SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE

SPIRITUAL  GUIDANCE

Whenever you are bearing any cross, or when you have something which is not to your liking, some tribulation, suffering, or persecution, be always resigned to God's will.  However, you would not be going against His will, if you take licit means, that is, those which are not sinful, in order to free yourself from your troubles. For what is (morally) licit conforms with the will of God.  

Be always afraid of the deceits that come from your own nature, from other people, and from the devil.  Normally, deceits come in wrappings, pleasing  to our nature.  Sin is real deceit, for in that sinful action a person thinks there is goodness, whereas in fact, it contains real evil.

Beware of ever praising anyone who is still alive, for you would be putting them in danger of losing his merits.  Nature praises with a malicious intent, for whoever praises wants to be loved and to acquire whatever one wants from the person praised.  Guard yourself fearfully against the persons who praise you and flee from them, for praise is a sweet poison.       

God directs and governs everything by his Wisdom and Providence.  Nothing ever happens haphazardly.  It is true that what seems beautiful to you now, may later on seem ugly, and what seems repulsive to you now, may seem attractive later on. So always say, 'This is the work of Providence.'   

Seek advice on whatever you intend to do, so that you will not have regrets. Do this especially when you are about to do something important.  Wise persons take advice, and they pray God to enlighten them in whatever they are about to do.     

If you want your own good, keep company with those who fear God.  The lot of every person is determined by the company one keeps; with the good you will become good, and with the wicked you will become wicked.  Even the proverb has it, 'Tell me with whom you hobnob, and I will tell you what you are.'   

Pray God humbly and perseveringly, for the prayer of the humble is heard by God, and He answers it.  Christ Himself told us to knock and it will be opened to us.  Those who pray will receive; those who seek will find; and to them who knock, it will be opened.  Keep on knocking then until it will be opened to you.  

Our faith must be firm, vibrant with good works, universal, in the sense that it believes whatever the Church believes and teaches, and constant, meaning that one should profess it always.  Without faith, no one can pray, no one can repent, no one can act with the right intention, and no one can be saved.              

From the Writings of St.George Preca, the Maltese Saint.