A Daily Catholic Moment. Peter Celano

honors of this world, the pleasures of different kinds of food, and many other attractions that belong to an indulgent life. He reminded Antony of the great difficulty in obtaining the life of virtue. He also reminded him of the body’s weakness. He created great confusion in Antony’s thoughts, hoping to call him back from his intentions.” —St. Athanasius

       Give me the courage and patience of saints today, O Lord!

      

JANUARY 29

      For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

      —Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

      “When Antony thought about the depth of God’s judgments, he asked, ‘Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper, and why are the just in need?’ He heard a voice answering him, “Antony, keep your attention on yourself; these things happen according to God’s judgment, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.’” —The Wisdom of the Desert Fathers and Mothers

       Quiet the questions in my heart, O Lord, that keep me from being close to You.

      

JANUARY 30

      Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

      —Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

      “It seems to me that if a little flower could talk, it would tell simply what God has done for it, without trying to hide its blessings. Under the pretext of a false humility it wouldn’t say that it is unsightly and lacking in perfume, that the sun has taken away its beauty and its stem has been broken, while it recognizes just the opposite in itself.” —St. Thérèse of Lisieux

       I will praise You today, God, with my life and my words.

      

JANUARY 31

      [Jesus said,] “[U]nless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

      —Matthew 18:3b–4 (NAB)

      “You have asked me to say something to you about prayer. Before I speak about the interior life, that is, about prayer, I will speak of certain things that those walking along the way of prayer must practice. These things are so necessary that even people who are not greatly interested in contemplation can advance a long way in the Lord’s service. However, unless they have these things they cannot possibly be great contemplatives, and if they think they are, they are mistaken. May the Lord help me in this task and teach me what I need to say, so it may be to His glory…. One of these is love for each other. The second is detachment from all created things. The third, true humility, is the most important of these and embraces all the rest.” —St. Teresa of Avila

       Give me love, detachment, and humility, so that I may pray.

      February

      

FEBRUARY 1

      After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

      As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?”

      —Matthew 11:1–7 (NIV)

      “There are three reasons for which the soul’s journey to union with God is called night. The first has to do with the soul’s starting point. It must gradually deprive itself of desire for all worldly things by denying these things to itself. Such denial and deprivation are night to the human senses. The second reason has to do with the road along which the soul must travel to this union, that is, faith, which also is as dark as night to the understanding. The third has to do with the point to which it travels—that is, God, who is equally a dark night to the soul in this life. The soul must pass through these dark nights so that it may come to divine union with God.” —St. John of the Cross

       Lord, help me to see.

      

FEBRUARY 2

      Love is patient, love is kind…. Love never fails.

      —1 Corinthians 13:4a, 8a (NAB)

      St. Catherine of Siena heard God say to her: “A person who does not love does not help his neighbor, and thus harms himself. He cuts himself off from grace, and harms his neighbor by depriving him of the benefit of the prayers and sweet desires he is bound to offer to Me for his neighbor. Every act of help he performs should proceed from the compassion he has because of his love for Me.”

       Teach me Your love today.

      

FEBRUARY 3

      If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

      —1 Corinthians 13:3 (NRSV)

      “Do you remember our Lord’s words on these subjects? To the rich man, Jesus says, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give