WHO is so strong as never to be overcome by temptation, except he/she who has the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ for his/her helper? - Saint Augustine of Hippo - (354 - 430)

A CHEERFUL and glad spirit attains to perfection much more readily than a melancholy spirit. - Saint Philip Neri - (1515 - 1595)

DURING the course of the day, recollect as often as you can that you stand in the presence of God. Consider what He does and what you are doing. You will find His eyes turned towards you and perpetually fixed on you with an incomparable love. - Saint Francis de Sales - (1567 - 1622)

We need wings to go in search of Him, but have only to find a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us. - Saint Teresa of Avila - (1515 - 1582)

Perhaps there is nothing quite so important in the daily life of a Christian as the need to shine before men and women with the light of good example. We should live and act as other Christs, repeatedly setting before the eyes of our fellow men and women the silent testimony of our deeds and our devotion.

GOOD example is the most efficacious apostolate. You must be as lighted lanterns and shine like brilliant chandeliers among men/women. By your good example and your words, animate others to know and love God. - Saint Mary Joseph Rossello - (1811 - 1880)  

OUR life should be woven through and through with faith and generosity. - Blessed Raphaela Mary - (1850 - 1925)

You must practice first, all that you desire to teach others. - Saint Bernardine of Siena - (1380 - 1444) 

THINK well. Speak well. Do well. These three things, through the mercy of God, will make a man/woman go to Heaven. - Saint Camillus de Lellis - (1550 - 1614)

O FATHER, most merciful, who, in the beginning, didst create us; who, by the Passion of Thine Only Begotten Son, created us anew: work in us now, we beseech Thee, both to will and to do of Thy good pleasure. Grant us Thy heavenly benediction, that in whatever work we undertake, we may do all to Thy honour and Thy glory, that being kept from sin, and daily increasing in good works, we may show forth some service to Thee. Through Him who, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, live and reign, God, forever. Amen. - Saint Anselm of Canterbury - (1033 - 1109) -

Finally, we should never cease to pray for the necessary grace which will enable us to triumph over every difficulty. 

Let us ask for Divine grace. He/She who asks for anything else asks for nothing; not because all things are nothing, but because in comparison of such a thing, all else that can be desired is nothing at all. - Saint Augustine of Hippo - (354 - 430) - 

GRACE can do nothing without the will and the will can do nothing without grace. - Saint John Chrysostom - (347 - 407)

GRACE will not act without us, in order that we may will to do right. But when we will, it works along with us. Grace prevents him/her who is not willing, that he/she may will. It accompanies him/her who wills, lest he/she will in vain. - Saint Augustine of Hippo - (354 - 430)

THE EXAMINED LIFE  - The Confessions changes focus at this point and becomes more philosophical and theological. Here we begin to hear the self-examination of the Bishop of Hippo - Saint Augustine - and his interpretation of the nature of knowledge and of creation itself. 

- Page 16 - We are assaulted by these temptations daily, O Lord; without ceasing we are tried. Our daily furnace is the human tongue. And in this respect, too, you command continence [self-mastery] of us. Give what you command and command what you will. You know the groanings of my heart on this matter, and the rivers that flood my eyes. For I cannot ascertain how far I am clean of this plague, and I stand in great fear of my secret faults which your eyes perceive but mine do not. For other kinds of temptation I have some way of examining myself; in this, hardly any. For in keeping my mind from the pleasures of the flesh and from idle curiosity, I see how much I have been able to do without them, either voluntarily foregoing them or not having them available. Then I ask myself how much more or less troublesome it is to me not to have them. Riches may be desired that they may serve some one of these lusts, or two, or all of them. If the soul cannot tell whether it despises riches when it has them, it may cast them aside so that it may prove itself in this way. But to be without praise and to test our abilities in that regard, must we live wickedly, or lead a life so abandoned and atrocious that no one could know without detesting us? What greater madness could be said or thought? But if praise is usual, and if it ought to accompany a good life and good works, we ought to forego its company as little as we would the good life itself. Yet I cannot tell whether I shall be contended or troubled by being without something unless I am deprived of it.

