July 9, 2008

A Daily Lesson in Holiness of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria on FERVOR - July

On FERVOR
July 1
The good and holy fervor is, the fire of the Father, the splendor of the Son, and the flame of the Holy Spirit.

July 2
Because it is His gift, without great fervor no one will ever become great in front of God.

July 3
Authentic spiritual fervor consists in a vigorous and continuous reform of the mind toward good.

July 4
Fervor is a stimulus for any perfection, an increase of good will, a confirmation of holy resolutions and stable perseverance.

July 5
Fervor is in the mind’s eye, through which one concentrates exclusively on the sincere honor of God while dismissing everything else.

July 6
Fervor leads to the observance of all divine precepts and counsels, not only those which are known but also those which can be surmised.

July 7
Out of love of God, fervor makes the hate of oneself [one’s self diminish] grow beyond any measure. This is why it exterminates all passions, like a very strong army formation.

July 8
The Devil saw the formation of the fervent and became afraid at the sight, because he was forced, against his will, to always bring it new crowns.

July 9
True fervor always grows in prosperity as in adversity. It grows in consolations as in desolations.

July 10
Fervor does not know any way or measure, since it always believes to have done nothing. It always looks at what has to be done and the more it gains, the more it desires.

July 11
Fervor wants to know God through the virtues of the heart in order to advance to the order of the Seraphims.July 12 The fervent are situated at the highest degree of freedom. They pity those who lack fervor.

July 13
Fervor leads toward an active, noble and contemplative life, without omitting those things needed for each state.
July 14
Those who complain because God does not give them fervor, add blasphemy to their lack of proper disposition.
July 15
Rid yourself of what is contrary to fervor, like distractions of the mind and pleasures of the senses. God will then ignite fervor in you.

July 16
When fervor becomes perfect it sometimes seems to loosen up, but actually it has not diminished, rather it has transcended into a delightful habit.

July 17
When goodwill and firm resolutions remain steadfast, do not be sad even though fervor seems to be dead. Although the sensible fervor may have failed, it cannot be dead.

July 18
Fervor starts as a gift from God, is kept through a firm resolution, and must never stop during this life.

July 19
An indecisive person loses fervor and becomes lukewarm.

July 20
Acquire stability and fervent perseverance in spiritual matters so that you may never again way between fervor and tepidity, but rather may enjoy a steady and holy fervor, nourished by life-giving water and enriched by new vigor.

July 21
Retain selfsame fervor both when the Superior is present and when he is absent and also when you deal with others exactly as you would with your Superior.

July 22
Fervor leads toward an active, noble and contemplative life, without omitting those things needed for each state.

July 23
I hope to grow in Jesus' love; and the good Lord crucified will give me back the spiritual light and fervor, which used to keep me spiritually alive.

July 24
Never allow yourself to be entangled in imaginations and dreams while praying, and also never abandon prayer should you feel no sensible fervor, but rather renounce the latter if it came upon you, and consider yourself unworthy of it.

July 25
One thing is exterior fervor and devotion, and quite another is interior fervor and true devotion. And that is why you should know that God very often for your own good takes away this exterior fervor and devotion that you may understand that this is not within your own power, but God's gift, and thus you may humble yourself more and more.

July 26
Authentic spiritual fervor consists in a vigorous and continuous reform of the mind toward good.
July 27
Those who complain because God does not give them fervor, add blasphemy to their lack of proper disposition.

July 28
The good and holy fervor is, the fire of the Father, the splendor of the Son, and the flame of the Holy Spirit.

July 29
True fervor always grows in prosperity as in adversity. It grows in consolations as in desolations.
July 30
Rid yourself of what is contrary to fervor, like distractions of the mind and pleasures of the senses. God will then ignite fervor in you.

July 31
Fervor starts as a gift from God, is kept through a firm resolution, and must never stop during this life.

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