>> A READING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST LETTER OF SAINT PAUL TO TIMOTHY. PAUL, AN APOSTLE OF CHRIST JESUS BY COMMAND OF GOD OUR SAVIOR AND OF CHRIST JESUS OUR HOPE, TO TIMOTHY, MY TRUE CHILD IN FAITH: GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. I AM GRATEFUL TO HIM WHO HAS STRENGTHENED ME, CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, BECAUSE HE CONSIDERED ME TRUSTWORTHY IN APPOINTING ME TO THE MINISTRY. I WAS ONCE A BLASPHEMER AND A PERSECUTOR AND AN ARROGANT MAN, BUT I HAVE BEEN MERCIFULLY TREATED BECAUSE I ACTED OUT OF IGNORANCE IN MY UNBELIEF. INDEED, THE GRACE OF OUR LORD HAS BEEN ABUNDANT, ALONG WITH THE FAITH AND LOVE THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> YOU ARE MY INHERITANCE, O LORD. >> YOU ARE MY INHERITANCE, O LORD. >> KEEP ME, O GOD, FOR IN YOU I TAKE REFUGE; I SAY TO THE LORD, MY LORD ARE YOU. O LORD, MY ALLOTTED PORTION AND MY CUP, YOU IT IS WHO HOLD FAST MY LOT. >> YOU ARE MY INHERITANCE, O LORD. >> I BLESS THE LORD WHO COUNSELS ME; EVEN IN THE NIGHT MY HEART EXHORTS ME. I SET THE LORD EVER BEFORE ME; WITH HIM AT MY RIGHT HAND I SHALL NOT BE DISTURBED. >> YOU ARE MY INHERITANCE, O LORD. >> YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH TO LIFE, FULLNESS OF JOYS IN YOUR PRESENCE, THE DELIGHTS AT YOUR RIGHT HAND FOREVER. >> YOU ARE MY INHERITANCE, O LORD. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ YOUR WORD, O LORD, IS TRUTH; CONSECRATE US IN THE TRUTH ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM LUCAM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES A PARABLE: CAN A BLIND PERSON GUIDE A BLIND PERSON? WILL NOT BOTH FALL INTO A PIT? NO DISCIPLE IS SUPERIOR TO THE TEACHER; BUT WHEN FULLY TRAINED, EVERY DISCIPLE WILL BE LIKE HIS TEACHER. WHY DO YOU NOTICE THE SPLINTER IN YOUR BROTHER'S EYE, BUT DO NOT PERCEIVE THE WOODEN BEAM IN YOUR OWN? HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, BROTHER, LET ME REMOVE THAT SPLINTER IN YOUR EYE, WHEN YOU DO NOT EVEN NOTICE THE WOODEN BEAM IN YOUR OWN EYE? YOU HYPOCRITE! REMOVE THE WOODEN BEAM FROM YOUR EYE FIRST; THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPLINTER IN YOUR BROTHER'S EYE. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> TODAY'S READINGS FOR THIS FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME LEND THEMSELVES WELL TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF SELF KNOWLEDGE. KNOWING YOURSELF. KNOWING YOURSELF WELL. THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE PRECISELY SO YOU CAN ADVANCE IN VIRTUE AND SHUN VICE. FOR THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH MY PREACHING ESPECIALLY THE DAILY COMMUNICANTS, YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS A THEME, A TOPIC, SELF KNOWLEDGE, THAT I COME BACK TO FREQUENTLY BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE. WE HAVE ST. PAUL IN THE 1ST LETTER TO TIMOTHY CHAPTER 1 GIVING US A GREAT WITNESS TO HIS OWN SELF KNOWLEDGE. HE SAYS I AM GRATEFUL TO HIM WHO HAS STRENGTHENED ME, CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD BECAUSE HE CONSIDERED ME TRUSTWORTHY AND APPOINTING ME TO THE MINISTRY. I WAS ONCE A BLASPHEMER AND A PERSECUTOR AND THEN ARROGANT MAN BUT I'VE BEEN MERCIFULLY TREATED BECAUSE I ACTED OUT OF IGNORANCE AND MY UNBELIEF. YET THERE ARE SOME WHO DO NOT