Immaculate Heart of Mary

Today is the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In today's Office of Readings, by St. Lawrence Justinian, we find:

"God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves. Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters."

There is an important key contained here, which GK Chesterton alluede to in "Platituded Undone," where he said (in so many words) "It is said that 'If it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.' Whereas actually, if it is worth doing, it is worth doing badly!"

Faith hope, and charity; the theological, supernatural virtues. Faith and hope will pass away, but charity endures forever. Charity is an act of the will. Thus, "will to love", be it in the execution of the duties of our state, which is justice, or in those things which go beyond our duties. Worry not about the results, those are in His hands.

These thoughts are helpful in climbing the ladders of our faith; we crawl before we walk and run, we drink milk before we eat meat; stay the course and do not be discouraged, for the Way is none other than Jesus our Lord...