As we Become like Christ..

From Mere Christianity
By C.S. Lewis

And now we begin to see what it is that the New Testament is always talking about. It talks about Christians 'being born again'; it talks about them 'putting on Christ'; about Christ 'being formed in us'; about our coming to  'have the mind of Christ.'
Put right out of your head that the idea that these are only fancy ways of saying that Christians are to read what Christ said an try to carry it out--as a man may read what Plato and Marx said and try to carry it out.  They mean something much more than that.  They mean that a real Person, Christ, here and now, in the that very room where you are saying your prayers, is doing things to you.  It is not a question of a good man who died two thousand years ago.  It is a living Man, still as much a man as you, and still as much God as He was when he created the world, really coming and interfering with your very self; killing the old natural self in you and replacing it with the kind of self He has.
At first, only for moments. Then for longer periods.  Finally, if all goes well, turning you permanently into a different sort of thing; into a new little Christ, a being which, in its own small way, has the same kind of life as God; which shares in His power, joy, knowledge and eternity.

The Eucharistic Path

By: St Peter Julian Eymard

Is it not true that charmed by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we find ourselves drawn more and more to the Tabernacle where he keeps unceasing vigil, longing to bestow upon us his blessings and graces? Let us then, give ourselves up with all our hearts to the Divine attraction, for in Jesus alone is to be found all light, all strength, all consolation, and Jesus is there near us in his Eucharist. 

It is the purpose of this little rule to help those who are dear to the Heart of Jesus, to go to him more regularly and to leave his presence with greater benefits.

It will help you to live a Eucharistic life, and to develop it daily to greater advantage.

We have drawn up these simple rules for all, since Jesus wishes to see all his children gathered about his tabernacle, living by him and in him.

They are within the reach and practice of all.

The young child preparing in his innocent heart a dwelling for Jesus, will learn by them to pray better and to think of his dear Savior more frequently.

The young man or girl wishing to be faithful to the God of their first Communion and to the promises of that great day, will find there in the shelter where their faith and love, perhaps already attacked by the enemy, may be made secure, and faithful souls will learn to live at the feet of Jesus Sacramental and to draw from his Heart the grace to advance rapidly in the way of holiness. 

To those assailed by doubt and discouragement, absorbed by material cares and drawn into frivolous pleasures, the practice of these simple rules will be a source of strength; they will find therein the help of him who during his mortal life, commanded the winds and waves, death and Satan, and whose only desire in having his abode amongst us is to assure to us his merciful Heart in his Sacramental Presence in the Tabernacle, and to offer us a sure refuge. 

Let us learn to go there to him where his love keeps him in our midst, and let us say to ourselves: If our souls are weak, if our faith is tottering, our prayers tepid, if we need courage, or are wanting in fervor and love, it is because we do not seek for the Remedy, there where it is to be found; that is to say, at the feet of that Jesus who on the roads of Judea healed all ills and who today living and glorified, is as merciful and as powerful as then, awaiting us in the Tabernacle to heal our souls and to strengthen, sanctify, guide and sustain us on the way to heaven. 

Let us then, embrace with good will these few, simple and easy practices, and let us not be discouraged if led away by the weakness of our human nature or the cares of business, we may have ill observed these rules, but let us rather return to them on the morrow with greater confidence. 

Let us return to them every day and take pleasure in reading them over and over. Let us carry them with us everywhere and constantly renew our desire to be faithful to them.

Above all — and these two points are absolutely essential for any Eucharistic life — never let any day pass without:

Firstly, going (if only in spirit) to lay our soul at the feet of Jesus present in the Tabernacle, to show him our miseries, as a gardener exposes a plant to the rays of the sun.

Secondly, reflecting for an instant in his presence and under his gaze, on the motives, which have induced him to dwell thus in our midst.

Let us beg him to enlighten our souls and make us understand what our true interests are, and what it is that he asks of us.

Then we may be certain that Jesus will bless us with that powerful benediction which has made saints.

The Greatness of Our Vocation

A Reflection by Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

"I want to answer your questions.  Let's treat humility first; I have read some splendid pages on it in the book I spoke to you about.  The pious author says that nothing can disturb the humble.  He possesses invincible peace for he has plunged into such an abyss that no one would go that far to look for him.  He also says that the humble person finds his greatest pleasure in life in feeling his own weakness before God....Pride is not something that is destroyed with one good blow of the sword! 

Doubtless, certain heroic acts of humility, such as we read of in the lives of the saints, give it, if not a mortal blow, at least one that considerably weakens it; but without that grace we must put it to death each day! "Quotide morior" exclaimed St. Paul, "I die daily!"  .. This doctrine of dying to self is the law for every Christian, for Christ said: "If anyone wants to follow Me, let him take up his cross and deny himself."  But this doctrine which seems so austere, takes on a delightful sweetness when we consider the outcome of this death- life in God in place of our life of sin and misery.  That is what St. Paul meant when he wrote: "Strip off the old man and clothe yourselves anew in the image of Him who created you."  This image is God Himself.  Do you recall His wish which He so clearly expressed on the day of creation: "Let us make man in our image and likeness"? Oh! you see, if we would think more of the origin of our soul things here below would seem so childish that we have only contempt for them.  

St Peter writes in one of his epistles that "we have been made sharers in His divine nature."  And St. Paul recommends that "we hold firm to the end this beginning of His existence which He has given us."
It seems to me the soul that is aware of its greatness enters into that "holy freedom of the children of God" of which the Apostle speaks, that is, it transcends all things, including self.  If anyone were to ask me the secret of happiness, I would say it is to no longer think of self, to deny oneself always.  That is a good way to kill pride: let it starve to death!  You see, pride is love of ourselves; well, love of God must be so strong that it extinguishes all our self-love.  St. Augustine says we have two cities within us, the city of God and the city of SELF.  To the extent that the first increases, the second will be destroyed.  A soul that lives by faith in God's presence, that has this "single eye" that Christ speaks of in the Gospel, that is, a purity of "intention" that seeks only God; this soul, it seems to me, would also live in humility: it would recognize His gifts to it- for humility is truth- but it would attribute nothing to itself, referring all to God as the Blessed Virgin did.

..All the movements of pride that you feel within yourself only become faults when the will takes part in them! Without that, although you may suffer much, you are not offending God.  Doubtless self-love is at the bottom of those faults which, as you say, you commit without thinking, but that... is in a way, part of us... What God asks of you is never to entertain deliberately any thought of pride, and never to act on the inspiration of pride, for this is wrong.  And yet, if you find yourself doing either of these, you must not become discouraged, for again, it is pride which is irritated.  You must "display your misery" like Magdalene at the Master's feet, and ask Him to set you free.  He so loves to see a soul recognize its weakness.  Then, as a great saint said, "The abyss of God's immensity encounters the abyss of the creature's nothingness," and God embraces this nothingness"
Complete Works of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, Volume 1, pp.124-126