No Foul Language

No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. - Eph 4:29

I Have a Mustard Seed; and I am Not Afraid to Use it

I have a mustard seed; and I am not afraid to use it. - Pope Benedict XVI

Gone Mad in His Love

I think You’ve gone mad in Your love for us. - St. Catherine of Siena, to God

Praying to the Saints - Old Testament

Old Testament

Gen. 20:17 - God responds to Abraham's intercession and heals Abimelech, and also his wife and slaves.

Gen. 27:29; Num. 24:9 - blessed be everyone who blesses you. If we bless others in prayer, we are also blessed.

Exodus 32:11-14, 30-34; 34:9; Num. 14:17-20; 21:7-9 - these are many examples of God's response to Moses' saintly intercession.

1 Sam. 12:23 - Samuel says that he would be sinning against God if he didn't continue to intercede for the people of Israel.

1 Sam. 28:7-20 – the deceased prophet Samuel appears and converses with Saul, which is confirmed by Sirach 46:13,20).

1 Sam. 28:7; 1 Chron. 10:13-14 - Saul practiced necromancy. He used a medium, not God, to seek the dead and was therefore condemned. Saul's practice is entirely at odds with the Catholic understanding of saintly mediation, where God is the source and channel of all communication, and who permits His children to participate in this power.

2 Chron. 30:27 - the prayers of the priests and Levites came before God's holy habitation in heaven and were answered.

Tobit 12:12,15 - angels place Tobit and Sarah's prayers before the Holy One. This teaches us that the angels are also our subordinate mediators. We pray to the angels to take up our prayers to God.

Job 42:7-9 - Job prayed for three friends in sin and God listened to Job as a result of these prayers.

Psalm 34:7 – the angel of the Lord delivers those who fear him.

Psalm 91:11 – God will give His angels charge of you, to guard you in all your ways.

Psalm 103:20-21; 148:1-2 – we praise the angels and ask for their assistance in doing God’s will.

Psalm 141:2 - David asks that his prayer be counted as incense before God. The prayers of the saints have powerful effects.

Isaiah 6:6-7 - an angel touches Isaiah's lips and declares that his sin is forgiven. The angel is a subordinate mediator of God who effects the forgiveness of sins on God’s behalf.

Jer. 7:16 - God acknowledges the people's ability to intercede, but refuses to answer due to the hardness of heart.

Jer. 15:1 – the Lord acknowledges the intercessory power of Moses and Samuel.

Jer. 37:3 - king Zedekiah sends messengers to ask Jeremiah to intercede for the people, that he might pray to God for them.

Jer. 42:1-6 - all the people of Israel went before Jeremiah asking for his intercession, that he would pray to the Lord for them.

Baruch 3:4 - Baruch asks the Lord to hear the prayers of the dead of Israel. They can intercede on behalf of the people of God.

Dan. 9:20-23 - Daniel intercedes on behalf of the people of Israel confessing both his sins and the sins of the people before God.

Zech. 1:12-13 - an angel intercedes for those in Judea and God responds favorably.

2 Macc. 15:12-16 – the high priest Onias and the prophet Jeremiah were deceased for centuries, and yet interact with the living Judas Maccabeas and pray for the holy people on earth.

Margie Prox Sindelar

Praying to the Saints - New Testament

Specific Instructions to Mediate and Examples of Subordinate Mediation
New Testament

Matt. 5:44-45 - Jesus tells us to pray for (to mediate on behalf of) those who persecute us. God instructs us to mediate.

Matt. 17:1-3; Mark 9:4; Luke 9:30-31 – deceased Moses and Elijah appear at the Transfiguration to converse with Jesus in the presence of Peter, James and John (these may be the two “witnesses” John refers to in Rev. 11:3). Nothing in Scripture ever suggests that God abhors or cuts off communication between the living in heaven and the living on earth. To the contrary, God encourages communication within the communion of saints. Moses and Elijah’s appearance on earth also teach us that the saints in heaven have capabilities that far surpass our limitations on earth.

Matt. 26:53 – Jesus says He can call upon the assistance of twelve legions of angels. If Jesus said He could ask for the assistance of angel saints, then so can we, who are called to imitate Jesus in word and in deed. And, in Matt. 22:30, Jesus says we will be “like angels in heaven.” This means human saints (like the angel saints) can be called upon to assist people on earth. God allows and encourages this interaction between his family members.