ACT OUT OF IGNORANCE. THEY ACT OUT OF MALICE. REMEMBER YESTERDAY'S HOMILY FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD IT MAY BE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS RIGHT NOW I URGE YOU TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO IT BECAUSE THE THEME YESTERDAY WAS THE VERY REAL POSSIBILITY OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, THE HUMAN INTELLECT, MALICIOUSLY FALLING INTO INTRINSIC EVIL. WE SEE THIS ON A GLOBAL SCALE WITH THE CULTURE OF DEATH. THINGS LIKE GENOCIDE, TERRORISM, RACISM. I WENT TO THE LITANY FOR THE BISHOPS DOCUMENT THE USCCB DOCUMENT FORMING CONSCIENCES FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP WHICH IS ACTUALLY A VOTING GUIDE SO YESTERDAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE REALITY OF MALICIOUSLY FALLING INTO INTRINSIC EVILS AND HERE WE HAVE PAUL AN ACTUAL MURDERER. ONE WHO CONCEDED TO MURDER. A BLASPHEMER EVEN. WITH GREAT SELF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HIS OWN CONVERSION AND WITH THANKSGIVING GIVE TO JESUS CHRIST ABOUT OUR LORD IN TODAY'S GOSPEL FROM LUKE CHAPTER 6. WHY DO YOU NOTICE THE SPLINTER, THE SPLINTER IN YOUR BROTHER'S EYE AND YET DO NOT NOTICE THE WOODEN BEAM IN YOUR OWN EYE? HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, LET ME REMOVE THAT SPLINTER FROM YOUR OWN EYE WHEN YOU DO NOT EVEN NOTICE THE WOODEN BEAM IN YOUR OWN EYE. WHAT A GREAT MEDITATION WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE CHAINSAW AND CLEANING UP A TREE THAT FELL AT THE FATHERS OF MERCY. IT IS A GREAT MEDITATION. A GREAT MEDITATION. OUR LORD IS REALLY CALLING US TO SOMETHING BIG HERE. IT IS A TALL ORDER LIKE YESTERDAY'S GOSPEL A TALL ORDER. AT WHAT HE WAS COMMANDING US TO DO. THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES THAT CALL US TO GREATER SELF KNOWLEDGE, RIGHT? NOT ONLY FROM 1ST TIMOTHY THE READING TODAY OR LUKE 6 THE GOSPEL FOR TODAY BUT LISTEN TO THIS PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2. WORK WITH DILIGENT CONCERN TO ACHIEVE YOUR SALVATION. IT IS GOD WHO IN HIS GOOD WILL TOWARD YOU BEGETS IN YOU ANY MEASURE OF DESIRE OR ACHIEVEMENT. THEREFORE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO ACT WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR ARGUING. PROVE YOURSELVES INNOCENT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. CHILDREN OF GOD BEYOND REPROACH. IS THAT NOT A BEAUTIFUL QUOTATION? PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2. EPHESIANS 4 YOU MUST LAY ASIDE YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE IN THE OLD SELF WHICH DETERIORATES THROUGH ILLUSION AND DESIRE AND INSTEAD ACQUIRE A FRESH SPIRITUAL WAY OF THINKING. YOU MUST PUT ON THAT NEW MAN CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE WHOSE JUSTICE AND TRUTH ARE BORN OF HOLINESS. ANOTHER GREAT QUOTATION FROM EPHESIANS. ROMANS 12. DETEST WHAT IS EVIL, CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. AGAIN YESTERDAY'S THEME OF THE HOMILY WAS THE REALITY OF FALLING INTO INTRINSIC EVILS AND NOT THROUGH IGNORANCE BUT MALICE. DETEST WHAT IS EVIL. CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. DO NOT GROW SLACK BUT BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT. HE WHOM YOU SERVE AS THE LORD. REJOICE IN HOPE, BE PATIENT UNDER TRIAL AND PERSEVERE IN PRAYER. AND 1ST