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(0:00) Hello, and welcome to the Catholic Torch Podcast, Episode 10.
We will start out with The Memorare.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins and Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
(0:45) Today’s episode is brought to you by Juan’s Mobile Welding LLC. Thank you for your continued support, Juan.
(0:52) As always, anything that I say that is true and good and beautiful belongs to the honor and glory of our Lord and our Lady. (1:00) And anything that I say that is erroneous is purely my own fault.
(1:05) And now we will continue with the Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena.
(1:09) “Up to the present, I have taught thee how a man may serve his neighbor, and manifest, by that service, the love which he has towards Me.”
(1:17) “Now I wish to tell thee further, that a man proves his patience on his neighbor, when he receives injuries from him.”
(1:25) Similarly, he proves his humility on a proud man, his faith on an infidel, his true hope on one who despairs, (1:34) his justice on the unjust, his kindness on the cruel, his gentleness and benignity on the irascible. (1:42) Good men produce and prove all their virtues on their neighbor, just as perverse men all their vices: (1:50) thus, if thou consider well, humility is proved on pride in this way.(1:56) The humble man extinguishes pride, because a proud man can do no harm to a humble one; (2:03) neither can the infidelity of a wicked man, who neither loves Me, nor hopes in Me, (2:08) when brought forth against one who is faithful to Me, do him any harm; (2:13) his infidelity does not diminish the faith or the hope of him who (2:18) has conceived his faith and hope through love of Me,(2:21) it rather fortifies it, and proves it in the love he feels for his neighbor. (2:26) For he sees that the infidel is unfaithful, because he is without hope in Me, (2:31) and in my servant, because he does not love Me, placing his faith and hope rather in his own sensuality, (2:38) which is all that he loves. (2:41) My faithful servant does not leave him because he does not faithfully love Me, (2:45) or because he does not constantly seek, with hope in Me, for his salvation, (2:50) inasmuch as he sees clearly the causes of his infidelity and lack of hope.(2:55) The virtue of faith is proved in these and other ways. (2:59) Wherefore, to those who need the proof of it, My servant proves his faith in himself and in his neighbor, (3:07) and so, justice is not diminished by the wicked man’s injustice, (3:12) but is rather proved, that is to say, the justice of a just man. (3:17) Similarly, the virtues of patience, benignity, and kindness manifest themselves in a time of wrath (3:25) by the same sweet patience in My servants, and envy, vexation, and hatred demonstrate their love, (3:32) and hunger and desire for the salvation of souls.(3:36) I say, also, to thee, that, not only is virtue proved in those who render good for evil, (3:42) but, that many times a good man gives back fiery coals of love, (3:47) which dispel the hatred and rancor of heart of the angry, (3:51) and so from hatred often comes benevolence, (3:54) and that this is by virtue of the love and perfect patience which is in him, (3:59) who sustains the anger of the wicked, bearing and supporting his defects. (4:04) If thou wilt observe the virtues of fortitude and perseverance, (4:07) these virtues are proved by the long endurance of the injuries and detractions of wicked men, (4:14) who, whether by injuries or by flattery, (4:17) constantly endeavor to turn a man aside from following the road and the doctrine of truth. (4:23) Wherefore, in all these things, the virtue of fortitude conceived within the soul, (4:28) perseveres with strength, and, in addition proves itself externally upon the neighbor, as I have said to thee;(4:35) and, if fortitude were not able to make that good proof of itself, (4:40) being tested by many contrarieties, it would not be a serious virtue founded in truth. (Reference 1)
(4:46) Now we will go back through, and I will try to explain a couple sentences at a time, as always.
(4:52) “Up to the present I have taught thee how a man may serve his neighbor, (4:57) and manifest by that service the love which he has towards Me.(5:01)
Now I wish to tell thee further, that a man proves his patience on his neighbor when he receives injuries from him.
(5:10) Similarly, he proves his humility on a proud man, his faith on an infidel, (5:15) his true hope on one who despairs, his justice on the unjust, (5:20) his kindness on the cruel, his gentleness and benignity on the irascible.”
(5:26) Now God tells us how we are to use our virtues on our neighbor, so as to grow in each virtue.(5:32) He says that we prove our virtue by practicing humility on his neighbor who is proud. (5:38) For example, by letting our neighbor talk on and on about themselves and how great they are, (5:43) or how much they are schooling you on a certain subject, (5:46) regardless of how much the humble person may know on the subject, (5:49) and the humble will continue to let the other speak, (5:52) and to not let it affect their kind responses, and will continue to listen. (5:57) The humble person knows that they are not important if it were not for God.(6:02) The humble person recognizes that all things good are given as a gift from God alone, (6:08) and there is nothing that we have done to merit it. (6:11) It was a gift given out of infinite love.
(6:13) Nextly, the virtue of faith is proved on an infidel, (6:17) by sharing the faith with the infidel, by words and actions.(6:22) The Traditional Catholic Dictionary defines an infidel as (6:25) 1. One not among the faithful of Christ, (6:28) 2. One who has not been baptized, (6:31) 3. One who is ignorant of the True God, (6:34) popularly, (6:34) one who rejects Christianity, or (6:37) 5. One who has had an opportunity to know revealed religion, (6:42) and yet refuses to accept it.
