The Family and the Church

Show by the witness of your lives that it is possible, like Christ, to love without reserve, and do not be afraid to make a commitment to another person! Dear families, rejoice in fatherhood and motherhood! Openness to life is a sign of openness to the future, confidence in the future, just as respect for the natural moral law frees people, rather than demeaning them! The good of the family is also the good of the Church. I would like to repeat something I have said in the past: "the edification of each individual Christian family fits into the context of the larger family of the Church which supports it and carries it with her ... And the Church is reciprocally built up by the family, a ‘small domestic church.’” Let us pray to the Lord, that families may come more and more to be small churches and that ecclesial communities may take on more and more the quality of a family!


-- Pope Benedict XVI, Homily on Croatia's Catholic Family Day

The body and happiness.

"No one can be sad while they're using wrist and hand and eye and every muscle of their body." Bardia, Till We Have Faces.

"I said not long before that work and weakness are comforts. But sweat is the kindest creature of the three--far better than philosophy as a cure for ill thoughts." Orual.

World Wars

"Isn't it good that there have only been two world wars?" --Anthony, while flitting around the house looking for a jawbone of an ass.

G.K. Chesterton

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."

Successful Prayer

"Prayer cannot be measured on a scale of success and failure because it is God's work--and God always succeeds. When we believe we have failed at prayer, it is because we decided what shape our prayer should have, and are now frustrated that there is nothing we can do to implement our ambition" (Michael Casey, Towards God).

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

Oh my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down... A new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace.

Montjoy!

"Lords, Barons, charge on the foe! Spur hard!

See that ye hold unflinching the gates ye were bidden to guard!

In the name of God I beseech you, resolve you to deal with the sword

Great blows, and receive them! Forget not the banner of Charles your lord!"