In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2 Quotes

“Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it ... The man who wishes to understand himself thoroughly – and not just in accordance with immediate, partial, often superficial, and even illusory standards and measures of his being – he must with his unrest, uncertainty and even his weakness and sinfulness, with his life and death, draw near to Christ. He must, so to speak, enter into him with all his own self, he must ‘appropriate’ and assimilate the whole of the reality of the Incarnation and Redemption in order to find himself. If this profound process takes place within him, he then bears fruit not only of adoration of God but also of deep wonder at himself. How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator, if he ‘gained so great a Redeemer’ (Hymn ‘Exsultet’ of the Easter Vigil), and if God ‘gave his only Son’ in order that man ‘should not perish but have eternal life’ (cf John 3:16).[646]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.[705]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“The Lord will reign for ever and will give his people the gift of peace.[686]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Let us never fail to have recourse to the Lord, especially when the going gets rough. If we take advantage of the means of spiritual direction, the Lord will be able to work miracles with us.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“We can find it difficult to understand many of the things the Lord permits in our life – pain, sickness, economic ruin, unemployment, the death of a loved one ... Yet God’s plans are ordered to our eternal happiness. Our mind can barely make out the most immediate of realities. Shouldn’t we put our trust in the Lord, in his loving Providence? Are we to trust the Lord only when things are going our way? We are in God’s hands. We could never find a safer refuge. The day will come at the end of our life when the Lord will explain his ways to us, down to even the most insignificant occurrences.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“When you open the Holy Gospel, think that what is written there – the words and deeds of Christ – is something that you should not only know, but live. Everything, every point that is told there, has been gathered, detail by detail, for you to make it come alive in the individual circumstances of your life. God has called us Catholics to follow him closely. In that holy Writing you will find the Life of Jesus, but you should also find your own life there. You too, like the Apostle, will learn to ask, full of love, ‘Lord, what would you have me do?’ And in your soul you will hear the conclusive answer, ‘The Will of God!’ Take up the Gospel every day, then, and read it and live it as a definite rule. This is what the saints have done.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“We are all travelling in this life. As the years go by, we find that more and more of our loved ones are now on the other side of that barrier. This knowledge might be a source of fear, but can also be a cause for joy. This is possible if we believe that death is the door to our true home. It leads to our definitive homeland which is inhabited by ‘all those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith’. Our common homeland is not a forbidding tomb; it is the bosom of the Lord.[806] While we are here on this earth we”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“When you have a lot of people singing without any organ accompaniment, there is a constant tendency for the note to drop all the time; it gets lower and lower as it goes on. And therefore, when the choir isn’t accustomed to singing without accompaniment, every now and then the choir-master, who has a pitch-pipe concealed on his person, gives a little ‘toot’ in the background, to remind them of the higher note which they ought to be taking, and aren’t. And, you see, we are rather like that. We go on living from day to day without thinking much about how we are living, or what we are here for, or whether the things that chiefly interest us are really worth living for; and we get accustomed to our sins, and feel vaguely that it is a pity we go on committing them, but after all, there doesn’t seem to be much chance of our stopping; and our prayers get very languid and washed out, and we think of very little except our food and our amusements – do you see what I mean? All the time, the note on which our lives are lived is dropping, dropping, till it’s ready to die away into our boots, and we don’t notice, just as the choir doesn’t notice when the note drops. So we want that sudden little ‘toot’ of the pitch-pipe, to pull us together and screw the note of our lives up again. And the pitch-pipe we use ... is meditation on Our Lord’s Passion.[791”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“When you sit down at table, pray. When you eat your bread, give thanks to God who is so generous. If you have some wine, remember that he has created it to bring us merriment and comfort in affliction. When you are getting dressed, give thanks to the one who gave you these clothes. When you look up at the firmament and behold the beauty of the stars above, fall down at the feet of God and adore his infinite Wisdom that is manifest in all Creation. Do the same at sunrise and sunset, when you are asleep and when you are awake. Give thanks to the God who created all this wonder for your benefit, so that you might know, love and praise his name.[388”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Lord was well aware that the crowds did not grasp the full import of his teaching: Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.[749] Nevertheless, Jesus manifests a tireless devotion to these same people.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“These little contradictions can cause us to lose our peace. Yet this is where the Lord is waiting for us, right there in the ups and downs of ordinary life. This is the raw material of our sanctity. This”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“When we get flustered, though, let us not react right away. We should take a deep breath, smile, do whatever has to be done and take our concerns to the Sacred Heart. Jesus looks upon our struggle”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“God wants your misery to be the throne of his mercy. He desires that your powerlessness be the seat of his omnipotence.[736”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Whenever we get tired – in our work, in our studies, in our apostolic endeavours – when our horizon is darkened by lowering clouds, then let us turn our eyes to Jesus, to Jesus who is so good, and who also gets tired; to Jesus who is hungry and suffers thirst. Lord, how well you make yourself understood! How lovable you are! You show us that you are just like us, in everything but sin, so that we can feel utterly sure that, together with you, we can conquer all our evil inclinations, all our faults. For neither weariness nor hunger matter, nor thirst, nor tears ... since Christ also grew weary, knew hunger, was thirsty, and wept. What is important is that we struggle to fulfil the Will of our heavenly Father (cf John 4:34).[653]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Elizabeth’s start of joy at the Visitation emphasizes the gift that can be contained in a mere greeting, when it comes from a heart full of God. How often can the darkness of loneliness, oppressing a soul, be dispelled by the shining ray of a smile and a kind word! A good word is soon said; yet sometimes we find it difficult to utter. We are restrained by fatigue, we are distracted by worries, we are checked by a feeling of coldness or selfish indifference. Thus it happens that we may pass by persons, although we know them, without looking at their faces and without realizing how often they are suffering from that subtle, wearing sorrow which comes from feeling ignored. A cordial word, an affectionate gesture would be enough, and something would at once awaken in them: a sign of attention and courtesy can be a breath of fresh air in the stuffiness of an existence oppressed by sadness and dejection. Mary’s greeting filled with joy the heart of her elderly cousin Elizabeth (cf Luke 1:44).