A message to us all, each of us who are
equal stakeholders in this heaven.
I want to share with you a book that my mother gave to me before she died...
she was insistent that I receive certain, few, beautiful "things" to guide me in
this moment. I want to share it with you, as the meditation that does and will guide me
day by day, and now that I know what I know, it will guide us all.
It was "printed" in 1902. The book, which is beautiful and may
even have its pages adorned with gold leaf on its edges and in its illustrations, is
called "Thomas A'Kempis". The scans below don't do justice to the
beautiful artistry of the illustraitons.
I have no idea where it came from or why, I only know it contains the
wisdom of the ages, and I want to share it with you. It has 31 days of meditations
contained within.
And this is the instruction for day 1... of the New World.
 America - The Last Unicorn
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Thomas A'Kempis
Enya
- Shepherd Moons - Book Of Days
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First Day
Why wilt thou put off thy resolution from day to day?
Arise, and begin this very moment, and say: Now is the time for
doing and now is the time to fight: now is the proper time to amend my life. Book 1
The humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God, than the
deepest search after science. Book 1
Always remember thy end, and that time once lost never
returns. Book 1
It is a greater labor to resist vices and passions, than to toil
at bodily labors.
He that does not shun small defects, by little and little falls
into greater. Book 1
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Second Day
No man is worthy of heavenly comfort, who has not diligently
exercised himself in genuine sorrow for sin.
If thou wouldst find penitence in thine heart, retire into thy
chamber and shut out the tumults of the world, as it is written: Commune with your own
heart, and in your chamber (Psalm IV. 4, P. W. B. V. 1). Book I
Some indiscreetly intent upon a life of devotion have ruined
themselves by choosing to attempt more than was in their power, not weighing the measure
of their weakness, but following the impulse of their heart rather than the direction of
reason. Book III
Third Day
The progress of a spiritual life consists not so much in having
the comfort of grace, as in bearing the want of it with humility, resignation, and
patience; so as not to grow cold in thy exercise of prayer at that time, nor to suffer
thyself to omit any of the accustomed duties. Book III
In silence and quiet the devout soul advances, and learns the
secret of the Scriptures. Book 1
He who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ,
must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ. Book I
Fourth Day
Christ will come to thee, and show thee his consolation, if thou
wilt prepare Him a fit dwelling within thee. Book II
It is a great art to know how to converse with Jesus; and to
know how to keep Jesus is great wisdom.
Be humble and peaceable, and Jesus will be with thee.
Be devout and quiet, and Jesus will stay with thee.
Fifth Day
We ought rather to choose to have the whole world against us,
than to offend Jesus. Of all, therefore, that are dear to thee, let Jesus always be thy
special Beloved. Book II.
It is not hard to despise all human comfort, when we have
Divine. Book II
Let heaven and earth, and all the glory of them, be silent in
Thy presence, O my best, my dearest beloved;
for whatever praise or glory they have, is all the gift of Thy
bounty, nor can they reach the glory of Thy name, whose wisdom is infinite. (Ps. cxlvii.
5,P.B.V.).
Sixth Day
Leave vain things to vain people; but mind thou the things which
God has commanded thee. Book I
If thou hads a right spirit within thee, and were purified from
earthly affection, all things would turn to thy good to they profit. Book II
Often run again and again to the Fountain of grace and Divine
mercy, to the Fountain of all Goodness and Purity; that thou mayest be healed of thy
passions and vices, and be made more strong and vigilant against all temptations and
deceits of the devil. Book IV.
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Seventh Day
As thine eye observeth others, so art thou observed by others.
Book I.
Many count the years of their conversion; but oftentimes the
fruit of amendment is but small. Book I.
Jesus has now many lovers of His heavenly kingdom; but few that
are willing to bear the cross.
He has many that are desirous of comfort; but few of
tribulation. He finds many companions of His table; but few of His fasting.
All desire to rejoice with Him; few are willing to suffer for
Him. Book II.
Eighth Day
When GOD gives spiritual comfort, receive it with thanksgiving;
But know that it is the bounty of God, not thy desert.
Be not puffed up, be not overjoyed, nor vainly presume;
but rather be the more huumble for this gift, and the more
cautious and fearful in all thy actions; for this hour will pass away and temptation will
follow. Book II.
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Ninth Day
All Holy Scripture ought to be read with the same spirit with
which it was given. Book I.
