HOM retreat. Notes II

I would like to continue by adding my notes on the Discernment of Spirits.
This is supposed to be preached over a month long silent retreat, but the brother gave it to us in a little over a half hour.
MARC
Mass, Adoration, Rosary, and Confession.
The Cure d'Ars says a union with God is not deserved. Only His kindness allows it. In a perfect Union there is NO DISTANCE between God and ourselves. Silent Adoration! "Whispers in the breeze." Order your life so when you're praying, you are praying in inner silence. (Think about what that means.) We are fighting a war. Are we fighting back?

Rules of Discernment of Spirits of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
If we are living mortal sin to mortal sin, we know what sin is. The Cure d'Ars says you are choosing the pleasure of the moment OVER YOUR GOD. You defile the temple of the Holy Ghost when you give into impure acts and thoughts. It destroys the soul. God looks at your soul and it looks like a shattered mirror. Where is God in your mirror. He can no longer seen His image and likeness in it.
When we seek good looks in our mates, be careful what you wish for. (Is it worth having a girlfriend that is intoxicatingly pretty if the only thing in her mirror is makeup, shoes, handbags and oversize designer label sunglasses? Is God squeezed somewhere in the looking glass? Is it worth having a boyfriend who has a fast car if he'd rather wax and it than go spend an hour with our Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Bulky muscles cranking the thousand dollar upgraded speakers to drown out the golden silence?) You might get it.
Lover of God cannot be separated from love of neighbor. Guys want to be king, but without God. We must participate in Christ. Submit our selves. We want to groom ourselves to appear attractive to the opposite sex, no? Shower, put on cologne or perfume to smell good, right? Well, how does your soul smell? Do you take care of it like you take care of your body? Are you saying your daily Rosary? (A friend blogged about this, its not an option.) "Mr Owl, how many licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop?" One, two, three.... three. Mr (you're name here) how many clicks does it take to get to PORN. (probably less.) Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons. We are guilty, but we have Hope. God forgive and forgets, Satan remembers and reminds. Everyone in Heaven had a rigorous prayer life. No one in Hell had a rigorous prayer life. (Think about that!) Take a second. What is going through your mind when you go to sleep?
Anything you do wrong is your fault. Don't try to blame it on God. Are senses are gates for the Devil. When we feel Godless we tend to push God away. I'll go back to my old life at least there was pleasure there. Keep going like you would in times of consolation. God shows his love in consolation! In desolation, He pulls back and wants us to show our love for Him.

YOU CANT FAKE SANCTITY.

Being good is NOT not being bad. You love a thing in proportion to what you would be willing to pat for it. (I guess that means I love my car too much.) Its true! Many times I have loved my alcohol enough to drop 50 on a bartab. I didn't even spend that on my moms birthday present! You might love the Internet on your iPhone to have a 100 dollar phone bill. Love has a price. Well God paid a price. He humbled himself to become for all practical purpose an ant (man.) Shed His Precious Blood. Walked a deathmarch, and was asphyxiated to death two pieces of wood with our sins through His hands and feet. How much does He love...

Radicallity of the Gospel. Until you can claim you are perfect, you should change. When will you be perfect? (Not new and improved but dead to this world.) Its never to late to change, but is it too early? To die well, you must live well.

We know how this ends. We are going to win. Read Apocalypse.

To Him, through her...

St. John Vianney, Pray for us
St Ignatius of Loyola, Pray for us!

next time... Seven Deadly Sins...