PETER CHAPTER 2. STRIP AWAY EVERYTHING VICIOUS, EVERYTHING DECEITFUL, THINGS LIKE PRETENSE, JEALOUSY, ENVY AND SLANDER AND DISPARAGING REMARK OF ANY KIND. LIKE NEWBORN INFANTS, LONG FOR PURE SPIRITUAL MILK SO THAT THROUGH IT YOU MAY GROW INTO SALVATION FOR YOU HAVE BEEN ONE WHO HAS TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GOOD. THE BEAUTY OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IN OTHER WORDS. SO THE NEED FOR SELF KNOWLEDGE. THESE QUOTATIONS I JUST GAVE YOU FROM SCRIPTURE ARE ALL PART OF MY PARISH MISSION SERIES TITLED WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION. THE THEOLOGY OF FAITHFULNESS TO DAILY DUTY. HOW BEING FAITHFUL TO YOUR DAILY DUTY CAN MAKE YOU A SAINT. AGAIN THIS IS A THEME THAT I RETURN TO TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH MY PREACHING WHETHER SINGLE OR MARRIED OR CONSECRATED PRIEST, BROTHER OR SISTER AND RELIGIOUS LIFE. CONSECRATED RELIGIOUS LIFE WITH THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS OR BISHOP OR A WIDOW OR WIDOWER DOING WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO IT AND THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE. BEING FAITHFUL TO DAILY DUTY. DOCTOR, FARMER, LAWYER, HOMESCHOOLING MOTHER. A DIVORCED DAD OF STRIVING TO LIVE CHASTE LIFE. RETIRED GRANDPARENT, WORKING GRANDPARENT. RECENTLY WIDOWED GRANDPARENT. UNIVERSITY STUDENT. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT EVEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT WHO HAS ATTAINED THE AGE OF REASON CAN BEGIN TO MAKE MORAL CHOICES. THIS IS WHY WE GIVE 1ST RECONCILIATION AND HOLY COMMUNION AROUND THE AGE OF REASON AROUND THE AGE OF 7. SO YOU HAVE HEARD THE THINGS BEFORE AND I AM VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT IN 2022 EWTN WILL BE FILMING A 10 PART SERIES TITLED WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION. WE ARE TAKING IT TO AIR ON THE NETWORK. IT WILL BE TAPED IN THE CENTER OF 2022 AROUND JULY, SO PRAY FOR THAT PROJECT THAT IT COMES TO ITS FULLNESS OF COMPLETION BY GOD'S GRACE. BUT THE THEOLOGY OF FAITHFULNESS TO DAILY DUTY. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION. HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. AND WE NEED GOOD SELF KNOWLEDGE TO DO THIS. WE NEED REALLY GOOD SELF KNOWLEDGE. THEY'RE ALL KINDS OF THINGS YOU CAN LOOK AT TO GAUGE YOURSELF. FOR EXAMPLE JUST LOOK AT THE LISTING OF THE 12 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. WHERE DO I GAUGE THESE 12 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? IN MY DAY TO DAY LIVED EXPERIENCE. CHARITY, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENEROSITY, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, MODESTY, SELF CONTROL AND CHASTITY. THE 4 CARDINAL VIRTUES. WHEN YOU GAUGE YOURSELF ON THOSE? PRUDENCE, JUSTICE, TEMPERANCE AND FORTITUDE. ABOUT THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES THAT WE PRAY FOR AN INCREASE OF AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH AND EVERY ROSARY. WE WILL DO IT TODAY, WE PRAY THE ROSARY AFTER MASS AS WE DO EVERY DAY FOLLOWED BY THE LITANY OF THIS MONTH IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS OF THE 7 SORROWS. THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY. SO THERE IS 3 LISTS. THE 12 OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE 4 