sussidio 5 2014

CALLED

From the Word of God

He summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to drive them out and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Mattew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who was also his betrayer.

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:

“… And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.

Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those suffering from virulent skin-diseases, drive out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.

Look, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as snakes and yet innocent as doves.

                       (Mt 10: 1-5. 7-8. 16)

TO   AN IMMENSE

From the writings of

                 Blessed A. Rosmini

My dear brother in Christ,

I greatly sympathize over the difficult circumstances in which you find yourselves; but since these things are so disposed by God, I look on them (as I hope you all do) as a precious occasion which the Creator gives you so as to exercise and train you in virtue, and particularly in Christian prudence. This is the reflection which should make you love these difficulties: there is nothing good, nothing to be loved and desired, except the merit than can only be obtained through spiritual combat.

The Institute of Charity tends to make its members (according to the dispositions of divine Providence) most active in everything, and wishes them to know how to leave God for God. It would have them ready at a sign from Providence to leave the delights of the contemplative life and joyfully accept the labours involved in the active life. Hence they should make it their care to learn how to adore God with all their heart, and for his sake alone to give themselves to external occupations; and while for the sake of charity they speak with others, their conversation should at the same time be in heaven. They must, like their Master, be models of prayer to those who have withdrawn from the world, and yet be examples of activity to the people in the everyday world.

CHARITABLE ACTIVITY

This is why in our Constitutions it is laid down that at the outset we ought to choose the contemplative life; but subsequently, when God so calls us, we must abandon this for the active life. In this way it sometimes happens that the humble and fervent Christian is drawn by the force of charity from his retirement, which he loves not through sloth but through sincere humility, and is led into an active life; and if such be the will of God, is plunged, for the service of his neighbour, even into a sea of cares and troubles, of business and occupations, important or unimportant, honourable or abject, according to the order in which God has willed that they should come to him. And indeed how acceptable to God would be such activity undertaken solely out of love for him!

Since we live by faith, we can surely expect grace in abundance to compensate for what we would have received through our usual pious practices. Charity expects great things: and therefore so does the Institute of Charity. And these great things can only come if we greatly develop our charitable activity. The outside world also expects much, and expends great energy. But it is not the energy of charity. The Institute expects immense activity, but in the charity of Christ.

(AL Vol. IV, let. 61, pp. 81-83, to Don Emilio Belisy at Prior Park, from Rovereto, Good Friday (25 March) 1842).

37843_bug.jpg