Matt. 27:47,49; Mark 15:35-36 – the people believe that Jesus calls on Elijah for his intercession, and waits to see if Elijah would come to save Jesus on the cross.

Matt. 27:52-53 - at Jesus' passion, many saints were raised and went into the city to appear and presumably interact with the people, just as Jesus did after His resurrection.

Mark 11:24 - Jesus says that whatever we ask in prayer, we will receive it. It is Jesus, and also we through Jesus, who mediate.

John 2:3 - Jesus knew the wine was gone, but invites and responds to Mary's intercession. God desires our lesser mediation and responds to it because He is a living and loving God.

John 2:5 - Mary intercedes on behalf of those at the wedding feast and tells them to do whatever Jesus tells them. Because Mary is our perfect model of faith, we too intercede on behalf of our brothers and sisters.

John 2:11 - in fact, it was Mary's intercession that started Jesus' ministry. His hour had not yet come, yet Jesus responds to Mary's intercession. Even though He could do it all by Himself, God wants to work with His children.

Acts 12:7 – an angel strikes Peter on the side and wakes him up, freeing him from prison. The angel responds to Peter’s prayers.

Rom. 15:30 - Paul commands the family of God to pray for him. If we are united together in the one body of Christ, we can help each other.

2 Cor. 1:11 - Paul even suggests that the more prayers and the more people who pray, the merrier! Prayer is even more effective when united with other's prayers.

2 Cor. 9:14 - Paul says that the earthly saints pray for the Corinthians. They are subordinate mediators in Christ.

2 Cor. 13:7,9 - Paul says the elders pray that the Corinthians may do right and improve. They participate in Christ's mediation.

Gal. 6:2,10 - Paul charges us to bear one another's burdens, and to do good to all, especially those in the household of faith.

Eph. 6:18 - Paul commands the family of God to pray for each other.

Eph. 6:19 - Paul commands that the Ephesians pray for him. If there is only one mediator, why would Paul ask for their prayers?

Phil. 1:19 - Paul acknowledges power of Philippians' earthly intercession. He will be delivered by their prayers and the Holy Spirit.

Col. 1:3 - Paul says that he and the elders pray for the Colossians. They are subordinate mediators in the body of Christ.

Col. 1:9 - Paul says that he and the elders have not ceased to pray for the Colossians, and that, by interceding, they may gain wisdom.

Col. 4:4 - Paul commands the Colossians to pray for the elders of the Church so that God may open a door for the word. Why doesn't Paul just leave it up to God? Because subordinate mediation is acceptable and pleasing to God, and brings about change in the world. This is as mysterious as the Incarnation, but it is true.

1 Thess. 5:11 - Paul charges us to encourage one another and build one another up, in the body of Christ. We do this as mediators in Christ.

1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul says "pray constantly." If Jesus' role as mediator does not apply subordinately to us, why pray at all?

1 Thess. 5:25 - Paul commands the family of God to pray for the elders of the Church. He desires our subordinate mediation.

2 Thess. 1:11 - Paul tells the family of God that he prays for us. We participate in Christ's mediation because Christ desires this.

2 Thess. 3:1 - Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray for Him, Silvanus and Timothy so that they may be delivered.

1 Tim. 2:1-3 - Paul commands us to pray for all. Paul also states that these prayers are acceptable in the sight of God.

2 Tim. 1:3 – Paul says “I remember you constantly in my prayers.”

Philemon 22 - Paul is hoping through Philemon's intercession that he may be able to be with Philemon.

Heb. 1:14 – the author writes, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?”

Hebrews 13:18-19 - the author strongly urges the Hebrews to pray for the elders so that they act desirably in all things.

James 5:14-15- James says the prayer of the priests over the sick man will save the sick man and forgive his sins. This is a powerful example of men forgiving sins and bringing a person to salvation with the sacrament of the sick.

James 5:16 - James instructs us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another so that we may be healed.

James 5:17-18 - James refers to God's response to Elijah's fervent prayer for no rain. He is teaching us about the effectiveness of our earthly mediation.

1 John 5:14-15 - John is confident that God will grant us anything we ask of God according to His will.

1 John 5:16-17 - our prayers for others even calls God to give life to them and keep them from sinning. Our God is a personal and living God who responds to our prayers.

