Lenten Suggestion: Let's focus on the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery,

[DemBones DemBones]

the Carrying of the Cross, and seek especially the Spiritual Fruit of this mystery, which is the patient bearing of trials.

In order to bear our trials with patience, it occurs to me that we must do the most difficult thing of loving our enemies and praying for them. I don't know about you all, but I personally should pray more for my enemies.

As I said in a post not long ago, my priest says that he finds praying for enemies especially difficult since he's Italian. . .

Perhaps we're all Italian that way. B-)

I've always identified with Dylan's line "Hate nothing at all except hatred."

But Jesus would say "Only hate the hatred, not the person who holds it. Pray for those who hate you."

If we pray for those who sorely try our patience, for those who insult us, for those who outright hate us, we're doing what Jesus told us to do. Not a bad thing to focus on doing during this Lenten season, IMO.

May the peace of Christ be with you!

[Beer Snob-50]

1. this should be the basis of all religion

the ten commandments, the beatitudes, everything is based on the idea of love all including your enemies. it includes turning the other cheek when others mock religion in the other forums.

[Midlodemocrat]

2. I agree.

I was raised by a woman who so firmly believed in the corporal works of mercy that upon her passing, our church dedicated a lovely marble bench in her honor and established an award given each year to the parishioner who shows the most social justice. Such big shoes to fill.

[Matilda]

4. It is the basis of true Christianity.

And the hardest thing in the world to do.

[Hans Delbrook]

3. I AM Italian

so this is a particularly tough thing for me too.

I have a terrible problem w/ loving or forgiving anyone who I feel wronged me. For Lent I've decided to let go of a grudge I've been carrying for over 10 years. I really hope by Easter I can say I have forgiven him and moved on.

[Beer Snob-50]

5. good luck with your goal

i know it is a tough tough thing to do. i am also of italian descent (although i don't know what that has to do with it really!) and i have a difficult time doing it also. i try. and generally succeed but sometimes, i tend to drift back and remember the transgression.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. I'm going back to saying the Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace.
Where there is hatred
let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
  
Grant that I may not
so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood
as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
  
For it is in giving
that we receive;
It is in pardoning
that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life.
  
Amen



I recommend it as a good prayer to start the day. :-)

We can persevere and deal with those who abuse and insult us.

(Edited 'cause I found a better version of the prayer, like the familiar one on my prayer cards.)