GrowHoly.com

Well, you might take this as a bit strange idea, but we were thinking that if love is the meaning of life, then we all will be “rewarded” after our death according to how much we loved. And we were thinking that those people who loved fully, with that perfect love we are looking for, that these so called “saints” will get to a state when they experience the complete Love after death, and that this is what could be called Heaven. Simply become one with Love, become Love, which is God.

Then those who maybe forgot about the meaning of love in life, maybe who were too busy with their career, or hobbies, or their own pleasures, so that they didn’t get to love enough, maybe they will need to spend some time, or simply to learn more about this love before they are ready to enter it forever.

And then there are those who maybe were too much in fear to love, so that they started to hate. Maybe some people decided deliberately to go against Love. They said “no” to the great offer of life – they didn’t see how much they had been loved. They then cannot enter that state of the ultimate Love.

Yes, this is our theory, one of the many. Is it compatible with the teaching of the Church? Maybe. Is it true? Will tell you after death. But if you can, try to learn as much about love now, and not only will you get the possibility of entering Heaven after you die, but almost certainly you will experience that perfect love while you are still alive. That is the key to a successful and fulfiled life. Enjoy!

“When Margaret Mary Alacoque entered the convent, she did not like cheese. Not wanting to be different than the others, she struggled at meals for seven long years: “I must eat cheese – I can’t eat it – I must eat it!” Eventually she triumphed over herself and was able to eat it. Such is the fortitude of the saints!”

And yet I wouldn’t eat anything myself – we are now much more picky.

However, was thinking – is this way of self-sacrifice really what God wants us to do? Wouldn’t it be so easier for everybody, if Margaret actually spoke about her issues to eat cheese – would other loving sisters not be happy to help her with this? Should we not be open about our needs and wants, once they don’t harm others?

Anyway, it’s a great discipline to do what Margaret did, and all I can do is admire her.

“The saints gave up everything, but the whole world followed them wherever they went.”

Yes, I also want everybody to follow me. But I don’t want to give up anything. I am not able to give up some of the food, or my pastimes – so how can I advance on this journey? Am I not motivated enough, or is it my laziness, vagueness, or something else?

How can I improve when I don’t push myself? Or is it really all just based on God’s mercy and love? Will God alone make me holy? Just because of my blue eyes?

I know He loves me – and that’s actually all I know – and that He cares.

But hey, this is not about relying on Him so that I won’t do anything myself, is it?

“You feel that your heart is wavering. The saints also experienced this feeling, but they used this very feeling to help them, by the grace of God and their own efforts, to become saints.”

Lord, I am losing You on the Road. I keep forgetting about You more often, I don’t feel You’re here all the time. I am afraid that You are no more with me, and I am afraid of failing again – and losing everything I’ve gained so far from You.

I am afraid that in my life, I will not be successful because there are so many difficulties, and I am weak in overcoming my desires and selfishness.

“Look up, into the future, and you will see me with you all the time. Do not fear, only believe. Respond 100% to my call.“

“Spiritual books have helped make saints of many people. They are the oil which fuels the furnace of prayer.”

This is really interesting – and I certainly can see it – as during the times when I read any spiritual book, I tend to focus more on prayer, relationships, avoiding sin and all that.

And there are so many great books to read – say, for example, The Road of Hope or any of those thousands books dealing with religion, relationships, personal development… And also biographies of Saints – yes, maybe I should look at that route a bit more. The only book I really read about a saint, was the Song of Bernadette – about what happened in Lourdes – the apparitions of Our Lady and all that.

These really are a good read and they can inspire me a lot. Sometimes, saints led very strange lives – often causing suffering themselves what we today don’t support any more – but maybe it could be a good motivation for doing at least some humble fasting…

And prayer, yes, more prayer.

So I think I will go to the library over the weekend and get some of the biographies of saints – just to see how it goes, but if it can help me further on the road of hope, I definitely should do it.

Anyway, there is one book, that is probably all you really need to read – The Bible. Just make sure you read every day at least a few lines – and that’s a great way of walking with Jesus every day.

