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138 pages

English

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LIGHT AND PEACE is a handbook for getting to Heaven a short and practical course in proper Christian living that covers all the important aspects of our religious duties. By far, the most telling feature of this little book is its immense common sense and good advice. LIGHT AND PEACE shows that perfecting one's self is not a complicated task, but one which requires good, practical thinking and a knowledge of the task at hand in short, Light on the path which is what this book is. Thereafter, the result of one s knowing where he is going spiritually and how best to achieve this end is Peace, that peace which Our Lord promised and which the world cannot give.LIGHT AND PEACE is a classic in Catholic spirituality. First written in 1795 in Italian, this work has passed through innumerable editions in Italian, French, German and English, the present one alone being the tenth in this format. In short, it is a summary of spiritual guidance for earnest Christians in the ordinary duties of life in the world.

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Catholic Church

Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	TAN Books
Date de parution	01 octobre 1980
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781618904317
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0374€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

Nihil Obstat: F. G. Holweck Censor Librorum St. Louis, June 11, 1904 Imprimatur: Joannes J. Glennon Archbishop of St. Louis June 11, 1904
Originally published in English by B. Herder Book Company. Reprinted by B. Herder Book Company in 1957.
Copyright © 1980 by TAN Books, an Imprint of Saint Benedict Press, LLC.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 79-67860
ISBN: 978-0-89555-133-7
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording. or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
TAN Books Charlotte, North Carolina 2010
Translator s Preface
T HESE Instructions for Pious Souls, now published in English under the title Light and Peace, were written in 1795 by the illustrious and saintly Barnabite, Padre Quadrupani. They contain a summary of spiritual guidance for earnest Christians in the ordinary duties of life in the world. The author had formed his own spirituality on the model presented by the life and teaching of St. Francis de Sales, and in this little book he reflects the wisdom, prudence and sweetness of that gentleman Saint.
The work has passed through uncounted editions in its original Italian, and through a large number of editions in both the French and the German translations. An English translation was published many years ago, but besides its present rarity, its many imperfections warrant the belief that a new rendition will not be unwelcome. The translator has, moreover, been encouraged by the persuasion that the maxims of Father Quadrupani are specially adapted to the American character. Unlike many foreign religious works, whose spirituality often fails to touch the Anglo-Saxon temperament, this author s teaching is decidedly practical and practicable, and appeals in every way to the common sense and fits in with the busy, matteroffact life of the average American Catholic.
The present translation has been made from the twentieth French edition and has been collated with the thirty-second edition of the original Italian published at Naples in 1818. The many recommendations from the Episcopacy of France prefixed to the French translation are here omitted, as the Introduction by the Most Reverend Archbishop of Philadelphia is abundant testimony to the doctrinal solidity of the work.
I. M. O R.
OVERBROOK, PA.
Introduction
G OD S attributes being infinite and our intellects limited and also darkened by the fall, we see these attributes only in part and “as afar off and through a glass.” In contemplating His awful sanctity, we are overwhelmed with fear and forget His ineffable mercy. Our views are also greatly influenced by our natural temperaments, whether joyous or sad, and change with our environments and moods.
As the blue firmament is ever the same, so is the great God Himself—”the King of Ages immortal and invisible, without change or shadow of vicissitude.” But as the clouds that hang as veils of the sanctuary are movable and variegated, now dark and gloomy and again brilliant in silver or gold, now opening into vistas of the firmament above and again closing in darkness, except when arrows of light pierce them and show their outlines, so are we variable and inconstant and need spiritual direction adapted to our peculiar wants. The naturally joyous, hopeful and sometimes presumptuous, need that wholesome fear of the Lord which is “the beginning of wisdom. The constitutionally severe, scrupulous and almost despairing, need to remember God s tender paternal character and to learn that His mercies are above all His works. To such souls this little book must prove invaluable. Its theology is sound, as the various episcopal approbations testify. Hence its statements can be entirely trusted. The fact that it has passed through twenty editions in French is sufficient evidence of its appreciation in that country. May it continue its holy mission of light and consolation and joy in this country and act like the angelic messenger to Peter in prison, liberating the soul from the chains of doubt and despondency, illuminating her by the light of God s holy truth and bringing her out of the darksome prison into the company of the confiding, prayerful, joyous saints of God.
