Kingdom of light versus kingdom of darkness

[Traudel]

Kingdom of light versus kingdom of darkness

The Scriptures make clear that there are ultimately only two kingdoms
or powers and that they stand in opposition to one another--God's
kingdom of light and Satan's kingdom of darkness. John the Apostle
contrasts these two opposing kingdoms in the starkest of terms: We
know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the
evil one (1 John 5:19). The Scriptures describe the "world" as that
society of people who are opposed to God and his kingdom of
righteousness, truth, and goodness. Jesus came to overthrow Satan's
power and to set us free from everything that would hold us back from
knowing, loving, and serving God who has loved each one of us with
boundless mercy, compassion, and goodness.

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August 27th - St. Monica, Widow
by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1877

Practical Considerations

The life of St. Monica may serve as a lesson and example to every one.
As a virgin, she was modest and retiring, was devoted to prayer, was
kind to the poor, took no pleasure in luxuries or elegant garments,
married not without the knowledge and consent of her parents but more
in obedience to them than because it was her own wish. These are all
points which deserve to be especially considered and imitated by all
unmarried persons. As wife, she showed almost wonderful reserve and
patience. She suffered the wrong done to her in silence, but
endeavored to reform her husband by kind persuasions and prayers. She
evinced, however, the greatest solicitude to give her children a
Christian education. Married people may learn from this how they ought
to conduct themselves, especially if one has to suffer from the other.
As widow, she passed her time in the exercise of those works I have
mentioned above. She loved solitude, fled even from lawful pleasures,
and avoided the slightest shadow of vanity in her attire and behavior.
Oh! that all widows would consider this example well, and conform
their lives to it. For, to live, after the death of the husband, the
same life of vanity and dissipation, to dress just as luxuriously and
proudly, to find the same delight in the pleasures of the world and
seek them as frequently as in the past, to be just as indolent in the
exercise of charitable deeds, to spend even more time in gossiping
than in prayers or in hearing the word of God, to lead a life
regulated only by a love of comfort and sensuality, perhaps, even to
seek greater dangers--is not living as a widow who earnestly desires
to gain her eternal salvation. St. Paul says: "If any widow have
children or grandchildren; let her learn first to govern her own
house, and to make a return of duty to her parents: for this is
acceptable before God. But she that is a widow indeed and desolate,
let her trust in God, and continue in supplications and prayers night
and day. For she that lives in pleasures is dead while she is living."
(I. Timothy v.).

St. Monica had a vicious husband and a wicked son. She, however,
converted both. But how and by what means? Not by strife and
contention, not by abuse and injuries, not by swearing and cursing;
but by patience, by tender exhortations, by constant prayers. Oh! that
all women, all parents used such means when they have bad husbands or
wicked children. These are not to be changed by curses and abuse. If a
husband is angry, or intoxicated or otherwise unfit to listen to
reason, the wife should be silent and yield, but await a suitable time
to show him his faults and exhort him to better his conduct.
Contradictions or curses only pour oil into the fire and increase the
evil. As far as parents are concerned, they must know that they are
never allowed to curse their children or to wish them evil, let the
children be ever so godless and bad. The parents sin by cursing and
often very heavily.

They cause many sins which their children, in the course of time
commit by cursing in the same manner: for one sees every day that
children learn cursing from their parents, and become themselves as
accustomed to it as their parents are. And who is responsible to God
for all the curses of the children but the parents, who have set them
the example? I am aware of the many excuses which the parents give,
and I will answer them at another time. Today, I say only this: To
curse is never permitted. God forbids it. As often as parents curse
their children, so often do they act in contradiction to the law of
God: they sin and cause their children to sin. To curse is not a
proper, neither is it an allowed means to educate children or make
them better. St. Monica used quite different means and obtained what
she desired. Where has there ever been a father or a mother who made a
child pious by cursing? But even if it were possible to bring up a
child well and make it pious by cursing, yet would it be sinful to do
it with this intention. God has forbidden it: this must suffice.
"Bring them up in the discipline and correction of the Lord," writes
St. Paul. (Eph. vi.). The correction of the Lord does not permit
cursing, but on the contrary prohibits it.

See more at

http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/New%20Index%20of%20the%20Saints%202.html#M

http://catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/St.%20Monica.html


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Prayer to St. Monica

The Sacred Heart of Jesus, comforter of the sorrowful and salvation of
them that put their trust in Him, mercifully regarded thy tears,
Blessed Monica, sainted mother of Augustine the sinner. His conversion
and heroic sanctification were the fruit of thy prayers. From the
heights of thy heavenly home, happy mother of thy saintly son, pray
for those who wander afar from God, and add thy prayers to those of
all mothers who sorrow over the straying souls of their sons or
daughters. Pray for us, that following thy example and that of all
God's children, we may at length enjoy the eternal vision of our
Father in heaven. Amen.