“There are many regions in the world without priests which have maintained the faith through many decades by means of the recitation of prayers in the families.”

How important is it to pray with my husband every evening? Should we not now, when we don’t have kids yet, form the foundation of our future family – based on prayer?

How should we pray, is another question. And this has been developing since we started going out together 8 years ago. From a shy decade of Rosary as we walked along the river, to something longer that we have now – a short prayer by our own words, then a decade and reading a few lines from the Gospel.

Will we ever get to meditating together? Will we be able to ever really discuss our knowing of God? Will see. But one thing is very important – pray together, whatever form suits you.

A saint couple is much more than one saint.

“As a sinner you dare not stand in the presence of God, but the words of the Church bid you to be reassured: “Through Christ Our Lord.” How could you think that all the sufferings of Jesus and all the good works of his Blessed Mother and the saints would not be sufficient to encompass your little prayers?”

Lord, here I am again in front of You, not having done what I had promised to You, and what I had resolved to do… Now it’s up to You what You are going to do with me – please, forgive me all the sins and let me start anew.

Thanks.

“Why are there crises in the Church? It is because people do not take prayer seriously anymore.”

Yes, and maybe not only prayer, but also fast.

Yesterday it was the Good Friday – one of two days in the year when the Church requires fast – just once a day we are “allowed” to eat until we are satisfied – and no meat at all.

But that’s a way too little. In the time when we’re used to having a Big Mac every day, followed by a good bit of Snickers DUO and a pint of Coke. Times when if you say that you eat only veggies and fruits – they will look at you as at an alien. Times when people who fast on bread and water two times a week, are considered saints.

But hey, what did Luke write about the first Christians in the Acts? Fasting and prayer were on their normal schedule. It was an essential part of their lives.

And me? What about me? The same Christian, the only difference is in these 2000 years – but how does it really matter?

Look at what they were able to do – how many people found faith through them, how many sick they were able to heal, what miracles they performed – they even spoke in the tongues of the Holy Spirit – on a daily routine – and we?

What am I able to do now? If I bring one person to rethink their life – what a great achievement will that be?

Why are we so poor these days? Does it mean that Christianity doesn’t work any more?

Or maybe we just don’t pray and fast any more?

“Are you surprised that many people lose the grace of God, lose their faith or turn against the Church? Among the many causes there will always be one main cause and that is, that they have long since given up prayer.”

It is so easy to stop praying. Just one while, one weak moment can destroy weeks of “hard work”. It’s so easy to lose your chastity – and here I mean it really in the widest sense of word – after you’ve stayed clear of sin for ages.

So easy to fall.

Yet not necessary. Just keep going. I was also told that to be holy, it doesn’t mean that you never ever fail, but all the saints have learned from their faults and failures – and they always got up again!

So it is with me today. I have prayed in the morning, I might have kept what I resolved for today, but then towards the end of the day, I did something wrong, or I just was too tired or too selfish, or too hungry – and I simply did what was wrong.

For me, it’s difficult to not sin. For me, it’s difficult to stay with God all the time. For me, it’s extraordinary difficult to be perfect. 100%.

That’s why I need somebody to come and clean me up, somebody who will say, it’s ok, I will help you. And that Somebody is Jesus who comes every day with His love and supports me in my efforts, however small and poor they might be.

Lord, although I fail to do what I should so often, I can feel that you are here with me and that you do care about these little things of me. I know that you love me, and all I can do now is to open up myself for your loving presence and let you do miracles in my life.

If I ever do anything good, it’s gonna be your work, since you created me, you gave me every single hair I have – and you keep on supporting and growing me.

Please, never ever let me forget to pray. Thanks.

“Look at everything from God’s point of view and you will see things with different values and different perspective.”

Just shut up and be quiet.

Today I will try to sit back, and look at everything with God’s perspective – if only it is possible to me.

In the morning meeting, at work, with clients, with friends, with my husband, excercising, eating, emailing or going to bed. If there are thousands of saints, why couldn’t I just put more effort into loving God and my neighbours? Why should I boast about my ego all the time, when there is somebody Greater?