The other day I was reading in Saint Francis de Sales that a person of a melancholy turn of mind, of a cold and disagreeable disposition, might love God as much as another...
In the supernatural order, the Church, after the manner of our blessed Lord, takes hold of this permanent character of love in the order of nature and elevates the promise "I do" to the dignity of a sacrament.
Our gaze turns to the many souls who have preceded us marked with the sign of faith.
Holy Scripture has said two things that may convince us of the importance of faithfulness in little things: "He that despises small things," we are told, "shall fall by little and little."
Faith at most makes us a hero. Love makes a saint.
"Everything that happens in corporal creatures redounds to the usefulness of man." - Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job
In Saint Matthew we read: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and in Saint Luke: And for give us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us.
"It’s all over." This is the debilitating message that we sense in our commitments when we face difficult and trying times and the future seems so bleak and hopeless.
