve not to be irritated, but I will prepare to meet him with gentle, soothing words, or provide the intervention of someone else who can control him.”

8.       Humble myself before God…by myself I can do nothing. Offer my heart and all its desires to His Divine Majesty, ask that He will take it under His protection, strengthen it for His service.

9.       Call on the BVM, Guardian Angel, and saints to help me

10.   All these spiritual acts should be performed before leaving my room.

In her journal entry that day she also mentioned…..”to love without tiring”.   The virtue of fortitude is needed in that case.  I do need that virtue to be developed!  Or is it zeal also!

In her May 3, 1904 entry……She mentioned confidence in the Church and a great hope for her country.  Then proceeds “My God, give us ‘sons of light’; let there arise apostles with burning hearts to go to the little ones wholeheartedly and bring them truth and love. Thou alone canst save and transform. Give to me, weak and little as I am, some of Thy divine strength, and come to me so that I may do much good to souls.”  That sounds like 2013….in our Church, our country, my family!!

Our oldest son (37) is married and has our two grandchildren. They practice the Faith.  Our daughter (34) is married…before they got married 5 yrs. ago by an officiant, she said God would not be mentioned in ceremony so her husband wouldn’t be uncomfortable. During her college yrs. I thought her Sunday Mass going or not going, was laziness. She’d attend with us when home.  So this was a blow.  Our youngest son (31) lost his faith in college also, but I can’t see a glimmer there. He is science and very well read.  My kids and husband are accepting of me and my bible studies, etc.  Youngest son will even sort of discuss some “scholarly thing” from bible if I bring it up, but he has his answers to my short discussions about faith. I’m short on words.  Our daughter, I periodically send a well thought out email with scripture ….so she has time to digest it….she doesn’t like “in the face” stuff and I can’t think on the spot either.  I pray allot because I don’t know what else to do.  They all live away from here so I am not alone with them very often…so once in awhile I bring up our Faith, but I know I can’t cram it down their throat, nor nag because that would really close the door.  Prayer, prayer, prayer AND work on my interior!