CARDINAL VIRTUES AND THE 3 THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES. WHERE YOU CAN ASK YOURSELF WHERE AM I IN THESE? WE NEED GOOD SELF KNOWLEDGE. I HAD A WOMAN ASK ME AFTER PARISH MISSION WHEN I WAS GREETING PEOPLE AS THEY WERE EXITING THE CHURCH AND SHE SAID I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR TALK ON SELF KNOWLEDGE BUT I AM CONFUSED ABOUT WHY FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE GOD KNOWLEDGE WOULD NOT BE 1ST AND THEN SELF KNOWLEDGE COME 2ND. I ANSWERED HER, REALLY? YOU'RE WONDERING? WELL, LOOK AT THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES. WHAT DID JESUS SAY TO THEM? WHAT DID HE CALL THEM? YOU WHITE WASHED TOMBS. PRETTY WHITE ON THE OUTSIDE BUT ON THE INSIDE YOU ARE LIKE A ROTTING SEWAGE STENCH. THESE WERE THE VERY TEACHERS OF THE LAW. THEY KNEW ALL OF THE LAWS FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AND COULD QUOTE THEM. THEY HAD ALL OF THE GOD KNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE FAITH KNOWLEDGE YOU COULD EVER WANT BUT THEY HAD NO SELF KNOWLEDGE. JESUS GOES TO FAR AS TO SAY YOU BIND ON OTHERS' BACKS WHAT YOU YOURSELVES DO NOT FOLLOW. I AM ABOUT TO GIVE YOU SOME QUOTATIONS ON SELF KNOWLEDGE AND GROWTH THEREIN. IT WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SELF KNOWLEDGE NEEDS TO BE KNOWN IN ORDER TO GROW AUTHENTICALLY IN THE FAITH KNOWLEDGE IN THE GOD KNOWLEDGE. SO WE WANT TO ASK OURSELVES HOW WE GAUGE OURSELVES IN THESE PARTICULAR AREAS. GROWTH IN VIRTUE BASICALLY. THEN THERE ARE THE 4 TEMPERAMENTS. YOU COULD LOOK AT THOSE IN ADDITION TO THE LIST OF VIRTUES I GAVE YOU. THE CHOLERIC TEMPERAMENT, THE PHLEGMATIC, THE SANGUINE AND MELANCHOLY. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SAID WE ALL HAVE A PREDOMINANT ONE AND A SECONDARY MINOR ONE. OTHER THEOLOGIANS SAY IF YOU HAVE 3 OR MORE YOU NEED HELP. BUT WE HAVE A PREDOMINANT TEMPERAMENT OF THE 4 AND A SECONDARY TEMPERAMENT OF THE 4. EACH OF THOSE HAVE THEIR OWN GIFTS. EACH OF THOSE HAVE THEIR OWN FAUX PAS. OKAY. SO YOU WILL HAVE TO WATCH YOURSELF. YOU HAVE TO GAUGE YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN PRACTICE THE GIFTS THE TRAITS THAT OF THOSE GIFTS AND NOT FIND YOURSELVES AND NOT THE FAUX PAS. THAT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE IN ADDITION TO THE VIRTUES. NOW FOR SOME QUOTATIONS. I'M GOING TO QUOTE PEPPER YOU WITH A LOT OF QUOTATIONS. I GAVE YOU SCRIPTURE AND I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME ST. ONES ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF KNOWLEDGE. ST. DORTHEUS SAYS THIS, THE REASON FOR ALL DISTURBANCE IF WE LOOK TO ITS VERY ROOTS IS THAT NO ONE FINDS FAULT WITH HIMSELF. THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL ANNOYANCE AND DESPAIR. WHY ARE YOU SINKING DOWN? YOU'RE GOING DOWN IN YOUR PEW. THE REASON FOR ALL DISTURBANCE IF WE LOOK TO ITS VERY ROOTS IS THAT NO ONE FINDS FAULT WITH HIMSELF. THIS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL ANNOYANCE AND DISTRESS. HE CONTINUES, THE MAN WHO FINDS FAULT WITH HIMSELF ACCEPTS ALL THINGS CHEERFULLY. MISFORTUNE, LOSS, DISGRACE, DISHONOR AND ANY OTHER KIND OF ADVERSITY. HE BELIEVES THAT HE IS DESERVING OF ALL THESE THINGS AND NOTHING CAN DISTURB HIM. CROSSES OR NO CROSSES. NO ONE CAN BE MORE AT PEACE THAN THIS MAN. HE HAS SELF KNOWLEDGE. WE LIVE