P. J. RYAN
Contents
PART I
Exterior Practices
1. Spiritual Direction
2. Temptations
3. Prayer
4. Penance
5. Confession
6. Holy Communion
7. Sundays and Holy Days
8. SpiritualReading
PART II
Interior Life
9. Hope
10. The Presence of God
11. Humility
12. Resignation
13. Scruples
14. Interior Peace
15. Sadness
16. Liberty of Spirit
17. Christian Perfection
PART III
Social Life
18. Charity
19. Zeal
20. Meekness
21. Conversation
22. Dress
23. Human Respect
24. Resolutions
25. Conclusion
Additions
A Collection of Classic Artwork
Confession Its Frutful Practice
1. The Blessings of Confession
2. The Five Things Necessary for a Good Confession
Examination of Conscience
False Consciences and Their Remedies — The Lax Conscience — The Scrupulous Conscience — The Doubtful Conscience — How to Make a Good Examination of Conscience.
Contrition
The Qualities of Contrition — Interior Contrition — Supernatural Contrition — Perfect and Imperfect Contrition — Universal Contrition — Sovereign Contrition — Relapses into Former Sins.
Purpose of Amendment
Occasions of Sin — Purpose of Amendment Must Be Specific.
Confession and Absolution
The Confession of Sins — Qualities of a Good Confession — Confession of Venial Sins — Sacrilegious Confessions — General Confession — Frequent Confession — The Absolution of the Priest.
Satisfaction
The Sacramental Penance — Voluntary Penances — Indulgences.
3. How to Make a Good Confession
The Examination of Conscience
Beginning Prayer — Points for the Examination of Conscience — The Ten Commandments of God — The Six Precepts of the Church — The Seven Capital Sins — Duties of Particular States of Life — Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Considerations to Excite Contrition
The Enormity of Sin — God’s Benefits to Me — The Love of Jesus Christ.
Prayers Before Confession
Act of Contrition and Purpose of Amendment — Prayer before a Crucifix — Prayer of St. Gertrude — A Short and Efficacious Act of Contrition.
An Easy Method of Going to Confession
Prayers After Confession
Psalm 102 — Prayer of Thanksgiving — Prayer before Performing the Sacramental Penance.
Part I
Exterior Practices
Chapter 1
Spiritual Direction
For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Ghost.
(Mark 13:11)
1. It is absolutely true that in matters of conscience obedience to a spiritual director is obedience to God, for Christ has said to His ministers on earth: He that heareth you, heareth Me. ( Luke 10:16).
2. A soul possessed of this spirit of obedience can not be lost: a soul devoid of this spirit can not be saved. (Philip Neri).
3. St. Bernard says there is no need for the devil to tempt those who ignore obedience and permit themselves to be guided by their own light and deterred by their fears, for they act the devil s part towards themselves.
4. Do not fear that your director may be mistaken in what he prescribes for your guidance, or that he does not fully understand the state of your conscience because you did not explain it clearly enough to him. Such doubts cause obedience to be eluded or postponed and thus frustrate the designs of God in placing you under the direction of a prudent guide. It was the priest s duty to have questioned you further had he not fully understood you, and that he did not do so is a positive proof that he knew enough to enable him to pronounce a safe judgment. God has promised His special help to those who represent Him in the direction of souls. Is not this assurance enough to induce you to obey with promptness and simplicity as the Holy Scripture commands?
5. God does not show the state of our souls as clearly to us as He does to him who is to guide us in His place. You should be quite satisfied, then, if your director tells you the course you follow is the right one and that the mercy and grace of your Heavenly Father are guiding you in it. You should believe and obey him in this as in all else, for as St. John of the Cross tells us, it betrays pride and lack of faith not to put entire confidence in what our confessor says.
6. Spiritual obedience is most needful for a Christian. Ignore, therefore, the groundless suspicion that you sin by obeying, and walk confidently in this path exempt from danger. You sometimes fear, says St. Bonaventure, that in obeying you act against the dictates of your conscience, whereas, on the contrary, far from incurring guilt, you really increase your merit before God.
7. We should allow obedience to regulate not only our exterior actions but likewise our mind and our will. Hence do not be satisfied with performing the works it prescribes, but let your thoughts and desires be also molded according to its direction. In fact, it is in this interior submission that the merit of spiritual obedience essentially consists.
8. Obedience should be simple and prompt, without reservation or disquietude. Simple, because you ought not to argue about it, but decide by the one thought: I must obey; prompt, for it is God whom you obey; without reservation, because obedience extends to everything that does not violate God s law; without disquietude, because in obeying God you cannot go astray: this thought should be sufficient to drive away all fear of doing or of having done wrong.
9. When choosing a director, be careful to select one who has the necessary qualifications. He should be not only virtuous, but prudent, charitable and learned. St. Francis de Sales gives the following opinion on the subject:
Go, said Tobias to his son, when about to s