3 John 2 - John prays for Gaius' health and thus acts as a subordinate mediator.

Rev. 1:4 – this verse shows that angels (here, the seven spirits) give grace and peace. Because grace and peace only come from God, the angels are acting as mediators for God.

Rev. 5:8 - the prayers of the saints (on heaven and earth) are presented to God by the angels and saints in heaven. This shows that the saints intercede on our behalf before God, and it also demonstrates that our prayers on earth are united with their prayers in heaven. (The “24 elders” are said to refer to the people of God – perhaps the 12 tribes and 12 apostles - and the “four living creatures” are said to refer to the angels.)

Rev. 6:9-11 – the martyred saints in heaven cry out in a loud voice to God to avenge their blood “on those who dwell upon the earth.” These are “imprecatory prayers,” which are pleas for God’s judgment (see similar prayers in Psalm 35:1; 59:1-17; 139:19; Jer. 11:20; 15:15; 18:19; Zech.1:12-13). This means that the saints in heaven are praying for those on earth, and God answers their prayers (Rev. 8:1-5). We, therefore, ask for their intercession and protection.

Rev. 8:3-4 – in heaven an angel mingles incense with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne of God, and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. These prayers “rise up” before God and elicit various kinds of earthly activity. God responds to his children’s requests, whether made by his children on earth or in heaven.

Margie Prox Sindelar

We Will Wear You Down by Our Capacity to Suffer

We shall match your capacity to inflict suffering by our capacity to endure suffering... Throw us in jail... But be assured that we will wear you down by our capacity to suffer. - Martin Luther King Jr

Judgement: Shedding Light

Anyone ever say to you 'don't judge me!' or 'stop judging?' You should know that "Authentic judgement is a good thing. Authentic judgement is indispensable to the health of the individual and the health of a society...[judgement is] a truth telling that is honest, clear and direct, that sheds light on things in such a way that good and evil appear as what they really are. That's judgement. - Fr. Robert Barron

Be Careful not Commit Rash Judgement

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

- of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;279

- of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:

Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.280

2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity. - Catechism of the Catholic Church

Who is Going to Save our Church? It is up to the People.

Who is going to save our Church? Not our Bishops, not our priests and religious. It is up to the people. You have the minds, the eyes, the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that your priests act like priests, your bishops like bishops and your religious act like religious - Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Like the Twigs of Plants, the Young are Easily Influenced

Moreover the strongest support is provided not only to protect the young from evil, but also to rouse them and attract them more easily and gently to the performance of good works. Like the twigs of plants, the young are easily influenced, as long as someone works to change their souls. But if they are allowed to grow hard, we know well that the possibility of one day bending them diminishes a great deal and is sometimes utterly lost. - Saint Joseph Calasanz

If I Love Jesus, I Ought to Resemble Him

If I love Jesus, I ought to resemble Him; If I love Jesus, I ought to love what He loves, what He does, what He prefers to all else: humility. How may we acquire this virtue? Neither logic or reflection will help us any; thinking nice thoughts about it or taking heroic resolutions would lead us to believe we had already acquired it, and we would content ourselves with that. We must examine our actions to see if we not sought our own interest in them. Let us repeat often, "Jesus, so humble of heart, make our hearts like unto thine." - Saint Peter Eymard

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi - what I pray impacts what I believe, what I believe impacts how I live. This is why it is not ok for Father Doubting Thomas to change the prayers in the Mass and just say whatever he wants because that impacts the faith of the people. We all know that if you impact the worship of God, you can subvert the faith from the inside. You don't have to try and ruin it from the outside with outside criticisms. You deny them the heart of the Gospel...what is the heart of the teaching of the Church? The source, the summit of our faith is Jesus in the Eucharist. - Gabriel Castillo

Forever He Will Lead us and Guide us

Here is God, our God, here he remains for ever; and for ever he will lead us and guide us. - Psalm 48

Private Interpretation

I suppose more people would like me to declare that I preach the Bible and nothing but the Bible. I attempt to do that, but honesty compels me to say that the best I can do is to preach the Bible as I understand it. - Protestant pastor A. W. Tozer (The Tozer Pulpit, vol. 2, Christian Publications, Camp Hill, PA, [1994], 10–11).

