God glorifies himself in us in the most unexpected of ways. He does something in our difficulty, in dryness, in pain. It's hard to believe it when we are in desolation but it becomes clearer when we emerge. Trust that even when it feels like God is distant, he is at work.
"We've all got wounds. We all bear the stigmata. We've all got the wounds of the cross. Mine, for some strange reason happen to be visible, but so what? You've got them, too. You're carrying some. I can see them." ~Padre Pio
“It’s not those who commit the least faults were most holy, but those who have the greatest courage, the greatest generosity, the greatest love, who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, & are not immoderately apprehensive of tripping.” -St. Francis de Sales
Loving God does not consist primarily in doing things for him (what could he possibly need?) but..., of letting ourselves be loved by him, believing in his love for us. That is what gives him most pleasure. Nothing pleases him as much as his little children's trust.-Fr. Philippe
“You need endurance to do the will of God ...” (Hebrews 10).
The Greek word for ‘endurance’ there is ὑπομονή and carries the meaning the brave and yet calm perseverance in trials, to wait, to remain, to not depart or run away.
Bravery is a steadfast calm.
Society: look here, now here, now over here...
Church: always look straight into Jesus' eyes in prayer & the sacraments so that you can spend eternity wrapped in his love.
“Remain in My presence whenever and for as long as you can. Being with Me is the great means to healing and to holiness...come to Me full of expectant hope and I will do all the rest.” #InSinuJesu ❤️🙏🏻
20 years have gone by so fast. #TBT - the first @FOCUScatholic missionaries, Joe Wurtz (now our Dean of Students) and Bethany Schlueter, and Curtis Martin (Founder of FOCUS and this year's #RavenCommencement speaker) giving a retreat for students in 1998. FOCUS has grown so much!