We Should Appropriate Nothing to Ourselves
"St. Francis used to say things like this to his intimates: When you are at prayer and the Lord visits you with a new consolation, you should, before coming away from prayer, raise your eyes to heaven, join your hands, and say, 'You have sent this sweet consolation from heaven, Lord, to me an unworthy sinner. I now give it back, so that you may keep it for me, for I feel like a thief of your treasure.' And say also, 'Lord, take your good gift from me in this world and keep it for me in the world to come.' Thus should you speak in prayer. And when you come away from prayer, you should appear to be only a poor sinner, and not someone who has just received a new grace. For you can lose something precious for the sake of a small gratification of your vanity and easily provoke him who gave not to give again." --Celano, Second Life, 99
If our hearts aren't right when we receive God's blessings we will forget that it's God's grace that gives us what we need--not anything we've done to deserve it. He gives us gifts in order that we may have something to give others. We are to comfort others as He has comforted us.
"St. Francis used to say things like this to his intimates: When you are at prayer and the Lord visits you with a new consolation, you should, before coming away from prayer, raise your eyes to heaven, join your hands, and say, 'You have sent this sweet consolation from heaven, Lord, to me an unworthy sinner. I now give it back, so that you may keep it for me, for I feel like a thief of your treasure.' And say also, 'Lord, take your good gift from me in this world and keep it for me in the world to come.' Thus should you speak in prayer. And when you come away from prayer, you should appear to be only a poor sinner, and not someone who has just received a new grace. For you can lose something precious for the sake of a small gratification of your vanity and easily provoke him who gave not to give again." --Celano, Second Life, 99
If our hearts aren't right when we receive God's blessings we will forget that it's God's grace that gives us what we need--not anything we've done to deserve it. He gives us gifts in order that we may have something to give others. We are to comfort others as He has comforted us.
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