(Reference 2) (6:44) This would include pagans, and jews, and muslims, and hindus, and buddhists, (6:50) and animists, and satanists, and so on, and atheists. (6:54) It can go on and on.(6:56) It also includes anyone who is a Catechumen coming into The Church before their Baptism. (7:02) The way faith is proved on the infidel (7:04) could be as simple as the following story for a saint in the 16th century. (7:10) I do not recall the saint’s name, but this particular saint in public, (7:13) made a sign of the cross before eating their food.(7:16) (They would have made the sign of the cross, said the meal prayer, (7:19) and then made the sign of the cross again before eating.) (7:22) It is said, in thanksgiving for the great and bountiful gifts God has given us before eating. (7:27) (It is also a minor exorcism prayer.(7:31) More on that when we cover the great Saint Benedict of Nursia.) (7:35) But I digress, (7:37) this saint made the sign of the cross in public before eating, (7:40) and a pagan happened to see this gesture, (7:42) and became curious and started questioning the saint about The Faith, (7:46) and what they had just witnessed.(7:48) The pagan went on to be Baptized later on in the Catholic Church. (7:52) What a little act that went so far! (7:54)
“For, amen, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, (8:01) you shall say to this mountain, remove from hence hither, (8:06) and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible to you.” (Matthew 17: 19)(DRB)
(8:13) Nextly, true hope on one who despairs. (8:17) A good example of this would be a Catholic who shares his or her true hope (8:21) in persevering in The Faith till the end of their life, (8:25) in hopes of receiving their final reward of Heaven for being a good and faithful servant, (8:30) to an infidel or pagan or an atheist who has given up all hope on any existence after this life, (8:37) or a person that believes they have done something in this life (8:41) that there is no way that they could possibly be forgiven for. (8:45) Trust me when I tell you, there is nothing that cannot be forgiven.(8:49) The only unforgivable sin is the one not confessed or repented for before you die, (8:55) and that includes despair at the end of one’s life when the devil labors the hardest (9:01) to tear a soul away from God by trying to make them despair of God’s mercy. (9:05) That’s why when Catholics are dying, we pray for one’s final perseverance (9:11) so that they can make it through their final hour when the devil is laboring the hardest (9:17) to rip their soul away from Heaven.
(9:20) Next, justice on the unjust.(9:23) This would be like when you are standing in the line at the store (9:26) and a person in front of you is being a rude individual to the cashier, (9:31) and you step in to try to defuse the situation that is going south quickly (9:34) by offering a, “Hey, it looks like they’re trying their best.” (9:39) Or another example would be principled disobedience. (9:43) St. Augustine taught that “an unjust law is no law at all.”(9:49) An example of an unjust law is the CCP, (the Chinese Communist Party), (9:55) not allowing a child under the age of 18 to go to Mass (9:58) or to even be affiliated with any religion, especially that of the Catholic Church. (10:04) Yes, you heard that correctly! (10:07) Take all the time you need to ponder that one.(10:10) Well, instead of listening to that rule, (10:13) our faithful brothers and sisters are keeping The Faith alive however they can, (10:17) just as in the days of ancient Rome during Nero, or Diocletian, or Valerian, (10:22) they will kill them for doing such an act as going to Mass, (10:26) not approved by the CCP, and taking their kids with them as well, or throwing them in jail. (10:31) And our faithful brothers and sisters are always ready to die for the faith, (10:36) as a real martyr, instead of going along with an unjust law like they have over in China, (10:42) they risk all for God and the justice that man owes to God or “the due owed to God.”
(10:49) Lastly, gentleness and benignity on the irascible.(10:53) Irascible, meaning quick-tempered. (10:56) An example of this would be if your kid yells at you in the store (10:59) because they want something that you won’t give them. (11:02) You, instead of matching their temper, stay calm and tell them no, (11:07) and calmly walk them out of the store.(11:10) Or another example would be, staying calm in the face of a boss who is yelling at you (11:14) for an insignificant problem.
(11:17) There are obviously various and diverse ways that these virtues can be used against all these vices. (11:25) These are just only a few examples.
(11:32) “Good men produce and prove all their virtues on their neighbor, just as perverse men, all their vices; (11:36) thus, if thou consider well, humility is proved on pride in this way. (11:42) The humble man extinguishes pride because a proud man can do no harm to a humble one;(11:48) neither can the infidelity of a wicked man, who neither loves Me nor hopes in Me, (11:53) when brought forth against one who is faithful to Me, do him any harm. (11:57) His infidelity does not diminish the faith or the hope of him (12:02) who has conceived his faith and hope through love of Me; (12:06) it rather fortifies it, and proves it in the love he feels for his neighbor.(12:11) For he sees that the infidel is unfaithful because he is without hope in Me, (12:16) and in My servant because he does not love Me, (12:19) placing his faith and hope rather in his own sensuality, which is all that he loves.”