IN A BROKEN WOUNDED WORLD. ACCEPT THAT. SO THAT WHEN THE CROSS COMES YOU CAN HANDLE THEM BETTER. SAINT PETER SAYS, WE ALL TALK OF REFORMING OTHERS WITHOUT EVER WANTING TO REFORM OURSELVES. YOU KNEW THAT ONE PRETTY GOOD. YES. WE ALL TALK OF REFORMING OTHERS WITHOUT EVER REFORMING OURSELVES. ST. AUGUSTINE. READ HIS CONFESSIONS. HE OPENLY TALKS ABOUT HIS PROBLEMS AND NOT ONLY HIS LUST ADDICTION BUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER AREAS. READ THE CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE. HE SAID A MAN CANNOT HOPE TO FIND GOD UNLESS HE 1ST FINDS HIMSELF. AGAIN, THE SELF KNOWLEDGE IS 1ST IN ORDER TO GROW AUTHENTICALLY TRUTHFULLY IN THE GOD KNOWLEDGE. AGAIN AUGUSTINE. A MAN CANNOT HOPE TO FIND HIMSELF; A MAN CANNOT HOPE TO FIND GOD UNLESS HE 1ST FINDS HIMSELF. AND OUR LORD TO ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA. THIS IS FROM THE FAMOUS DIALOGUES OF CATHERINE. HE SAID MY DAUGHTER NEVER LEAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOURSELF, THEN, YOU WILL DISCOVER AND KNOW ME IN YOURSELF, AND FROM THIS KNOWLEDGE MY DAUGHTER, YOU WILL DRAW ALL THAT YOU NEED TO GROW IN HOLINESS. IN OTHER WORDS, SELF KNOWLEDGE IS THE 1ST STEP NEEDED TO BE DRAWN INTO THE DIVINE LIFE OF GOD IN THE DIVINE COMMUNION WITH THE 3 DIVINE PERSONS. THAT INTIMATE UNION THAT GOD DESIRES FROM EACH 1 OF US THAT WE ARE CREATED FOR. WE ARE CREATED FOR HAPPINESS. ETERNAL HAPPINESS IN HEAVEN. BUT EVEN HAPPINESS IN THIS LIFE WHICH DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE WILL NOT BE CROSSES BUT IT MEANS THAT WE KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE CROSSES EVEN THE MOST TRAGIC ONES THAT COME SUDDENLY. HE CONTINUES, HE SAID MY DAUGHTER, IN KNOWING YOURSELF, YOU WILL COME TO KNOW BETTER THE OVERFLOWING GENEROSITY OF MY CHARITY. BUT IF YOU MAKE NO EFFORT TO KNOW YOURSELF YOU WON'T KNOW ME. AND BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW ME YOU WILL NOT LOVE ME AND BECAUSE YOU DO NOT LOVE ME YOU WILL NOT SERVE ME. THAT IS TELLING. IT IS VERY TELLING HOW THE GROWTH IN SELF KNOWLEDGE PRECISELY LEADS BY BEING ROOTED IN LOVE OF GOD LEADS TO THE GOD KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH KNOWLEDGE THAT IS AUTHENTIC. IS THIS NOT GREAT STUFF? I LOVE IT. ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, ABOVE ALL THE GRACES AND GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES TO HIS BELOVED IS THAT GREAT GIFT OF OVERCOMING THE SELF. ST. FRANCIS DESALES SAYS, IT IS A GREAT THING INDEED TO KNOW HOW TO BEAR WITH ONESELF. ST. PHILIP NERI SAID, ONE SHOULD NOT WISH TO BECOME A SAINT IN 4 DAYS BUT LITTLE BY LITTLE STEP BY STEP GRACE BY GRACE. IN OTHER WORDS BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF. IT IS A GREAT THING TO KNOW HOW TO BEAR WITH ONESELF. KNOW YOUR FAUX PAS'S. STRIVE TO GROW OUT OF THEM AND TO GROW IN VIRTUE. AND THAT WAS ST. FRANCIS DESALES AND ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI. ABOVE ALL THE GRACE AND GIFTS THAT CHRIST GIVES TO HIS BELOVED IS THAT GREAT GIFT OF OVERCOMING SELF. ST. FRANCIS DESALES CONTINUES, BE WHO YOU ARE BUT BE THAT WELL. IN OTHER WORDS YOU ARE A CHOLERIC BUT BE THAT CHOLERIC TEMPERAMENT WELL. NOT BE A CONTROL FREAK OVER EVERYTHING. THAT IS 1 OF THE FAUX PAS OF THE CHOLERIC. YOU ARE MELANCHOLIC TEMPERAMENT. WONDERFUL, GOD WILL