VANITY

“It is vanity, then, to seek after perishable riches, and to put your trust in them. It is vanity, too, to aspire to honors, and to push yourself into high positions. It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to desire those pleasures for which heavy punishment will one day be exacted. It is vanity to wish for a long life, and to care little about a good life. It is vanity to attend only to the present life, and not to provide for that which is to come. It is vanity to cling to what is passing so swiftly by, and not to long rather to be where endless joy abides." 

 Thomas A Kempis 

BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN BE AT PEACE WITH OTHERS

“There are some people who live in peace with themselves, and are also at peace with others. 

 There are some who neither enjoy peace in their own lives, nor leave others in peace. 

 They are a burden to other people and even more of a burden to themselves. 

 There are others who not only keep themselves in peace but are always ready to guide others back to peace. 

 

Now, all our peace in this miserable life is found in humbly enduring suffering rather than in being free from it.

 He who knows best how to suffer will enjoy the greater peace. 

 

Because he is the conqueror of himself, the master of the world, a friend of Christ, and an heir of heaven."

 Thomas à Kempis 

WHAT DISPOSITION TO HAVE, AND HOW TO PRAY WHEN WE WANT TO OBTAIN SOMETHING - By Thomas à Kempis

My son let this be your constant prayer:

 `Lord, if this be Your will, so let it be. Lord, if this is good and profitable, give me grace to use it to Your glory. But if it be hurtful and injurious to my soul's health, then remove this desire from my mind, I pray.'

  Not every desire comes of the Holy Ghost, though it may seem right and good.

  For it is often hard to judge whether a desire springs from good or evil motives, or whether it arises from your own inclinations.

  Many are deceived in the end, who at first seemed to be led by the Holy Ghost.

  Whatever, therefore, the mind conceives as desirable is always to be desired and sought only in the fear of God and with a humble heart. Above all, commit all things to Me, and entrust yourself wholly to Me, saying:

  "Lord, You know what is best; let everything be in accordance with Your will. Give what You will, as much as You will, and when You will. Do with me as You think good, as pleases You best, and is most to Your glory. I am in Your hand; guide me according to Your will. I am indeed Your servant and am ready for anything. I wish to live, not for myself but for You alone; how I wish I could serve You perfectly and worthily!

  Most kind Jesus, grant me Your grace, I pray; let it dwell in me, work in me, and abide in me to the end.

  Grant me always to will and desire whatever is most pleasing and acceptable to You.

  Let Your will be mine, and let my will ever follow and be conformed wholly to Your own. Let me ever will and not will in union with Yourself, and be unable to will otherwise than You will or do not will. Grant that I may die to all things in this world, and for Your sake love to be despised and unknown.

  Grant me, above all else, to rest in You that my heart may find its peace in You alone.

  For You are the heart's true peace, its sole abiding place, and outside Yourself all is hard and restless.

  In this true peace, that is in You, the sole, supreme, and eternal Good, I will dwell and take my rest. Amen."

  THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

TRUE PEACE DOES NOT DEPEND UPON THE WORDS OF OTHERS

“My Son, do not take it to heart, if some think ill of you, and say of you what you are not willing to hear. 

 You ought to think worse of yourself anyway, and to believe that no one is weaker than you. 

  If you walk with inward reflection, you will take small account of such flying words. 

 It is an exercise in great prudence to keep silent in an evil time and to turn inwardly to Me, and not to be disturbed by human judgment.  

  Do not let your peace depend upon the words of others; for whether they judge well or ill of you, you are not therefore any other person than yourself. 

Where is true peace or true glory? Is it not in Me? And whoever does not seeks to please others, nor fears to displease, shall enjoy abundant peace (Col 3:22). 

 All disquiet of heart and distraction of the senses arises from inordinate love and vain fear.”  

  Thomas à Kempis, “Imitation of Christ”, Book 3; CHAPTER XXVIII.

VANITY

"It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches twhat perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides." 

 Thomas Kempis

In You

"For my heart cannot rest or be fully content until, rising above all gifts and every created thing, it rests in You."

Imitation of Christ, III, 21, 2

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Disposition to Pray when We Want to Obtain any Grace – Saint Thomas à Kempis

Not every desire is from the Holy Spirit, even though it may seem right and good. It is difficult to be certain whether it is a good spirit or a bad one that prompts one to this or that, and even to know whether you are being moved by your own spirit.

Many who seemed at first to be led by a good spirit have been deceived in the end. Whatever the mind sees as good, ask and desire in fear of God and humility of heart. Above all, commit the whole matter to Him with true resignation, and say:

Let Not Thy Heart be Troubled