Deus caritas est.

Deus caritas est - infinitus! =D

I did something "crazy" today. :) With only homework staring straight at me everytime I think of my table in my room (haha, ewww...) and with the nice Saturday afternoon in my hands, I decided to walk home from school. And walked home I did. (!)

It was a beautiful, long walk, but one long walk that I badly needed I think. I was thinking about many things, I saw many things, I laughed (to myself of course and also my darling angel guardian :), for I was alone) at the things I saw and O dear me, I was sincerely happy. The things I saw, really ordinary, but somehow today, they all seemed different and new, and beautiful. I wish I had a camera - for the things I saw, like the many trees, the grass, the fallen branches and leaves etc ... and yes, I was happy that I wasn't in any of the cars that seemed to zoom by me every second, for I walked along the pavement that was beside the road. Some how or rather, I liked the idea of my two legs bringing me home. (really lol, i think i'm getting funnier by the day, haha). The time spent looking and seeing and thinking along the way, was time well spent. Deo gratias et Mariae for the nice long walk. :)

We are constantly surrounded by nature, even in the highly build-up singapore that I live in. The birds, the trees, the grass, the little flowers, the wild mushrooms, the colour of the sky, the little squirrel that we might see along our way, the tree lizards, are to me, very beautiful expressions of the love of God for us. The best expression of the love of God for us, I will say its the Most Holy Eucharist, but God also tells us in many ways that He loves us truly. And here, I remember this, I read, and which gave me great pleasure (it still does make me smile, for it is beautifully written) when I was young:

Ecclesiastes

This book is called Ecclesiastes, or the Preacher, (in Hebrew, Coheleth) because in it Solomon, as an excellent preacher, settled forth the vanity of the things of this world, in order to withdraw the hearts and affections of men from such empty toys.

(Chapter 3)

All human things are liable to perpetual changes. We are to rest on God's providence, and cast away fruitless cares.

1 All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.

6 A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. 8 A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What hath man more of his labour? 10 I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end. 12 And I have known that there was no better thing than to rejoice, and to do well in this life. 13 For every man that eateth and drinketh, and seeth good of his labour, this is the gift of God. 14 I have learned that all the works which God hath made, continue for ever: we cannot add any thing, nor take away from those things which God hath made that he may be feared. 15 That which hath been made, the same continueth: the things that shall be, have already been: and God restoreth that which is past.

16 I saw under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and in the place of justice iniquity. 17 And I said in my heart: God shall judge both the just and the wicked, and then shall be the time of every thing. 18 I said in my heart concerning the sons of men, that God would prove them, and shew them to be like beasts. 19 Therefore the death of man, and of beasts is one, and the condition of them both is equal: as man dieth, so they also die: all things breathe alike, and man hath nothing more than beast: all things are subject to vanity. 20 And all things go to one place: of earth they were made, and into earth they return together.

19 "Man hath nothing more"... Viz., as to the life of the body.

21 Who knoweth if the spirit of the children of Adam ascend upward, and if the spirit of the beasts descend downward? 22 And I have found that nothing is better than for a man to rejoice in his work, and that this is his portion. For who shall bring him to know the things that shall be after him?

21 "Who knoweth"... Viz., experimentally: since no one in this life can see a spirit. But as to the spirit of the beasts, which is merely animal, and become extinct by the death of the beast, who can tell the manner it acts so as to give life and motion, and by death to descend downward, that is, to be no more?

And here's the beautiful opening of the book of Ecclesiastes:

1 The words of Ecclesiastes, the son of David, king of Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. 3 What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever. (Ecclesiastes 1: 1-4)

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Of one of the many things I thought of, in the 2 hour solid walk, here's it, which will form much of my post for today. Taken from the first epistle of Saint John, beautiful Apostle :) for this Saint John was one of the first few who knew the Most Sacred (and Sweet) Heart of Jesus. This Saint John was the one whom Jesus gave His dearest Mother too, at the foot of the Cross, the one who symbolically represents us: Son, Behold Thy Mother. This Saint John knew and loved wholeheartedly the dearest Hearts of Jesus and Mother Mary. This Saint John is the Apostle whom Jesus loved. Let us read a part of his epistle, which so beautifully explains Deus caritas est, God is love.

Deus caritas est.

