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(0:00) Hello and welcome to the Catholic Torch Podcast, Episode 12. We will start out with prayer. (0:07) We will be praying 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.
(0:47) Today’s episode is brought to you by Juan’s Mobile Welding. Thank you again for your (0:52) continued support, Juan.
I’m going to run tonight’s episode a little bit different.(0:59) We’re going to read the parable that God gave to Saint Catherine of Siena, (1:04) and then I’m going to leave you in silence and let you meditate on that. When we come back next week, (1:12) we will be talking about how penance and other corporal exercises are to be taken as instruments (1:17) for arriving at virtue.
And now I will continue with the Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena.
(1:24) Dost thou know how these three virtues stand together? It is as if a circle were drawn on (1:31) the surface of the earth, and a tree, with an offshoot joined to its side, grew in the center (1:38) of the circle. The tree is nourished in the earth contained in the diameter of the circle, (1:46) for if the tree were out of the earth, it would die and give no fruit. Now, consider, in the same (1:53) way, that the soul is a tree existing by love, and that it can live by nothing else than love; (2:02) and, that if this soul have not in very truth the divine love of perfect charity, (2:10) she cannot produce fruit of life, but only of death. It is necessary then, that the root of (2:18) this tree, that is the affection of the soul, should grow in and issue from the circle of true (2:26) self-knowledge which is contained in Me, who have neither beginning nor end, like the circumference (2:34) of the circle, for, turn as thou wilt within a circle, and as much as the circumference (2:41) has neither end nor beginning, thou always remainest within it.
This knowledge of thyself (2:49) and of Me is found in the earth of true humility, which is as wide as the diameter of the circle, (2:58) that is as the knowledge of self and of Me (for, otherwise, the circle would not be without end (3:06) and beginning, but would have its beginning in knowledge of self, and its end in confusion, (3:13) if this knowledge were not contained in Me.) Then the tree of love feeds itself on humility, (3:21) bringing forth from its side the off-shoot of true discretion, in the way that I have already told (3:28) thee, from the heart of the tree, that is the affection of love which is in the soul, (3:35) and the patience, which proves that I am in the soul, and the soul in Me. This tree then, (3:42) so sweetly planted, produces fragrant blossoms of virtue, with many scents of great variety, (3:51) inasmuch as the soul renders fruit of grace and of utility to her neighbour, according to the (3:57) zeal of those who come to receive fruit from My servants; and to Me she renders the sweet (4:04) odor of glory and praise to My Name, and so fulfils the object of her creation.
In this way, (4:12) therefore, she reaches the term of her being, that is Myself, her God, who am Eternal Life. (4:21) And these fruits cannot be taken from her without her will, inasmuch as they are all (4:26) flavored with discretion, because they are all united, as has been said above. (Reference 1)
Reference
The Catholic Torch 