What, then, do I confess to you, O Lord, in this kind of temptation? What, but that I am delighted with praise, but with truth itself more than with praise? For if it were proposed to me, whether I would rather, being mad or in error on all things, be praised by all men, or being consistent and well assured in the truth, be blamed by all, I see which I would choose. Yet I would rather that the approval of another should not even increase my joy for any good in me. I admit, though, that it does increase it, and more than that, that criticism diminishes it.

When I am troubled at this misery of mine, an excuse presents itself to me - of what value it is, only you know, O God, for it leaves me uncertain. Here it is: It is not self-control [continency] alone which you have commanded of us (that is, that we should hold back our love from certain things), but also righteousness as well (that is, upon what we bestow our love), and have wished us to love not only you but also our neighbour. Often when I am gratified by intelligent praise, I appear to my to be pleased by the competence or insight I see in my neighbour. In the same way, I seem to be sorry for the defect in him when I hear him criticize either what he does not understand or what is good. For I am sometimes grieved at the praise I get, either when those things are praised in me which I dislike in myself, or when lesser or trifling goods are more valued that they ought to be. But again, how do I know whether I am affected like these because I do not want him who praises me to differ from me about myself - not being influence by consideration for him, but because those same good things which please me in myself please me more when they please someone else as well? For, in a sense, I am not praised when my judgement of myself is not praised, whenever either those things which displease me are praised, or those which please me less are praised more. It seems then that I am uncertain about myself in this manner.

Behold, O Truth, in you I see that I ought not to be moved at my own praises for my own sake, but for the good of my neighbour. And whether this is so with me, I do not know. For concerning this I know less of myself than you do. I beseech you now, O my God, reveal me to myself, too, that I may confess to my brethren who are to pray for me where I find myself weak. Once again, let me examine myself more diligently. If, in the praise I receive I am moved with consideration for the good of my neighbour, why am I less moved if someone else is unjustly criticized than if it be myself? Why am I more irritated by reproach cast upon me than at that cast upon another in my presence with the same injustice? Do I not know this also? Or is it finally that I deceive myself, and do not the truth before you in my heart and speech? Put such madness be to me the sinner's oil to anoint my head.

I am poor and needy; yet I am better when in secret groanings I am displeased with myself and seek your mercy until what is lacking in my defective condition is renewed and made complete in that peace which the eye of the proud does not know.

The word which comes out of the mouth and the actions known to men bring with them a most dangerous temptation from the love of praise, which, to establish a certain glory of our own solicits and collects men's compliments. It tempts, even when I reprove myself for it within myself, on the very ground that it is reproved. Often a man glories even more vainly in his very scorn of praise. And so he is no longer avoiding vainglory when he glories in his scorn of vainglory. 

Within us, also, is another evil, arising out of the same kind of temptation, by which men become vain, pleasing themselves in themselves, though they do not please nor displease nor aim at pleasing others. But by pleasing themselves they greatly displease you. They do not merely take pleasure in things that are not good as if they were good, but take pleasure in things that are not good as if they were good, but take pleasure in your good things as if they were their own; or if, acknowledging the good things to be yours, they think they deserve them, or even if they regard them as from your grace, they do not use them with brotherly rejoicing but begrudge that same grace to others. In all these and similar perils and labours, you see the trembling of my heart. It is not so much that I never inflict these wounds on myself, as that they are ever anew healed by you.

Where have you not walked with me, O Truth, teaching me what to avoid and what to desire when I submitted to you what I could see here below and asked your counsel?........  -  Page 16  -

BY  SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO  

 -   WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY   - 

Just as God originally inspired the Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible, He has used this means to preserve His Word for future generations. But behind the writing lay periods of time when these messages were circulated in spoken form. [Oral Tradition] The stories of the patriarchs were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth before they were written. [Written Tradition] The messages of the prophets were delivered orally before they were fixed in writing. Narratives of the life and ministry of Christ Jesus were repeated orally for two or three decades before they were given written form.

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 - 

Your generous contribution and support is profoundly cherish. I sincerely pray that: God blessing be upon you, always. Amen! Bank transfer: Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah - Public Bank Berhad account no. 4076577113 - Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.