The Devil's Entry: Cupidity and Fear

[Rich]

The Devil's Entry: Cupidity and Fear

   "Now the devil does not seduce or influence anyone unless he finds
that person already somewhat similar to himself. He finds someone
coveting something, and cupidity opens the door for the devil's
suggestion to enter.
   The devil finds someone fearing something, and he advises that
person to flee what is feared. By these two doors, cupidity and fear,
the devil gains entry."
--St. Augustine--Sermon 12, 11

Prayer: Lord, you have saved my soul from the constraint of fear, so
that it may serve you in the freedom of love.
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 30 (1), 8

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22 July – Blessed Manuela de Jesus Arias Espinosa
(Also known as “Manuelita”)

Her religious name “María Inés Teresa of the Blessed Sacrament” –
Sister and founder of both the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the
Blessed Sacrament (1945) and the Missionaries of Christ for the
Universal Church (1979), of which orders, she is the Patron. She was
born on 7 July 1904 in Ixtlán del Rio, Nayarit, Mexico and died on 22
July 1981 in Rome, Italy of natural causes.

Manuela de Jesús Arias Espinosa was born in Mexico in 1904 as the
fifth of eight children to the pious Eustaquio Arias Arroniz and María
Espinosa López Portillo, she made her First Communion in 1911.

Her religious calling blossomed in 1924 after attending a religious
congress in October 1924 and received inspiration after reading a life
of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux but her firm decision to enter the
religious life did not come until the Feast of Christ the King in
1926.

She entered the “Ave Maria” convent in Los Angeles on 5 June 1929.
Espinosa made her initial vows on 12 December 1930 and she made her
perpetual vows on 14 December 1933 and lived the cloistered life in
the religious name of “María Inés Teresa of the Blessed Sacrament”.
Her time in the cloistered life lasted until 1949.

Maria founded – on 23 August 1945 – the Poor Clare Missionary Sisters
of the Blessed Sacrament in Cuernavaca in Morelos and received the
papal decree of praise in 1949 and the full approval of Pope Pius XII
on 22 June 1951, she received the affectionate name of “Manuelita”.

Her next and final order was titled the Missionaries of Christ for the
Universal Church and was established on 23 November 1979 in Nievo
León. On 9 December 1980 she had an audience with St Pope John Paul II
in Rome.

In time, the nuns extended their evangelical activity to several
countries of Asia and Africa, the US and several Latin American and
European nations.

The Congregation of the Claretian Missionaries was further
strengthened on 5 January 1953, when the Holy See authorised the
formation of the Claretian Vanguards, a lay movement that has
developed in step with the religious order.

The nuns are a Eucharistic, Marian and Missionary Congregation leading
a contemplative-active life and adhering to the Divine Will, source of
joy, with Jesus Christ as their centre.

They take the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and witness
fraternal love “always in a spirit of understanding and service, lived
in love and peace, charity being what stimulates them to live not for
themselves but for all souls in need.”

By the time of her death in Rome in 1981, she was over-seeing 36
missionary houses in 14 countries. Over six thousand of her spiritual
writings still remain.

Mother Maria Inés Teresa of the Most Blessed Sacrament was beatified
on Saturday 21 April in Mexico City by the prefect of the Vatican
Congregation for Saints’ Causes, Card. Angelo Amato, who represented
Pope Benedict XVI. The Beatification ceremony was held in the main
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

https://anastpaul.com/2019/07/22/


Saint Quote:
You say in your book that while we live we are able to pray for each
other, but afterwards when we have died, the prayer of no person for
another can be heard.... But if the apostles and martyrs while still
in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be
solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their
crowns, victories, and triumphs?
--Saint Jerome from Against Vigilantius, 406AD

Bible Quote:
I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O
God my Saviour.
I will give glory to Thy name: for thou hast been a helper and
protector to me.  (Ecclesiasticus 51:1-2)


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Prayer Before a Picture of Jesus

O Jesus, when I look on you
My love for you starts up anew,
And tells me that your heart loves me
And you my special friend would be.

More courage I will need for sure,
But any pain I will endure,
Because it makes me like to you
And leads unto your kingdom too.

In sorrow do I find my bliss,
For sorrow now no more is this:
Rather the path that must be trod,
That makes me one with you, my God.

Oh, leave me here alone and still,
And all around the cold and chill.
To enter here I will have none;
I weary not when I'm alone.

For, Jesus you are at my side;
Never so close did we abide.
Stay with me, Jesus, my delight,
Your presence near makes all things right.
--Blessed Titus Brandsma