Love unites us with God

(Chapter 4)

6 We are of God. He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Dearly beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. And every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is charity. 9 By this hath the charity of God appeared towards us, because God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we may live by him. 10 In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

11 My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us. 13 In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit. 14 And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him. 17 In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world. 18 Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity. 19 Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us. 20 If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?

18 "Fear is not in charity"... Perfect charity, or love, banisheth human fear, that is, the fear of men; as also all perplexing fear, which makes men mistrust or despair of God's mercy; and that kind of servile fear, which makes them fear the punishment of sin more than the offence offered to God. But it no way excludes the wholesome fear of God's judgments, so often recomended in holy writ; nor that fear and trembling, with which we are told to work out our salvation. Phil. 2. 12.

21 And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother.

(Chapter 5)

The Basis of Love

1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him. 2 In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy. 4 For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

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Beautiful.

Here's something from St. Alphonsus, regarding perfection:

Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God: Charity is the bond of perfection; and perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God's.

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I was thinking of this too, when I reached home, remembering what I read from dinoscopus, on wagner. Very interessant I must say.

My most sweet Jesus, I firmly believe that Thou art truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. And as though Thou wert already there, I embrace Thee, and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. May the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ keep my soul unto Everlasting Life. Amen.

(Spiritual Communion, formula by St. Alphonsus Ligouri)

My Most Sweet Jesus, help me to do only what Thou would want me to do. Thy Will is most sweet, most perfect. Fiat voluntas tua.

Dearest Mother Dear, please help me, please pray for me. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis.

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

St. Eusebius and Jesus, Thou art my Only True Friend

Ah, a long post for today.

It's been quite a while since I last blogged, the vacation's been good, I'm resting well, I think I need to rest more (haha) and I thank God for everything so far. =D

I love this picture! It's one of my favourites on the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It says so much, I feel. The true priest, in imitation of the only Eternal High Priest, Jesus, offering the most holy sacrifice, Jesus's arms outstretched on the Cross, waiting, waiting to enter the hearts of those who believe in Him. His love, so infinite, willing to come down from heaven into golden vessels, Jesus, present body, soul, divinity, in the Most Holy Eucharist, waiting to enter the hearts, souls, minds of those whom He has chosen, for many. The whole mass, is Calvary repeated, the whole sacrifice, so wholly divine. The pains, the tortures, the scourgings, the nailings, the crucifixion, the crowning with thorns, the wounds of love, the whole sacrifice, so lovingly presented in the mass, with all its rubrics and actions. Consummatum est! The immense love, the everything. Deus caritas est. One word sums up the whole sacrifice, caritas - love! and the Only woman who first understood what it all meant, who understood and even partook of His pains, sufferings and joys, ever since Her Immaculate Conception, dearest Mother Mary, her existence, is also proof of God's great and infinite love for us all. As my patron, Saint Thérèse exemplified here. Love Him in order to find Thyself!

And this is dear Sancte Pio, the stigmatist of our times, the one who exemplified that the sacrifice of the mass is most wholly divine, truly the sacrifice. God sends us different people, different saints to aid us all in our brief sojourn to heaven, here on this temporary world, all of our sufferings, all our joys, all our 'immensities' all our pains, worries, He knows them all and He sends us different people to show us how true He is. He uses different means, different ways to aid every single one of us to Heaven. With what love and what mercy Jesus presents us to himself in the Most Holy and Blessed Sacrament! What immense love and mercy, He opens Himself out to us, the Love, to die for each one of us, to suffer just for each one of us. To show us the Only way to heaven, the only way to the Father. For He says, after His Last Supper, the First Mass, with the first communicant, the Most Blessed Virgin, I am the way, and the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. - John 14:6 (dicit ei Iesus ego sum via et veritas et vita nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me )

This loving discourse, I'll paste it here, also shows us the immense care and love, caritas, that He shows us all:

The Gospel according to St. John

Christ's discourse after his last supper.

1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be. 4 And whither I go you know, and the way you know. 5 Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. 7 If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him. 8 Philip saith to him: Lord, shew us the Father, and it is enough for us. 9 Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, Shew us the Father? 10 Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works.

