In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1 Quotes

“We will imitate him when we learn to accept life’s duties and worries without sterile complaints, when we confront our personal problems without dumping them in someone else’s lap, when we face squarely the consequences of our actions, when we do our work for the glory of God without looking for earthly praise ...[604”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it. There is no other way. Either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or else we shall never find him. That is why I can tell you that our age needs to give back to matter and to the most trivial occurrences and situations their noble and original meaning. It needs to restore them to the service of the Kingdom of God, to spiritualize them, turning them into a means and an occasion for a continuous meeting with Jesus Christ.[410”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“Having received so many benefits, is it possible not to be in a state of continuous celebration during your earthly life? asks Saint John Chrysostom. Far from us be any flagging of spirit because of poverty, sickness or the persecutions which oppress us. The present life is a time for celebrating,[353] a foretaste of everlasting glory and happiness.”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“The heaviest weights that men carry are their sins, as Saint Augustine pointed out. Jesus tells people who are sweating under heavy and useless burdens, ‘Come to me ... and I will give you rest.’ How could He relieve those weighed down by sin except by forgiving them?[334] Every confession is a liberation, for sins – even venial ones – are a wearisome oppression. We come away from this sacrament at peace, ready to struggle afresh. It is as though He said: All you who are tormented and afflicted, labouring beneath the burden of anxiety and desire, cast it aside by coming unto Me, and I will refresh you; and your souls shall find that rest of which your desires rob you.[”
― Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“He was the greatest madman of all times. What greater madness could there be than to give oneself as he did, and for such people? It would have been mad enough to have chosen to become a helpless Child. But even then, many wicked men might have been softened, and would not have dared to harm him. So this was not enough for him. He wanted to make himself even less, to give himself more lavishly. He made himself food; he became Bread. Divine Madman! How do men treat you? How do I treat you?[634”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“My children, the world is slipping through our fingers. We cannot lose any time, for the time is short ... I understand Saint Paul very well when he writes to the Corinthians: ‘Tempus breve est!’ How brief is our sojourn upon the earth! For a coherent Christian, these words ought to ring true in the depths of the soul. They are a reproach for our lack of generosity and a constant invitation to loyalty. Truly, we have so little time to love, to give, to do penance.[”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“that if we are to serve others, for Christ’s sake, we need to be very human ... We have to understand everyone; we must live peaceably with everyone; we must forgive everyone.[376] On the other hand, we shall not call injustice, justice; we shall not say that an offence against God is not an offence against God, or that evil is good. When confronted by evil we shall not reply with another evil, but rather with sound doctrine and good actions: drowning evil in an abundance of good (cf Rom 12:21). That’s how Christ will reign in our souls and in the souls of the people around us.[377]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“There is nothing – however simple – that our lukewarmness won’t present to us as difficult and costly. Conversely, there is nothing – however difficult and costly – that our fervour and determination won’t present to us as pleasant and agreeable.[737]”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“We must value each man because he is man, whether he be ignorant, or uneducated, or insignificant. And we will not be able to do that unless our conception of what man is makes him the object of our esteem.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18

“If difficulties arise, God’s grace will abound. If more difficulties appear, from heaven we will have poured down on us even more of God’s grace. If there are many difficulties, we can count on all the greater access of grace.”
― Francis Fernandez, In Conversation with God – Volume 4 Part 1: Ordinary Time Weeks 13 - 18