(12:25) God says here that the proud can do no harm to the humble (12:29) because the humble do not make themselves self-important or are all puffed up. (12:35) Also the infidel can do no harm to the person exercising their faith (12:39) because if this non-believer in Christ kills the person with faith (12:43) for preaching their faith either in actions or words, (12:47) then they have made an actual martyr. (12:49) This person practicing the virtue of faith has no worries (12:54) if they are killed because they are preaching Christ crucified and the Church, (12:58) He founded, and the dogmas and doctrines of that Faith, (13:01) because they will receive the martyr’s crown.(13:04) Therefore the infidel would not be doing any harm to the faithful, (13:08) but would be making it a sure-fire Martyrdom crown. (13:12) The infidel only loves his own sensual self and feelings (13:16) and places all his faith in his own self. (13:19)
Side note, since I referred to martyrdom, (13:22) let me tell you the requirements of anyone to receive that crown (13:26) according to Christ’s own church, the Catholic Church.(13:29) The requirements are:
Tthe victim actually dies because of the faith,
That he or she dies in witness of the faith in Christ, which is directly expressed in words, or implicitly in acts done, or sins refused because of faith. The motive of the killer must be (odium fide), or hatred of The Faith
That the victim accepts death voluntarily
The victim must be a Baptized Catholic or a Catechumen, (14:01) even by way of Baptism of Blood, or (martyrdom.)
(14:06) Anybody who does not fulfill all of these requirements is not a true martyr.
(14:12) “My faithful servant does not leave him because he does not faithfully love Me, (14:18) or because he does not constantly seek with hope in Me for his salvation. (14:24) Inasmuch as he sees clearly the causes of his infidelity and lack of hope, (14:29) the virtue of faith is proved in these and other ways. (14:34) Wherefore, to those who need the proof of it, (14:36) My servant proves his faith in himself and in his neighbor, (14:40) and so justice is not diminished by the wicked man’s injustice, (14:45) but is rather proved, that is to say, the justice of a just man.”
(14:52) God says the person does not leave the infidel on account of his infidelity, (14:56) but recognizes it, and prays for him because it is our due to our neighbor (15:02) for love of our neighbor, to labor for his cooperation with grace, (15:07) so as to be saved. (15:08) I talked about this in many previous episodes before.
(15:13) “Similarly, the virtues of patience, benignity, and kindness manifest themselves (15:19) in a time of wrath by the same sweet patience in My servants, (15:24) and envy, vexation, and hatred demonstrate their love, (15:28) and anger, and desire for the salvation of souls. (15:32) I say also to thee, that not only is virtue proved in those who render good for evil, (15:39) but, that many times a good man gives back fiery coals of love, (15:44) which dispel the hatred and rancor of heart of the angry, (15:48) and so from hatred often comes benevolence, (15:51) and, that this is by virtue of the love and perfect patience which is in him, (15:57) who sustains the anger of the wicked, bearing and supporting his defects.”
(16:03) God says that although the wickedness and cruelty of men may be giving those things to his servants, (16:11) God’s servants will offer good in exchange and heap fiery coals of love on the evil person, (16:17) often softening their heart to start cooperating with his grace.
(16:22) “If thou wilt observe the virtues of fortitude and perseverance, (16:28) these virtues are proved by the long endurance of the injuries and detractions of wicked men, (16:34) who, whether by injuries or by flattery, (16:38) constantly endeavor to turn a man aside from following the road and the doctrine of truth. (16:44) Wherefore, in all these things the virtue of fortitude conceived within the soul, (16:49) perseveres with strength, and, in addition, proves itself externally upon the neighbor, (16:57) as I have said to thee;(16:59) and, if fortitude were not able to make that good proof of itself, (17:04) being tested by many contrarieties, (17:06) it would not be a serious virtue founded in truth.”
(17:12) Now God says fortitude and perseverance endures injuries and detractions done to you by wicked men, (17:18) who constantly endeavor to make a man stray from the right path by many and diverse ways, (17:25) so that the Christian will not follow doctrine or truth.(17:28) God says here that fortitude and perseverance have to be proved by the neighbor (17:32) because it is a serious virtue founded in truth. (17:37) Just for reference,
Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he is become my salvation.” (Psalm 117:14) And, “In the world you shall have distress, but have confidence, I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33) (Reference 3)
(18:22) Remember, all Baptized Catholics, you are citizens of Heaven first, and not citizens of the earth.
(18:30) On the next episode, we will start the Treatise of Discretion, (18:35) how affection should not place chief reliance on penance, but on virtues instead.
(18:40) That will end our episode for today. (18:43) If you have any questions or comments, you can find my email in the contact button below. (18:49) If you need a Catholic priest, please reach out to me and I will help you find one.(18:54) And now we will end in prayer. (18:57)
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
Ave Maria, gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui Jesus
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in ora mortis nostrae. Amen.
In Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
(19:22) Thank you for listening and I will see you on the next episode.
References
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