[496]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee: All things pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing: God alone suffices.[268]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“The one that many are fighting is not the true God, but the false idea of God that they have formed: a God who protects the rich, who only asks and demands, who is envious of our progress in well-being, who constantly observes our sins from above to enjoy the pleasure of punishing them! ... God is not like that, but is at once good and just; father also to prodigal sons; not wanting us poor and wretched, but great, free, creators of our own destiny. Our God is so far from being man’s rival that He wanted man as a friend, calling him to share in His own divine nature and in His own eternal happiness. And it is not true that He makes excessive demands of us; on the contrary, He is satisfied with little, because He knows very well that we do not have much ... This God will become more and more known and loved, by everyone, including those who reject Him today, not because they are wicked (they may be better than either of us), but because they look at Him from a mistaken point of view! Do they continue not to believe in Him? Then He answers: I believe in you![99] God”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Caritas omnia suffert, omnia credit, omnia sperat, omnia sustinet’. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.[752]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Life presents us with all manner of problems and trials. Some are great and many are of little consequence. With the help of God’s grace the soul can be strengthened by every trial.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.[740]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“if temptations should threaten to overwhelm us, let us remember what the Lord told St Paul during his time of trial: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“God detests failings because they are failings. On the other hand, however, in a certain sense He loves failings since they give to him an opportunity to show his mercy, and to us an opportunity to remain humble and to understand and to sympathize with our neighbour’s failings.[739]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Lord, may neither our past wretchedness which has been forgiven us, nor the possibility of future wretchedness cause us any disquiet. May we abandon ourselves into your merciful hands. May we bring before you our desires for sanctity and apostolate, which are hidden like embers under the ashes of an apparent coldness. Lord, I know you are listening to us.[738]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“God does not measure human actions by a standard which stops at the appearances of ‘how much’ is given. God measures according to the standard of the interior values of ‘how’ one places oneself at the disposal of one’s neighbour: He measures according to the degree of love with which one freely dedicates oneself to the service of the brethren.[722]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“We should understand that God is very interested in our response to his grace and his friendship. He is moved by the sacrifices we make in order to visit him in the Blessed Sacrament every day. He is pleased by our sincere effort to grow in friendship with him. He follows our struggle to be charitable towards others, to serve him in the middle of the world ... He is very proud of our performance!”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Spiritual direction is the normal means by which God acts upon souls.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master. The meaning of the parable is crystal”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“78.3 Affability. Optimism and cheerfulness. Another virtue which makes social life more pleasant is affability. It may express itself in the form of a friendly greeting, a small compliment, a cordial gesture of encouragement. This virtue leads us to overcome our inclination to irritability, rash judgments and actions ... , basically, to live as though other people didn’t matter. Elizabeth’s start of joy at the Visitation emphasizes the gift that can be contained in a mere greeting, when it comes from a heart full of God. How often can the darkness of loneliness, oppressing a soul, be dispelled by the shining ray of a smile and a kind word! A good word is soon said; yet sometimes we find it difficult to utter. We are restrained by fatigue, we are distracted by worries, we are checked by a feeling of coldness or selfish indifference. Thus it happens that we may pass by persons, although we know them, without looking at their faces and without realizing how often they are suffering from that subtle, wearing sorrow which comes from feeling ignored. A cordial word, an affectionate gesture would be enough, and something would at once awaken in them: a sign of attention and courtesy can be a breath of fresh air in the stuffiness of an existence oppressed by sadness and dejection. Mary’s greeting filled with joy the heart of her elderly cousin Elizabeth (cf Luke 1:44).[496] This is how we can lighten the load of the people around us. Another aspect of affability lies in the practice of kindness, in understanding towards the defects and mistakes of other people (we don’t have to be constantly correcting others), in good manners evinced by our words and behaviour, in sympathy, cordiality and words of praise at an opportune moment ... The spirit of sweetness is truly the spirit of God ... It makes the truth understandable and acceptable. We have to be intransigent towards every form of evil; nevertheless, we have to deal kindly with our neighbour.[497] A truck-driver once pulled over at a highway rest stop for a cup of coffee. He needed a break because he had many miles ahead of him. He sat at the counter and a young boy came to wait on him. The truck-driver asked with a smile, Busy day? The young fellow looked up and smiled back. Some months later, the truck-driver returned to the same stop. Much to his surprise, the young fellow remembered him as if they were old friends. The truth is that people have a great thirst for smiles. They have an enormous longing for cheerfulness and encouragement. Every day we encounter a good number of people who await that momentary gift of our joy. Through the practice of the social virtues we can open up many doors. We cannot allow ourselves to be cut off from any of our neighbours or colleagues. The Lord wants us to do an effective apostolate of friendship and confidence. We need to introduce other people to that greatest of all gifts which is friendship with Jesus.  ”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“words apply not only to his miracles, but also to his participation in ordinary affairs. It would be wonderful if people were to say the same thing about us, his followers in the middle of the world.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34

“Paul himself had to fight against numerous adversaries. He was attacked by barbarians. His guards laid traps for him. There were times when he was opposed by his own faithful in great numbers. Yet Paul was triumphant. Let us not forget that the Christian who is faithful to the laws of God will win out over those who oppose him and even over Satan himself.[213] If we stay close to Jesus in the Eucharist we will be victorious in every engagement, though sometimes we may appear to have been overcome ... The Tabernacle will be our strength.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 5 Part 2: Ordinary Time Weeks 29-34