The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation~4 Love of Our Neighbor

"The love of our neighbour worketh no evil. 

Love therefore is the fulfilling of the law."

Romans 13:10

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

     Though blasts of winder chill our inner beings, occasional April blossoms hint at the arrival of long awaited spring. May we grow in love, by offering for our neighbor frequent prayer and contemplation in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament of Jesus, to whom the month of April is dedicated.

     Outward appearances may mask the underlying trials of a person who we find difficult to love. How fitting it is that Jesus and the saints admonish us to refrain from judging our neighbor. Instead, we are taught that to truly love God, we must love all of the persons He created. Further, we are reminded that God is the recipient of our treatment of others! The eternal danger of slander and discord are contrasted to the infinite merit of alms giving and love of our enemies. The conclusion of this chapter of The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation presents us with a great consolation, Our Lord's beautiful gift of praying for the dying and faithful departed: "When the soul is departing, say prayers for the dying and recommend the departed soul when it appears before the judgment seat of God. An evergreen wreath of prayers should be laid on the grave and frequent mementoes made during the Holy Mass for a speedy entrance of the departed soul into the everlasting joys of our heavenly home." 

The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation~3 Love of God

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them; 

he it is that loveth me. 

And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: 

and I will love him, 

and will manifest myself to him.

Dark, cold winter days of March persist, yet our hearts are filled with the warmth of Christ's love for us.

John 14:21

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

     Cold winter days of March may persist, yet our hearts are filled with the warmth of Christ's love for us. Saint Joseph's love of God fueled his passion for the care and protection of Jesus and Mary. May we be inspired, during this month dedicated to Saint Joseph, to keep the flames of God's love burning within our hearts.

     In this chapter, we learn from the saints about experiencing God's love as we appreciate His creation in nature and beauty. The saints spoke clearly about the essence of self-sacrifice and suffering in the love relationship between Jesus and His followers. Desire for God's love, denouncement of attachment to things of the world, self denial and frequent meditation on the passion of Christ are essential in enhancing our love of God.  

     Among the many beautiful quotes from The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation are: "All Perfection consists in the love of God; for love is the virtue which unites us most intimately with God. All other virtues are of no account unless they are accompanied by love." "The Lord is generous in the bestowal of His gifts; but He is especially bountiful in giving His love to those who seek it."

The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation~2 Hope

       Ambient darkness, wind and cold remind us of the despair which the deception of hopelessness can ignite within our souls. It seems so fitting to select the virtue of hope as a point of contemplation during the dark, cold seemingly endless winter month of February. Through this virtue we are abundantly blessed with a supernatural confidence in the happiness of eternity with God. The Baltimore catechism question reverberates within many of our memories~ Why did god make you~God made me to know Him and love Him and serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next."

     Hope is inseparable from our love for God. The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family, who resonded to every tribulation with confident hope in God. This chapter of The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation most beautifully explains the relationship between the virtue of hope and a loving yearning for God, which the souls in purgatory exprience. As stated in The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation "the first and foremost object of our hope is the possession of God in heaven". As we contemplate this virtue during the month of February, we are inspired by Jesus, Mary and Joseph and their life of hope.

The Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation~1 Faith

     The 12 Steps to Holiness and Salvation is a lovely, encouraging compilation of excerpts from writings of St. Alphonsus Liguori.          Twelve topics lend themselves to a monthly focus of meditation upon Heavenward leading virtues. Advent sets the stage for a new beginning in the Camino to holiness and union with Jesus. The first chapter,"Faith", explores the necessity of a holy faith in the life of the soul who follows Jesus.  Old and New Testament examples enlighten the reader. Words of our Savior assure. The words of St. James admonish us to put faith into practice. Validity of faith is determined by how it is acted upon. "Faith transcends both intellect and worldly gains. Mundane wealth vanishes in the light of faith filled devotion." As new years resolutions are embarked upon, how fitting it is to contemplate the virtue of faith during the month of January, the month we commemorate the Holy Childhood and Holy Name of Jesus.

"What shall it profit my brethren

If a man say

that he hath faith but not works?

Shall faith be able to save him?

And if a brother or sister

be naked and want daily food

And one say to them~

Go in peace, be ye warm and filled

Yet give them not 

those things that are necessary for the body, 

what shall it profit?

So faith also, if it have not works

is dead in itself."

James 2:14-16

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Every Day is a Gift~Giant Type Print

     The brief, focused meditations presented in Every Day is a Gift~Giant Type Print are rich in scripture and the wisdom of the Holy Saints. 

     Simply presented daily inspirations serve to ignite uplifting prayer and discussion.  

Roman Martyrology

  So profound was their love for Jesus! So great was their courage! The Roman Martyrology is a daily inspiration,  reminding us of how Jesus gave His life for us. What a glorious example has been set for us by these holy men and women of God. Spiritual transformation is inevitable upon contemplation of their boundless love and absolute surrender to His perfect will. Praises be to jesus forever!

You can read the daily reflections

 from the Roman Martyrology here. 

Sweet

     Dr. And Mrs. Hahn's courageous journey into our Catholic Church is beautifully detailed in their book Rome Sweet Home.  Warm is the welcome of our Blessed Mother, whose wandering children have longed to feast on the fullness of our Catholic faith.

    Jesus never abandons us, as He patiently waits to shower us with the Divine graces and blessings of His Holy Eucharist.  The pages of Rome Sweet Home are filled with inspiration and encouragement for all Catholic converts and reverts. I am so grateful to have read this book during my return to our Catholic faith!