11 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? 12 Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do. 13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do. 15 If you love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. 17 The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while: and the world seeth me no more. But you see me: because I live, and you shall live. 20 In that day you shall know, that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

16 "Paraclete"... That is, a comforter: or also an advocate; inasmuch as by inspiring prayer, he prays, as it were, in us, and pleads for us. 16 "For ever"... Hence it is evident that this Spirit of Truth was not only promised to the persons of the apostles, but also to their successors through all generations.

21 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. 22 Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.

25 These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you.
26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. 28 You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not any thing.

26 "Teach you all things"... Here the Holy Ghost is promised to the apostles and their successors, particularly, in order to teach them all truth, and to preserve them from error. 28 "For the Father is greater than I"... It is evident, that Christ our Lord speaks here of himself as he is made man: for as God he is equal to the Father. (See Phil. 2.) Any difficulty of understanding the meaning of these words will vanish, when the relative circumstances of the text here are considered: for Christ being at this time shortly to suffer death, signified to his apostles his human nature by these very words: for as God he could not die. And therefore as he was both God and man, it must follow that according to his humanity he was to die, which the apostles were soon to see and believe, as he expresses, ver. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.

31 But that the world may know, that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I: Arise, let us go hence.
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and here's also something from St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri (Doctor of the Church) on the Crucifixion and the Love of Jesus the Christ.

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. But this He said, signifying what death He should die. – John xii. 32

Jesus Christ said that when He should have been lifted up upon the Cross, He would, by His merits, by His example, and by the power of His love, have drawn towards Himself the affection of all souls: “He drew all the nations of the world to His love, by the merit of His blood, by His example, and by His love.” Such is the commentary of Cornelius a Lapide. St. Peter Damian tells us the same: “The Lord, as soon as he was suspended upon the cross, drew all men to Himself through a loving desire.” And who is there, Cornelius goes on to say, that will not love Jesus, who dies for love of us? “For who will not reciprocate the love of Christ, who dies out of love for us?” Behold, O redeemed souls (as Holy Church exhorts us), behold your Redeemer upon that Cross, where His whole form breathes love, and invites you to love Him: His head bent downwards to give us the kiss of peace, His arms stretched our to embrace us, His heart open to love us: “His whole figure” (as St. Augustine says) “breathes love, and challenges to love Him in return: His head bent downwards to kiss us, His hands stretched out to embrace us, His bosom open to love us.”

Ah, my beloved Jesus, how could my soul have been so dear in Thy sight, beholding, as Thou didst, the wrongs that Thou wouldst have to receive at my hands! Thou, in order to captivate my affections, wert willing to give me the extremist proofs of love. Come, ye scourges, ye thorns, nails and cross, which tortured the sacred flesh of my Lord, come ye, and wound my heart; be ever reminding me that all the good that I have received, and all that I hope for, comes to me through the merits of his Passion. O Thou master of love, others teach by word of mouth, but Thou upon this bed of death dost teach by suffering; others teach from interested motives, Thou from affection, asking no recompense excepting my salvation. Save me, O my love, and let my salvation be the bestowal of the grace ever to love and please Thee; the love of Thee is my salvation.
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Thou art my only True Friend, Dearest Jesus,

The True Friend Prayer (by Saint Claude de la Colombiere)

Jesus, Thou art the only and the true friend.

Thou knowest my difficulties. Thou takest them upon Thyself. Thou knowest how to transform them for my good. Thou hearest me with goodness when I speak of my afflictions and never dost Thou fail to lighten them.

I find Thee always and everywhere; Thou dost never leave me and, if I am obliged to move, I never fail to find Thee where I go.

Thou dost not tire of listening to me; Thou dost never cease to do me good. I am assured of being loved if I love Thee. Thou dost not need my goods, and Thou dost not become poorer in giving me Thine own.

However wretched I may be, someone more noble, more intelligent, even holier will not steal from me Thy friendship. Death, which tears us away from all our other friends, will serve only to reunite me to Thee. All the disfrace of age, or fortune cannot detach Thee from me. On the contrary, I will never enjoy Thee more fully, Thou wilt never be closer than when everything will seem to fail me.

Thou sufferest my imperfections with admirable patience, even my infidelities. My ingratitude does not hurt Thee, so much so that Thou art always willing to come back, if I desire it.

O Jesus, grant that I may desire it, so that I be all Thine, in time and eternity!

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Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!