We must be watchful, especially in the beginning of temptation;
because then the enemy is easier overcome, when he is not
suffered to come in at the door of the soul, but is kept out, and resisted at his first
knock. Book I.
The enemy without is overcome sooner, when the soul within is
yet unspoiled.
Thy soul hath no enemy more troublesome or dangerous to it than
thou thyself art, when thou art in agreement with the spirit. Book III.
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Tenth Day
I had rather feel compunction, than know its definition.
Book I.
I will willingly accept of that grace which makes me always more
humble and fearful, and more ready to forsake myself. Book II.
The is no sanctity, if Thou, O Lord, withdraw Thy hand;
No wisdom avails, if Thou cease to govern us;
No strength is of any help, if Thou support us not; No chastity
is secure without Thy protection;
No guard that we can keep upon ourselves profits us,
if Thy holy watchfulness be not with us. Book III.
Eleventh Day
When Jesus is present, all goes well, and nothing seems
difficult: but when Jesus is not present, everything is hard.
When Jesus speaks not within us, comfort is worthless; but if
Jesus speaks but one word, we feel great consolation. Book II.
How much the more and better thou knowest, so much the more
heavy will be thy judgement, unless thy life be also more holy. Book I.
Twelfth Day
A fervent and religious man is readyfor all things. Book I
If thou seekest this, or that or wouldst be here or there, for
the sake of thy own interest, or the pleasing thy own will, thou shalt never be at rest,
nor free from anxiety; for in everything thous shalt find some defect, and in every place
there will be some one that will cross thee. Book III.
Oh! When will there be an end of these evils?
When shall I be at liberty from the wretched slavery of sin?
When O Lord, shall I be so happy as to think of Thee alone?
When shall I rejoice in The to the full? Book II.
Thirteenth Day
O Lord, to what are we come? behold we deplore a temporal loss,
we toil and hasten after a trifling gain, and loss to the soul is forgotten, and scarcely
comes again to our mind. Book III.
Whensover a man desires anything inordinately, he is presently
disquieted within himself. The proud and covetous are never easy. The poor and humble of
spirit live in much peace. Book I
When thou shalt arrive thus far, that tribulation becomes sweet
and of good relish to thee for the love of Christ, then think that it is well with thee,
for thou hast found a paradise upon earth. Book II.
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Fourteenth Day
The place avails little, if the spirit of fervor be wanting;
Neither shall that peace stand long which sought from abroad, if
the state of thy heart want the true foundation, that is, if thou stand not in Christ;
Thou mayest change, but not better thyself. For when occasion
arises and thou be overtaken, thou shalt find that which thou didst fly from, and more
also. Book III
Fifteenth Day
If we strove like violent men to stand in the battle, doubtless
we should see that our Lord would help us from heaven,
For He is ready to help them that fight, trusting in His grace,
since He offers opportunities for fighting to the end that we may conquer. Book I |
Sixteenth Day
I will hearken what the Lord God willsay concerning me. (Psalm
lxxx. 8, P.B.V.).
Blessed is that soul which heareth the Lord speaking within her;
and from His mouth receiveth the word of comfort. Book III
True peace of heart is found by resisting our passions not by
serving them. There is no peace, therefore, in the heart of a carnal man, nor in a man
that is addicted to outward things, but in a fervent and spiritual man. Book I.
Seventeenth Day
If thou set thyself to what you oughtest, that is, to suffer and
to die to thyself, it will quickly be better with thee, and thou shalt find peace.
Book II.
Eighteenth Day
I never found anyone so religious and devout as not to have sometimes a withdrawal of
grace, or feel a lessening of spiritual warmth. No saint was ever so full of light
and devotion that he has no, at first or last, suffered temptation. Book II
Keep thy vows in thy mind, and thy crucified Lord before thine eyes. Book I.
The cross is always ready, and everywhere waits for Thee. Thou canst not escape it,
whithersoever thou runnest; for whithersoever thou goest, thou carryest thyself with thee,
and shall always find thyself. Book II.
Nineteenth Day
Give thyself to me, and it sufficeth; for besides Thee no
comfort can avail. Without thee I cannot subsist; and without Thy visitation I cannot
live. And therefore, I must come often to Thee, and receive Thee for the remedy of my
soul's health, lest perchance I faint by the way, if I be deprived of this heavenly
food. Book IV.
