The peaceful town of Annecy, where St. Francis de Sales spent most of his life.

As I constantly must remind myself, God only gives us the graces for today. So of what use is it to worry about what's coming tomorrow? God puts in front of us what He wants us to do today, and asks us to trust Him for tomorrow.

"Let us do the smallest thing that God asks of us today. Tomorrow we shall see what else He will give us to do." 

~ St. Francis de Sales

Happy Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas!

 The Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, France, where St. Thomas Aquinas is buried

Today is the feast of the mighty and brilliant St. Thomas Aquinas. In his Summa Theologica, he addresses so many important issues...and so many little things too! Did you know, for example, that in Question 38, Article 5, he discusses whether getting more sleep and taking a bath will help the soul when we are discouraged?

"Augustine says, 'I had heard that the bath had its name from the fact of its driving sadness from the mind.' And further on, he says: 'I slept, and woke up again, and found my grief not a little assuaged:' and quotes the words from the hymn of Ambrose, in which it is said that 'Sleep restores the tired limbs to labor, refreshes the weary mind, and banishes sadness.'"

~ St. Thomas Aquinas

So, if you're struggling a little this Lent, maybe try taking a nap, a bath, or a long, hot shower. The greatest theologian of all time suggests that it may help! :)

Image of Our Suffering Lord in Avila, Spain

"His eyes never grow old or worn. Even though the lids are blackened from punches and the slaps of the reed, the bloodshot eyes of Christ are still deep vaults of riches for those who would plumb their pleading inviting depths."

~ Rev. Maurice B. Kennedy, The Complete Rosary, imprimatur 1949.

Let us meditate today on the "deep vaults of riches" in the loving Eyes of Our Suffering Savior...those Eyes that converted St. Peter after his three-fold denial. Let us search "their pleading inviting depths." Imagine the soul-stirring experience of seeing His Eyes look into ours! Words would be unnecessary. He would just know. And I would just know... all that He wanted me to know... with just one look.

(Sacred Heart statue in the Basilica of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spain)

(Photo courtesy of Ron McGuire)

St. Ignatius, of course, founded the Jesuit Order. Hundreds of years later, Fr. Almire Pichon, a Jesuit, was the spiritual director of St. Therese, as we talked about on Wednesday. He had been raised with Jansenist tendencies...thinking that God was a frightening and threatening God, Who didn't love His people, and wished to keep them in distanced subjection. When he learned the truth through holy Jesuits, he couldn't wait to spread the news. He made it his mission in life. 

Here is a quote from this holy priest, suitable for this First Friday of March. He quotes one of the twelve promises Our Lord made to St. Margaret Mary for those who make the nine First Fridays:

"'Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite source of mercy.' At the moment that I am most culpable, even before repentance has touched my heart, You, even then, invite me to have recourse to You. Does it require an ocean to wash away my sins? Your Heart is that boundless ocean, without shores, without limits. As a spark thrown into the waves of the sea disappears without leaving a trace, so it is with the transgressions of the most culpable soul, once embraced within that Divine Heart."

~ Almire Pichon, S.J., Seeds of the Kingdom, imprimatur 1961.

Statue at Lourdes of St. Therese of Lisieux

Photo courtesy of Ron McGuire

Fr. Pichon was the gifted spiritual director who helped to guide St. Therese of Lisieux to great heights of sanctity. If his advice worked for her, will it not work for us? Here is today's simple but profound thought from this Jesuit retreat master:

"You are designed for perfection -- 

[have] patience, perseverance." 

~ Almire Pichon, S.J., Seeds of the Kingdom, imprimatur 1961.

(The Pyrenees)

"Conquer yourself and the world lies at your feet." ~ St. Augustine.

The supply of quotes about self-mastery is endless, but sometimes short and sweet (from a saint) is best! :) Lent is a wonderful time for us to work on our self-mastery. If we are faithful in the small things, Our Lord will give us strength and perseverance for the big things. Let's choose one small way in which to conquer ourselves today.

(The miraculous image in Segovia, Spain, of Our Lord carrying His Cross)

"The Cross is the way to Paradise, but only when it is borne willingly." ~ St. Paul of the Cross

How blessed we are that Our Dear Lord came and showed us in Person! He didn't stay on His throne in Heaven and send us an angel to tell us to suffer for our sins with willingness and cheerfulness. He came and suffered for us first, to show us the Way. Let us take up our cross daily and follow Him!