“For a long time I had wondered why God had preferences, why He did not give the same degree of grace to everyone. I was rather surprised that He should pour out such extraordinary graces on great sinners like St. Paul, St. Augustine and so many others, forcing His grace on them, so to speak. I was rather surprised, too, when reading the lives of the saints, to find Our Lord treating certain privileged souls with the greatest tenderness from the cradle to the grave, removing obstacles from their upward path to Him, and preserving the radiance of their baptismal robe from the stains of sin. Also I wondered why so many poor savages die without even hearing Our Lord’s name. Jesus chose to enlighten me on this mystery. He opened the book of nature before me, and I saw that every flower He has created has a beauty of its own; that the splendor of the rose and the lily’s whiteness do not deprive the violet its scent, nor make less ravishing the daisy’s charm. I saw that if every little flower wished to be a rose, nature would lose her Spring adornments, and the fields would be no longer enameled with their varied flowers.
So it is in the world of souls, the living garden of the Lord. It pleases Him to create great saints, who may be compared with the lilies or the rose; but He has also created little ones, who must be content to be daisies or violets nestling at His feet to delight His eyes when He should choose to look at them. The happier they are to be as He wills, the more perfect they are.
I saw something further; that Our Lord’s love shines out just as much through a little soul who yields completely to His Grace as it does through the greatest. True love is shown in self-abasement, and if everyone were like the saintly doctors who adorn the Church, it would seem that God had not far enough to stoop when He came to them. But He has, in fact, created the child who knows nothing and can only make feeble cries; and the poor savage with only the natural law to guide him; and it is to hearts such as these that He stoops. What delights Him is the simplicity of these flowers of the field, and by stooping so low to them, He shows how infinitely great He is. Just as the sun shines equally on the cedar and the little flower, so the Divine Sun shines equally on everyone, great and small. Everything is ordered for their good, just as in nature the seasons are so ordered that the smallest daisy comes to bloom at its appointed time.”
-St. Therese of Lisieux Excerpt from Story of a Soul
I have often asked myself these same questions. Upon beginning St. Therese’s book again this part in the very first chapter jumped out at me. Just because some people are great saints (as in canonized ones) does not mean I have to be. I often think it would be amazing to be canonized someday and my ramblings published as an example for the world…such silly thoughts! That is pride creeping in. To be a saint one must strive to please the Lord, not themselves. It reminds me of something St. Jerome once said: “To be a Christian is a great thing, not merely to seem one. And somehow or other those please the world most who please Christ the least. Christians are made not born.” I can only pray that I may follow St. Therese’s great example! She did not know she would one day be canonized; she merely lived her life -every moment- to please God and to do His will. What an amazing person. If only I had done more to follow her “little way” already! So much time already lost. Lord, please shower your graces on all those who strive to do Your will in everything they do. St. Therese, pray for us!
I realize I haven't been on here in AAAGES, but life goes on and continues to be absolutely INSANE for me. =P. I just wanted to share with you all a video advertising WYD '08. Makes me get chills and cry every time I watch it. So very inspiring. It is one year to the day Genna and I were at the closing Mass with Papa Bene and all the awesome pilgrims. I can't believe it's already been an entire year! The first week I spent in Australia was one of the most amazing weeks of my entire life. I am constantly thinking about all I learned, spiritually, from my experiences. It is hard to describe, so I hope you all will have the opportunity to go to Spain in two years and experience it for yourselves! It is something that should not be missed in ones life. I can't wait for 2011!!! Madrid or BUST! =].
(Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi Life changes its beauty all the time Chhaaon hai kabhi kabhi hai dhoop zindagi Sometimes it's a shade, sometimes life is sunlight Har pal yahan jeebhar jiyo Live every moment here to your heart's content Jo hai sama kal ho naa ho) - 2 The time that is here may not be tomorrow
Chaahe jo tumhe poore dil se One who loves you whole-heartedly Milta hai voh mushkil se It is difficult meet that person Aisa jo koi kahin hai If there is someone like that somewhere Bas vohi sab se haseen hai That person is more beautiful than all Us haath ko tum thaam lo Grab onto that (person's) hand Voh meherbaan kal ho naa ho He or she may not be so gracious tomorrow Har pal yahan jeebhar jiyo Live every moment here to your heart's content Jo hai sama kal ho naa ho The time that is here may not be tomorrow
Ho, palkon ke leke saaye paas koi jo aaye Taking the shadow of your eyelashes, when someone comes near Laakh sambhaalo paagal dil ko You try to reason with your crazy heart Dil dhadke hi jaaye Your heart just goes on beating Par soch lo is pal hai jo But think, that which is here now Voh daastaan kal ho naa ho That story may not be here tomorrow Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi Life changes its beauty all the time Chhaaon hai kabhi kabhi hai dhoop zindagi Sometimes it's a shade, sometimes life is sunlight (Har pal yahan jeebhar jiyo Live every moment here to your heart's content Jo hai sama kal ho naa ho) - 2 The time that is here may not be tomorrow Jo hai sama kal ho naa ho The time that is here may not be tomorrow
I can almost see it That dream I'm dreaming but There's a voice inside my head sayin, You'll never reach it, Every step I'm taking, Every move I make feels Lost with no direction My faith is shaking but I Got to keep trying Got to keep my head held high
There's always going to be another mountain I'm always going to want to make it move Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose, Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb
The struggles I'm facing, The chances I'm taking Sometimes might knock me down but No I'm not breaking I may not know it But these are the moments that I'm going to remember most yeah Just got to keep going And I, I got to be strong Just keep pushing on, cause
There's always going to be another mountain I'm always going to want to make it move Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes I'm gonna to have to lose, Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb (yeah)
There's always going to be another mountain I'm always going to want to make it move Always going to be an uphill battle, Sometimes you going to have to lose, Ain't about how fast I get there, Ain't about what's waiting on the other side It's the climb (yeah yeah ea ea)
Keep on moving Keep climbing Keep the faith baby It's all about It's all about The climb Keep the faith Keep your faith
It's the weight of your glory Brings the proud to their knees And the light of revelation Lets the blind man see It's the power of the cross Breaks away death's embrace And we celebrate our freedom Dancing on an empty grave
Roll away the stone Roll away the stone
We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day
You declare what is holy You declare what is good In the sight of all the nations You declare that you are God It's the power in your blood Breaks away sin's embrace And we celebrate our freedom Dancing on our broken chains
Roll away the stone Roll away the stone
We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day
We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day We sing for joy, we shout your name We celebrate your resurrection day