We blame little things in others, and pass over great things in
ourselves. Book II.
Twentieth Day
It is hard to leave off old customs, and harder to go against
our own will. But if thou dos tnot overcome things that are small and light, when wilt
thou overcome greater difficulties? Book I
Twenty-first Day
Lord, trusting in Thy goodness, and in Thy great mercy, I come -
sick to a Saviour, hungry and thirsty to the Fountain of Life, needy to the King of
Heaven, a servant to His Lord, a creature to his Creator, and an outcast to my dear
comforter. Book IV.
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Twenty-second Day
If thou reliest more upon thine own reason
or industry, than upon the virtue that brings thee into obedienceto Jesus Christ, thou
wilt seldom and hardly be an enlightened man; for God will have us perfectly subject to
Himself; and in and out of love to Him, follow on whither reason cannot guide. Book I
He that desired to retain the garace of
God, let him be thankful for grace when it is given, and patient when it is withdrawn. Let
him pray that it may return; let him be cautious and humble, lest he lose it. Book
II
Twenty-third Day
Nature is afraid of beng put to shame and
despised; But grace is glad to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus. Book III
It is vanity to mind only this present
life, and not to look forward into those things which ar eto come.
It is vanity to love that which speedily
passeth away, and not hasten thither where everlasting joy remains. Book I
Twenty-fourth Day
Patience and humility in adversity are
more pleasing to God than much comfort and devotion in prosperity. Book III
No man is fit to understand heavenly
things, who has not resigned himself to suffer adversities for Christ.
Nothing is more acceptable to God, nothing
more wholesome for thee in this world, than to suffer willingly for Christ. Book II.
Thous must learn to renounce thy own will
in many things, if thou wilt keep peace and concord with others. Book I
Twenty-fifth Day
Oh! If thou wert sensible how much peace
thou wouldst procure to thyself and joy to others, by behaving thyself well, and thou
wouldst be more anxious for thy spiritual progress. Book I
Thanks be to thee that Thou hast not
spared me in my evils, but hast bruised me with bitter stripes, inflicting pains, and
sending distress both without and within. Book III
Turn thy eyes back upon thyself, and see
thou judge not the doings of others. In judging others, a man labors in vain, often errs,
and easily sins; but in judging and looking into himself, he always labors with fruit.
Book I.
Twenty-sixth Day
This is the highest and most profitable lesson, truly to know, and to despise
ourselves.
To have no opinion of ourselves. and to think always well and highly of others, is
great wisdom and high perfection. Book I
Oh! how great confidence shall he have at the hour of his death, whom no affection for
anything in the world is holding back. Book III
Twenty-seventh Day
Keep thyself first in peace, and then thou
wilt be able to bring others to peace. Book II
If thou didst know the whole Bible by
heart, and the syaings of all the philosophers, what would it all profit thee, without the
Love of God and His grace? Book I
Twenty-eighth Day
Nature willingly receives honor and
respect. But grace faithfully attributes all honor and glory to God. Book III
What I do not like to suffer myself, I
ought to be careful in every way to avoid doing. Book III
Twenty-ninth Day
Oh, how exceeding necessary is Thy grace
for me, O Lord, to begin that which is good, to go forward with it, and to accomplish i!
For without it I can do nothing; but I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me (Phil. iv. 18). Book III
It is wise not to believe everything you
hear, nor immediately to carry to the ears of others what you have either heard or
believed. Book I
Thirtieth Day
O wonderful condescension of Thy tender
love towards us, that Thou, O Lord God, the Creator and Giver of life to all spirits,
shouldest vouchsafe to come to a poor soul, and with Thy whole Divinity and humanity
satisfy her hunger! Book IV
Spiritual comfort exceeds all the delight
of the world, and pleasures of the flesh. For all worldly delights are either vain or
base; but spiritual delights alone are pleasant and honorable, the offspring of holiness,
and of the inspirations of God in pure hearts. Book II
He will easily be content, and in peace,
whom conscience is clean. Book II.
Thirty-first Day
The saints that are highest in the sight of
God, are the least in their own eyes; and the more glorious they are, the more humble they
are in themselves. Book II
There is no true liberty, nor good joy, but
in the fear of God with a true conscience. Book I
If thou considerest well what thou art
within thyself, thou wilt not care what men will say of thee. Book II
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