MAKE YOU A SAINT TO THAT. BE A MELANCHOLIC TEMPERAMENT BUT BE THAT WELL. DO NOT BE A DOORMAT THAT LETS EVERYONE STEP ALL OVER YOU. BECAUSE THAT IS 1 OF THE FAUX PAS OF THE MELANCHOLIC TEMPERAMENT. THE DOORMAT. KNOW YOURSELF. AGAIN BE WHO YOU ARE. BUT BE THAT WELL. DO YOU NOT LOVE THE SAINTS, THE QUOTATION OF THE SAINTS? AGAIN ST. FRANCIS DESALES. HE SAID HAVE PATIENCE WITH ALL THINGS BUT 1ST OF ALL WITH YOURSELF. THOSE ARE QUOTATIONS BY HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE DEVOUT LIFE WHICH HE WROTE FOR WHOM? CLERICS, RELIGIOUS OR LAITY? THE LAITY. YOU GOT THAT ONE WELL TOO. ST AUGUSTINE SAYS, I WILL CONFESS THEREFORE GOD WHAT I KNOW OF MYSELF AND ALSO CONFESS WHAT I DO NOT KNOW OF MYSELF. THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE OF MYSELF I POSSESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENLIGHTENED ME ABOUT IT. WHILE THE KNOWLEDGE OF MYSELF THAT I DO NOT YET POSSESS WILL NOT BE MINE UNTIL MY DARKNESS SHALL BE MADE AS THE NOONDAY SUN BEFORE YOUR FACE BECAUSE I TURN TO YOU. IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU DO NOT TURN TO GOD FOR YOUR GROWTH IN SELF KNOWLEDGE, YOU WILL REMAIN IN DARKNESS. AUGUSTINE IS TELLING US WE TURN TO GOD TO DISCOVER THOSE AREAS THAT WE DO NOT YET KNOW ABOUT OURSELVES. I LOVE THIS. HE CONTINUES IN HIS CONFESSIONS AUGUSTINE DOES. HE IS TALKING ABOUT ACCEPTING THE PAIN AND BROKENNESS THAT WE BRING TO GOD WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE AND HOW CHRIST TRANSFORMS OUR DEEPEST WOUNDS INTO OUR SOUL'S MOST DISTINCTIVELY BEAUTIFUL FEATURES. THAT IS A MIRACLE. TRANSFORMING OUR DEEPEST WOUNDS WHATEVER THOSE MIGHT BE INTO OUR SOUL'S MOST DISTINCTIVELY BEAUTIFUL FEATURES. ST AUGUSTINE AGAIN THE FORMER LUST ADDICT SAYS I GAZED INTO MY DEEPEST WOUND AND WAS DAZZLED BY YOUR GLORY. I GAZED INTO MY DEEPEST WOUND AND WAS DAZZLED BY YOUR GLORY. WHY, BECAUSE GOD GAVE HIM SELF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THAT WOUND AND HOW HE NEEDS TO BE HEALED OF IT. THAT IS WHY THAT QUOTATION IS SO IMPORTANT. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL QUOTATION. ST. HIPPOLYTUS IN EARLY CHURCH PRIEST ON THE TREATIES FROM THE REFUTATION OF ALL HERESIES, DO YOU NOT LOVE THAT TITLE? THE REFUTATION OF ALL HERESIES. HE SAID THE SAYING, KNOW YOURSELF, MEANS THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE IN OURSELVES THE VERY GOD WHO MADE US IN HIS OWN IMAGE. FOR IF WE DO THIS, WE IN TURN WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY OUR MAKER. THAT IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE. THAT IS THE POINT WE WANT TO GET TO. THE SAYING KNOW YOURSELF MEANS THEREFORE THAT WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE IN OURSELVES THE GOD WHO MADE US IN HIS OWN IMAGE FOR IF WE DO THIS WE IN TURN WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY OUR MAKER. SO WE TURN TO GOD FOR THE GUIDANCE. WE THEN GROW IN THE SELF KNOWLEDGE BY BEING HONEST WITH OURSELVES BEFORE GOD AND THEN GOD LEADS US TO AUTHENTIC FAITH KNOWLEDGE AND AUTHENTIC GOD KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HIMSELF. CAPITAL H. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION. THE THEOLOGY OF FAITHFULNESS TO DAILY DUTY. THE 1ST STEP OF WHICH TO WORKING OUT THE SALVATION IS TO BEGIN TO GROW IN GOOD HOLY SELF KNOWLEDGE. GOD BLESS YOU.