They do Not Admit That the Eucharist is the Flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ

They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ... - Saint Ignatius of Antioch, 'Letter to the Smyrnaeans,' paragraph 6., 80-110 AD

Fear Not, For I am With You

Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

Grant That I May Ever Cast my Care on Thee

‎In the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me
Lest by base denial I depart from Thee
When Thou seest me waver, with a look recall
Nor for fear or favor suffer me to fall
With forbidden pleasures would this vain world charm
Or its sordid treasures spread to work me harm
Bring to my remembrance sad Gethsemane
Or, in darker semblance, cross-crowned Calvary
Should Thy mercy send me sorrow, toil and woe
Or should pain attend me on my path below
Grant that I may never fail Thy hand to see
Grant that I may ever cast my care on Thee

Logic is to Democrat, as Sanity is to Mental Patient

Logic is to Democrat, as sanity is to a mental patient. Just a little out of reach. - Nicholas McLeod

Campaign Contribution Double Standards

I've never been able to understand why a Republican contributor is a 'fat cat' and a Democratic contributor of the same amount of money is a 'public-spirited philanthropist'. - Ronald Reagan

The Lord Knows the Way of the Righteous

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. - Psalm 1:1-4, 6

Take all, be King of all, and Let us Love Each Other Always; I am Thine Forever

When the communicant is free from venial sin, Jesus acts powerfully within him, unimpeded by any obstacle. He stays long. The soul acquires an astonishing refinement of feeling; it no longer accounts itself anything but is henceforth simply one with Jesus. It says to Him: 'Take all, be King of all, and let us love each other always; I am Thine forever.' - Saint Peter Julian Eymard

I Wish and Intend to do Everything in Union With the Most Pure Intentions of Jesus and Mary

Eternal God, behold me prostrate before your immense majesty, humbly adoring you. I offer you all my thoughts, words, and actions of this day. I offer them all to be thought, spoken, and done entirely for love of you, for your glory, to fulfill your divine will, to serve you, to praise you, and bless you. I wish and intend to do everything in union with the most pure intentions of Jesus and Mary. - Saint John Leonardi

Either You Will be Religious or You Will be Damned

Either you will be religious or you will be damned. What is a religious person? This is nothing other than a person who fulfils his duties as a Christian. - St. Jean Marie Vianney

Government: Doing Less With More

Corporations: doing more with less; government: doing less with more.

If Your Brother Sins, Go and Show Him His Fault in Private

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. - Matthew 18:15

Great Furnace of Love

Rouse yourself to cheerfulness in the Lord. Every trial will pass. When you find yourself disturbed, enter into the Heart of Jesus in spirit, into that great furnace of Love. Let that fire totally penetrate you and burn you with holy Love. Trust in Him. - St. Paul of the Cross

If All Catholics Lived Their Faith, Everyone Would be Catholic

If all Catholics lived their faith, everyone would be Catholic. - Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled

Remind your people that it is their duty to be obedient to the officials and representatives of the government; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people. Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.

But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life. - Titus 3:1-7

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A Child Must Die

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. - Blessed Mother Teresa

I Desire the Bread of God Alone

I have no desire for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ. - St. Ignatius of Antioch (107 A.D.)

If You Love Until it Hurts, There Can be no More Hurt

‎I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love. - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

St. Thomas Aquinas on Eucharistic Ministers

As the consecrating of Christ's body belongs to the priest, so likewise does the dispensing belong to him. - St. Thomas Aquinas (i.e., no Eucharistic ministers)

Only Consecrated Hands Should Touch the Blessed Sacrament

Out of reverence for this [Blessed] Sacrament, only consecrated hands should touch it. - St. Thomas Aquinas on Holy Communion. (i.e., no Eucharistic Ministers)

Walk ye in Jesus Christ the Lord

As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him. - Colossians 2:6 Latin: "sicut ergo accepistis Christum Iesum Dominum in ipso ambulate"

Prudent Assessments, in Dialogue with Experts, Uninhibited by Idealogical Pressure

Pope Benedict XVI on Global Warming: It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions.

Prerequisite to a Happy Marriage: a Joyful Single Life

‎Before we can be happily married, we need to learn the art of being happily single.

Observance of Silence is an Assurance of Spiritual Victory

Silence has a definite value in the spiritual warfare. Its observance is an assurance of victory. Generally speaking, it is accompanied by distrust of self and confidence in God, a greater desire for prayer, and facility in practicing virtue.

