Awakening our memory

Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely, the memory of the God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.…

It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope. - Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict the XVI)

Subjects of the New Kingdom

His first coming was to fulfill his plan of love, to teach men by gentle persuasion. This time, whether men like it or not, they will be subjects of His kingdom by necessity.  - St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Getting back in the saddle - Yesterday's Quote

We ought never to forget, beloved, that we have renounced the world. We are living here now as aliens and only for a time. When the day of our homecoming puts an end to our exile, frees us from the bonds of the world, and restores us to paradise and to a kingdom, we should welcome it. What man, stationed in a foreign land, would not want to return to his own country as soon as possible? Well, we look upon paradise as our country, and a great crowd of our loved ones awaits us there, a countless throng of parents, brothers and children longs for us to join them. Assured though they are of their own salvation, they are still concerned about ours. What joy both for them and for us to see one another and embrace! O the delight of that heavenly kingdom where there is no fear of death! O the supreme and endless bliss of everlasting life!


There, is the glorious band of apostles, there the exultant assembly of prophets, there the innumerable host of martyrs, crowned for their glorious victory in combat and in death. There in triumph are the virgins who subdued their passions by the strength of continence. There the merciful are rewarded, those who fulfilled the demands of justice by providing for the poor. In obedience to the Lord’s command, they turned their earthly patrimony into heavenly treasure. - St. Cyprian, Sermon on man's mortality

Taking a break until Advent -

Good night until tomorrow, if God is willing. - Pope John Paul I
The last words Pope John Paul spoke to an aide after only serving as Pope for a month. I am going to take a break until Advent and focus on a few other things in the meanwhile.

Been too busy -

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. - Socrates
I hope to get back in the swing of things in a few days and start my regular postings.

This is the moment when almighty God calls His friends to Himself. - St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Back from Retreat - Friday's Quote

Good Friday! What a day! Christ has forgiven us everything! - Edmund Husserl
       One of the philosophers I did not get a chance to study much in college. He had profound influence on Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) and Pope John Paul.  In his final illness Husserl coverted to Catholicism.

One has to die

One has to die to know exactly what happens after death, althought Catholics have their hopes. - Alfred Hitchcock

Knowing

I know there is another life, and for that reason I am not afraid of losing this one. - Saint Noah Mawaggali

Yet another forgotten quote - Friday's

How good God is! How powerful! How beautiful! He must indeed be so beautiful, since the soul, which is but a ray of His beauty, is so lovely!  - Blessed Andre Bessette

Hail the Cross, our only hope!

I am content about everything. Ave crux, spes unica - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
    Here final note to her sisters before she faced her death in Auschwitz.

Yesterday's forgotten quote - St. Martin de Porres

It would be useless to ask him to come, he is already here with St. Vincent Ferrer - St. Martin de Porres
       After St. Martin received the last rites he was urged to invoke St. Dominic as he suffered in agony, his response showed his awareness even as he passed from this world.

The grave

There, now, a grave isn't anything to be worried about. Didn't you know it is only a place for old clothes? - Venerable Marie of the Incarnation
       Venerable Marie was an Ursaline missionary to Quebec who died in 1672 and worked with children in her missionary work.

All Saints

Let me go to the house of the Father - Pope John Paul II
       I thought for the month of November with the focus on All Souls and praying for the dead I would use quotes from a book I acquired over the summer. Last Words Final Thoughts of Catholic Saints & Sinners.
       Today's quote were the final words of Pope John Paul II