Friday, February 27, 2009

Principles and Practices - February 28

A Soul In Grace

St. Catherine of Siena was often favoured by God with holy visions. One day He showed her the beauty of a soul in the state of grace. It was so beautiful that she could not look on it; the brightness of that soul dazzled her.

The Blessed Raymond, her confessor, asked ­her to describe to him, as far as she was able the beauty of the soul she had seen. 'My father,' she answered, 'I cannot find anything in this world that can give you the smallest idea of what I have seen. Oh! if you could but see the beauty of a soul in the state of grace you would sacrifice your life a hundred times for its salvation! No, nothing in this world can bear any resemblance to it.

'I asked the angel who was with me,' she continued, 'what had made that soul so beautiful, and he answered me: 'It is the image and likeness of God in that soul and the Divine Grace which made it so beautiful.'

-From her Life.
_________________
From Principles and Practices
Compiled by Rev. J. Hogan of The Catholic Missionary Society
Published by Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd., Publishers To The Holy See
Nihil Obstat; Eduardus J. Mahoney, S.T.D. Censor deputatus.
Imprimatur; Edm. Can. Surmont, Vicarius generalis.
First printed in 1930

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