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By Deviating From the Moral Law Man Violates His Own Freedom

The exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything. It is false to maintain that man, "the subject of this freedom," is "an individual who is fully self-sufficient and whose finality is the satisfaction of his own interests in the enjoyment of earthly goods." Moreover, the economic, social, political, and cultural conditions that are needed for a just exercise of freedom are too often disregarded or violated. Such situations of blindness and injustice injure the moral life and involve the strong as well as the weak in the temptation to sin against charity. By deviating from the moral law man violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned within himself, disrupts neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth. - CCC

As Christians, Our Power Doesn't End at the Polls

Faith can move mountains and that's why we need to pray for reform in government. We have more power than we realize and it doesn't end at the polls on election day. - Michael Fanelli

Limited Access to the Sacrament of Penance

Multiple “performances” of the liturgy are available all weekend with morning, matinee and evening shows all designed to work around your busy schedule – no advance reservation required, walk-ins welcome. If you’re lucky, along with an ad-libbing MC (formerly known as a priest), in some cases, they might even throw in some clowns or “liturgical dances” for your “theological” entertainment. But need someone to hear your confession? Not likely. Besides, once you do get in for your face-to-face wrap session (after all, Confessionals with partitions are so pre-Vatican II) with Father Friendly, he’ll probably tell you your sins aren’t really considered sins anymore, so don’t worry, be happy! - Steve Schultz

Many People Have No Idea What is Required to be Properly Disposed to Receive Holy Communion

Who knows how long it has been since 95% of some congregations have been to confession? And yet they blithely troop up and stick out their hands. We have a disastrous situation these days with the use/availability of the sacrament of penance. Many people have no idea what is required to be properly disposed to receive Holy Communion. - Father Z.

There is Not a Person in This Room I Would Not Sacrifice my Life For

If it's about the lives of my men and their safety, I'd go through Hell with a gasoline can. There is not a person in this room I would not sacrifice my life for. - Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Allen B. West (newly elected Congressman of FL District 22)

Molon Labe

“Far left liberals demand we lay down our Country. My response is just as Spartans King Leonidas responded - “Molon Labe” - “Steadfast and Loyal!” - Lt. Col. Allen West

I Absolutely Can’t Stand Him

(On Barack Obama) “I can’t stand the guy. I absolutely can’t stand him.” - Lt. Col. Allen West

Lt Col. West has a Masters Degree in Political Science from Kansas State University, has a very impressive and honorable military career; he completed a 1 ½ year combat tour of duty in Iraq, and a 2½ year combat tour of duty in Afghanistan building the Security Institutions and the National Army of Afghanistan. In support of the United States goals in Iraq, Lt. Col. West was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, and many other medals for his patriotic service.

I Don’t See Myself as African American, I See Myself as an American.

I don’t see myself as African American, Black American. I see myself as an American. - Lt. Col. Allen West

Lt Col. West has a Masters Degree in Political Science from Kansas State University, has a very impressive and honorable military career; he completed a 1 ½ year combat tour of duty in Iraq, and a 2½ year combat tour of duty in Afghanistan building the Security Institutions and the National Army of Afghanistan. In support of the United States goals in Iraq, Lt. Col. West was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, and many other medals for his patriotic service. He is the newly elected Congressman of District 22 in South Florida (praise God).

Holy Silence

The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace. - Blessed Mother Teresa

If Things Go Well, Let's Rejoice. If Things Go Wrong, Let's Rejoice.

If things go well, let’s rejoice, blessing God, who makes them prosper. And if they go wrong? Let’s rejoice, blessing God, who allows us to share the sweetness of his Cross. - St. Jose Maria Escriva

Election Day Prayer

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Be close to us during this crucial historic period of national discernment. Let thy will be done in America tonight and forever. Amen.

November is Here

How do you call yourself a moderate and vote for people who reject the rule of law? How do you call yourself compassionate and vote for people who want taxpayer funding for the slaughter of innocent unborn babies sleeping peacefully in their mother's wombs? How do you call yourself reasonable and vote for people who are spending us into oblivion? Real life is about choices. November is here. - L. L. Brown IV

God did not decree death from the beginning; he prescribed it as a remedy.

Death was not part of nature; it became part of nature. God did not decree death from the beginning; he prescribed it as a remedy. Human life was condemned because of sin to unremitting labour and unbearable sorrow and so began to experience the burden of wretchedness. There had to be a limit to its evils; death had to restore what life had forfeited. Without the assistance of grace, immortality is more of a burden than a blessing. - Saint Ambrose