Charles Williams : The New Christian Year

Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.

John Henry Newman: Apologia.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity (November 25th, 2007)

Could you like anything in your own heart, or so much as fancy any good to be in it, or believe that you had any power of your own to embrace and follow truth, this comfortable opinion so far as it goes, whould be your turning away from God and all goodness, and building iron walls of separation between God and the soul.  For conversion to God only then begins to be in truth and reality when we see nothing that can give us the least degree of faith, of hope, of trust or comfort in anything that we are of ourselves.

William Law: Letters.

25th Saturday after Trinity (November 24th, 2007)

It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities.  A possibility is a hint from God.  One must follow it.  In every man there is latent the highest possibility, one must follow it.  If God does not wish it then let him prevent it, but one must not hinder oneself.  Trusting to God I have dared, but I was not successful; in that is to be found peace, calm and confidence in God.  I have not dared: that is a woeful thought, a torment in eternity.

Søren Kierkegaard: Journals.

An old man was once asked, "How is it that thou are never dejected?"  And he said, "Because each day I hope to die."

The Paradise of the Fathers.

25th Friday after Trinity (November 23rd, 2007)

Whether I eat or drink, or whatever else I do, the dreadful trumpet of the last day seems always sounding in my ears: Arise, ye dead, and come to judgement.

Attr. to St. Jerome by Alban Butler: Life of Saint Jerome.

Our critical day is not the very day of our death, but the whole course of our life: I thank him, that prays for me when my bell tolls; but I thank him much more, that catechizes me, or preaches to me, or instructs me how to live.

John Donne: Sermons.

St. Andrew's Day

The Church was created before all things, and for her sake the world was framed.

Hermas: The Shepherd.

25th Thursday after Trinity (November 22nd, 2007)

The qualities of the devil and all fallen angels are good qualities; they are the very same which they received from their infinitely perfect Creator, the very same which are and must be in all heavenly angels; but they are an hellish, abominable malignity in them now, because they have, by their own self-motion, separated them from the light and love which should have kept them glorious angels.

William Law: An Appeal.

25th Wednesday after Trinity (November 21st, 2007)

What is that which shines though me, and strikes upon my heart without hurting it?  And I shudder and kindle: shudder, in as much I am unlike it; kindle, in as much as I am like it.  It is Wisdom, Wisdom's self which thus shines into me; even breaking through my cloudiness: which yet again overshadows me fainting from it, under the fog and heavy load of mine own punishment.

St. Augustine: Confessions.

Then also thou shalt so rest in us, as thou now workest in us: and so shall that rest be thine, through us; even as these works are thine though us.  But thou, O Lord, dost work always, and rest always too.

St. Augustine: Confessions.